About Wanaksink – Wanaksink Lake Club

The Early Years (1800–1840)

During the early nineteenth century, the land surrounding our lake was a vast wilderness owned by Robert L. Livingston. The name Livingston Manor preserves the legacy of this early family.

As settlers arrived in Sullivan County, Livingston divided his land into smaller tracts. These were cleared for farming by new owners, including families such as Brutis, Billings, Benedict, Clarkson, Coddington, Eldredge, Foulwood, Gale, Hannon, Hardenburgh, Lord, Misner, Meola, McKee, Thompkins, and Wagner.

The Canal Era and the Birth of the Lake

The history of our lake is deeply tied to the construction of the Delaware and Hudson Canal, a 107-mile waterway connecting Honesdale, Pennsylvania to Rondout, New York.

Around 1820, William Wurtz and Maurice Wurtz acquired anthracite coal fields in Pennsylvania and set out to build the canal to transport coal to major markets.

Key developments included:

The founding of Wurtsboro as a supply base
The incorporation of the Delaware & Hudson Coal Company in 1823
Leadership from Philip Hone and engineer John P. Jervis
The establishment of Port Jervis as a construction hub

The first shipment of coal was sent on December 3, 1828.

Between 1840 and 1873, the canal company acquired land around the lake. During canal expansion (1842–1851), a dam was constructed at the outlet of Lords Pond—forming the lake we know today as a canal feeder.

Decline of the Canal

The canal’s importance faded as railroads expanded:

Rail access to Kingston (1865–1866) weakened canal traffic
The arrival of the New York & West Shore Railroad in 1883 sealed its fate

The canal was officially abandoned in 1899, and the company gradually sold off its land and water rights.

The Foulwood Era (1899–1924)

After the canal era, the lake and surrounding land were acquired by Thomas Watts, a prominent lawyer from Middletown.

He formed the Foulwood Lake Realty Corporation, and the lake became known as “Foulwood.”

At this time:

There were no roads around the lake
Only a handful of cottages existed
Fishing was abundant and central to activity

“Whippoorwill Lodge,” a small fishing shack on the north shore, was one of the earliest structures and later expanded into a family residence.

Early Community Life (1900–1920s)

Life around the lake was simple but vibrant:

A boat and bait concession operated near the dam
An ice cream store on the south shore served visitors and summer boarders
Seasonal residents from New York City began to arrive

It was here that community connections formed—including the marriage of Elizabeth Tracey and Ed Brundage in 1923.

Formation of Wanaksink Lake (1918–1925)

Around 1918, J. Louis Schrade and associates formed the Wanaksink Lake Development Co. and Wanaksink Lake Corporation.

They acquired the lake and surrounding land, and Foulwood was renamed Wanaksink Lake.

The YMCA and Community Growth

The Walden YMCA established a summer camp, forming the “Walden Colony,” which became the foundation of today’s community.

Early traditions included:

Outdoor Sunday hymn sings
Community gatherings at prominent lakefront points
Later services held in the Community House (circa 1930), led by Rev. Theodore F. Bayes

The lake community continued to grow steadily.

Expansion of the Lake Community

Development progressed in phases:

The north shore (“Middletown Point”) developed first
A connecting road between north and south shores was completed in 1947
The south shore saw growth around 1928 with Swiss Chalet cottages
Sandy Beach became a popular swimming destination

This growth helped lead to the creation of the Wanaksink Lake Improvement Association.

A Defining Moment: Community Ownership (1934–1938)

In 1934, the community faced a critical decision. Outside buyers were interested in purchasing the lake property.

To preserve the community, residents organized and incorporated the Wanaksink Lake Club in 1935.

The purchase terms:

Total price: $60,000
$40,000 due within three years
Remaining balance financed with interest

Despite financial challenges and skepticism, members raised $42,000. On June 2, 1938, the community secured ownership of the lake and surrounding property.

Paying Off the Mortgage (1940–1950)

Determined to eliminate debt quickly:

Members issued $25 mortgage retirement notes at 4% interest
$15,850 was raised in a short period
The mortgage was fully paid off by October 10, 1940
Official cancellation was recorded in 1942

By 1950, all remaining notes were retired—achieving full financial independence.

A Lasting Legacy

The success of Wanaksink Lake was built on determination, cooperation, and community spirit. To this day, the lake remains community-owned and the vision of early members continues to shape its future.

*This section has been edited to remove an inaccurate statement