Ho-Ho-Kus January 20, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 5 Race track signs sought by Jennifer Crusco Ho-Ho-Kus resident Nancy Pianfetti is planning to approach the borough council this week (Jan. 19 at 8 p.m.) to discuss her request to place commemorative signs in her neighborhood to demarcate the location of the former race track. Pianfetti recently circulated a petition and collected signatures of residents who also support the cause to commemorate the old track, which gave Race Track Road its name. In a letter sent to the borough council, the resident said many non-borough residents who know of Ho-Ho-Kus are aware of the municipality because of the now-defunct track. “I have lived in the ‘grandstand’ of the former race track since 1976,” the Arbor Drive resident wrote. “My two sons also currently reside on the former race track, one in the picnic area on Addison Place and one on the actual track on Spruce Place. We have always been proud to tell people about our ‘famous’ homesites.” Last week, Pianfetti told Villadom TIMES that memorializing the track’s existence is something she has planned for a long time. She said that, provided the council approves of her plans, she would work to raise funds to mark the three entrances to the old track, including one at each end of Arbor Drive and one at Bernard Place. The resident said she would like to enlist the aid of one or more local Eagle Scout candidates, who might create the commemorative signs as a community service project. She envisions signs that include the various uses of the track, which was used for horses, motorcycles, and cars throughout its history. After researching the costs, Pianfetti said the signs could potentially cost $1,000 each. She indicated her intent to ask the council’s permission to fundraise and to work with the borough engineer, David Hals, to ensure that the installation would be done properly. Recently, Pianfetti said she hoped to find remnant treasures from the track. “We (she and her husband Kevin) just did major construction on our house, and we were Members of Tiger Cub Pack 54 Den 1 of Ho-Ho-Kus recently learned to sew pillows at Ginny Fawcett’s Needlecraft School in Midland Park. The pillows were sent to U.S. servicemen and women who are serving overseas as part of the school’s ongoing program to support American troops. Needlecraft School also has an ongoing toiletry collection for the soldiers. Call the school at (201) 444-2976 for more information. Sew sweet hopping to find a horseshoe.” They did not locate any. Several years ago, Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Historian/Planning Board Chairman John Hanlon and former planning board member Ken Kievit discovered that some area residents are unaware of the existence of the former race track and stables. While there was information available, Hanlon said it had never been collated. He said that, during the planning board’s work on the Ho-Ho-Kus Master Plan, he gathered up the information on the track, which is now available online in the history section of the master plan. However, there are no signs now designating sites that were part of the old track. According to “Background of Ho-HoKus History,” the track was developed in the 1870s and became a New Jersey landmark. The 23-acre property started as farmland owned by Samuel Banta. The track was used until 1938, and was developed for residential use in 1950-51. During the 1890s, the track was used by the North Jersey Agricultural and Driving Association. This organization constructed the grandstand, and improved the half-mile track, which was used for racing and for county fairs. The last of the fairs was reportedly held in 1932. During its existence, the track was also used for an event known as the French Remount. Horses and mules assembled from across the nation were brought in by train to Nagle’s Coal Yard, herded down Franklin Turnpike, and stabled at the race track. Men from the French Army would then purchase the animals. Sam Nagle purchased the track in the early 1900s for a sum of approximately $15,000. In 1914-15, movie actors Mae Marsh and Crane Wilbur came to the track to film “Polly of the Circus.” The first automobile race was held at the track circa 1919. John Kochman improved the track for car racing in 1934 and these event enjoyed great popularity. The borough council eventually closed the track on in 1938, following a July 4 racing accident that claimed the life of a child and left 12 others injured. ������������ ������������� ���������������������������������������� ������������� ��� ���������� ������� ������������������������������������� ������������������������������������ ���������������������������������� ���������������������������������� ���������������������������������� ��������������������������������� ���������������� ������������������������������������������������ ������������������ �������������� ����������� ������������ �������� ����