Mountain Lakes is a unique community that promotes family life and
interaction with nature. The objective of this tour is to further your
appreciation of the physical beauty of Mountain Lakes, as well as its
interesting history and development.
The land Mountain Lakes occupies today was originally home to the Lenni
Lenape Indians who thrived in the woods and wetlands from 5000 BC to the
end of the 17th Century. Beginning in 1664, the Indians were
forced westward and had to sell their land. The area was then broken up
between Hanover Township and Boonton Township. In 1910, Lewis Van Duyne,
a local engineer, conceived a design to develop this large tract of land
consisting of rolling hills, woods, swamps and boulders. He contacted
developer and entrepreneur, Herbert J. Hapgood and his landscape engineer,
Arthur T. Holton, to plan the community.
Hapgood and Holton had a vision to create a community where families could
enjoy nature, recreation, and the simple pleasures of family life, but was
also close enough to commute to New York City by railroad. Hapgood’s plan
for Mountain Lakes also included two manmade lakes- Mountain and Wildwood-
that would offer beaches for swimming and boating. He connected the lakes
by a series of canals adorned with stone bridges.
The Arts and Crafts Movement greatly influenced Hapgood, and he incorporated
many of Gustav Stickley’s architectural techniques into his own. Stickley’s
Craftsman Style revolved around the ideas of maintaining harmony with nature
by using local materials, building the houses to fit into the landscape and
constructing narrow roads that curved with the contours of the land. Hapgood
also borrowed Stickley’s concepts of using an open floor plan that prompts
family interaction and constructing homes that were simple and practical
while retaining a charm about them.
Hapgood therefore used natural materials for his houses, which feature oak
floors, chestnut paneling, boulderstone foundations, and exposed crossbeams.
Hapgood came up with three basic layouts of houses, but by reversing floor
plans and changing some architectural details, he was able to make every
house unique. Stucco was the predominant choice for the exterior walls
because it required little maintenance and could be tinted different colors.
The outsides of Hapgood houses typically reflect Craftsman style in their
dormers, wrap-around porches, deep overhanging eaves, large windows and
simple exterior ornamentation. He also added trellises, pergolas, gazebos,
boathouses, and tennis courts to stimulate outdoor enjoyment.
Hapgood went bankrupt in 1922 due to declining sales and unfortunate
business decisions and fled to South America. The Belhall Company was
then organized in 1923 to continue developing the empty land. The company
was only able to build a small number of Tudor, Norman, English Cottage,
and Colonial-Style homes, before it too went bankrupt during the Great
Depression. At this same time, the Arthur D. Crane Company created the
Lake Arrowhead region, which has a distinct style of its own. After World
War II, the Fox Development Company built 67 smaller homes between the
railroad and Intervale Road, the area now know as The Village, for
returning war veterans and their families.
Two decisions by the Borough in the late 1930s gave the town the ability
to maintain a natural and serene environment. It purchased 250 acres of
woodlands around Birchwood and Crystal Lakes, and gained the titles to
the remaining undeveloped lots in 1938. With an area of just 2.9 square
miles, 9 lakes, and many acres of woodlands, Mountain Lakes is likely to
remain a rustic and outdoor setting for many years to come.
Mountain Lakes is unique in that nearly 500 homes out of almost 1300
today were built by a single developer. With approximately 450 of the
original homes still remaining, it is one of the largest collections of
Craftsman-influenced houses in the country. The vision that Hapgood had
in the early 1900’s for this community of Mountain Lakes, has survived to
the present. With its natural beauty, picturesque location, and charm,
Mountain Lakes still attracts residents who enjoy outdoor activities and
community involvement.
To Site 1: Mountain Lakes Train Station & Esplanade
Starting at the library, follow Elm Road past the Post Office and around the bend. The Mountain Lakes Train Station will be on your left and the Esplanade is on the right.
To Optional Site 1: 70 Pollard Road
Make a left out of the library parking lot onto Morris Avenue. Turn left onto Midvale Road at the four-way intersection. Make a quick right onto Pollard Road and follow it to the top of the hill. The house is on the left.
A printed edition of this Historical Walking Tour guide may be borrowed from the Mountain Lakes Library.