Walpack Historical Society turns 40

Assemblyman Michael Inganamort, R-24, presented a Joint Legislative Resolution celebrating the Walpack Historical Society’s 40th anniversary at its annual dinner Dec. 7.

The group had its first meeting Oct. 27, 1984, at the Walpack Methodist Episcopal Church in Walpack Center.

Since then, it has worked to stimulate interest in the Walpack area through lectures, tours, publications and special events, such as Van Campen Day, hikes and exhibits at countywide events. It also maintains a small museum.

“I appreciate everything the Walpack Historical Society does to preserve Walpack’s rich history and give voice to this small town,” Inganamort said. “The fact that the Walpack Historical Society’s membership is many times the population of Walpack itself tells you how much this area’s history means to so many people.”

At the time the society was formed, most of Walpack and the surrounding area had been purchased by the Army Corps of Engineers for the proposed Tocks Island Dam project. The administration of the area was turned over to the National Park Service and designated as the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

With the demise of the dam project, Congress said the area should be preserved as wild and scenic.

Today, Walpack has fewer than 10 residents.

“The reason I keep coming back to Walpack is because it encapsulates one of my primary motivators in Trenton: getting state government off the backs of small towns,” said Inganamort. “The mandates on everything from tree removal to street sweeping are just not practical in small rural towns, and there is no smaller rural town than Walpack.”