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Home My WebLink About1993-12-13 94-43 ORDINANCEuncal Pctmn— Datece 13r 1993 Item No. r Item/Subjcce Mend Ch. VII, Art. 4, Sec. 5.2.1 of the Historic Preservation O nes ce Responsible Department: Q nnforc t 6 Fire Prs�ntion The pie o£ this ordinance arteojorent is tt establish an historic site entitled "Bangor Historic TTack." A discussion westing was bald with the Bargor Historic Cc Ssion as 1 the applicant, Clark P. Thomson m N edtsr 17, 1993. A wblic beering is sc mjed befxe. the Crnmi.asia. w^ the natter on Sa orip, 5, 1994. Hemmend [ t flus ilian be referred to the Histruic Presee rsn Canission for their review end to provide the Cowcil with a report of their findings. De➢'n^' rHmJ Managet's Comments: ' CiryAbueger Associated Informatmn:Q dodger Approval: - —To vnm D'ar �1Legal Approval: £ nasmmaor 1 For go Reading ral page _ of ._........94._43_... .. Aedgamd to Coanaor Blanchette December 13P 1993§� yi CITY OF BANGOR (TIRE) Oti1Rf UUt, �ItYt a'apter VII, Art.4,, sec s 2.1 of, the raves and Ordvwnces of the City of Bangor - Establishing the Bapr Historic Track as an aafors Site. _... _.. ...... Be it archived Ey the City Commit of the City ofBanyor, aefy - THAT C apt VII, Article 4, SeCtfm 5.2.1 of the laws and OrdV aaaraa of [he City of Bangor be amender] by adlf the follrxring thereto; 5.2.1 Bannor Historic Track. The racetrack 1 lccatad at foss park, 100 Wttm Street, and rt a SfPaCifiCallY &SCTihod Cs qty Tax Map 26 1 and sn a Plan entitled "Bangor Historic Track," an file in the office of the city Clerk Statement of Pyrmse: The purpose of this amendment to the so called Historic Praser t'Os Ordinance is to create a new historic site. A facsimile of the aforementioned plan being attached hereto. In City Council December 13. 1993 Motion to Take from referrals and put in regular order of business motion made by Councilor Cohen 2nd by Councilor Popper Motion Passed Motion to Indefinitely Postpone Made by Councilor Blanchette 2nd by Councilor Popper Motion Passed Amending Chapter 90J3 art. 4 Sec. 5.2.1 of the Lava and Ordinances of the City of Boago tablishing he Track lsotd itt P�st'fL;P -1 - 1 .1 94-43 TYPE O Historic District O Historic Site O APPLICATION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION DESIGNATION TYPE O Historic District O Historic Site O Historic Landmark Applicant Clark P. Shrn4Aon Date 11/27/93 Mailing Address 115 TackscD Street Telephone 947-51251h1/H27-4456(w) Hangar, Me. 04401 Location of R/Site Bass Park Name of §(/Siteracetrack oval If District - List All Properties Proposed Owner of /Site City f Ba (if not applicant) Description of Historic Characteristics/Qualifications 3 ttachedtat t nd Salblt signature of Applicant ---------------------- Historic Preservation Commission Action Approved Denied pate - City Council. Action 11 Approved Denied pace In support of my application to have the racetrack 9 Bass Park designated as a historic site, pursuant to Chapter VH, Article 4 of the ordinances of the city of Bangor, I would like to submit the following. The mcedna k is a parcel of land of special significance to the history of Bangor upon which many historic events have occurred ova the past 110 years. As my article "The Bangor Fair° points out, the racetrack has acrobat as an exhibition site for Maine's horse owners and breeders since 1883. (Exhibit 1). This was the site where they came to show and mat their stock against some of the best notting horses in the country. Some of the men and horses that raced at Bangor are now immortalized in harness rating's Hall of Fame. (Exhibit 5). Many have bean the subject of books and articles too numerous in list here. (Exhibit 6A). One of the more famous men to race his horses at Bass Park was Civil War hero Walter G. Morrill. (Exhibits 8,8A,SB). Some horses like John R. Brad= have had poems written about them. (Exhibit 9). Others Five Nelson(1890) and Single G(1923) established world trotting and pacing records at Bangor. (Exhibits 4,6,11). In fact, the famous Nelson, who trotted the fastest mile (2:10) for a stallion on a half mile ova] in 1891, was the subject of a Currier and Ives print. Today this historic track remains a place where citizens and visitors alike can came to gain insight into their rural heritage and m participate in the celebration of the horse which has been an integral part of that heritage. Few people are aware that Maine was the first state what a successful effort was made to breed the smndardbred trotter. (Exhibit 2). The standardbred industry in Maine can be hated back to 1816. (Exhibit 3). The fust trotting rears occurred over our many country and city roads, but later, after the Revolutionary War, racetracks were built around the country in places like New York Gty, Philadelphia, Boston and Long Island among other places. Bangor's first racetrack, a "driving park" as it was commonly called, was located near the present day airport and was in all likelihood the site of Bangor's first fair around 1849. It was decided that this site was too remote from line city's center, and thus, the present track was built in 1883 where it would be more accessible to Bangor's citizens and visitors. Bangor's track is now one of the oldest in the United States. There are only three, active parimmuel harness tracks that we older in the country. (Exhibit 13). Historic Track in Goshen, N.Y.,a non parimutuel trick, which is a National Historic Landmark is the oldest arrive track in the United States. (Exhibit 12). The attached list ofexhibits highlights some ofthe historic events that have occurred on or about the Bangor trazk. While most of these exhibbs relate to harness racing, it should be noted that many other evems rurced at the track that exemplify the broad cultural, political, economic;1 - social history of Bangor and the Nation For example, theevolution of no s on can be tared from the types of racing that have taken place at the track include foot men, bicycle races, horse races, auto races, and Bights by ballrmNWnships and biplanesOther forms of entertainment that have occurred at the track: include horse shows, wild west shows, cavalry demonstmdons, rodeo events, firemen :1 imsters, baseball games, Bangor Band contents, : vaudeville shows, and parades by veterans, shriners and other such groups. Visits by state and national .political leaders are too numerous to list here, but certainly; President Theodore Roosevelt's visit on August 27, 1902, where he addresxA fairgoers from a platform in front of the grandstand stands out for its historical significance. (Exhibit 10). In 1894 Joseph- P. Bass invited several distinquished guests to the fair from from Bar Harbor among them Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller. Suffice it to say Nat all three branches of our suite and national government have been well represented over the 110 year history of the track. In summary, by designating the racetrack as a historic site Bangor's citizens and visitors will be reminded of these historic events and of a rural way of life Nat was once an integral part of their ancestors' past And perhaps most important of all, the man Nat was responsible for building the track and who raced his horses over the oval (Exhibit 7) will finally be assured that the track will he preserved for Ne use and enjoyment of future generadons. Respectfully submitted, 7 Clark P. Thompson