• The Conlin Years •
The Conlin family assumed ownership of the Kessler estate in 1940. Benjamin J. Conlin, known as “The Cotton King,” was a stock broker on the Wall Street Cotton Exchange and was married to Dorothy Brady, a daughter of Kessler’s business partner who may have been Kessler’s niece. The Conlin family lived in the house till March 1948.
• John Handwerg, Sr. •
John Handwerg, Sr., born in 1896 in Old Tappan, was first a farmer. He had operated several farms in the area, but lost them as others did, in the Great Depression. He secured a Government Reconstruction mortgage in the 1930’s and converted his farm into a golf course, the present day River Vale Country Club. Bob Secor, a Pascack Valley historian, believes John Handwerg, Sr. not only converted his farm into one of the best golf courses in the East, but also “put this little farm town of River Vale on the map.” Handwerg’s golf club, the River Vale Country Club, was an unrestricted course and attracted many New York business people and New York celebrities who were not welcome at other Bergen County courses.” Handwerg went on to design at least four other golf courses; one in Spring Valley, New York (Empire State Golf Course) and three more in New Jersey (Manalapan, Scotch Plains and River Vale), the last of which is the present day Edgewood Country Club.
John Handwerg, Sr. sold The River Vale Country Club Golf Course in the late 1940’s. He purchased the Kessler Estate from the Conlin family in March, 1940 and converted 300 acres, a portion of which is today’s Edgewood Country Club’s 27- hole golf course.
People in River Vale remembered John, Sr. as a big man, always in work clothes, busy, and driving a big Chrysler. He had a reputation as one who would never ask his workers to do a chore that he wouldn’t do himself. During WWII, when labor was scarce, he worked on the golf course from morning till night preparing it for the next morning’s golfers.
John Handwerg, Jr., also active in the golf course business, bought and converted land on River Vale Road near the Harrington Park border. That course, Valley Brook, is still in operation. He and his wife, Beatrice, lived in the Kessler mansion until January 1, 1950 when the house burned to the ground.
The Handwergs lived with their families on the Greenwood Country Club property until 1956.
• 1956 - 1959 •
Greenwood Country Club, owned by the Handwergs, was situated on what is now the Edgewood Country Club property. However, Greenwood had fallen on hard times. A group of investors called the Market Associates bought the Greenwood Country Club in approximately 1956.
At that time, 16 to 25 families mostly drawn from Aldercrest (now Alpine Country Club) and the Greenwood Country Club were involved in forming a new country club that would sit on the Greenwood Country Club grounds.
|
• Edgewood 1959 - 1961 •
With the exception of the Clubhouse, Edgewood’s configuration was similar to today’s design.
The pool area had a large pavilion with a barbeque and picnic tables. The Olympic size pool was the same as it is today, but unheated.
Edgewood’s present day Midway served as a kitchen. The main dining room was situated in the present day pro shop with windows overlooking One White.
Edgewood’s present day bag room served as a pro shop.
• Edgewood’s Twenty-Seven Hole Golf Course •
The condition of the original golf course contrasts sharply with today’s superb facility.
• The Contentious Clubhouse •
A decision to build a clubhouse was made during the first year of operation.
Today, though decorated differently, the Clubhouse is beautiful, housing on its top floor a dining room, kitchen, large bar, card room, and an all purpose room. Members’ locker rooms situated on the lower level contain red maple lockers and ladies’ and men’s card rooms. A screened in porch overlooks the pool area.
• Converting a Lease into a Deed •
In 1984, Edgewood’s lease was converted into a deed. Before then, Edgewood Country Club leased its property from the Market Associates Group at $90,000 a year for a 60 year duration.
• Changes •
Edgewood Country Club has continued to thrive since its early days. Additional Har-Tru tennis courts were built with a viewing area. During the early 2000’s a permanent ‘kiddie’ pool, a heater for the Olympic sized pool, and a state of the arts play ground for young children were added.
Edgewood’s golf course has become a more beautiful, challenging, and well maintained course.
We hope you found hearing about the history of Edgewood interesting.
|