Lakes of Salem County: Alloway Lake

March 15, 2026

Visitor Information & Regulations

Following an extensive eight-year project to replace the dam and spillway, the 157-acre Alloway Lake officially reopened to the public in November 2009. Visitors can access the lake at 26 East Canal Street, where amenities include parking, picnic tables, a dock, a small basketball court, and a small boat launching ramp (subject to a launching fee).

To preserve the lake’s natural environment, only non-powered watercraft or those equipped with electric trolling motors are permitted. Currently, fishing is allowed on a catch-and-release basis only. For a full list of guidelines, visitors can consult the rules posted at the access site or refer to Chapter 42 of the online municipal code book from the official Township Website.

Geographic Profile of Alloway Lake

Alloway Lake is a significant reservoir located in Salem County, New Jersey. It sits at an elevation of approximately 2 meters (7 feet) above sea level.

Google Maps: View Location
GPS Coordinates: 39.5651137, -75.3613039

Structural Evolution: Dams and Bridges

The lake was originally created by damming Alloway Creek; over two centuries ago, it was known as Jessups Mill Pond. While the current dam is a recent addition, the site has been in continuous use since 1890, with a previous dam structure dating back to 1900.

The landscape of the lake has changed significantly over time. Roughly 135 years ago, a wooden structure known as Long Bridge spanned the water where Main Street now crosses. During that era, the lake and creek were essentially one, making the lake much larger than it is today. The current concrete bridge (County Bridge No. 1065) replaced an older 1930s structure. Similar 1930s-era masonry could also be found on the Greenwich Street bridge heading toward Woodstown-Alloway Road.

The Golden Age of Shipbuilding

In 1831, Josiah and William Reeve established a thriving shipbuilding industry along Alloway Creek. Their shipyard stretched along the beginning of the creek, parallel to what is now String Street. By 1848, the Reeve brothers employed over 100 people to construct schooners, canal boats, and steamboats—some of the largest vessels in the country at the time. Notably, the largest ship ever built in Alloway was a six-ton steamboat.

Because the water near the village was shallow, the larger vessel frames were constructed at the eastern end of Main Street (near the present-day hardware store). These massive frames were then floated through floodgates down to Lloyd’s Landing in Quinton Township, where the deeper waters allowed for final completion. The Reeves’ prosperity is still visible today in the three mansions they built along Main Street near the original shipyard grounds.

Alloway Lake’s Chronology of Stewardship

The ownership of Alloway Lake has passed through several prominent local families over the centuries:

1798: Samuel Holme inherited 150 acres of the property from his father.
1809: James Jessup purchased the property from Samuel’s widow, Margaret Holme.
1821: Josiah M. Reeve acquired the land from James Jessup.
1889: After a period of ownership by Benjamin Diament & Bro., Mary Ewen purchased the lake at a sheriff’s sale.
1921–1943: Earl B. Ewen acquired the property from his mother and later shared title with his brothers, Wade and John.
1951: The Ewen Brothers Corporation sold the lake to Belford L. Seabrook for $10,000.

A Legacy as a Summer Resort

Beyond its industrial history, Alloway was once a premier summer destination. According to local accounts in the book Alloway Remembers, many buildings in the center of town originally served as hotels for seasonal boarders. The beach off Canal Street was a “municipal affair,” developed through the collective effort of the township residents to create a shared community space for recreation. During the winters, the lake remained an economic hub as ice was harvested and stored in local ice houses owned by the Walton and Pancoast families.