Looking at the newly renovated well house near Oakford Lake, it might be hard to imagine a time when the wooden structure was a pivotal part of life in New Egypt.
As a result of the work of Jacob Taylor, 18, and several volunteers, the small wooden structure that once provided fresh spring water to residents and tourists has been restored to its original condition.
“When I saw [the well house], I saw the bad shape it was in … and I thought it could be a good centerpiece for everybody who goes back there,” said Jacob, who is a senior at New Egypt High School in Plumsted Township.
The project to restore the local landmark was part of Jacob’s bid to earn the rank of Eagle Scout.
The well house was constructed in 1905 and sits on Lakeview Drive near the center of New Egypt.
Patricia Gale of the New Egypt Historical Society said the well house was considered a focal point for decades because it was one of only a few ways for people to get clean, potable water.
“When New Egypt was a gathering place for people from New York and Philadelphia who came by train to enjoy their summer by the lake and other activities, the well house was the supply of water for the town,” Gale said.
The location was also considered a social area where block parties were held as late as the 1950s, she said.
After years of neglect, Jacob said, the building sustained structural and cosmetic damage.
“It is a big part of our history. Nobody knew what it was, so they beat up on it,” he said.
In 1992 the well house was given to the New Egypt Historical Society by its owner, the Elizabethtown Water Company.
Gale said the members of the historical society were excited to hear that Jacob was interested in restoring the building.
Jacob Taylor, 18, of Plumsted, works on the well house that he and other volunteers restored in the New Egypt section of the township. The well house was considered a focal point in the community for decades because it was one of only a few ways for people to obtain potable water. “I see a lot of Eagle Scout projects, but [Jacob’s] surpasses any that I have ever seen in terms of the scope of work that was completed there,” she said. “For a young man to take on something like that is very admirable.”
Jacob received municipal approval and got to work. The historical society provided documents and photographs so he could see how the well house looked years ago. Historical society member Martin Mains volunteered his time to assist Jacob. Mains is a carpenter, and Jacob said he was an integral part of the project. “The structure was old, but it was still intact, so we needed to get all of the old trim work off because it wasn’t the original … we took down the walls and put up new ones … and then copied the exact pattern from photos provided by the historical society to make [the well house] into what it used to be,” Jacob said.
Jacob Taylor of Plumsted earned the rank of Eagle Scout by restoring a historic well house in the New Egypt section of the township. After about 343 hours of manual labor, the restoration of the well house was complete.
Two brass plaques were installed at the building by the historical society: one to describe the history of the well house and one to give Jacob and the other volunteers credit for the work they did to bring it back to life.
Gale said the building could serve as a preserved historic site in the future, complete with images and informational displays.
“I hope a lot of people get to see the signs and learn about the history, so I hope it turns out for the best and we can show everybody what the well house used to be,” Jacob said.
The historical society presented Jacob with a framed letter of thanks, a lifetime membership and a copy of “The History of New Egypt and Plumsted Township,” by Dorothy Mount.
In recognition of his project, Jacob attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He has been involved in scouting since 2004 and is a founding member of Boy Scouts Troop 109.
“I did a lot of hard work there, made a lot of friends, and they got a lot of Eagle Scouts [through that troop],” the young man said.
Jacob said he is planning to attend college, although he has not settled on a major.
“I have a couple things in mind, either something with environmental science or architecture. I just have to narrow it down,” he said.
Jacob said he attributes most of his accomplishments to hard work and his experiences as a scout.
“I think being a scout is one of the best things you can do,” he said. “As a scout, you not only learn how to be a good citizen, how to respect others, but you also learn about the outdoors, nature and life. Everything you need, the scouts can help you with and can make you into a good, mature person.”