"LAST NIGHT I TOOK A WALK IN THE PARK...DOWN AT A PLACE CALLED PALISADES PARK..."

Palisades Amusement Park was a 30-acre amusement park located in Bergen County, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City. It was located atop the New Jersey Palisades lying partly in Cliffside Park and partly in Fort Lee. 

Closed: September 12, 1971

Opened: 1898

Operating season: Weekend before Easter to Sunday after Labor Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnLCvpgPD_s

www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5IkHvTzTeg 

"A 1926 GEM... THE ARCOLA AMUSEMENT PARK"

      On the Paramus/Rochelle Park border, built along the Hudson Valley Trolley Line in 1926, the prototype, all-inclusive amusement park, The Arcola Amusement Park entertained throngs of visitors until 1929, at which time, sadly, the Park burned down. 
     Who would have thought?

"BEFORE THERE WAS GREAT ADVENTURE, THERE WAS ..."

     "Freedomland opened on June 19, 1960, in the Baychester section of the Bronx, New York. Designed by Marco Engineering of Los Angeles for International Recreation Corporation, it was the third and largest innovative theme park built across America to mimic Disneyland. Constructed in the shape of the United States and presenting 200 years of American history, Freedomland was intended to be both exciting and educational. Historically themed attractions and costumed cast members were located throughout the seven sections. In addition, Freedomland offered national and local stars, big bands, and daily entertainment events. Professional character actors also worked throughout the park." 

FOR MORE INFORMATION... check out this website:

http://backinthebronx.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/archive/bronxezine/newest/

"REMEMBERING PINE LAKE - A DESTINATION FOR LOCALS"

     "Pine Lake in the Township of Washington was once a popular destination for locals and summertime travelers seeking a place to cool off. The Pine Lake Inn, at the corner of Pascack and Ridgewood Roads, is now the site of Bacari Grill. The lake itself was filled in and is now the site of a townhouse complex. This photo was taken at the lake in the summer of 1935. The lake was closed to the public in the early 80s."
     [I remember our almost daily visits to Pine Lake to swim as part of the Bergen Catholic "Day Camp" in the late '50's.]

     "Pine Lake Inn, the building on the northwest corner of Ridgewood and Pascack Roads in the Township of Washington, originally was part of the 100 acre Zabriskie-Van Emburgh farm. At the turn of the century, when owned by the Walgaste family, the farm had orchards, a hay barn, stable, cattle sheds, chicken coops, and corn crib, and a number of tenant homes."

...now, visualize the Bacari Inn, overlaid on this original structure. Stop in(N) some time feel the history surround you as you sip one of the ... Inn's famous Bloody Marys!

"A HORRIFIC CRASH ENDED HO-HO-KUS SPEEDWAY 78 YEARS AGO!"

     "In the final race on Fourth of July 1938, drivers Henry Guerand and Vince Brehm locked wheels at 60 mph, sending Brehm’s vehicle through a guardrail.

     "The crash killed a 10-year-old Ridgewood boy and a 30-year-old man from Hawthorne, whose leg was amputated with a pocket knife on the scene. Seventeen others were injured.

The accident left such an indelible mark that the speedway closed immediately and forever. After World War II, the 23-acre property was sold to make way for houses.

     "Few reminders of the once-famous speedway remain: Race Track Road (with those giant green exit signs off Route 17), the enlarged old photos in the Krauszer’s Food Store in downtown Ho-Ho-Kus and a race-day poster at the nearby Ho-Ho-Kus Inn." 

     "The Ho-Ho-Kus Racetrack was developed in the late 1860’s to early 1870’s and remained opened for business until 1938.  The track grounds were used for a variety of events beyond Horse and Automobile races such as polo events, parades, firemen field days, carnivals and fairs.  Just like the borough, the racetrack had a multitude of names such as the Ho-Ho-Kus Driving Park, Ridgewood Race Track, Ho-Ho-Kus Speedway, the Driving Park, Bergen County Fair Grounds, Ho-Ho-Kus Park Incorporated and Ho-Ho-Kus Race Track." 

     Here's a map of the original track. 

     So, if you should hear the roar of race cars, heading up 17 North, where Racetrack Road is now bisected by the highway (...at one point, traffic lights allowed cars to cross Rte. 17!), you might hear ghosts of yesterday's races, unless, of course the air is shattered by a massive 18-wheeler.

"ONE OF BERGEN COUNTY'S FIRST LIGHT-RAIL SYSTEMS - 1909 - 1929"

     Ever walk the "right-of-way," from let's say, Glen Rock, through Ridgewood, and into Ho-Ho-Kus? Then you've walked the "line" of, perhaps, Bergen County's most famous light rail system, known as The Trolley or The Suffern Trolley.

     "The public referred to it as “The Trolley” or the Suffern Trolley. It ran in and out of Ho-Ho-Kus from late 1909 to 1929. It was a single track system with by-pass tracks to allow for two way traffic. When fully operational, the route started in East Paterson (Elmwood Park) with stops in Fair Lawn, Glen Rock, Ridgewood, Ho-Ho-Kus, Waldwick, Allendale, Ramsey, Mahwah and Suffern, New York. (16 miles)."

     "At the end of 1928, Public Service Rapid Transit received permission from the State to terminate operation at the end of the year. George Jackson, Superintendent, shut down the power plants on New Year’s Eve 1928; and the era ended."

Remains of the trolley system are still evident in Ho-Ho-Kus today:

1. The Public Service right of way in town was the route of the trolley systems tracks.
2. A set of trolley tracks are still in the sidewalk on East Franklin Turnpike.
3. The trolley bridge over the Zabriskie Brook is still in place and functions.   It is located behind 16 Lakewood Avenue
4. The accountant/bookkeepers house still exists at 125 Elmwood Ave.
5. Superintendent Jacksons house (cira 1830) is still used as a residence at 110 Sheridan Avenue
6. Remnants of the Sheridan Ave. Trolley Station have survived and are maintained
7. The land that the Trolley Company purchased for future expansion is still an anomaly on the Municipal land use and Tax maps.                                                          

"GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN - TICE AND VAN RIPER FARMS"

     "Decades ago, when the Tice and Van Riper farms still sat opposite one another on Chestnut Ridge Road, autumn weekends in Woodcliff Lake would be bustling with activity."

     "Hundreds of visitors from New Jersey and New York would flood the borough, looking for pumpkins, hayrides, freshly baked donuts and squeezed cider, causing traffic jams along the two lane street leading to the farms for miles."

"BEFORE HOME DEPOT ... THERE WAS RICKEL HOME CENTER"

17 North, just past the East Ridgewood Avenue overpass, pass Panera's, in the mall where Equinox [Fitness] now resides, Rickel Home Center, later followed by Channel's, on 17 South, now home of Barnes and Noble, Rickel was the king of home supply centers. That is, until the upstart Home Depot set up shop just north of Midland Avenue. After merging eventually with its competition across the highway, Channel's, Rickel reigned supreme, offering much of the same as Home Depot does some twenty years later. Eventually, heavy debt structure and overexpansion, much like Sears did by acquiring K-Mart, Rickel finally folded its tents in 1997. But, what a store it was! Home Depot, carrying more inventory and building cavernous stores, didn't offer any MORE in service and quality products. I still miss its convenient location and offerings to this day. My oldest Black and Decker power tools hail from Rickel Home Center and perform flawlessly, from 1975!

"THE PARAMUS DRIVE-IN @ THE ENTRANCE OF THE GSP, ROUTE 4 EAST"

...now, it's just a parking lot.

"THE GARDEN STATE PLAZA, circa 1960's"

... in the beginning when things were simpler.