Please Note: Waterloo Village is closed for maintenance and upgrades until further notice.

Lenape Village at Waterloo Village

The easiest path to an appreciation of the Lenape is across the bridge to the Indian Village at Waterloo. Developed in1988 by archaeologist John Kraft, the recreated village has introduced the Lenape way to hundreds of thousands of visitors.

The valleys of Northwest New Jersey, scooped out of the earth's surface by the glacial retreat, left a fertile area teeming with wildlife that eventually became home to the first paleo Indians around 8600BC., beginning a native American history from the archaic period to the woodland culture of the Lenape, or Delawares. An Algonkian speaking people, the Lenape tribe was one of the most advanced and civilized in the eastern US. The culture flourished until the arrival of the first European fur traders in the mid 1600s and the inevitable procession west, spurred by copper mining near the Delaware River and trade along the old mine road from Philadelphia to Kingston, NY.

Firmly entrenched in the Upper Delaware River Valley, known as the Minisink, and throughout Northwest New Jersey for thousands of years, Lenape civilization is commemorated on our modern map with familiar names like Kittatinny, Allamuchy, Musconetcong, Netcong, Pahaquarry, Hopatcong, and many others. Archeological sites have yielded a multitude of artifacts that inform us of their culture. The most remarkable local excavation occurred over a seven year period at a place called Dark Moon in Frelinghuysen Township. At this ancient arrowhead factory, the Lenape quarried flint from the limestone-rich hills around the site, manufactured thousands of flint points, and buried them for later use. The lodges, huts, pottery and agriculture implements found there with the lode of weaponry are an important part of our academic understanding of how the Lenape lived. More informal excavators have picked wheelbarrows full of arrowheads from farmers' fields. Those days, of course, have vanished along with the arrowheads, although, for scholars, the area still promises a lode of material for interpretation and analysis. Remaining sites are protected by very hefty fines levied against unauthorized removal of artifacts from the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

With some investigation the casual student can find the way to a rock shelter or cave with links to the Lenape. And there are enticing private collections and several small local museums that offer insights into how the Lenape lived. But the easiest path to an appreciation of the Lenape is across the bridge to the Indian Village at Waterloo. Developed in1988 by archaeologist John Kraft, now Director of Operations at Waterloo, the recreated village has introduced the Lenape way to hundreds of thousands of visitors. As resourceful as the Lenape themselves, and certainly with their spirit, Kraft has succeeded in distilling untold hours of ethnographic study to an essential portrait comprehensible to children, yet engaging for adults.


Above: Lenape living quarters.


Corn husk mask made in Lenape tradition

A walk through the village begins at a small plot planted with crops in the symbiotic style of the Lenape. Near the field is a stand full of games, musical instruments, trinkets and statues made from maize by-products and gourds in the style of the day. Crossing the Musconetcong onto the island proper, visitors come upon a scene that may very well have once existed "for real" on this very river bank- fishing nets, harpoons, a fish drying rack, mats made of cattails, and dugout canoes fashioned from yellow poplar- the "canoe tree".

Turning up the hill towards the homes in the village, Kraft notes for probably the thousandth time, but with undiminished cadence, "Lenape homes were usually made of bark taken in the spring, when leaves are about as big as a squirrel's ear and the sap is running up the tree." Soon these small one-family huts yield to larger longhouses, where extended families- defined by the mother's lineage- resided together. All Lenape belonged to one of three clans- Wolf, Turtle or Turkey- which were not geographically defined, but mixed together within villages. The long houses represent typical Lenape domiciles; dried herbs hung from the ceiling through which smoke holes allow indoor cooking fires, turtle shell bowls, utensils made from shells, beds lined with furs. These accouterments of the native lifestyle come to life in the presence of lifesize figures that, having started out as shopping center mannequins, now nobly dramatize two vital shifts in Lenape history. In one scene a girl lies dying of small pox, surrounded by her worried family, an herbalist, and a shaman. In the next house the village chief (sachem) and matron host two Dutch traders, surrounded by a host of village citizens and children. Like all of the articles in the village, these figures are the work of John Kraft's qualified imagination, the Waterloo staff, and volunteers.


John Kraft introduces the mythological Mising, the "masked one", caretaker for the animals in the world of the Lenape, obscured behind a ceremonial pole

At the end of the island, there is a birthing hut, a burial ground and ceremonial totems that connect life on earth to before and after. John immerses himself into the rite: "They'd sit around your grave and mourn for you for 12 days. It took 12 days to walk where the sun sets. And you might want to walk along the Milky Way; that was one of the paths to the after life. Along that path part of the road was missing with a log stretched across the gap. Depending on how many good deeds you do that log will grow in size and make it easier to cross. And you're gonna meet your dog on that road. If you were good to your dog, he'll let you across." While on earth, the Lenape held all sacred. "Everything was alive; rocks, trees, bushes. But they were all alive like REAL PEOPLE. So before you pulled up a flower or cut down a tree you'd offer it a pinch of tobacco and talk to it saying 'I'm sorry but I need your skin to make my house and your arms to make my firewood.'"

At the final stop, a re-created archeological "dig" helps us understand how the village's well-told stories have been pieced together bit by painstaking bit. The archeologist's craft and native American consultants from Oklahoma and Canada have insured the place's integrity. John Kraft's imagination has insured the transformation of more than one mind before the walk back across the bridge.

Comments

steenrapie
27 Jun 2008, 04:25
I spoke at the village on Canal Day. I had been Tour Director there in 1979-81. I've spent the last 26 years working for Parks & Forestry. Despite the patchwork repairs that have been done, this place is very much on the edge and the people in the DEP are not capable of bringing it back. The so-called Indian village needs to be moved off the prehistoric and historic burial ground. The last thing we want to teach our children is to disrespect the past in favor of "entertainment." Perhaps it should be moved to nearby Wild West City.

In truth, the state of NJ needs to rescue the State Historic Sites from their present misplacement in an environmental protection agency and join the rest of America in valuing its irreplaceable heritage.
Jessica
26 Jun 2008, 12:29
I was a guide at the Lenape village 2001-03. Miss the village-miss the good people I worked with. Live in Indiana now. Still teach Native history. Hopefully I will come back soon and visit the grounds. It is too much history to lose.
Carol
24 Jun 2008, 15:30
Was at Waterloo Sat for Canal Day and
walked through the Indian Village. As a
former guide, it looks very nice, but is
definitely not suited to the many school
groups who used to come here. Yes, its more authentic, but the crowds we used to have would have been all bunched up and
confused. Something to think about

Also, did I see an open house real estate
sign in front of the Wellington? Seems that if the state really wanted to preserve a valuable piece of history, they wouldn't be selling it piecemeal

What gives DEP?
Marni Benichou
23 Jun 2008, 11:18
When will you be reopening again? We used to come all the time and miss the amazing exhibit of the Lenape Indians!!
Marni Benichou
23 Jun 2008, 11:18
When will you be reopening again? We used to come all the time and miss the amazing exhibit of the Lenape Indians!!
Richard Volk
20 Jun 2008, 18:15
On April 17th, John asked if the church is still open. The short answer is yes.

Services are held at 10 am from the Sunday after Labor Day until the last Sunday of June. During July, August and Labor Day weekend, services are held at 9:30 am.

The church website is www.WaterlooChurch.com



Noverlys
03 Jun 2008, 06:29
Plan on visiting this weekend is the village open?
Kevin W.
27 May 2008, 20:11
These cement wigwams are standing atop an ancient burial ground, first reported in 1872 as an Indian cemetery, where historic burials include Revolutionary War veterans. Three burials were excavated around 1902 when the ice company dug a channel through the narrow peninsula jutting into the lake to redirect the current away from the ice pond. One estimate claims 30 to 50 burials. I heard that evidence of burials was found when this "village" was built. This only desecrates and dishonors our real heritage.

Why are we spending public money on this when the truly historic fabric of the village is falling to pieces?
Sally Lane, NJDEP
20 May 2008, 09:02
The Lenape Village at Waterloo has been repaired, rebuilt and expanded by its original designer-builder, John Kraft. The Lenape Village will be open for tours by Kraft as part of the Saturday, June 21 celebration of the Canal Society of New Jersey's 13th Annual Canal Day. Scheduled events from 10am to 5pm include mule-drawn boat rides on the Morris Canal; a first-person presentation by historian Richard Pawling as an 1870s canal boat captain; exhibits on aspects of canal history; walking tours of the village's canal features and of its architectural history. Check www.canalsocietynj.org/otl.pdf for details.

The architectural tour will be led by one of the team working on a preservation plan for Waterloo Village. That plan, work on the Lenape Village and ongoing structural and roof repairs and re-roofing at Waterloo are all part of the NJDEP FY08 commitment of $750,000, of which $500,000 has been spent to date. The funding source is the percentage of Corporate Business Tax which the state's voters agreed in November, 2006, should be reallocated to capital needs of state parks & wildlife areas.
Brandon Hughes
28 Apr 2008, 13:41
I live in Douglassville, Pa. While planting a tree in my front yard, I dug up what I think to be arrowheads. Is there any way I can tell whether or not they are real, or what indian tribe might have made them?
Bill Becker (ASNJ)
26 Apr 2008, 12:41
Is there an address for Waterloo Village that I might Mapquest it to find out how to get there??

Thanks!

--Bill
Renee Huntley
22 Apr 2008, 21:26
Could you tell me if the field about a 1/2 mile south of Waterloo entrance on Kinny Rd. is apart of Waterloo or is it owned by the County? The field is large and had a large stage set up.

Thank you.
john
17 Apr 2008, 12:18
is the church still open.
J. Carney
02 Apr 2008, 04:49
Abraham Hutchings House.

What is happening to the Cannon Ball house?

Is it being moved to another site?
I am not familiar with Waterloo, but wish to see this house.

http://lotsofhistory.googlepages.com/
ellen
24 Mar 2008, 11:07
My daughter is getting married on June 14th at the Mohawk Country Club. We thought it would be wonderful if people could visit Waterloo and Lenape Village that early afternoon and maybe even have lunch. IS that a possibility?
Anissa Wiles
21 Feb 2008, 09:51
I loved my visit to waterloo village and I hope that when I move back up North I will get the opportunity to visit again.
joanne
14 Feb 2008, 16:54
Maybe it's me, but I think it's a shame if it is true that the Lenape Village will be turned into a housing development. I took many school classes there when I lived in the area and it was always a trip to remember. It was a great way to teach about native americans and how they lived...you walked right back into the past.
Kyle
13 Feb 2008, 08:21
I did some research and found out that the Lenape Village at Waterloo has been dismantled. In fact, the entire village has been sold (except for the privately owned church)and will be knocked down in March 2008. A beautiful new townhome development is going to be built to help revitalize the area. I hope they keep the "Waterloo" name as a salute to the past!
Richard Thomas
09 Feb 2008, 16:55
I am interested in bringing a group to see the Indian Village and Waterloo Village. When will it be available to tour?
Skylands Visitor
26 Jan 2008, 11:09
We've notified the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry about inquiries regarding the status of Waterloo Village and asked that they respond here directly. You can monitor the state's progress on the project at www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/waterloo-publicmeeting.htm
Jenny S.
26 Jan 2008, 10:20
I would love to bring 5 third-grade classes to Waterloo this spring; any idea when it will reopen?
Adam
14 Jan 2008, 10:24
I am a painter/sculptor who lives in central new jersey. I recently constructed a vision for a sculpture design that will need to include a native american canoe. I am interested in being able to see one in person as well as the literature that may aid me in my design. I am extremely interested not only in the specific canoe, but the history of the people. I would like to make this canoe as traditional as possible according to tradtion. The sculpture will be the result of what i learn and the more information the richer the meaning and honesty I will feel about the process. I was pointed in this direction of waterloo village by the National museum of the american indian. According to the website the villiage is under construction, i was wondering if there is a speculated date where visitors would be welcome again.
adam
09 Jan 2008, 20:42
is there a possible date to project this park being open again?
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