Chronology of Events Shaping Highland Lakes

1773 The Old Kampe Post Office is established; remains as the oldest landmark of Highland Lakes near the juncture of Canistear and Cherry Ridge Roads; predates most other structures by at least a century. This had been known as "John Smith's house", "Marsh's house", "Forgerson's house", and "Hendrick Young's house", but was perhaps best known as the Kampe Post Office. An old cemetery is located off Coon Den Road between Sunset Lane and Bushwick Road.
1785 Canistear Road, probably the first in the area, was known to be in use as of 1785, and was still unpaved in the 1930's. Elijah Utter Road was another road up the Mountain. It passed through the area now known as Hidden Valley, but does not exist anymore.
1860 Breakneck Road is opened but would remain unpaved for many years.
1928 Seckler & Shepperd incorporate and develop Lake Wallkill.
1933 The Old Vernon - Stockholm Road, now Highland Lakes Road, emerges as the most passable of all three dirt roads to Highland Lakes in the early 1930's. Seckler & Shepperd buy the first 100 acres on top of the mountain near where future Highland Lakes will be.
1935 A new development corporation is established and owned by John Seckler, Clayton Shepperd, William Dailey and Clarkson Potter and is named Highland Lakes Inc. The new development company purchases additional lands abutting the original 100 acres, including the Fedden Corporation property of 600 acres, the Marsh tract - 400 acres, and the Rutherford tract - 130 acres.
Construction of Highland Lakes begins.
Seckler & Shepperd build General Store located outside boundaries of Highland Lakes.
1936 Inception of Highland Lakes as a summer retreat. From the outset, all who bought property at Highland Lakes were required also to be members of the Highland Lakes Country Club and Community Association. The Club was formed by Highland Lakes, Inc., the developers. Construction starts with access from Highland Lakes Road. Cottages were built as modest second homes. Original log cabins, or frame cottages, were about 600 square feet with a stone fireplace at a cost of $1,500. Original dues were $12.00 per year. Water from Highland Lakes Improvement Company was also $12.00 per season. The average Vernon Township taxes were about $30.00 a year. Original Clubhouse was the large hall next to the Seckler & Shepperd office.
1946 Start of the "Little League" softball program.
1949 Major expansion of Highland Lakes was underway. The dam that controls the waters at Indian Lake had been completed, and the new Lake #3 was beginning to fill.
First issue of the Newsette.
1950 The formally-established swimming program schedules new swim races and provides first fixed-in-place swim lanes and floating docks.
1951 The first Highland Lakes Post Office was established in a little cabin next to the recently vacated former Post Office that was built later in 1960. Between 1906-1920, Highland Lakes area mail was delivered three times a week by horseback.
Building of Lake #4 starts.
1958 The new Clubhouse was built and presented to the HLCC membership by John Seckler & Clayton Shepperd.
1959 S. Clayton Shepperd dies. John Seckler becomes sole owner of Seckler & Shepperd Inc., Highland Lakes Inc., and Highland Lakes Improvement Company.
The Club Charter was changed. John Seckler and the other three trustees withdrew and were replaced by the first Voting Board, 5 new officers and 11 trustees.
From here on the Club, under the leadership of its elected representatives -- chosen from eleven geographic sections -- would be responsible for all activities and would have complete control of the dues collected.
1961 Highland Lakes Inc. starts to build Lake #5, Upper Highland Lake.
1962 Membership body ratifies new By-Laws. Agreement reached with John Seckler wherein he transfers to the Club ownership of the Club-operated properties. The properties deeded to the Club in trust were the two ball fields, tennis courts (there were four courts in two locations at the time), all beaches, the Clubhouse and surrounding property and the private roads.
1963 Beginning of the Highland Lakes Fire Department
1964 Club is recognized as a non-profit corporation.
The Vernon Township Ambulance Corps is chartered.
1965 Clubhouse expanded.
1967 Club purchases the five lakes and the lagoon from J. Seckler for about $130,000.
1970 Trend begins for conversions from seasonal to year-round homes.
1974 A twelfth section is created and a twelfth trustee is added to the Voting Board.
1977 Highland Lakes Inc. and Seckler & Shepperd Inc. merge and become Seckler & Shepperd Inc.
1983 (April 28) Chancery Division of New Jersey Superior Court finds that the membership deed covenants that benefit the Club are valid, enforceable and real, and that membership obligation runs with the land despite the absence of covenant language in some particular deeds.
1983 (October 27) The Final Judgment of the Court imposes a dues and assessment obligation for the years 1984 and thereafter without exception.
1984 (December 26) The Appellate Division of the Superior Court substantially affirms the lower Court's decision but modifies the judgment to require that "fair share" obligations of delinquent members during the 1976 to 1983 period are uniformly applied.
1984 The Final Judgment is modified to comport with the decision of the Appellate Division and is entered of record, requiring all owners of property in the Highland Lakes community to pay dues and assessments in full in 1984 and thereafter.
1985 Amenities added and many Club facility improvements completed, including major improvements to the dam on Lake #1, expansion of tennis facilities, installation of new swim lanes with grandstand seating, new boat docks, upgrading beaches and new recreation areas, road repairs and major road reconstruction projects, and siltation damage control measures.
1988 Engineering investigations begun of the Club's five man-made dams. Club eliminates its maintenance operation, removing trucks, backhoes, and loaders from Clubhouse parking area, instead contracting for services. Computer purchased and programs written and installed to manage membership records and accounts.
1989 Removal of private docks from Club property is begun. Club embarks on dock acquisition program, creating or replacing approximately 150 docking spaces. Club completes Kewaskum and Acquanock Roads after developer defaults on performance bond.
1990 New boat racks and boat access areas created at Clubhouse Park. Court finds that property at intersection of Breakneck and Canistear Roads, though part of Highland Lakes, may be developed commercially. New playgroup equipment at Clubhouse Park purchased; play areas relocated and brought into compliance with new safety standards.
1991 Beach 5 area on Lake # 4 completely re-done, with drainage, parking and beach improvements. Voting Board establishes Reserve Fund, for collection of dues and assessments in arrears; year-round water quality monitoring initiated.
1992 New lighting and sound system installed throughout Clubhouse. Major road reconstruction project on Oneota and Canadawa Road, and Lakeside Drive West, completed. After series of meetings, it is determined that summer Club sanitation services would remain the same, neither being eliminated nor expanded. Club initiates $60 annual dam assessment to raise funds for the rehabilitation of the Club's five dams.
1993 Membership adopts By-Law changes permitting the Voting Board, without membership approval, to acquire vacant land. Computer network in office established. Club opposes plans for construction of mini-mall at Beach 1 area.
1994 Club prevails in litigation that challenged the Club's requirements that developers, not the membership, pay for the improvement of paper and unimproved roads. Vernon Township sets aside $55,000 for improvements to Old Homestead Drive intersection with Highland Lakes Road. Club purchases lot surrounding tennis courts at Canistear Recreation Area. Architect retained for improvements to Clubhouse.
1995 Rental of Clubhouse by members for family gathers approved. Steering Committee recommends construction of the "Lake Room", approved by the membership at the August Annual Meeting. The Arnold Eckhart Sailing Center is dedicated. Club applies for notification status under Megan's Law. Work commences on Lake # 4 dam.
1996 To control goose population, the Club begins spring egg addling. Lake # 4 dam work completed in late spring Lake # 5 dam work commences in the summer. Club receives approvals for construction of Lake Room and Community Announcement Sign. First Highland Lakes Directory is published by the Communications Committee. New aeration system in Lake # 1 is installed. The Lake Room contract is awarded in the fall. Communications Committee completes comprehensive survey of the membership.
1997 Members vote to acquire 90 acres and Post Office site at Beach 1 from Seckler and Shepperd. Demolition concluded of former Seckler and Shepperd building. Reconstruction of 1,100 feet of Old Homestead Drive. Three-year negotiations completed with Vernon Township for fair reimbursement of snow plowing costs as required by NJ law. LakeViews, a newsletter mailed to all members, premiers. Club joins the internet through its website: www.hlcc.org.
1998 Kitchen installed in renovated Clubhouse. Preliminary plans for redesign of Beach 1 area developed. Steel sheet piles added to embankments at the Lake # 4 and Lake # 5 dams. Negotiations begin with United States Postal Service for sale of Club property for new Post Office, approved by membership at the August, 1998 Annual Meeting. Club begins program to acquire vacant land by purchasing four lots from Vernon Township through the foreclosure process.
1999 Club accepts $588,000 low interest loan from the State of New Jersey for reconstruction of the Main Lake Dam. Main Lake received first-time application of herbicide SONAR for multi-year control of nuisance Eurasian Milfoil. Postal Service revises its plans for new Post Office, requiring members to approve sale of additional land, approved at the August, 1999 Annual Meeting. The long-awaited takeover of bankrupt Highland Lakes Water Company by Midlantic Utilities is accomplished. Club membership approves investment of Club funds in money market accounts at the August, 1999 Annual Meeting.
2000 Main Lake dam reconstruction completed. Boat Livery Program created. Veterans Memorial site designated at Clubhouse. Subdivision of Club land and sale to United States Postal Service completed. Voting Board establishes a committee to explore formation of purchasing cooperatives. First in a series of inspections of the Club’s three bridges are authorized. Discount for low-income senior citizens on the Club’s dues is doubled.
2001 New Swim Lane docks are installed. $311,978 Dam Loan for Lake 1 is approved. Seating area at swim lanes constructed. Renovations completed to maintenance building. Automatic external defibrillator is donated to Highland Lakes Security by Newton Memorial Hospital. Small building at Beach 1 site (original mail room of 1951) is demolished. New docks and walkways are installed on the Main Lake Dam. Conceptual plans for renovation of Beach 1 area approved.
2002 New Post Office opens on land sold by the Club. Members grant authority to purchase vacant land from Vernon Township formerly owned by Seckler & Shepperd. Site plan approval for Beach 1 received from Planning Board. Stormwater management grant received by Vernon Township for Lake #1 neighborhood area. Beach 1 special assessment approved, and Beach 1 Partnership Program established, generating $250,000 for Beach 1 renovation project. New swim floats purchased for all beaches.
2003 Three bridges on Island Road and Island Drive rehabilitated. Loan is secured from Lakeland Bank for the Beach 1 rehabilitation. Voting Board extends discount program to permanently disabled residents. Plans finalized for renovations to the former post office building at Beach 1. Formation of the Highland Lakes Foundation, Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit corporation, is formed to undertake cooperative purchasing programs, is approved by the Voting Board.

2004      Work begins on the rehabilitation of the former post office building and the Beach 1 recreation site; Non-profit youth groups authorized to rent the Clubhouse on a trial basis; Liaison Committee formed to maintain communications with Vernon Township officials;  

2005      The renovated Beach 1 park and recreation site opens June, 2005; Upper Highland Lake Dam rehabilitation completed; Voting Board establishes The Goodwill Fund, permitting voluntary contri­butions from members to assist Highland Lakes families having experienced hardships 

2006      Amendment to By-Laws approved at the Annual Meeting reducing the quorum requirement from 10% to 5%; enhanced aeration system installed in Lake 4 - East Highland Lake; the New Jersey Supreme Court determines that a purchaser of property in Highland Lakes is obliged to pay money that should have been paid in the past, including arrears owed by any prior owner.

Background

Highland Lakes was originally planned in the early 1930's as a summer colony and a retreat in the rustic countryside. It was laid out as a lake community for summer recreation.
In the early days before WWII, there were no organized team sports. However, there were plenty of activities to keep the younger generation busy. Periodically, there were swimming events, diving, canoe tilting and tennis. On rainy days many activities were held in the Clubhouse, not to mention numerous dances, Halloween parties and other social gatherings. Originally, the Clubhouse was a large hall next to the Seckler & Shepperd Office that was located at the Beach 1 area. The present day facility, the Main Clubhouse was dedicated and presented to the membership by John Seckler and Clayton Shepperd in the summer of 1958.

In 1946 the "Little League" softball program was created. An organized swimming program with Sunday swim races was started in 1950. A long tradition of boating and sailing activities dates back to the late forties, initially with the Comet Fleet (#130) and later with the Sunfish sailing fleet (#23). Throughout the 1950's many new activities were added thanks to the ever growing number of volunteers who became deeply involved in the community.

The Club presently owns recreation areas totaling an estimated 26.4 acres. You will find an array of programs from Athletics to Clubhouse Activities to enjoy. It is amazing the amount of functions that are run by the volunteers of HLCC&CA!

There is PLENTY to do - just join the fun!