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Community Corner

A Look Back at Henry Cross, Who Grew Potatoes at Today's Cross Farm Park

At a Holmdel Historical Society meeting, George Joynson told the colorful story of a Holmdel racetrack that operated in the 1890s. In 1913, farmer Henry Cross acquired the tract, now called Cross Farm Park. His descendant tells the story.

My great grandfather was a well-known farmer named Henry Cross. He was born in 1861 and lived until 1924. He was the sixth child born to George and Ellen Cross, who met on the ship coming over from England in September 1849.

Henry was born into a farmer's life and worked with many of his siblings. The Cross brothers owned many farms in Holmdel and were known for being one of the best known potato farmers in Monmouth County and were very respected by other farmers too.

He married Annie Leahy from Colts Neck and had three boys who were groomed to carry on the life of farming in Holmdel.

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In 1913 he purchased the Gideon & Daly farm located on Willowbrook Road, off Route 537. In his obituary published in the Red Bank Register, it said that most farmers thought he was foolish for buying this big farm.

The home my grandfather built for my grandmother as a wedding present in 1929 is still standing and it faces Route 520, by Longbridge Rd.

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He grew potatoes on the site of the old horse farm. With the sale of potatoes he was able to pay the farm off in two years. 

The old Gideon & Daly clubhouse became the family home and it had several barns.

The house was simply grand and had indoor bathrooms which were not common in 1913 and the fireplaces were all marble.

Henry and Annie raised their family in this home for many years and even when some of their sons got married they stayed on and had their children grow up in this wonderful home on a great farm.

My grandfather was William Cross and he was born in 1903 and lived in the home from 1913-1929 until he built a home for his new bride just down the road, also on property that was owned by his family.

The Cross family was always welcoming everyone into their homes. Other farmers from other towns came over to hunt fox. This is where the original foxhunt in Middletown began.

The Frogtown Frolic also started on the Cross farm in Holmdel. 

I think my family would be thrilled to know that many other families are enjoying that land with their families like they did -- even if it was more work than fun to bring many good crops to their town.  

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