With a charter date of February 14, 1976, the Lake Hopatcong Chapter became ACBS’ first. Still thriving nearly 50 years later, ACBS salutes those who laid the foundation for this organization and those who continue to build on it’s legacy today. Here is the Lake Hopatcong Chapter’s story…
First chapter officers, L to R Tom Wiss, Frank Scanlon, Skip Shipman, Bill Smith & Drayton Mook.
A Brief Chapter History
The Lake Hopatcong Chapter’s rich history is a source of immense pride for their members and actually predates the founding of ACBS. In the Fall of 1974 a handful of enthusiastic antique boat owners on Lake Hopatcong saw an alarming trend. Wooden boats were being being used less and less frequently and falling into a state of deterioration and neglect. They met to address this concern and on October 17, 1974, the Lake Hopatcong Antique Boat Club was formed.
Indicative of the level of interest in saving these old boats was the fact that the club quickly grew to 66 members (today, in 2024, the club has approximately 112 members). Similar initiatives were taking place at Lake George, New York. ACBS Founders, Bill Smith, and Joe Fleming, both of whom lived in New Jersey and boated on Lake George organized a joint meeting with mutually interested parties from both lake communities. The meeting was held at Lake George on November 2, 1974 with a follow up meeting taking place in Glens Falls, New York on November 23, 1974.
Several members of the Lake Hopatcong Antique Boat Club participated in those early meetings from which ACBS was formed. The humble beginnings of ACBS founding on January 25, 1975 included seven members of the Lake Hopatcong group who became Charter Members. One of which, Joe Fleming, was an ACBS Founder. It is also noteworthy that H. Drayton Mook of Lake Hopatcong became one of two Vice-Presidents on the first ACBS Board of Directors, and Founder, Joe Fleming, served as the first ACBS Board as Secretary.
Boat Shows and Activities
The Lake Hopatcong Chapter members enthusiastically organize and participate in social events that include boat shows, monthly cruise nights ending in an ice cream rendezvous, workshops on technical safety and many others.
The chapter’s philanthropic endeavors include “A Day at the Lake” where chapter members provide boat rides for underprivileged children from Newark. The chapter also supports several area civic organizations both financially and logistically.
Many of the boats in Lake Hopatcong Chapter membership have been the featured backdrop for prom and graduation photos, not to mention transporting bridal parties to and from their ceremonies.
Overview of a 2018 Lake Hopatcong boat show.
Particular Points of Chapter Pride
Ask any Lake Hopatcong member and they’ll share the significant role their chapter members played in ACBS founding and Lake Hopatcong being the first ACBS chapter, as particular points of pride. Past Lake Hopatcong President David Kidd documented this extensive history in his book, ACBS, the Early Years.
The chapter is also proud that so many members have won international awards including Best Chapter, Mary Herwig Award, Best Website and Best Newsletter as well as the Rover Award. Several members have also served as ACBS Board Members.
Lake Hopatcong Chapter’s booth at the annual Block Party.
Keeping the History Alive
For the past several years, the Lake Hopatcong Chapter has participated in the Lake Hopatcong Block Party, a creation of the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, and community event supported by Hopatcong Borough, Jefferson Township, Mt. Arlington Borough, Roxbury Township and Hopatcong State Park. Over 3,000 guests in attendance enjoy stopping by the Lake Hopatcong Chapter booth where they can view a 20-foot Chris-Craft Sportsman from the 1950s. Says Lake Hopatcong Chapter President, Ray Reynolds, “It is our way of introducing our boats to an audience unfamiliar with antique and classic boats.”