This month it is time to visit another lake in New York!
Rockland Lake is located in Rockland County, New York, in the hamlets of Congers and Valley Cottage. It was known as the “Quashpeake Pond” to the Native American population and later served as an important place of work for European settlers.
The Knickerbocker Ice Company opened in 1831, making Rockland Lake the “Icehouse of New York City,” supplying the cleanest and purest ice in the area. The icehouse employed nearly 3,000 people, creating a small village with plenty to do around it. The Grand Rockland Hotel housed visitors to the lake and included a stable, billiards, shady groves, and music. The picnic area known as “The Grove” and entertainment from the Quaspeck Park Beach Club and Casino brought in travelers to the area.
The icehouse closed in 1924 and in 1926, workers accidentally set fire to the house, destroying much of the village. The area became part of the Palisades Interstate Park System in 1958. Today, the land is used for swimming, picnicking, boating, hiking, fishing, and golfing. The icehouse location is marked by a historical plaque.
Sources:
Rockland Lake. (Medical Trade Ephemera Collection) Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.