Chapter One: The Early Beginnings
Moosic Lake first appears on a map in 1873, on a map of Jefferson Township, published in the Atlas of Luzerne County by Pomeroy and Company. It also appears on the first United States Geographic Survey of Upper Scranton to Archbald Area, circa 1880. An undated map from the collection of the Lackawanna Historical Society shows the lake as Paupack Lake. Earlier local histories show the lake as Cobb’s Pond, and a smaller lake as Mud Pond. The small lake was a marsh area until a dam was put in to raise the water level. The small lake is shown on all maps, but no name is given other than Moosic Lake. Today’s maps show both lakes as Moosic Lakes.
Industrial Ambitions and Early History
H. Hollister’s History of the Lackawanna Valley 1869, provides some insight into the relationship between early settlers and the lake: “the Wurts brothers once planned to use Moosic Lake to supply water to a canal for transporting coal over the mountain.” The plan never came to pass. Instead, the Wurts constructed a gravity railroad to handle the coal from Carbondale to Honesdale. One wonders what the lake would be like today if the industrialization planned by the Wurts brothers had ever taken place.
The Robertson Oral History
In researching this book, we did not have the opportunity to do first-hand interviews of employees, day-trippers, hunters or hikers about the early area at Moosic Lake. But we did find, in the archives of the Lackawanna Historical Society, an oral interview with Florence E. Robertson, the granddaughter of one of the lake’s owners, Edward S. Dolph. Without this interview taken by William P. Lewis, we might not know some of the early history of Moosic Lake.
“Moosic Lake the beautiful is situated about eleven miles east of Scranton. Nestled among spruces and oaks, is one of the clearest sheets of water found in Pennsylvania, fed by springs. The Moosic Mountain’s early name was Moose Mountain, as moose were supposed to be there, with deer and bear. The Indians used Moosic Mountain as a path from the Delaware River to the Lackawanna, a trail about east and west. Across the lake – at the highest point were built signal fires. An Indian spring along the railroad bed still babbles refreshing water.”
Ownership and the Dolph Legacy
A Mrs. Mary Grier Davis, of Danville, Pennsylvania owned the larger part of the lake. Her home was at the head of the lake where a doctor now has a house. Moosic Lake came to the Dolph family about 1841. Edward Dolph, my grandfather, along with Mr. Crandall W. Thompson, owned one quarter of lake property. They were interested principally in coal – thought the vein might run along the mountain from Marshwood, Pennsylvania, where there was a breaker. Several bore holes were put down, in the hill back of Mrs. Davis’s house – but no coal was found.
From about the 1870s the Dolph families enjoyed camping at the lake – near the old log cabin site, at the upper end, where there was a spring and still is. The families enjoy the lake, especially in summers – but no sight is more beautiful than in fall, when the leaves are aglow with their brilliant foliage, and all are thankful our grandfather found so lovely a spot.
Transportation and Tourism
The Pennsylvania Coal Company of Dunmore, Pennsylvania, ran a gravity railroad to Hawley, and in the Moosic Mountain Pass, a Scranton switchback called the Pioneer; this ran about two miles from the lake, crossing the roadbed leading to the lake. The families often went by the Pioneer train, stopping at crossings, and walked to the lake. In 1874 the railroad company added more cars to accommodate the tourists wanting to go to the lake.
A steam railroad was opened from Dunmore to lake, June 22, 1904. The line changed from steam to electric November 13, 1909. With train service and electric car service, there were many picnics held at the lake by churches, societies, and others – swimming was always enjoyed. There were many cottages there now, but it is still the most beautiful spot to the Dolph-Robertsons.
People have had a fascination with lakes for centuries, attracted to them for different reasons. It may be solitude, rest, leisure, relaxation, or recreation. Our counterparts at the turn of the century shared these ideas, even though they were limited in spending time at lakes because of transportation.