DAVID DUFFIELD GIVES BACK FRIGHTS AND DELIGHTS AT THE HERMITAGE BUILDING COMMUNITY AT CATCHY.
Outdoor Living
Redefined by CortZen
BRIAN
NEW JERSEY ROOT CANAL HAS BEEN SAVING TEETH FOR 25 YEARS. Dr. Brian Trava opened his practice in Hawthorne in 1990, and later added offices in Ho-Ho-Kus and Wayne. Dedicated to the specialty of Endodontics, Dr. Trava focuses on saving teeth and diagnosing the cause of oral or facial pain. Dr. Trava and his team are root canal specialists. With degrees from John Hopkins University and Rutgers, Dr. Shon has authored research papers to help advance the field of dentistry. A graduate of Columbia University, Dr. Oh has completed extensive studies in oral pathology. Dr. Petix earned her degree from Tufts University and is pursuing a research fellowship. Dr. Yang, a graduate of NYU, has been awarded multiple research fellowships and has donated his dental skills in Haiti and Mexico. New Jersey Root Canal also focuses on special need patients and traumatic sports injuries to teeth.
Editor’s Note
Ho-Ho-Kus has been likened by more than one person to Mayberry, or something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. And as fall arrives and the leaves begin to turn, I’ll throw one more comparison in the ring–Stars Hollow anyone?
Whether you get the reference or not (it’s “Gilmore Girls”), don’t you agree that there’s something about autumn that makes an already idyllic town somehow even more charming?
Hundreds of residents could feel fall in the air when they gathered last month to appreciate the bucolic borough they call home and reconnect with friends at the third annual Ho-Ho-Kus Day. Amid the live music, carnival games, food trucks and even a zipline, the new outdoor décor business CortZen, featured in this month’s issue, invited attendees to roast marshmallows at their unique and sustainable fire pits.
The well-attended event was just the beginning of many festivities, including the Halloween Parade and Trunk or Treat and the
spooky Halloween House Tour. Speaking of spooky, this month we spoke to The Hermitage employee Christine Blaylock and Ho-Ho-Kus’s very own psychic medium Craig McManus about the spirits that they say definitely still inhabit the house. So even if you miss out on the historic site’s hugely popular Legends and Lore tours later this month (they tend to sell out quickly), we’ll give you a sneak peek for next year.
I’ve loved diving back into the part of journalism I love most: connecting with people and hearing their stories. And the more residents I speak to, the more evident it is that a tightknit community is what makes Ho-Ho-Kus so special, beyond its picturesque beauty.
Just ask Councilman Dane Policastro, featured in this month’s Q&A. The lifelong resident is the youngest person to be elected to the governing body. He decided to stay in Ho-Ho-Kus after college because his father suffered from Alzheimer’s. The support he and his family received made him want to give back.
Erin Cacciabaudo, head chef and owner of cafe and catering company catchy., featured in our Local Tastes section, credits friendships formed and small-town morals for keeping her business open during the COVID-19 pandemic and helping her family through a painful divorce. Even those that don’t stay still hold a special place in their hearts for Ho-Ho-Kus. That’s certainly true for David Duffield, a billionaire businessman in the software industry. He donated $10 million to the school to build a new gym and wellness center that was completed just in time for the new school year.
Read our story on page 20.
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Sarah Nolan Editor editor@hohokusmagazine.com
Ho-Ho-Kus MAGAZINE
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Ho-Ho-Kus Magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Ho-Ho-Kus, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Copyright 2024 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.
PHOTOGRAPH BY JOE NOLAN
AROUND TOWN
Get in the Spooky Spirit
Halloween is around the corner, and Ho-Ho-Kus has something for everyone looking to delight in ghoulish gatherings, from an Edgar Allan Poethemed show, to the much-anticipated Halloween House Tour!
HALLOWEEN HOUSE TOUR
Since 2020, the Ho-Ho-Kus Halloween House Tour has raised more than $15,000 for various borough initiatives. Run by sisters Cassie Cavallo and Missy McCloskey, this event could not happen without the generous and creative people who offer to decorate their homes. This year’s tour is Thursday, Oct. 24 at 6 to 8:30 p.m. with a rain date of Friday, Oct. 25. Tickets are on sale now at friendsofhhk.com.
Trick or treaters at last year’s Halloween parade and Trunk or Treat. This year’s event will be held Oct. 26.
HALLOWEEN PARADE AND TRUNK OR TREAT
The Ho-Ho-Kus Contemporary Club will host its annual Halloween parade and trunk or treat on Saturday, Oct. 26. Borough children are invited to get into the Halloween spirit by showing off their costumes and enjoying some pre-trick-or-treating fun. Visit contemporaryclubhhk.com for more information and tickets.
POE: AN EVENING OF MYSTERY AND THE MACABRE
What better way to get in the ghoulish Halloween spirit than to delve into the creepy world of Edgar Allan Poe? Adapted and directed by Frank Farrell, this unique show features a cast of five, performing selected stories and poems by Poe, including The Cask of Amontillado, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven and more. Don’t miss this one-night only performance at the Hermitage on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available at thehermitage.org/events.
PARENT AND ME PUMPKIN PICKING AT THE HO-HO-KUS COMMUNITY GARDEN:
The Ho-Ho-Kus Community Garden and the Ho-Ho-Kus Contemporary Club will team up to host Parent & Me Pumpkin Picking on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Meet in the garden for a pumpkin-themed read-aloud, mini pumpkin picking, donuts, apple cider and a farm stand. Space is limited, so please sign up for a time slot at signupgenius.com/ go/10C0D44AEA92BA0F9C70-51571902-parent#/.
This is a free event, but donations are welcome. All donations will go to support the garden’s efforts to build community and donate fresh produce to those in need.
The Halloween House Tour will be held Oct. 24. Photo courtesy of Missy McCloskey.
The Hermitage will host an Edgar Allan Poe-themed show this month.
Connections Feed Success
Erin Cacciabaudo’s catering company is more than just “catchy.”
BY SARAH NOLAN
To Erin Cacciabaudo, head chef and owner of café and catering company catchy., it’s relationships that make her business thrive.
Whether it be her most valued, with her four children, or those with her “amazing” staff and “incredible” customers, the Ho-Ho-Kus resident said it’s connections that are critical to driving catchy. forward.
Well, that and an expansive menu of fresh, seasonal food presented in vibrantly gorgeous displays.
Out of her comfort zone
Cacciabaudo always loved cooking, but she didn’t get her start in the food industry. Less than thrilled with her job as a pharmaceutical drug rep (“I hated it,” she said), she decided to go to cooking school to “get her chops.”
After graduating in 2001, she began working as a personal chef then quickly moved on to catering out of her own home while raising her young family.
As the business started gaining some momentum, it was kicked
catchy. Founder Erin Cacciabaudo (center) with her four children.
LOCAL TASTES
into high gear by a weekly dinner service called Mom’s Night Out. The idea was to give parents a night off from cooking. She would text every friend she had, about 150 women, every Tuesday to see who wanted in for Thursday’s menu.
“I drove some of my friends crazy,” Cacciabaudo said. “But I’ve learned to get business you have to be a little annoying sometimes, a little pushy–that’s not my personality.”
Still, she pushed herself, fulfilling a dream to open a café storefront at 614 North Maple Ave. in 2015. And when divorce rocked her family in 2018, she doubled down, committing to grow catchy. by 20% the following year, despite tough personal times.
“I did something every single day that pushed me out of my comfort zone to grow this business, including asking for business, posting on social media and being super vulnerable,” she said. “I thought, ‘This is who I am and I’m not going to not be that way anymore.’”
2019 was indeed a great year for catchy.–but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. She pivoted and began making lunches for Saddle River Day School students and to-go
platters for families desperate not to make one more meal at home.
Cacciabaudo credits friendships formed via her catering company and the close-knit community in Ho-Ho-Kus for keeping catchy. alive during the pandemic. “This is a really special, unique town,” she said.
A team atmosphere
The dishes at catchy. are “fresh, seasonal and clean,” Cacciabaudo said. The café menu offers a variety of salads, bowls and sandwiches, along with “little tasties” like coconut shrimp, candy bacon and deepfried mac and cheese bites.
As for catering, which is about 80% of the business at catchy., Cacciabaudo promises individualized attention, a hard-working, attentive staff and flavor-packed dishes.
“My chefs, Laura Crespo and Luba Kalayda, are astonishing,” Cacciabaudo said. “They make everything taste good–they take my recipe ideas and run with them.”
Cacciabaudo said surrounding herself with people she loves and trusts has allowed her to focus on the creative side of her business, presenting catchy.’s food in beautiful ways alongside eye-catching
signs at events like bridal and baby showers, birthday parties, fundraisers and more, then photographing displays for social media.
A high school lacrosse player, Cacciabaudo said she had been trying to recreate that team spirit since leaving the field and feels she’s finally found it with her staff at catchy. She often pulls her kids in to work parties or a shift at the café and relishes the time with them.
“I’m just grateful,” she said. “This doesn’t happen without amazing staff and incredible customers.”
Above: A fresh, seasonal bowl featuring blueberries at catchy. Top right: Mini Maine “lobsta” rolls at a catchy. event. Bottom right: Shrimp cocktail on display at a catchy. catered event.
A Fresh Perspective
Lifelong resident Dane Policastro became the youngest council member in the borough’s history when he was elected in 2019 at age 25. A deep commitment to the community and the desire to give back propel his political ambitions.
BY SARAH NOLAN
INTERVIEW WITH DANE POLICASTRO
Tell me about your ambitions to hold public office. Has this always been a goal for you?
I decided to run for town council because I’m deeply committed to our community. I have lived in HoHo-Kus all my life, and I believed I could bring fresh ideas and effective solutions to the governing process. I studied Social Sciences and Public Policy in college, and I felt I was ready to contribute to my community by applying my knowledge and passion.
My vision for Ho-Ho-Kus is that it will remain a place where everyone feels safe, supported and proud to live. I envision a community that embraces innovation while maintaining its unique character, with a strong local economy, excellent public services, and opportunities for all residents to thrive.
What are some of the challenges and some of the benefits of joining the council at such a young age?
When I was first elected at 25, it was both exciting and challenging. Now, in my second term, I’ve had the chance to grow into the role and bring the energy and perspective of a younger generation while also becoming seasoned in the responsibilities of governance. It’s been a rewarding journey to balance fresh ideas with the wisdom I’ve gained. I am committed to learning from the experiences of the other council members while also offering new ideas. It’s about finding that balance to best serve all residents, understanding the traditions and values that have shaped our community.
What are some of the issues and projects in the borough that you’re most passionate about?
I am committed to understanding and addressing the needs of the community effectively. Smart land-use planning, responsible legislation, low taxes and fiscal responsibility are very important to the Mayor and Council. We believe in carefully evaluating all spending to ensure it delivers value to our residents. This means prioritizing essential services, seeking out grants and partnerships and exploring cost-saving measures without compromising the quality of life in our town.
I am excited about a number of projects in Ho-Ho-Kus. The mayor and council recently approved the relocation of the library to the center of town with our first Community Center. This new location will be far more convenient and safer for our residents to visit, and the Community Center will be a place where residents can come together, build connections and access services. By building a Community Center we are investing in the social fabric of our town, offering a space for activities, events and programs that enrich the lives of the people we serve. I am also very pleased with the progress that our Shade Tree and Beautification Committee has made in improvements to our downtown business district area, town green, Memorial Park and the municipal building. The beautification efforts are a great way to foster pride in the community, boost local shopping and strengthen the economy and home values. Additionally, the first Ho-Ho-Kus Community Garden, built this past spring, provides produce to people in need. To date, the garden has produced nearly 500 pounds of vegetables. We are deeply grateful to the businesses and residents who generously volunteer their time and resources to support these initiatives.
PHOTOS BY MIHO GRANT
What are some of your favorite memories from growing up in Ho-Ho-Kus? What compelled you to stay in the community and become so involved?
I loved growing up in Ho-HoKus, attending the local public school. It was an idyllic childhood. Our town has a unique charm that blends historical significance with the serenity of its natural surroundings, and it is important to me that we preserve that character as we continue to grow and improve.
I chose to stay in Ho-Ho-Kus after college because my father developed Alzheimer’s, and I wanted to be there to support my family. It was a challenging time, but staying close to home allowed me to help care for my father and be part of this wonderful community that has always felt like home. It strengthened my appreciation for the town’s sense of community and support, which I now want to give back.
What’s your day job?
I work in real estate investment, a field I am passionate about. My knowledge and business experience have equipped me to serve Ho-Ho-Kus well.
You hold many hats as councilman. What inspires you to make time for the different boards and committees you’re a part of?
I am honored to serve with a unified and collaborative borough council, under the steady and thoughtful leadership of Mayor Thomas Randall, as we work together to advance the interests of our community. Serving as a councilman comes with many responsibilities. Balancing it all comes down to prioritizing the needs of the community and being organized. I focus on effective time management, making sure that I give attention to each board and committee, while also listening to residents and staying connected with the issues that matter to them.
What inspires me is the impact we can make. Each board or committee plays a unique role in shaping our town, whether it’s focusing on economic growth, environmental preservation, or improving public services. Being involved in so many areas allows me to see the bigger picture and how each piece fits together to make our community better.
Tell me about your history as a fireman on the borough’s volunteer department. Why did you want to join and has it been a rewarding experience?
I joined the Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Fire Department as a junior auxiliary member at 16 and served as First Lieutenant from 2017 to 2021. I wanted to join the department because I’ve always felt a deep sense of responsibility to help others. Growing up, I admired the courage and dedication of our local firefighters and saw firsthand how they made a difference in people’s lives.
What’s been most rewarding about the experience is the strong sense of purpose that comes from serving alongside others who share the same commitment. It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that we’re making a direct impact in protecting the community, whether it’s responding to emergencies or simply being there when people need us. The trust that people place in us, the opportunity to give back, is something I deeply value.
Left: Dane Policastro, right, with his father Louis and brother Lucas. Middle: Dane Policastro in his Ho-Ho-Kus football uniform. Right: Dane Policastro and his mom Jan on a field trip to the Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Fire Department. Policastro would go on to become a member.
Improving Mental Health for Bergen County’s Families
Top left: A CortZen waterfall feature creates a calming vibe in a client’s outdoor living space.
Bottom left: CortZen creates custom signs, like this one for its own shop. Top right: CortZen sculpture in a client’s outdoor space. Bottom right: CortZen donated this planter to the Ho-Ho-Kus Community Garden.
Create Your Backyard Oasis
CortZen opens up shop in the borough, redefining outdoor living through creativity, functionality and sustainability.
BY SARAH NOLAN
John Rupich dreamt of a backyard oasis at his Franklin Lakes home, but a search for unique pieces that lived up to his vision fell short. Unimpressed by popular stainlesssteel fire pits and terracotta planters, his eye turned toward features made from corten, or weathering steel.
Beyond its artistic aesthetic, Rupich appreciated the strength and sustainability of the material, known for its protective patina layer that provides its signature look. The trouble was products made from the durable material were costly and hard to come by in the US.
After discovering a reliable and more affordable manufacturer of high-quality items overseas, Rupich was excited and thought: Why not turn his newfound passion into a business, offering others an easier path to acquiring corten steel pieces?
Beginnings
So CortZen was born—a joint venture between Rupich and family friends Alan Wnek and Sarah Cifarelli. A seasoned businessman, Rupich asked Wnek and Cifarelli, both 24, to take the helm of the business, with a showroom centrally located at 2 Orvil Ct.
The young couple has a mission to redefine outdoor living through creativity, functionality and sustainability in an age when outdoor spaces are seen as extensions of the home.
CortZen’s new shop was inhabited by Dench’s Auto Repair for decades then sat vacant for years before being transformed by the owners into a zen (if you will) retreat along bustling
Sheridan Avenue.
Wnek said the former garage bays and a large lot are perfect for displaying an array of the distinct copper-toned products, plus the old brick building with its large windows creates a rustic charm to the space.
There, interested clients can get a feel for how pieces including firepits, waterfalls, lighting features, grills, landscape edging, wood storage and planters might look in their own yards. CortZen sells what’s on-site, but also works with patrons to create custom pieces, from very large showstoppers to small decorative garden ornaments and signs.
“Our products are different than what you might see at Home Depot
or a garden center—they add a piece of artwork to your landscape,” Rupich said.
Wnek, a former auto mechanic, and Cifarelli, a former aesthetician, said this new career path has allowed them to tap into their passions for business and design, respectively.
“Sarah is the creative one —she’s used her longtime artistic passion and begun to delve into web design and social media/website work,” Wnek said. “She’s very good at putting ideas down on paper, and I enjoy speaking with clients and relaying what they envision to her.”
The pair said for smaller pieces, such as custom signs or garden decorations, they work with welders and manufacturers, some local, that create the products using a computer numerical control (CNC) plasma cutting machine—a manufacturing method that automates the control, movement and precision of machine tools using preprogrammed computer software, which is embedded
inside the tools.
Wnek said they would like to eventually have the machine in the shop to quickly create custom designs.
“I would love to learn to operate it and think my skills as a mechanic would be useful,” he said.
Strong, Sustainable Material
Corten is a type of steel alloy that contains copper, chromium, nickel and phosphorous along with other elements. It’s renowned for its ability to develop a protective rust-like surface when exposed to elements such as rain, snow, humidity and sunlight.
This patina reduces the need for ongoing maintenance for outdoor pieces, Wnek and Cifarelli said, making it inherently cost-effective and convenient. Unlike rust, patina is intentional and appreciated for its appearance.
Cifarelli also loves that it’s sustainable and nontoxic. Pieces are made from
mostly recycled steel, giving salvaged metals new life and reducing mining impacts. The patina means there are no harmful coatings or paints that might release toxins.
CortZen recently donated a pot to the Ho-Ho-Kus Community Garden, and because of the material’s nontoxic nature, herbs were able to be planted directly in it, Cifarelli said.
Lastly, the innate strength of the steel provides decades of use, the owners said, avoiding the short lifespans and continual replacement of products made from other materials and reducing longterm environmental costs. Corten is also fully recyclable, so steel from demolished structures or retired products can be recycled again as a raw material, replenishing its lifecycle infinitely.
For more information about CortZen, visit cortzendecor.com and the company’s Instagram page, @cortzendecor.
Opposite page. Top: CortZen displays pieces at its centrally located shop. Bottom: Co-owners Alan Wnek and Sarah CIfarelli inside the shop. This page: CortZen is located downtown at 2 Orvil Ct. in a former auto body shop.
Paying it Forward
Duffield Hall, a new gymnasium and wellness center at the school, was completed in September thanks to a generous $10 million donation from a former graduate and billionaire tech tycoon.
BY SARAH NOLAN
Billionaire David Duffield says his idyllic upbringing in 1950s Ho-HoKus laid the foundation for his path to becoming an outrageously successful leader in the software industry.
The well-known tech entrepreneur who founded innovative companies including Workday and PeopleSoft, said his first business venture was as a schoolboy growing gladiolus in his backyard and selling them to neighbors for a dime each.
“We lived a simple life in a middle-class neighborhood without indulgences or luxuries, just like most families in Ho-HoKus at the time,” he said. “This upbringing gave me role models and values that emphasized The Golden Rule, and this strongly influenced my career and business philosophies.”
Duffield’s roots in the borough were so impactful that the philanthropist and his wife, Cheryl, decided to donate $10 million to the school district to create a new state-of-the-art gymnasium and wellness center that was completed just in time to kick off the school year.
Wide-eyed students in the Kindergarten
through Grade 8 districts laid eyes on their new facility for the first time in September during a dedication ceremony and pep rally, which Duffield attended.
“It’s incredible–we’re so appreciative and it’s just so heartwarming. But even more so it’s inspiring,” Superintendent Dr. Diane Mardy said. “David Duffield still talks about how important growing up in Ho-Ho-Kus is to him, and it’s very inspiring for our students to hear his story and understand that this is someone that went to school here.”
The yearlong construction project reinvented the athletic and wellness spaces in the district, seeking to create a more cohesive health education wing. It was designed by LAN Associates and built by Donnelly Construction.
The former gymnasium was gutted, and its roof raised to allow more natural light to flow into the space. The gym is now completely modernized, with enhanced recreation equipment such as rockclimbing walls, retractable screens and basketball hoops and motorized bleachers.
Mardy said a wish-list item for staff was
able to be granted–an interactive system called the Lü that transforms any space into an active and immersive educational environment, where kids are engaged physically, intellectually and sociallyemotionally.
Importantly, the project also included the addition of a Wellness Center, a calming environment where students can partake in dance, yoga and mindfulness lessons.
It’s a well-known fact that anxiety among young people is on the rise, due to factors like the prevalence of social media and technology use, stressors such as school shootings and political unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This kind of education needs to be multipronged,” Mardy said. “It’s not just you go learn a sport or a game–the kids are learning health, fitness, physical and emotional health for life, and it’s all intertwined.”
The existing locker rooms were also redesigned to allow for additional spaces, including a health classroom and community bathrooms.
Opposite page: Students welcomed the Duffields with a pep rally. This page, left: David Duffield, right, along with his brother Al and Superintendent Dr. Diane Mardy. This page, right: Billionaire David Duffield spoke to students about his upbringing in the borough.
This page. Top: Students expressed thanks to the Duffields for their very generous donation. Left: David Duffield sports a Ho-Ho-Kus baseball uniform alongside his father, Albert, and his brother Al in 1951. Above: Duffield Hall includes a newly renovated gymnasium and the addition of a Wellness Center. Opposite page. Top: Alumnus David Duffield donated $10 million to the district to complete the project. The hall is dedicated to his parents Mary, a longtime teacher at the school, and Albert, a board of education member. Bottom: David Duffield’s parents, Mary and Albert Duffield, in the 1930s. Mary was a beloved teacher at Ho-Ho-Kus Public School and Albert was a member of the Board of Education.
A full circle moment Duffield’s connections to the district run deep. Not only did he graduate from Ho-Ho-Kus Public School in 1954, but his mother, Mary, was a beloved fourth-grade teacher there for decades and his father, Albert, was president of the Board of Education for a period and was an organizer of the local Boy Scouts and Little League programs.
“I loved growing up in Ho-Ho-Kus with wonderful parents, great schools and teachers, and friends I’ve stayed in touch with since grammar school,” he said. “Ho-Ho-Kus was a safe place where kids played outside all day long, walked or rode bikes everywhere and looked up to our teachers, local police offices and volunteer firemen.”
Duffield went on to graduate from Ridgewood High School and Cornell
University, where he has also donated extensively.
Mardy said the donation from Duffield was truly a full circle moment for her, as she was originally hired in Ho-Ho-Kus as a teacher to replace his mother Mary when she retired in 1978.
“When they say beloved, she really, truly was,” Mardy said. “The students I had that year talked about her all the time. She was a kind, warm teacher.”
Duffield said he made the donation to honor his parents’ legacy and contributions to the school and community.
As for why he chose to support the gym and wellness center, Duffield said he and his brother Al benefited greatly from playing sports as youngsters and he wanted to give back in a way that had an important impact on the school and that benefitted all students.
This page: Medium Craig McManus in front of The Hermitage. Opposite page: The Hermitage will host Legends and Lore tours in the dark of the night later this month.
Ghosts of The
Hermitage Past
From footsteps and whispers, to flickering lights and phantom piano music, those that spend time in the storied house that dates back to the mid-1700s say there’s plenty of reason to believe that spirits inhabit the property.
Christine Blaylock spends a lot of solitary time in The Hermitage. But often, the Events and Services Manager gets the feeling she’s not alone at all.
“I have things happen that cannot be explained,” she said. “I’ve never seen an apparition, but I do hear footsteps and whispers, I notice cabinets being opened or closed that I know were closed or open, or lights being turned on that I know were turned off.”
Craig McManus, a professional medium from Ho-Ho-Kus, said the energy of longdead members of the Rosencrantz family, which occupied the house for 163 years over four generations, is palpable.
On his first visit to the Gothic Revival home, McManus sensed two female presences in the old parlor. He believes
they were the last surviving members of the house–Mary Elizabeth Rosencrantz and Katie Zahner, Mary Elizabeth’s late aunt’s maid. The pair lived in the house alone together for 25 years before dying five days apart in 1970.
The Hermitage will open its doors for the hugely popular Legends and Lore tours at the end of October, when attendees will come from far and wide for the opportunity to hear the ghost stories and maybe even experience the supernatural themselves. Docents will talk about their personal spooky experiences and tales passed down from generation to generation.
“Tours are done in the dark by batteryoperated candlelight,” Blaylock said. “It’s a different feel–it’s definitely a mood. The architecture alone is creepy haunted house.”
Friendly ghosts
With a history dating back to the mid1700s, it’s not surprising that more than a few spirits might be hanging around The Hermitage, and the folklore surrounding the mansion is woven into its history.
Many might be familiar with The Hermitage’s Revolutionary War roots. Built around 1760, The Hermitage played host to dignitaries like George Washington, James Monroe, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr when Theodosia Bartow Prevost lived in the house.
Burr would go on to marry Prevost at the house after the death of her first husband, a British Army officer.
One tale from Revolution days involves the Rosencrantz family’s discovery of a skeleton in the eves of The Hermitage. It
was allegedly a British soldier, wrapped in an American flag. Legend has it that his ghost could be seen on the property, staring at the house.
But McManus and Blaylock agree, most spirits they feel aren’t from the Revolutionary War period but are instead members of the Rosencrantz family that took up residence in the home in 1807 and stayed until the last resident willed the property to the State of New Jersey upon her death in 1970.
It was Elijah Rosencrantz Jr. that commissioned well-known architect William Ranlett to construct a romantic Victorian home that would incorporate the existing historic colonial house. The result is the building you recognize today, with tall, gable roofs, diamond paned windows and pointed Tudor arches.
Elijah and his wife Cornelia Livingston Dayton had a daughter, Mary Elizabeth, now commonly known as “Aunt Bess”, who was instrumental in keeping the history of The Hermitage alive. She opened a tea room with her niece, also named Mary Elizabeth, in 1917 to help make ends meet, and was known to tell ghost stories.
McManus, who used to run the house tours but now focuses on doing readings, said it’s fitting that she’s now a ghost herself.
“No matter where I move around the old Hermitage I seem to be followed by one ghost or another,” McManus said.
Blaylock described another uncanny phenomenon in the house. The Hermitage is equipped with an alarm system with motion detection in each room. She said it frequently goes off for no reason in one room and one room only–the front parlor where funerals would have been held.
Blaylock said these instances almost always occur on a momentous date for one of the family members, whether it be a birthday or death date.
Asked if she ever feels frightened when she senses spirits, Blaylock said her first reaction is to shriek out loud. Her second is, “Oh that’s so cool.”
“It doesn’t feel threatening to me, it just feels like someone is making themselves known,” she said. “After all, it’s their house.”
Blaylock and McManus say the state frowns upon use of the word “ghost” and prefers docents not speak of the supernatural outside of the Halloween events.
But the pair argue it’s a method of preserving The Hermitage’s storied history in way that appeals to people.
“We do incorporate the story of the people that lived here, and it’s not just dates and names and boring, ‘who cares’,” Blaylock said. “It makes the people come alive, if you will.”
To inquire about tickets to the Legends and Lore tours, visit thehermitage.org/ events.
Top left: Aunt Bess, Bessie Grove Tyler and a neighbor having tea on the lawn. Right: The Hermitage at night. Below: “Aunt Bess” and Mary Elizabeth Rosencrantz pictured dressed up on Halloween.
HO-HO-KUS’S VERY OWN PSYCHIC MEDIUM
If you want to schedule a reading with medium Craig McManus, you’ll need to wait. The longtime Ho-Ho-Kus resident is booked until the summer of 2028.
McManus has been channeling for clients around the world since the 1990s and is also a prolific author of books about ghosts and hauntings, particularly in Cape May.
As a child, McManus would see quick visions that intrigued and terrified him, but it wasn’t until his early 20s that he had a psychic awakening, experiencing premonitions that would pop into his mind and later come to fruition.
The frequency of these episodes grew, and McManus said it was as if one day a light switch had been turned on, activating latent psychic abilities within him. To his shock and delight, he later learned that this ability ran down both family lines.
McManus honed his gift for years as both a psychic who can sense energies and a medium who can communicate with spirits.
Asked how he handles skeptics, McManus said the only way to convince a skeptic that something is real is firsthand experience–and he’s convinced more than one, he said.
“If a skeptic comes and walks away a believer, I’m just happy that they’re now open to the possibility that there’s more than just the four walls we see around us,” McManus said. “I hope people can open their eyes and maybe their life will be a little richer for it.”
For more about McManus, visit craigmcmanus.com.
Top: An article from the Bismarck Tribune in 1917 details the tea parties at The Hermitage where Aunt Bess would delight guests with ghost stories.
Middle: Aunt Bess and Bessie Grove Tyler on the back porch at The Hermitage.
Bottom: Mary Elizabeth Rosencrantz and Kathryn “Katie” Zahner were the last residents of the The Hermitage. They died five days apart in 1970 and those who believe say their spirits remain in the house. Right: The Rosencrantz family members are buried in the Valleau Cemetery in Ridgewood.
Terrifying Tomes for Frightful Nights
Need to up the scare factor this Halloween? Check out these spook-tacular tales.
BY RALPH BAYLOR
Librarians love books, that is a simple fact. But I happen to like all things horror. If I am not reading a scary novel, I am probably watching the latest vampire movie or playing a video game taking down zombies. In celebration of the fall and Halloween, here is a list of some of my favorite scary books. Ranked in order from a little spooky to horrifying!
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (2020)
Overview: This gothic horror novel set in 1950s Mexico follows Noemí Taboada, a glamorous socialite who receives a desperate letter from her cousin, claiming her new husband is trying to kill her. Noemí travels to a remote mansion filled with dark secrets and sinister family history to help her sister.
Why It’s Spooky: The creepy atmosphere, haunting family dynamics and supernatural elements build a sense of dread, blending Mexican folklore with gothic horror.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (1959)
Overview: This classic novel tells the story of four individuals who are drawn to Hill House, an eerie mansion with a dark past. As they spend time there, each character begins to face their own inner demons. This book was the inspiration for the hit Netflix show of the same name.
Why It’s Spooky: Jackson’s masterful use of psychological horror and the unreliable narration create a pervasive sense of unease. Hill House itself is as much a character as the people trapped within it.
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward (2021)
Overview: Ted lives a solitary life in a secluded house at the edge of a forest, guarding dark secrets. When a new neighbor moves in, her investigation into a missing child forces long-buried horrors to come to light. Told from multiple perspectives, this unsettling thriller keeps readers guessing.
Why It’s Spooky: Ward masterfully unravels layers of psychological horror, unreliable narration and disturbing revelations. This claustrophobic, mind-bending story will leave you questioning what is real and what isn’t.
The Between by Tananarive Due (1995)
Overview: Hilton James is haunted by the traumatic drowning he survived as a child. Now as an adult, he experiences bizarre occurrences and horrifying nightmares that suggest his reality is unraveling. His wife, a judge, begins receiving death threats, pushing him further into paranoia.
Why It’s Spooky: Tananarive Due is a master of psychological horror. This novel combines supernatural elements with themes of race, family and trauma, exploring how unresolved pasts can come back to haunt the present.
My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones (2021) (My all-time favorite book and author)
Overview: Jade Daniels, a halfIndian high schooler obsessed with slasher films, is convinced that a series of grisly murders in her small town is the beginning of a real-life horror movie. As the town’s history unravels, Jade’s deep knowledge of slasher tropes becomes her survival guide.
Why It’s Spooky: Jones infuses this novel with sharp commentary on the horror genre itself, creating a slasher story full of blood, tension and cultural insight. Jade’s character offers a fresh, rebellious voice in horror. If you like the Scream movie franchise or 1980’s slashers, this is your book.
Librarian Ralph Baylor curates a private book and art collection in Manhattan.
A Day for the Books
The third annual Ho-Ho-Kus Day was held on a picturesque September afternoon. Hundreds of residents came out for fun, including carnival games and a zipline, food trucks and live music.
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1. A Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Fire Department truck sprayed water throughout the day to the delight of borough children looking to cool off.
2. Ho-Ho-Kus Police Officer Leif Hanisch and his son.
3. Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department Officer John Kleinert, Chief Mike LaCroix and Officer Samuel Kim.
4. Ho-Ho-Kus Police Officer Samuel Kim with his wife and son.
5. Members of the Fox & Stokes real estate team, a sponsor of HoHo-Kus Day, at their booth.
6. The ice cream truck was a hit at Ho-Ho-Kus Day.
7. The Ruckus provided live music throughout the day. Pictured is drummer Roman Dino.
8. Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Council Members Kevin Crossley, Kathleen Moran, Council President Douglas Troast and Mayor Thomas Randall.
9. Members of the Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department at Ho-Ho-Kus Day. Pictured from left are Jonathan Ruhl, Bella Deppisch, Matt Rusch, Officer Leif Hanisch, Officer John Kleinert, Stephan Deppisch and Robin Culleton.
10. An aerial view of Ho-Ho-Kus Day.
A Day in the Garden
The Contemporary Club of Ho-Ho-Kus kicked off the 2024-2025 season last month with its annual Garden Party. The event was hosted at the Brown family residence and featured an educational flower care and arranging demo by Jeanine from Flowers by Joan in Waldwick. The club is a nonprofit that organizes events and fundraisers to benefit the community.
PHOTO COURTESY
Landscape Design
Rich Cording Sr. Licensed Landscape Architect
Eric Cording Landscape Designer
Rich Cording Jr. Master of Landscape Design Columbia University
