Morris County History: Lake Hopatcong Station Awarded Historic Marker

Published on October 29, 2019

Lake Hopatcong Station Earns Historic Marker

(JPG, 429KB) Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo at Lake Hopatcong Station historic marker dedication

A historic marker has been erected at the site of the Lake Hopatcong Station in Roxbury, where a few dozen officials gathered on Monday afternoon to dedicate the new sign that recognizes the building's historical significance.

The official Morris County historic marker is located just off the road at 125 Landing Road in the Landing section of Roxbury Township, near the stone train station that first opened in 1911 as a showcase for the Lackawanna Railroad.

The Morris Canal, two steamboat lines, and the Morris County Traction Company trolley also converged at the heavily visited site, according to Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum President Marty Kane.

We're pleased to add the Lake Hopatcong Station to the list of historic sites with markers, said Morris County Heritage Commission Director Peg Shultz. The markers serve to remind us of the colorful thread woven throughout our remarkable history.

Work like this only gets done with the efforts of a lot of volunteers, added Morris County Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo. There's amazing history throughout Morris County, and we want to remind people what this property meant for so many people.

Since the train station was sold by Conrail in the 1970s, the building was used by several businesses before being purchased by the non-profit Lake Hopatcong Foundation in 2014. Extensive renovations were funded by the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund and the Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund, as well as through other grants and private donations.

The Lake Hopatcong Foundation now uses the building for its offices, as well as for its Educational and Cultural Center, which is being used to accommodate community meetings, activities, and programs, according to Kane, who also is the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Lake Hopatcong Foundation.

(JPG, 423KB) (l/r) Roxbury Mayor Bob DeFillippo, Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo,, Heritage Commission Director Peg Shultz, Lake Hopatcong Foundation Board Chairman Marty Kane, Heritage Commission Vice Chairman Larry Fast, Lake Hopatcong Foundation President Jessica Murphy, and Roxbury Historical Society President Marge Cushing

This project has always had unanimous support, Roxbury Mayor Bob DeFillippo said at the dedication ceremony, raising his voice over the roar of passing automobiles, a problem that wouldn't have been encountered when the station was first built. You look at this building and you can almost hear the sound of steam engines and, maybe, the whistle of a train going by, as people made their way to resorts around the lake, he said.

The Morris County Heritage Commission has overseen a historic site marker program since 1975. More than 150 sites have been marked by distinctive burgundy signs with grey lettering. The Lake Hopatcong Station joins four other sites in Roxbury Township€”the First Presbyterian Church at Suckasunny Plains, the Silas Riggs House, the Lewis Cary House, and Cary Station in Ledgewood€”that have earned the honor.

Mayor DeFillippo noted that the marker dedication ceremony was being held on a spot due for sweeping redevelopment, anticipated to begin in 2021. He envisioned a time when people will come back to enjoy Lake Hopatcong, with as positive an impact as they had on the area as long as a century ago.

We honor the past with this marker and look ahead to see what more significant things we can do, said Lake Hopatcong Foundation President Jessica Murphy. We're so thankful to have this space and maybe someday there will be another sign placed here to mark our future accomplishments.

The Lake Hopatcong Foundation is a registered nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the lake environment and enhancing the lake experience by bringing together public and private resources to encourage a culture of sustainability and stewardship on and around New Jersey's largest lake, for this and future generations. .

(JPG, 90KB) An official Morris County historic marker was installed at the Lake Hopatcong Station, a hub of transportation for the region from 1911 to the 1950s.