2023 Holiday Issue

HISTORY
George Washington Did Not Sleep Here
by MARTY KANE
Photos courtesy of
the
LAKE HOPATCONG
HISTORICAL
MUSEUM
One of the frequent questions we hear at
the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum
during programs and on historical cruises of the
lake is if certain famous individuals ever lived
at Lake Hopatcong. The names most often
referenced include Alan Alda, Bud Abbott and
Lou Costello, Farrah Fawcett, Al Capone and
Babe Ruth.
As a leading resort from the 1880s to the
1940s, it is not surprising some celebrities chose
to spend time at Lake Hopatcong. Just as Aspen
and Vail attract the rich and famous today, the
lake was alluring to a prior generation. It was
particularly popular with entertainers.
In the years before air conditioning, most
theaters closed for the summer. With its
convenient location just 90 minutes by train
from New York City, Lake Hopatcong attracted
everyone from vaudeville headliners (who might
stay several weeks at a lake hotel) to struggling
performers (who could share a bungalow).
Entertainers tended to congregate at two
main sections of the lake. The Espanong Hotel
in Jefferson hosted a who’s who of vaudeville
and burlesque performers. A second actors’
colony developed around the Northwood
section of Hopatcong where many entertainers
rented bungalows, and Glasser’s Pavilion (later
the Northwood Inn and now Lola’s) was the
center of social life.
The lake’s most famous residents over the
years are: actress Lotta Crabtree, who owned
a house in Mount Arlington from 1885-1920
and was a regular summer resident until 1900;
inventor and industrialist Hudson Maxim,
who owned a large estate on the west shore
from 1901 until his death here in 1927; author
Rex Beach, a summer resident from 1911-1917,
who owned a home on Chicopee Road; and
vaudeville and Broadway star Joe Cook, who
hosted legendary parties at Sleepless Hollow,
his 21-acre estate in Davis Cove.
Lake Hopatcong’s appeal as a celebrity
destination diminished as its resort status
faded. While a few noted residents retained
houses at the lake, most moved on to trendier
destinations. Since questions persist, I thought
it would be fun to respond to the myths and
truths of whether certain individuals ever lived
at or visited the lake.
Alan Alda – False! While we cannot rule out
that he ever stopped by Lake Hopatcong, the
actor never owned a house at the lake. This
tale seems to have originated on the Jefferson
House tour boat years ago (alcohol may have
been involved).
Babe Ruth – True! The baseball legend did
not own a home at the lake, but his 1939 visit to
Cook’s place in Davis Cove is well documented.
Al Capone – False! Lake Hopatcong was a
major resort during prohibition, so it is not
surprising that numerous speakeasies operated
around its shores and alcohol was relatively
easy to obtain. The gangster knew Cook and
there were many hotels, so while it is possible
that Capone visited, he never owned a house
here.
This rumor may have started because the
former Lotta Crabtree house was once owned
by John J. Dunne, a major bootlegger from
Hudson County in the 1920s.
Farrah Fawcett – True! George Barrie, former
owner and chief executive of Fabergé, once
owned the large home on the former Maxim
property on Lakeside Boulevard in Hopatcong.
Under his leadership, the company launched
many cosmetic products and deployed
celebrities to promote them.
Fabergé launched an entire line of Farrah
Fawcett hair care products during the 1970s,
and the actress indeed did visit Lake Hopatcong
during this time.
George Burns and Gracie Allen – True! Burns
and later his wife, Allen, both visited friends at
the lake and stayed at lake hotels.
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello – Partially true!
Just before the comedy duo hit the big time,
Lake Hopatcong was a part of Abbott’s life.
During the early years of their marriage, Abbott
and his wife, Betty, worked together as a Burns
and Allen style comedy team, with Betty as the
comedian.
Though it is unclear when they first
visited Lake Hopatcong, the Abbotts were
in Northwood each summer from 1933 to
1936. The Lake Hopatcong Breeze referred to
their rented cottage as “Abbott’s Castle.” In
1940, when Abbott and Costello traveled to
Hollywood to film their first movie, their wives
spent the summer at Lake Hopatcong.
Thomas Edison – True! Edison was a frequent
visitor to the lake in the 1889-1899 timeframe as
he traveled to his mining operation on Sparta
Mountain. Edison was a close friend of Maxim
and most likely visited him at the lake in later
years.
Milton Berle – True! The comedian was a
regular summer visitor at the Alamac Hotel in
Mount Arlington in the 1930s.
Bert Lahr – True! Before he became known as
the cowardly lion in “The Wizard of Oz,” Lahr
spent several summers in Northwood in the
1920s.
Joe DiMaggio – True! DiMaggio was a
documented visitor to the lake, as were New
York Yankee teammates Red Rolfe, Lefty
Gomez and Bill Dickey.
Kelsey Grammer – True! Grammer’s
grandparents owned a house at the lake and
34
LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Holiday 2023
Left to right: Babe Ruth visiting Joe Cook’s
home (Cook is kneeling), in 1939. Bud Abbott
and Lou Costello on the Kate Smith (far left)
Radio Hour, circa l939. Hudson Maxim and Rex
Beach in the front seat with (unknown) friends,
circa 1915.