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| South Side Signal, December 28, 1872 [1] |
Many people are familiar with North Babylon’s historical connection to horse racing. Belmont Lake State Park was the former site of August Belmont’s Nursery Stud Farm where race horses were bred and trained in the late 1800s. But that is not the only horse racing connection in North Babylon.
In the summer of 1871, the South
Side Driving Park opened in North Babylon. What
is a “driving park”? It is a racetrack designed for harness racing, in
which horses typically pull a two-wheeled cart with driver.
Charles S. Green (1835-1903) was an experienced trainer of horses for harness racing – trotters – by the time that he came to Babylon and purchased the property on the east side of Deer Park Avenue, just north of the Village of Babylon. Green’s driving park was a one-mile circular track. (Today, that area comprises Henry Avenue, Independence Avenue, and Foster Boulevard. Although Foster Boulevard is shaped like a circle, it was not the actual race track. Foster Boulevard was named for Prince H. Foster (1812-1895) who had the adjacent property on the south, known as Babylon Nursery, which specialized in growing ornamental trees and shrubs.)
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| The South Side Driving Park recorded on the Atlas of Long Island, NY, Beers, Comstock & Cline, 1873. |
The local newspaper, the South Side Signal, published admiration for the raceway, its horses and exciting races, along with praise that the driving park contributed to the betterment of the Babylon area. Writing about the upcoming 4th of July race events, the Signal reported, “Our village has been growing into a space of some note as a summer resort. We all appreciate the pecuniary advantages gained every season by the presence of pleasure-seekers and those who make our shores their residence during the summer season. Whatever contribute to their comfort, amusement and pleasure, adds to the popularity of our village, increases the number of guests, and insures as a result our general profit and prosperity.”[2] What that really means is “good entertainment is good business for Babylon”!
It is surely no coincidence that
Green sought out Babylon to establish his driving park. By 1871, the South Side
Railroad (now the Babylon Line) had been operating for nearly 4 years. Access
to hotels, the Great South Bay and beaches made Babylon an ideal destination
for New York City residents. Have you noticed that names … South Side Railroad
(arrived in Babylon, 1867) … South Side
Signal (established in Babylon, 1869) … South Side Driving Park
(established in North Babylon, 1871) …? The arrival of the railroad meant easy
travel access to the “South Side” of Long Island and the South Side was
booming!
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle offered this review of an 1883 race: Trotting At Babylon. -- For some time the sporting residents of Babylon have been discussing the merits of the three crack trotting horses in the town, and on Friday afternoon they appeared on the track of the South Side Driving Park to settle the point of speed to the satisfaction of their respective owners. The horse in the race were J.B. Gulick’s black gelding, Victor; Harrison Smith’s gray mare, Mystery; and T.C. Pettit’s gray gelding, Duncan Wood. Mystery won the first and third heats, and Victor the second, fourth and fifth heats, and the race. The best time over the half mile track was 2:46¼. The purse was a sweepstakes of $75.[3]
Although Charles S. Green
retained ownership of the diving park, George B. Burr took over management in
1879. In 1884, Green closed the driving park,[4]
sold the property and returned upstate to Utica, where he had lived before
coming to Long Island. The well-known horseman was driving a carriage when it
was struck by an electric car, and Charles S. Green later died at a hospital.[5]
An unfortunate end for a man so connected to horses and carriages to meet his
end by a modern automobile.
By 1886, the old horse racing
property was acquired by Roswell G. Rolston (1832-1898), who was president of
the New York Farmer’s Loan and Trust Company.[6]
Rolston built three homes on the property, for himself and two of his sons. The
Rolston family named their county estate Armagh,
reportedly named for Mr. Rolston’s birthplace in Ireland.[7]
For nearly a decade after his death, Sarah Littell Rolston (1835-1914), his
wife, held ownership of the property before selling the 100-acre estate to John
F. Cockerill, including the one-mile track.[8]
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| Owned by Roswell G. Rolston, the old racetrack was still depicted on the Atlas of the towns Babylon, Islip, and south part of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, N.Y. New York, Wendelken & Co., 1888. |
In 1924, the property was acquired by real estate developer Cadman H. Frederick.[9] Frederick had residential developments in Queens and Nassau County, and throughout the Town of Babylon.
The 1920s were a productive time for the “South Side.” There were several housing developments that were started in the years following World War I and before the 1929 Stock Market Crash – Frederick Shores (Babylon), Venetian Shores (West Babylon/Lindenhurst), Heer Park (Lindenhurst), American Venice, Amity Harbor and Hawkins Estate (Copiague) – as people from New York City sought “houses in the country” and summer bungalows. Development was also spurred by the Long Island Rail Road’s electrification of the Babylon Line. Electrified in 1925, the modernized rail line was a significant draw for City commuters.
[1] “Travelers Guide,” South Side Signal, December 28, 1872, p.
4.
[2] “What We Know About
Babylon,” South Side Signal, June 21, 1873, p. 2.
[3] “Trotting At Babylon,” Brooklyn
Daily Eagle, May 27, 1883, p. 6.
[4] “Babylon Local Record,”
South Side Signal, July 12, 1884, p. 3
[5] “Babylon Local Record,”
South Side Signal, July 4, 1903, p. 3; “’Charley’ Green Is Dying. Famous
Horseman Breathing His Last in a Hospital at Utica – His Career,” Brooklyn
Daily Eagle, July 1, 1903, p. 7.
[6] “North Babylon,” South
Side Signal, March 13, 1886, p. 3.
[7] “Babylon Local Record,” South
Side Signal, November 19, 1892, p. 3; “Obituary,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August
26, 1898, p. 3; “Babylon Local Record,” South Side Signal, February 25, 1905,
p. 3.
[8] “In North Babylon,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 15, 1907, p. 25.
[9] “Rolston Estate, Babylon, is Sold for Development,” Brooklyn Times Union, November 22, 1924, p. 8; “Prominent Babylon Estates Being Developed Into Attractive Residential Colonies Following Extension of Electric Service,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 28, 1925, p. 62. Cadman H. Frederick’s influence can be found all over Babylon Village. He was Mayor from 1937 to 1941. He created the Frederick Shores (“Fred Shores”) neighborhood, and Cadman Avenue and Frederick Avenue are named for him. (As far as I know, he is the only person to have streets named after both his first and last names.) He also helped start the Suffolk County Federal Savings & Loan Association; that old bank building is now Sterling Bank on West Main Street.