Haverstraw (village), New York

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Haverstraw is a village in Rockland County, New York. The population was 10,117 at the 2000 census.

Located along the western shore of the Hudson River at its widest point, the Village of Haverstraw is in the Town of Haverstraw.

Home to Rockland Community College - Haverstraw Extension

As of 2005, the mayor is Francis "Bud" Wassmer.

Contents

[edit] History

Location of village within the Town of Haverstraw and Rockland County, New York.
Location of village within the Town of Haverstraw and Rockland County, New York.

In 1609, during one of the many voyages the Dutch financed in search of the Northwest Passage, Henry Hudson sailed the Hudson River, docking his ship in Haverstraw Bay. It was here that the Dutch declared the Hudson River as property of the Dutch.

Haverstraw was founded in 1666, but the village wasn't legally established until 1854.

The village is one of the first to appear on maps of North America, listed as "Haverstroo", which means oat straw.

Strategically located on the Hudson River, the village was home to a number of skirmishes between the British Army and the Continental Army of the Americans during the American Revolutionary War.

Haverstraw was the site of the most grevious treason of the early years of the United States. During the night of September 19 and September 20, 1780, the English Emissary, Major John André, was rowed from the sloop-of-war Vulture to a beach below the Long Cove on the southern boundary of Haverstraw. The negotiations to sell the plans to West Point were not completed by dawn, and Benedict Arnold and André traveled to the home of Joshua Het Smith on the grounds of what is now Helen Hayes Hospital in Haverstraw.

Haverstraw is rich in history. Commonly referred to as "Bricktown", Haverstraw was famous for its brickmaking, which was a major industry for the village. Brickmaking was so popular due to the clay formed by the Hudson River's water and the rich soil that lined Haverstraw's waterfront, that it was nicknamed the "Brickmaking Capital of the World". Many of the old brownstone and brick structures that were constructed in New York City in the late 1890s-early 1900s were composed of bricks manufactured by Haverstraw. At one point, in the early 20th Century, there were more than 40 brickmaking factories lining the Hudson River within the village. Although brickmaking involved all the ethnic groups, 60 percent of the brickyard workers were African-Americans.

On the night of January 8, 1906, as the industry neared its peak, a tragedy struck the village. Due to the constant "greedy" excavation of the rich clay, a landslide demolished a large residential portion of the village. Firefighters responded immediately but faced enormous odds because of burst valves and water mains, gas explotions and hoses which periodically froze because of the cold night. The landslide, a pit about 150 feet deep, claimed five Haverstraw streets from Allison to Jefferson Roads, 21 buildings and the lives of 4 firefighters and 17 residents. Despite this tragedy, the village rebounded. Eight years later, however, there was another tragic event, which would lead to much-needed reforms in local government--the Cleary-Newman murder case. The village announced in 2007, the 101 anniversay of the landslide, that a memorial would be erected in honor of the victims of the landslide. Today, there are family members who have remained and share their stories.

The brick industry continued to thrive until World War II, in which brick began to lose its value significantly. Shortly after, the village's main industry of brickmaking declined and left the village. The economic vitality of the village greatly decreased.

After World War II, Haverstraw's brickmaking industry ceased. The village suffered economic hardships and many businesses left.

The village has since become home to many Hispanic immigrant families since the 1950s. Many families of Hispanic descent take part in the village's festivals that take place annually. The Puerto Rican Day Parade and Festival take place in the village's downtown in early June, the Dominican Day Parade and Festival occur in late August and in September, the multi-cultural festival is assembled.

September 2004 marked the village's 150th anniversary, celebrated by a festival along the village's waterfront. The future of this river village gleams bright with a large revitalization project that revitalizes the downtown business district and develops its waterfront with a large residential project.

As a cost-saving measure, at midnight on January 1, 2006, the Village of Haverstraw Police Department was merged with the Town of Haverstraw Police Department.

In July 1920, New York Yankee outfielder Babe Ruth spent time in Haverstraw, to film a movie. A local baseball field bears the Hall of Famer's name due to his visit.

[edit] Geography

Haverstraw is on the west bank of the Hudson River.

Haverstraw is located at 41°11′47″N, 73°58′0″W (41.196494, -73.96684)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 13.1 km² (5.1 mi²). 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²) of it is land and 8.0 km² (3.1 mi²) of it (60.75%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 10,117 people, 2,816 households, and 2,168 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,962.9/km² (5,078.8/mi²). There were 2,925 housing units at an average density of 567.5/km² (1,468.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 46.02% White, 12.07% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 1.09% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 34.70% from other races, and 5.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 59.29% of the population.

There were 2,816 households out of which 43.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 23.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.42 and the average family size was 3.82.

In the village the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $42,683, and the median income for a family was $44,881. Males had a median income of $31,503 versus $27,207 for females. The per capita income for the village was $15,442. About 13.9% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.4% of those under age 18 and 23.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Transportation

The ex- New York Central runs through the Haverstraw, which has an important passing siding located at milepost (MP) 35 on the River Subdivision. The River Subdivision is the primary freight rail line between the New York Metropolitan Area / Southern New Jersey and Albany, NY. Today, the line is operated by CSX Transportation, the fourth railroad to do so. On an average day, 20-25 trains pass through Haverstraw.

U.S. Route 9W runs directly through the village.

[edit] Haverstraw Fire Department

Main article: Haverstraw Fire Department

The Haverstraw Fire Department, a village agency, is comprised of five independent, volunteer fire companies that render all facets of fire protection to the village. In exchange for a body of manpower, the agency provides each company with equipment, quarters, and length of service awards.

[edit] Tourism

[edit] Landmarks and places of Interest

  • Haverstraw Brick Museum
  • Haverstraw King's Daughters Village Library - The oldest public library in Rockland County, chartered in 1895.
  • Edward Hopper House-Made Famous bu Hitchcock's Movie Psycho

[edit] Festival and Events

  • Puerto Rican Day Parade and Festival - June
  • Dominican Republic Day Parade and Festival - August
  • Multi-Cultural Festival - September

[edit] Notable Residents

Toni Morrison, American author, owns a home in the village.

[edit] Other

The German-born composer Kurt Weill is buried in Mount Repose Cemetery.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  v • d • e Municipalities and Communities of Rockland County, New York
 County Seat: New City
Towns

Clarkstown | Haverstraw | Orangetown | Ramapo | Stony Point
Villages

Airmont | Chestnut Ridge | Grand View-on-Hudson | Haverstraw | Hillburn | Kaser | Montebello | New Hempstead | New Square | Nyack | Piermont | Pomona | Sloatsburg | South Nyack | Spring Valley | Suffern | Upper Nyack | Wesley Hills | West Haverstraw
Communities and CDPs

Bardonia | Blauvelt | Central Nyack | Congers | Garnerville | Grassy Point | Hillcrest | Jones Point | Ladentown | Monsey | Mount Ivy | Nanuet | New City | Orangeburg | Palisades | Pearl River | Sparkill | Stony Point | Tappan | Thiells | Tomkins Cove | Valley Cottage | Viola | West Nyack
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