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Information on Haverstraw, NY

By Michael F. Levy

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Grand Lux Realty - Armonk and Westchester NY

July 17, 2012 04:11 AM

Haverstraw is a town in Rockland County, New York, United States, located north of the Town of Clarkstown and the Town of Ramapo; east of Orange County, New York; south of the Town of Stony Point; and west of the Hudson River. The town runs from the west to the east border of the county in its northern part. The population was 36,634 at the 2010 census.^[1] The name comes from the Dutch word Haverstroo meaning "Oat Straw", referring to the grasslands along the river. The town contains three villages, one of which is also known as Haverstraw. Haverstraw village is the original seat of government for the town, hosting the area's historic central downtown business district and the densest population in northern Rockland County.

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Haverstraw real estate

History

In 1609, the region was explored by Henry Hudson. A land purchase was made in this town in 1666 from local natives and confirmed as a patent in 1671. The region was known as Haverstroo, meaning "oat straw".

During the American Revolution, it served as an important lookout for British activities on the Hudson. A blue-marked trail, the Long Path, may be taken 2 miles (3 km) eastward from Central Highway along the crest of South Mountain to High Tor. Halfway is Little Tor, the second highest peak on South Mountain.

The town of Haverstraw was formed in 1788 while still part of Orange County, New York. Haverstraw was partitioned in 1791 to form the town of Clarkstown and the town of Ramapo and again in 1865 to form the town of Stony Point.

Famous residents

Robert Sterling Yard, journalist, environmentalist

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.4 square miles (71.0 km²), of which 22.2 square miles (57.4 km²) is land and 5.3 square miles (13.6 km²), or 19.19%, is water.^[2]

The east border of the town is the Hudson River, and the west town line is Orange County, New York.

Government

Town board

The Town Supervisor is Howard T. Phillips Jr. The Town Councilmen are Vincent Gamboli, John J. Gould, Hector L. Soto and Isidro "Papo" Cancel.

Police department

The town of Haverstraw is protected and served by over eighty men and women. The Village of Haverstraw Police Department merged with the Town of Haverstraw Police Department in January 2006 and now serve as one department protecting both the town and the village. HTPD serves under the command of Chief Charles B. Miller III. This police department is a diverse force and consists of about 80 police officers with one part-time police officer.

The Town of Haverstraw Police Department is home to five officers who received New York State's highest award for bravery in the line of duty. The New York State Police Officer of the Year award for 2000 was granted to Lieutenant Martin Lund, Sergeant Wayne Dunn, Sergeant John P. Lawless, Detective Brian Lauler and Police Officer Gregg Gaynor for their heroic acts. These officers repeatedly entered a burning three-story 52-unit apartment building to alert and evacuate many of the still sleeping residents. All of the officers had to brave thick smoke, intense heat and flames. They worked their way through the building, at times crawling on the floor, to escort frightened and disoriented residents from the building. Many small children had to be carried. Two of the officers suffered smoke inhalation and a third was treated for a laceration to his leg, as well as smoke inhalation. Governor Pataki recognized each officer for their actions in an award ceremony held in the village of Haverstraw.

Communities and locations in the town

Bowline Point Town Park – A park east of Haverstraw on a peninsula, called Bowline Point, in the Hudson River.
Camp Hill – A hamlet near the south town line.
Felters Corners – A hamlet west of Garnerville.
Garnerville – A hamlet southwest of West Haverstraw.
Harriman State Park – Part of the park is in the western part of the town.
Village of Haverstraw – The historic downtown business district. The original seat of government in Haverstraw Town.
Johnsontown – A hamlet west of West Haverstraw named after the Johnson brothers.
Ladentown – A hamlet.
Lake Kanawauke – A lake in Harriman State Park in the southwest corner of the town.
Lake Sebago – A lake in Harriman State Park in the southwest corner of the town.
Lake Welch – A lake in Harriman State Park near the west town line.
Mount Ivy – A hamlet by the south town line.
Pomona – A village partly in the town and partly in the town of Ramapo.
Samsondale – A hamlet east of West Haverstraw.
St. John's in the Wilderness – A hamlet.
Thiells – A hamlet west of West Haverstraw.
West Haverstraw – A village.
Willow Grove – A hamlet on the north town line.

Historical figures who have visited Haverstraw

Aaron Burr, third Vice President of the United States, was a frequent visitor to this area. It is said that Aaron Burr studied law at the office of Thomas Smith, owner of the Belmont House (Treason House), which was occupied by his brother, Joshua Hett Smith – the location where Major André, accompanied by Benedict Arnold who commanded West Point, had agreed to surrender West Point to the British for £20,000 ($1.1M in 2008 dollars). Legend says that Aaron Burr carved his initials in the mantel at the Treason House. The Haverstraw Post Office now stands were the office once stood.

During the American Revolution, the Commander-in-Chief General George Washington and Comte de Rochambeau occupied the Treason House.

General Marie Joseph Paul Yves Rock Gilbert du Motier, better known as the Marquis de Lafayette, was a Revolutionary War hero and a leader of the Garde Nationale during the French Revolution. His camp was located on a hill in the western area of Haverstraw and the site has since been known as Camp Hill.

Henry Lee III (January 29, 1756 – March 25, 1818) was an early American patriot who served as the 9th Governor of Virginia and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 19th district. During the American Revolution, Lee served as a cavalry officer in the Continental Army and earned the name Light-Horse Harry Lee. He engaged in battle with the British on land behind Lady Warren Fire House where the pond now is. He was also the father of Confederate general Robert E. Lee.

Notable residents

Abram Stevens Hewitt (1822–1903) was a teacher, lawyer, iron manufacturer, U.S. Congressman, and a mayor of New York. He was the son-in-law of Peter Cooper (1791–1883), a famous American industrialist, inventor, philanthropist and (during the Hayes-Tilden campaign) chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Michael H. Prendergast (1913–1990) – New York State Democratic Chairman, July 1955 – February 1962
Scott Stanford (birth year unknown) – WWE Superstars play-by-play announcer working for the Raw brand

Transportation

Major highways include the Palisades Interstate Parkway, U.S. Route 9W, U.S. Route 202, and NY Route 45. Haverstraw is also a terminus of the NY Waterway/Metro North Haverstraw–Ossining Ferry.

New York Central's West Shore Railroad began operations along the banks of the Hudson in 1883 and operated passenger service between Albany and Weehawken Terminal in Weehawken, New Jersey, where passengers could transfer to ferries to Manhattan.^[4] Service was discontinued in 1959. The right of way is still used for freight and know as the River Line. Conrail operated the system until its dissolution. It is now part of the CSX River Subdivision which runs between North Bergen Yard in New Jersey and Selkirk, New York.