The land where Hacklebarney is now located was originally inhabited by many Native American tribes. Over thousands of years, these tribes evolved from hunters and gatherers to the agricultural tribes, such as the Lenni Lenape. Evidence of these tribes can still be seen by the Black River in the form of mushpots. In the early 18th century the community became mostly agricultural. As more people moved to the area iron mines began to be developed. For more than 100 years, these iron mines ruled the land where Hacklebarney is now located. The land for Hacklebarney State Park was donated by Adolphe E. Borie. He was described as a merchant in zinc manufacturing. Adolphe served as president of the
Savage Arms Company and vice president of the
Bethlehem Steel Corporation. There is no evidence as to why Adolphe donated his land, but at the time there were many other large land donations being made. On June 5, 1924, Adolphe and Sarah Borie donated 32 acres to the people of New Jersey. There were a few conditions that came with the gift. These included the park being used for picnic tables, family vacations, and a forest demonstration area. The Bories were also to have the privilege to camp at one of five specified campgrounds in the park. A special term of the gift was that a memorial needed to be created honoring Susan Borie, Adolphe's mother, and Susan Patterson, Adolphe's niece. This was done by putting two stone pillars at the entrance to the park. In 1929, Adolphe donated 90 more acres and suggested that he would donate more if the entrance was moved farther south down the Black River. His request was granted and he donated another sum of land. With the acceptance of this donation, the state decided to use money for the developing of the park. The development of Hacklebarney Park was part of a National movement known as "The Golden Age of Parks." During this period of time, there began a huge conservation effort known as the
Civilian Conservation Corps, also known as the CCC. The goals of this agency were to create jobs for men 17−24, create parks, preserve national monuments, and conserve forest land. The parks division was influenced by people's newfound love of the road and the growing of the
Girl Scouts of the USA and the
Boy Scouts of America and their need for open spaces to conduct their outdoor activities. Hacklebarney Park was a part of this movement from 1933 to 1943. During this time, over 1,000 men worked in the park building trails, picnic tables, and many other additions the park needed. Although the CCC's work is still the biggest conservation project ever completed in the park, some of the additions are no longer used, such as the original water system. It is believed that the first superintendent of the park was C.E. Pollock. He oversaw the park during the CCC era into the 1940s. In 1981 the park was almost shut down due to budget cuts. The park now has over 100,000 visitors annually and of land. ==Name==