Edgewood Speedway
{{Short description|Defunct motorsport venue in Alexandria Bay, New York}}
{{Infobox motorsport venue
| name = Edgewood International Speedway
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| location = Alexandria Bay, New York
| coordinates = {{coord|44.3301|-75.9229|type:landmark_region:US-NY|display=inline,title}}
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| owner = George Clark, George Hebert
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| opened = 1951
| closed = 1955
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| former_names = Edgewood Speedway, Edgewood Park
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| layout1 = Oval
| surface = Dirt
| length_km = .8
| length_mi = .5
| turns = 4
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Edgewood Speedway, officially known as Edgewood International Speedway, was a {{convert|0.5|mi|km|adj=on}} dirt oval raceway located near the Canada–United States border in the Thousand Islands Region of New York State.
Overview
In the spring of 1950, Connecticut residents George Clark and George “Bud” Hebert purchased the Edgewood Park in Alexandria Bay, New York. The park was originally developed in the late 19th century as a private club with a summer bungalow colony and had its own horse track and private golf course.{{cite book |last=Stoodley |first=Dave |title=The Legends of Watertown Speedway |date=2003 |publisher=Speedway Press |isbn=9780967743844 |page=11}}
On February 13, 1951, Hebert and Clark organized their first racing program, a winter stock car event. Tom Kennedy of Westdale, New York, won that first event, beating out 14 other drivers.{{cite news|title= Kennedy wins Bay Stock Car race |url= https://nny360.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2%3A12A5AC0AEA465C7B%40NGPA-NYNNTS-1769CD1767475CF0%402433698-1767E2F98DB2875D%4015-1767E2F98DB2875D%40?search_terms=|date=February 20, 1951|newspaper=Watertown Daily Times|location=NY|via=NNY 360Archives|accessdate=March 30, 2025}} The venue attracted drivers and fans from the Canadian side of the border, and the owners incorporated as the Edgewood International Speedway.{{cite news|title= Edgewood International Speedway is incorporated |url= https://nny360.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2%3A12A5AC0AEA465C7B%40NGPA-NYNNTS-1769CF1D73E89A48%402433907-1769CB1F9817636B%404-1769CB1F9817636B%40?search_terms=|date=September 17, 1951|newspaper=Watertown Daily Times|location=NY|via=NNY 360Archives|accessdate=March 30, 2025}}{{cite news |last=Kennedy |first=Murray |date=September 29, 1952 |title=Frank Andre wins features at Kingston, Alexandria Bay |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/729951387 |access-date=November 10, 2023 |newspaper=The Kingston Whig-Standard |page=17 |publication-place=Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com}}
The promoters also took on operation of the nearby Watertown Speedway, establishing a joint championship in conjunction with the Adirondack Stock Car Club, an organization of local car owners and drivers organized by Al Mosher.{{cite news|title=Thanksgiving Day races|url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=tja19511108-01.1.8&srpos=4&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-%22Edgewood+speedway%22---------|date=November 8, 1951|page=9|newspaper=The Journal and Republican|location=Lowville NY|via=NYS Historic Newspapers|accessdate=March 30, 2025}} The first club championship was claimed by Hall of Fame driver Don June, and in following years by, Andy Rae (1952), Bobby Miller (1953), Allen Shirley (1954).{{sfnp|Stoodley|2003|pp=15-40}}
In 1955, Hebert and Clark began construction of Adventure Town amusement park to replace the Edgewood racetrack.{{cite news|last=Hills|first=William P.|title=‘Adventure Town’ tourist area plan seen aid to Bay businesses|url=https://nny360.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2%3A12A5AC0AEA465C7B%40NGPA-NYNNTS-176A3C67F31AF377%402435155-17682646D4478F80%4028-17682646D4478F80%40?search_terms=|date=February 15, 1955|page=29|newspaper=Watertown Daily Times|location=NY|via=NNY 360Archives|accessdate=March 30, 2025}}
References
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External links
- [https://memoryln.net/places/united-states/new-york/alexandria-bay/parks-and-recreation/adventure-town-1000-islands/ Adventure Town – 1000 Islands]
- [https://memoryln.net/places/united-states/new-york/alexandria-bay/hotel-resort/edgewood-park-1000-islands/ Edgewood Park - 1000 Islands]
Category:Motorsport venues in New York (state)
Category:Sports venues in Jefferson County, New York