You are currently standing in Paradise Park, which is maintained by NEST (Nurture Environmental Stewardship Today). However, the park overlooks the most historic landmark within the town—the Oakford Lake (once known as the Mill Pond). The Lahway Indians/Native Americans made a natural trail through this area, and laid huge logs across Oakford Lake to continue on their trip to the ocean for fish and salt, which they used to carry them through the long and cold winters.
In 1895, the family of Edward J. A. Harley discovered New Egypt as the ideal place to spend a summer vacation. They returned the next season with family and friends, who also enjoyed New Egypt as much as them, and thus brought their own relations in the following season. From year to year the summer crowds grew with people from Philadelphia, New York, and Brooklyn who all came to spend most of their summers in New Egypt. A grass covered area stretched all along the lake to the dam. Along the banks in the shallow water many learned how to swim doggie. Following learning to swim doggie, one would swim the raceway.
The swimmers would sit on submerged shoring planks then give a hefty push off and swim like mad to the far side of the concrete dam. The next goal after the raceway was to run and jump or dive off of the concrete square between the spillway and raceway. Finally, some swimmers would dive off of the walk above the spillway, and others would try to bring up the old bowling ball (from the old bowling alley (burnt down)) which had been bowled off the southwest point into the deep water. However, you had to be careful where you jumped for fear of hitting the submerged pilings of the old wooden dam. Many changed in the Cedarbrook bathouses (torn down July 26, 1934).
Every Sunday there was a concert band that consisted of 15 members that played by the water’s edge while many gathered to listen. There were many businesses along the lake such as for motored boat rides, and fishing trips. The Lake Carnival was a big source of entertainment.
A carnival committee planned, solicited, financed, and awarded prizes, while individuals and groups registered for a pier where they worked. Typically, two row boats were converted into a platform. Japanese lanterns were strung on four sides for light and safety. The floats were strung together and propelled around the main part of the lake then tied up on the east side for judging.
The lake had many water sports including races, diving, log-rolling, and jousting (off of canoes). In the winter, the lake was covered by ice, and as everyone in town was a good swimmer so were they skaters. The lake also offered the people with ice to preserve food. Nearly every farm had an ice house. In the summer the west side of the lake was used for land carnivals as well.
All businesses at the lake virtually ceased at the time of our preparation and entry into WWI. One day, you were swimming in clean water, and the very next it looked like human excrement.
Camp Dix Sewerage Plant was using an upper branch of the lake for its route of disposal. The plant was not taking care of the waste properly. Visitors and boarders ceased to spend the summers here. No one dared to swim in the water, canoe, or even fish in it. When just days before fishermen would scoop water right out of the lake for a quick drink. The township bought up the land in 1950, which was later deeded to the county, and became a county park. Recently ownership of the land returned to Plumsted Township.