Charlie Fineran’s Photo of the Week captures a serene Oxford Lake, its boat launch and dock area, and a few fishermen, amid a beautiful Warren County backdrop. Oxford Lake offers many fun Family activities!

What was once built for practical purposes of flood and erosion control is now a quiet lake area known as Oxford Furnace Lake in Warren County, New Jersey. Named for the first hot blast furnace in America, Oxford Furnace was also the longest continuous iron producer from 1741-1884 in the United States.. The historic blast furnace is located just around the corner from the Lake entrance along with several other historic gems, including Shippen Manor, the ironmaster’s mansion and several historic old churches.

Oxford Furnace Lake is a great area for families to picnic, hike, swim, and enjoy the great outdoors away from a noisy populated area. Kayaking, canoeing, and boating are popular on the clear water, but electric motors only are allowed to maintain a quiet and peaceful retreat. Local anglers boast that the fishing is great is for bass, musky, perch, crappie, catfish, trout, bluegill. Ice fishing makes the lake a year round fishing destination as seasoned anglers boast that when the water is between 36 and 42 degrees really big bass will snap up your bait.  New Jersey Green Acres Program contributed funds for the refurbishment of the 53-acre lake and surrounding property, with amenities including a soccer field, playground, picnic area, swimming beach, and boat launch

Please visit my Flickr site for more photos – https://www.flickr.com/photos/charliefineran/albums/72157653629338284

Interesting links – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shippen-Manor/140456845971590

http://www.njskylands.com/hsoxfordfurnace

Enjoy Your Open Space, Charlie Fineran