Jefferson Township on Lake Hopatcong

Approximately one half of Jefferson Township is located along the shores of Lake Hopatcong. Incorporated in 1804, Jefferson Township extends east and west from the northern part of the lake, where there are the intricate connections at Hurd Brook, Lake Shawnee, and Lake Winona. In 1826, the dam for the Morris Canal became operational and what was originally Great Pond and Little Pond became Lake Hopatcong, the largest freshwater lake in New Jersey. By the mid-1800s, after the canal was in full swing, the ice and mining industries had begun to flourish. At Nolan’s Point, iron ore was loaded into canal boats and icehouses were in operation. Consequently, Nolan’s Point became a major hub of Jefferson. Not long afterward, camps, bungalow colonies, hotels, and small seasonal businesses sprang up and the summer community flourished. Theatrical people arrived, and their generosity helped to build the community. These and many other reflections on the history of the lakeside communities of Woodport, Lake Shawnee, Lake Winona, Nolan’s Point, Lake Forest, and Prospect Point are gathered in Jefferson Township on Lake Hopatcong.