Our History

Edward May will always be known in Franklin Lakes as the man who built three lakes, one of them known as Shadow Lake.  His friends and family enjoyed the picnics on the banks, swimming, and fishing, as well as boating. Numbers increased, and it was difficult to accommodate all. In 1929, the beginning of the Great Depression, families who could not afford to go on their usual vacations to the Jersey Shore were gathering at Shadow Lake.

Mr. May made the decision to build for himself and his friends, a private summer club "just enough removed from the beaten path” to remain unspoiled by the influx of too many people.In 1931, Shadow Lake Club became a MEMBERS ONLY resort. Membership was given on a system of recommendations by members. A 1940 editorial in the Shadow Lake Newsletter said, "Shadow Lake is fed by the pure spring-fed waters of HoHoKus Creek. Besides this, in the bed of the lake itself, we have counted over fifty springs. It contains approximately 28 million gallons of water and has a shoreline of over two miles." At the time, no chemicals were used in the lake. Social activity was family style. Each weekend culminated with a Sunday night hymn sing.

The club had two beaches, totaling a half mile of sand, and a 500 foot boardwalk, picnic spots, with stone fireplaces, and two bathhouses, "One, on the clubhouse end of the lake, was the renovated barn and carriage house...." This was 935 Loch Road. The bathhouse on the north side featured a pavilion and refreshment stand. Children's pools and water slides centered around the fields and woods. Archery, tennis, badminton, handball, ping-pong, shuffleboard, and baseball were popular activities. The favorite attraction was the long toboggan ride that dumped its riders into the lake "lagoon." The homes at 935 Loch Road, and 310 Briarly Drive, were connected by a bridge. The 500 foot boardwalk skirted the 316 Briarly Drive property. This allowed the clubhouse and bathing areas to be accessible from all parts of the club grounds.

At the height of the season, 40 employees were required. Some weekends had 4,000 people using the facility. These people came from Wyckoff, Ridgewood, Paterson, Hackensack, Rutherford, and Jersey City. World War Il and the rationing of gas spelled the demise of the Club. Mr. May closed the Club in 1943. The clubhouse was reconverted into a barn, and Mr. May raised chickens to help the war effort. After the war, Mr. May sold his Shadow Lake property and moved to his home in Naples, Florida. He still owned several homes in Franklin Lakes at the time.

Shadow Lake was sold August 3, 1943 to Hazard E. Reeves. M.r Reeves was "important in the communications field." M.r Reeves maintained Shadow Lake until he moved to Tuxedo Park, NY. He sold the property on January 26, 1956, to the H.D. Land Co., Inc., which developed most of the property we know as Shadow Lake Estates. Robert A. Black, a principal in the company, retained and developed land that included the "Hidden Hill" home and the Loch Road area. On August 30, 1956, the subdivision map was approved by the Bergen County Clerk's office.

"The first road to be put through the new development was Green Ridge Road. Dirt excavated in the street building process filled the marshy land where Briarly Road is now located. The first homes to go up served as the land office and as model homes. Arbor Road was the second street to be laid. Other streets followed soon after."

Note: The Gregory Road section was built later by a developer named William Tonkowich after he bought the land from James Cleary. Because Gregory Road was developed later ti was not part of the original Shadow Lake Estates. Gregory Road can only be reached by going through Shadow Lake Estates, and when asked to join, five families became part of the community of Shadow Lake, Inc. Today we have 86 families in Shadow Lake Estates. The number of social members varies from year to year, usually fifteen families.

The Clubhouse is now where the pavilion and refreshment stand were. Many members remember bathing in the lake and pond, but that is no longer possible. Chemicals are now used to keep the lake clean. A pool is used for swimming and a lifeguard is always present when the pool is open. The tennis courts are in excellent condition. A modern playground adjacent the pool and tennis area, along with a basketball court, were later added. The Clubhouse has seen weddings, graduations, engagements, and many happy occasions when rented by members. All members have enjoyed community social events that have included using the lake for fishing and kayaking. Franklin Lakes is now a well-known suburb. Edward May would have preferred the "wilderness" of 1929, even though he was the first one to unlock the potential benefits of developing the area.

* This article on The History of Shadow Lake is based upon a history originally written by Richard Payton Hall, Son of Wendell and Betty Hall who were residents of 229 Green Ridge Road from 1970 until 2003.