The Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club is a private club located on Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey's largest freshwater lake. The lake's name is derived from the Lenni Lenape language and means "Honey Waters of many Coves". In the time of those early inhabitants, Lake Hopatcong was a source of sustenance and survival; by 1899, the Hopatcong Lake and Field Club, an early hunting and fishing club, came into existence. According to its history, the Yacht Club started up in 1904 when members of the Lake and Field Club began using the dock of an area hotel for water sports. The club was then re-located to
From Lake Hopatcong's days as a summer vacation spot to its current status as a year round community, the Yacht Club has remained a constant fixture on the lake shores. Today, the club serves three functions for its members - offering weekday sailing and swimming classes, evening dining overlooking the lake, and weekend sailing regettas. The Yacht Club is also active in sustaining the environmental health and ecological well-being of the lake. Club members serve on the Lake Hopatcong Commission, an organization created to help protect and improve the water quality of the lake, as well as other local planning boards and committees. One member is chosen as Commodore of the Club for a two year term. From 1905-1995, fifty Commodores and two Honorary Commodores have served. Their responsibilities include overseeing up to 225 member families and a fleet of E-Scows. The club features an active sailing and social schedule, with an emphasis on family activities.
Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum and Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club.
Lees, Lorraine C. and R. Richard Willis.
Wiss, Mary Brett.
This collection consists of program booklets from 1968-2010, Club group photos from 1978, 1989 and 1999 and, copies of the photographs of the Yacht Club's Commodores from 1905 until 2012. Other materials include By-Laws, a history booklet and brochures.
Currently arranged in three manuscript boxes, the first box contains photographs of the club's Commodores. The folders are arranged according to the size of the photograph, beginning with two Honorary Commodores. Program booklet files are arranged chronilogically followed by singular subject files.
This material is open for research without restriction under the conditions of the North Jersey History Center archives access policy. Records may be copied for use in individual scholarly or personal research, however, as with all materials in the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center, researchers are responsible for obtaining copyright permission to use material from the collection. Material in the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club Collection may be photocopied, but because this material is a permanent part of the History Center's collections, researchers are advised to photocopy with care, using only the edge copier for bound material.
The material of this collection was acquired from the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club in 2001 through the efforts of clubmember Elinor Peter. Subsequent materials recieved in 2010; 2012; 2013.
Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club Collection, 1905-2012. North Jersey History and Genealogy Center, The Morristown and Morris Township Library.
Processed and encoded by Mary McMahon Dawson, 2007. Subsequent updates October 2009; May 2012; September 2013.