Kakeout Mountain (formerly Kikeout Mountain) is a summit in Kinnelon borough, Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States.[1]
The name Kikeout was derived from the Dutch word kijkuit, meaning "lookout".[2] "Kakeout" is the local pronunciation of the name of the mountain and adjacent reservoir, but the spelling caused a degree of local controversy as it includes the word kike, an ethnic slur referring to Jews.[2] Because of this, the name was changed from Kikeout to Kakeout. This name has also caused some controversy as a potential ethnic slur to African-Americans.[3]
Kakeout Mountain is the highest point in Kinellon, offering a view of the Hudson River. For this reason, and its location between Ringwood Manor and Morristown, Kakeout Mountain was used by George Washington's troops during the American Revolutionary War.[4]
A vein of gold was reported to have been found in the "Kikeout Mountains [sic]" in 1897.[5][6]
In 1936 work was started on a 325 feet wide by 25 feet tall dam, creating a 553 acre lake on Kakeout Mountain. The construction was projected to cost $245,000, employ 334 laborers and supply 3.5 million gallons of water per day. The bulk of the funding was to be provided by the WPA.[7]
In 1940 a wading pool was created using Kikeout Brook, the overflow from the reservoir on Kakeout Mountain.[8]
During World War II, guards were posted to defended the reservoir atop Kakeout Mountain.[9][10]
In 1957 there were two forest fires.[11]
In 1967 a water project was completed that stored 1 1/2 million gallons at a cost of $750,000.[12]
References
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kakeout Mountain
- ^ a b Laplaca, Bryan (October 3, 2011). "Back in the Day - Oct. 1, 1986: 'Kakeout' name change criticized". NorthJersey.com. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
- ^ Cronin, Brittany (February 28, 2019). "Beyond Virginia: Confronting Racism in my Hometown". The Morningside Post. Archived from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
I often wondered what Kakeout meant, and it wasn't until this latest blackface controversy that I revisited that question. As it turns out, the Kake Walk was a popular competition at the University of Vermont in which students performed minstrel shows and dance in blackface. The show and term derive from when plantation owners would organize slave competitions for entertainment and award the best dancers a cake. So if kake was white slang for black, Kakeout Road made certain that black people knew they were unwelcome in my hometown.
- ^ "Foothills to history related in little signs and grandfather Brown's stories". Paterson News. August 17, 1956. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ "Latest Reported Discoveries of New Gold Fields". Courier-Post. August 13, 1897 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "A Klondike in Jersey". Waterbury Democrat. August 12, 1897. p. 1.
- ^ "Butler reservoir job starts soon". Paterson News. November 10, 1936. p. 45. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ "New wading pool popular with children". Paterson, New Jersey: Paterson Morning Call. August 6, 1940. p. 15.
overhead perforated pipes provide a perpetual shower
- ^ "Reservoir guards given new schedule". Paterson Morning Call. November 1, 1941. p. 20.
- ^ "Water guards". Paterson Morning Call. September 1, 1941. p. 12.
- ^ "Forest fires continue to plague state rangers". Butler, New Jersey: Passaic Herald-News. August 20, 1957. p. 13.
One was caused by a boy who threw a cigarette into the brush
- ^ Molnar, John (June 20, 1968). "Pompton Lakes water deal with Butler stalls". Paterson, New Jersey: Morning Call. p. 26.