Lake Carnegie (New Jersey)
Lake Carnegie | ||
---|---|---|
Primary inflows Millstone River | | |
Primary outflows | Millstone River | |
Basin countries | United States | |
Lake Carnegie Historic District | ||
Location | Roughly bounded by Lake Carnegie shoreline from Conrail bridge at W end to dam W of Kingston at E end, Princeton, New Jersey | |
Area | 262 acres (106 ha) | |
Built | 1906 | |
Architect | Pennington Satterthwaite (boathouse) | |
Landscape architect | Howard Russell Butler | |
Architectural style | Mission Gothic | |
NRHP reference No. | 90001000[1] | |
NJRHP No. | 1747[2] | |
Significant dates | ||
Added to NRHP | June 28, 1990 | |
Designated NJRHP | January 22, 1990 |
Lake Carnegie is a
The lake, which is privately owned, is used by the
An aerial view of this lake appears in the opening title sequence of the drama series House M.D.
History
Prior to the construction of the lake, Princeton's varsity
While sitting for Butler, Carnegie discussed the many lochs he had built in his native Scotland. Butler relayed the plans he and his teammates had discussed previously to Carnegie, who took an immediate interest in the project. He asked Butler to investigate the potential cost and feasibility of constructing such a lake in Princeton. After working with a New York engineering company, Butler informed Carnegie that the estimated construction costs would be US$118,000.[7]
Carnegie visited the university campus to view the construction site, and soon after authorized Butler to begin construction. In 1903, a group of Princeton
Carnegie attended the official opening ceremony on December 5, 1906, arriving by train with dozens of friends. He was met by a group including university president Woodrow Wilson. Carnegie and Wilson led an academic procession into Alexander Hall, where Carnegie was greeted enthusiastically by attending students (who had been given the day off). At one point, a group of students began to sing:[7][8]
Carnegie, Carnegie
He is giving us a lake
You can hear the breakers break;
Carnegie, Carnegie
Andy, Andy, you're a dandy
Carnegie.
Carnegie returned to Princeton the following spring to attend the lake's first
Albert Einstein sailed often on Lake Carnegie during his years in Princeton which began in 1933.[9]
Environmental problems
Due to its initially shallow depth, flooding and
In its 2002 report on water quality, the United States Environmental Protection Agency rated Lake Carnegie as "impaired."[10] This status indicates that the lake cannot support one or more of its designated uses. The sources of this nonpoint source pollution are varied—litter, chemicals (fertilizers and pesticides), automotive waste (oil and gas), and goose droppings have all contributed to the decline in water quality. Unsafe levels of mercury in the lake have led to an advisory on fish consumption.[5][11]
A number of local volunteer groups have undertaken efforts to improve the quality of water in Lake Carnegie and surrounding waterways. These efforts include litter removal, water sample testing, and educational programs.[5][11]
Gallery
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Dam forming Lake Carnegie
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The Washington Road bridge
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Ice skating on the lake
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places — Mercer County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection — Historic Preservation Office. April 5, 2013. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2013. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
- ^ Eilerson, Nick (August 6, 2016). "American doctor weighs Rio's health concerns, wins women's rowing heat". Washington Post.
- ^ See also Cooper River (New Jersey)#Sports.
- ^ a b c "Exhibit to mark lake's centennial". Archived from the original on July 5, 2006. Retrieved October 25, 2006.
- ^ "Assessing Water Quality". Archived from the original on October 1, 2006. Retrieved October 25, 2006.
- ^ a b c d e f "Exhibition celebrates 100th anniversary of Lake Carnegie". Retrieved October 26, 2006.
- ^ a b c "Carnegie Lake". Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2006.
- ^ Einstein, Albert. "Albert Einstein Historical Society". princetonhistory.org. Historical Society Of Princeton. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ Data accessible by searching http://www.epa.gov/waters/305b/index.html
- ^ a b "Concerns focus on Lake Carnegie". Retrieved October 26, 2006.