TUSTEN, NY — Rodney Johnson recalled hearing a steady stream of music playing from the Luxton Lake Clubhouse as a child in the 70s while he celebrated the 4th of July with family, friends and fireworks.

The 4th of July was one of many memories Johnson shared with his family at their property on Luxton Lake, at 144 Lake Country Lane in Narrowsburg—a property that, as of Sunday, August 16, has been lost to a fire.

Luxton Lake is a private community located in Narrowsburg formed in the 1800s that experienced an increase in population in the 1950s. In the 50s, the area started being marketed as an African-American destination. Jazz musician Noble Sissle was attracted to the region, and brought his famous friends including baseball star player Willie Mays, who was further used to advertise the area. 

The community was “designed for African Americans to have a piece of the American dream,” according to Johnson.

Though the local dam has been destroyed and the lake drained, it still serves as an area where both full-time residents and second home owners live.

The Lake Country Lane house, which was in Johnson’s family for generations, burned down for unknown reasons on the evening of Sunday, August 16. The property serves as a vacation home for his family and was vacant at the time of the fire.

“I don’t know what happened,” Johnson said. “It’s horrible,”

Johnson recalled being at the property that Sunday morning and leaving before noon. Later, when he was back in New York City, he received calls from his neighbors informing him of the fire.

“I could not believe my eyes,” Johnson said, describing his reaction to seeing his home after rushing back to Narrowsburg.

Johnson described appreciating the raccoons, deer and open air outside the home multiple times a year growing up. 

“Community joy, laughter, parties,” Johnson said, summarizing his experiences at the home. “I liked to escape the concrete jungle of New York.”

Anie Stanley, president of the Luxton Lake Property Owners Association, echoed Johnson’s sentiments, stating that the area was a “pristine habitat for wildlife and birds” 

“It’s a special place,” she continued. “The history is amazing,” she said, citing previous historical awards the community received.

Dry hydrants

In the aftermath of the fire, Stanley emphasized the lack of dry hydrants in the community that could help stop local fires quicker.

“There’s no hydrants existing at all in Luxton Lake,” she said.

According to emails forwarded to the River Reporter, Stanley attempted to reach out to town officials about installing dry hydrants in the area throughout 2021 to 2023. Stanley alleged that she had received confirmation in 2021 that new hydrants would be installed.

Regular fire hydrants are hydrants connected to a municipal water source. Dry hydrants are hydrants connected to a nearby water source like a pond or lake. Due to Luxton Lake being a private rural community and not being connected to municipal water, it would need dry hydrants. 

Meeting minutes from June 22, 2021, show that the town had a public hearing and approved a resolution to spend an estimated maximum cost of $7.5 million for the “replacement of existing fire hydrants, water valves and water mains and installation of new automatic flushing stations and additional new fire hydrants.”

Still, no fire or dry hydrants exist in the Luxton Lake region.

“I am an advocate of having dry hydrants,” Rodney Johnson said, expressing that he wishes more could have been done to save his home.

Tusten town supervisor Ben Johnson told the River Reporter that installing dry hydrants in the community is the fire department's responsibility, and would require permission from a property owner to install it. 

Stanley told the River Reporter that the fire department had allegedly communicated to her that they were waiting for approval from the town.

Tanker fire trucks were used to attempt to diffuse the fire at Lake Country Lane, according to Ben Johnson.

The long-standing history of the neighborhood also poses some issues. Because the community was built up in the 40s and 50s, houses are close together on a lot less than an acre, which wouldn’t meet modern codes, according to Stanley.

“One way in and one way out, too; it’s difficult for the fire trucks to turn around.” Stanley elaborated.

Being a private community also poses some challenges. Even though residents pay town taxes, private roads are not something the town is able to fix. This has posed a problem during increased flooding in 2021, which has still affected the roads today, according to Stanley.

“Our roads are in dire need of repair” she stressed.

Looking ahead

Though Rodney Johnson’s home at Lake Country Lane has been burned, he told the River Reporter that he intends to rebuild there. He has reached out to his insurance and is waiting for next steps.

“There is more memories than I could ever care to count,” he said. “Hopefully, the next story will be about my [new] home.”