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Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2003
WANAQUE (Indian, place of the sassafras) RESERVOIR, 4.8 miles. (300
alt.), is the largest in New Jersey. The lake, 6.5 miles long and 1 mile
wide, has a capacity of 27 billion gallons. It serves Newark, Paterson, Passaic, and several other cities. The 1,500-foot dam across Wanaque River
is an earth and rock fill, with a concrete core sunk to bedrock. On the
downstream slope is a series of reclining stone arches, designed chiefly for
ornament. When early spring floods choke the streams in the Passaic Valley watershed, residents of down-river communities customarily hear rumors that cracks have appeared in Wanaque Dam. The newspapers investigate, reassurances are published, and nothing happens. Stone steps lead to
the top of the dam, where the sweep of placid water hemmed in by
wooded hills has the rangy appearance of an Adirondack lake. There are
seven smaller dams in Wanaque Reservoir.
The word Wanaque has at least five accepted pronunciations in New
Jersey: Wa-nok-kwee, Wan-a-kew, Wan-a-keiu, Wa-nok-key and Wan-a-
key. The fourth seems to be preferred.
At the foot of the dam are the SCHOOL and CHURCH OF ST. FRANCIS
OF Assisi, two flat buildings of simulated dressed stone standing directly
behind the gray frame WANAQUE REFORMED CHURCH (L).
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