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According to Township Historian Carol Greene, the first historical record of Winter's Pond was in 1799, when John Winter used it to power his sawmill. Though it has been replaced, there was a dam controlling the pond then in the same spot where one exists today. Map courtesy of 'The Ramapough Chronicles' by Carol Greene.
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The sawmill went through a series of different owners in the 1800's.
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The mill changed ownership several times throughout the 1800's, but ended its run as a working mill in 1894 back in the hands of the Winter family, Greene said. In the early 1900's the Winters were involved in other businesses, such as running ice houses (the large white buildings in the photograph, which were built on Winter's Pond in 1902). The ice houses were used to cool and freeze things until Mahwah became fully electrified, in the 1920's-1930's. Photo courtesy of Tom Dewan/ Mahwah Museum
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AJ Winter built a big house on the hill near Winter’s Pond in 1907, Greene said. He lived there until 1912, when Albert and Annie Winter, the last in the family line, moved in.
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Annie Winter, who outlived her husband by nearly 20 years, died in 1961, Greene said. Winter left the house on the hill, 17 acres of property and Winter's Pond to the township. Photo courtesy of Tom Dewan/Mahwah Museum.
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The home burned down four times and was vandalized, Greene said. In 1967, it was demolished.
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During the 1960's and 1970's, Greene said the park became a popular community gathering spot, especially for ice skaters in the wintertime.
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Greene said a Winter's Park Committee was assembled in 1992 to begin a cleanup of the park. The committee restored the steps that used to lead to the Winter's house, the only remnants of the once grand structure. Photo shows steps today.
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Township adds aspects like a covered bridge and gazebo for resident enjoyment
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The township dredged the pond in 2011, a move that officials said should both help revitalize the park and help with flooding issues in West Mahwah.
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Greene is working with a group of residents, including Tom Dewan, the Mahwah Museum and township officials to bring renovations to the pond and surrounding area to attract residents back to the park. Photo of Joe Congello and Nickolas Torino from Suffern NY using a remote control boat on the Pond, courtesy of Tom Dewan.
