Who Is It Named After? Eddie Foy Park

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Long before the Knowles family, the Jacksons, the Osmonds and the Hanson brothers, Eddie Foy and The Seven Little Foys were a household name.

Foy, and later his wife, Madeline and children brought joy to audiences across the country. The family's story was brought to the silver screen in the 1955 film "The Seven Little Foys" starring Bob Hope and James Cagney.

The beloved vaudeville sensations traveled the world with their act, but it seems it was in New Rochelle that the family of performers found happiness.

New Rochelle cast quite an impression on vaudeville legend Eddie Foy, according to this plaque at the namesake park his family donated to the city of New Rochelle. (Jeff Edwards | Patch)

Eddie Foy's namesake park is located just steps from the Long Island Sound, where the Foy patriarch raised his brood of budding stars. After Foy's death in 1928, the family donated the land and the park to New Rochelle. A plaque in the park commemorating the occasion, notes the gift from the family was "in gratitude for their many happy years in New Rochelle."

Foy died in Kansas City at age 71. His seven little Foys found their callings in different parts of the country, but, as a testament to their love for New Rochelle, Eddie Foy and all but one of his children are buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in town.