When the dog days of summer hit and many of us skinny down to our lightest and most comfortable clothing, I often wonder, just how did those late 19th century Hackettstown men and women deal with the heat? It's difficult to imagine wearing a bathing suit which was typically a black, woolen, puffed sleeve dress over bloomers, accessorized with long black stockings.

In the mid to late 19th century, many Hackettstown residents stayed close to home in the summer months, visiting Budd Lake, Lake Hopatcong and the springs at Schooley's Mountain. Schooley's Mountain was home to one of America's famous resort spots for the wealthy and fashionable from New York and Philadelphia. The Chalybeate springs drew numerous visitors from the East to its hotels each summer.

David Crowell's Belmont Hall, renamed the Hotel Dourincourt in 1899, was nestled on thirty-three acres with croquet grounds, picnic groves, paths and ball courts. It did a thriving business in the summer months. In 1868, at the close of the Civil War, Heath House, under the proprietorship of J. Warren Coleman, was enlarged to 150 rooms and continued to attract visitors for many years.

Sully's Grove was a 17 acre tract just over the river in Morris County. For many years, it was a favorite summertime location for Hackettstown residents to picnic and hold community outings, like the group gathered for this picture in August 1889.

By the turn of the century, beaches and sea shore resorts had become the favorite summer relaxation spot, and many of the grand hotels on the mountain saw fewer and fewer visitors. After bankruptcy in the early part of the 20th century, the Hotel Dorincourt was closed and the buildings demolished in 1943. The Heath House met a similar fate in 1910.

While it's sad to think that these grand old buildings are lost except to history, and the simplicity of those summers in the mountains are only stories we read about, it's comforting to know we'll never have to go to the beach in a woolen bathing suit!

Union Cemetery Volume One, a collection of over 1,000 images of headstones found in Hackettstown's largest cemetery is now available. The collection includes some of the oldest stones in the cemetery, and features ancestral families like Ayers, Day, Everitt, Hance, McCracken, Osmun, Sharp, Titus and more.

Hackettstown Postcards Volume One includes reproductions from the Museum's collection of vintage postcards dating to the early 1900's, including views of Main Street, churches and schools, the Morris Canal and landmarks like the American House and Hotel Clarendon.

The cds are available for $10 each and can be purchased at the Museum or by mail. If you wish to purchase by mail, please send your check or money order to:
Hackettstown Historical Society CD Collection
106 Church Street
Hackettstown, NJ 07840

Please indicate which cd you would like to purchase and include an additional $2 for postage and handling (for up to 4 cds inone order). All proceeds benefit the Historical Society and museum.

Watch this website for information on additional volumes, including People of Hackettstown and Places of Hackettstown, coming soon.