Thanksgiving Day fire destroys 112-year-old home in Mountain Lakes
MOUNTAIN LAKES — The 112-year-old home at 190 Laurel Hill Road was destroyed on Thanksgiving afternoon by a fire that burned late into the night.
The sole owner and resident Hal Haydock, was not home at the time of the fire that was initially reported by neighbors.
Peter Mills, a longtime neighbor, invited Haydock in for Thanksgiving dinner after the fire. "It's a terrible thing to see, a fire is always devastating," said Mills.
Built in 1911, the home held historical significance to neighbors and town residents. The 4467-square-foot, single-family home, is one of the original Hapgood houses built in Mountain Lakes.
With a specific image in mind, Herbert J. Hapgood, a developer and entrepreneur, transformed Mountain Lakes into the residential and luxurious town that it is today. Between 1910 and 1923 Hapgood, along with his landscape engineer Arthur T. Holton, built nearly 500 houses. More than 400 of them are still standing today according to the Borough of Mountain Lakes. This makes Mountain Lakes one of the largest collections of Craftsman-influenced houses in the United States.
According to Ranjan Bose, the Chairman of the Mountain Lakes Historic Preservation Society, while there are many original houses still standing, this house was significant as it is one of the only houses still under its original ownership.
Structurally, it has seemingly not been updated, retaining its old manor house look and its long-outstretched driveway that reaches the Boulevard.
Many Mountain Lakes residents remember Mrs. Haydock, daughter of the original owner who ran a nursery school out of the house for many years.
After she died, the house was passed on to her two sons Roger Haydock and Hal Haydock.
Friends, neighbors, and Mountain Lakes residents expressed their sadness on the Mountain Lakes History Facebook where news of the fire was posted. Many reminisced about Mrs. Haydock's preschool and thanked the first responders.
"Oh, how sad," reads one post. "I remember it so clearly. We went to nursery school there... Mrs. Haydock embraced us with loving arms... such great early memories, sad to see this tragedy, glad everyone is safe."
Another post reads, "What a shame, so glad no one was injured. A piece of Mountain Lakes history for sure."
According to Bose, numerous local fire departments including Rainbow Lakes and Boonton Township responded to the fire.
"Grateful for all of the volunteer firefighters from Mountain Lakes and many surrounding towns who were on scene until 2 a.m. this morning," another post reads.
The Mountain Lakes Fire Department did not respond to calls for more information or the origin of the fire.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Thanksgiving Day fire destroys 112-year-old Mountain Lakes home
