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Haverstraw is a town in Rockland County, New York, USA. The population was 33,811 at the 2000 census. The name comes from a Dutch word meaning "Oat Straw," referring to the grasslands along the river.
The Town of Haverstraw contains a village, also known as Haverstraw. The town runs from the west to the east border of the county in its northern part. The Town Supervisor is Mr. Howard T. Phillips Jr. The Town Councilmen are Mr. Vincent Gamboli, Mr. John J. Gould, Mr. Hector L. Soto and Mr. Isidro "Papo" Cancel (Appointed).
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 of 2006 and now serve as one department now protecting both the town and the village of Haverstraw. HTTP serves under the command of Chief Charles Miller III. This police department is a diverse force and is proud of their commitment to protect their town. The force consists over over 80 Police Officers with four part-time employees.
New York State Police Officers of the Year 2000 The Town of Haverstraw Police Department is home to five officers who received New York States highest award for bravery in the line of duty. The New York State Police Officer of the Year award for Year 2000 was granted to Lieutenant Martin Lund, Sergeant Wayne Dunn, Sergeant John Lawless, Detective Brian Lauler and Police Officer Gregg Gaynor for their heroic acts. These hero 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.
High Tor Highest point on South Mountain. 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 eastward from Central Highway along the crest of South Mountain to High Tor. Halfway is Little Tor, the second highest peak on South Mountain.
Haverstraw 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."
The Town of Haverstraw was formed in 1788 while still part of Orange County. 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.
Haverstraw Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.5 square miles (71.4 km2), of which, 22.4 square miles (58.1 km2) of it is land and 5.1 square miles (13.3 km2) of it (18.66%) is water.
The east border of the town is the Hudson River, and the west town line is Orange County, New York.
Haverstraw Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,811 people, 11,255 households, and 8,328 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,508.3 people per square mile (582.3/km²). There were 11,553 housing units at an average density of 515.4/sq mi (199.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 66.24% White, 10.27% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 3.21% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 15.65% from other races, and 4.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.73% of the population.
There were 11,255 households out of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.43.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $53,850, and the median income for a family was $61,119. Males had a median income of $40,109 versus $31,979 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,188. About 8.1% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.
Village of Haverstraw History
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 as the Village of Warren. Under an Act of the State Legislature, the name of the village was changed to "Haverstraw" in 1874.
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 West Haverstraw, New York.
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, 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 explosions 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 the events, the village rebounded. Eight years later, however, the Cleary-Newman murder case took place. The village announced in 2007, the 101 anniversary of the landslide, that a memorial would be erected in honor of the victims of the landslide.
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. Because of the amount of vacancies and the relatively inexpensive housing available, the village opened up to Hispanic migration, and 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 - Heading' Home. A local baseball field bears the Hall of Famer's name due to his visit.
Village of Haverstraw Tourism
Historical Markers
- Treason Site - Route 9w - Where Benedict Arnold met Major John André, a British spy, on September 21, 1780.
- Cohan’s Debut - Broadway & Lincoln Street
- Hudson River - Front Street & Elks Drive
- Landslide - Division & Rockland Streets
- Brick Industry - 183 West Street
- DeHarte Patent - 79 North Route 9W
- Haverstraw Historic Site, 25 Fairmount Avenue
Landmarks & Places of Interest
- Bricktown Inn - 112 Hudson Avenue - Charming Victorian Bed and Breakfast is located in the Village of Haverstraw, once known as the “brickmaking capital of the world.”
- Central Presbyterian Church, 64 New Main St., founded in 1846 and moved to its present church on Hudson Avenue in 1909 built with donated Haverstraw brick and now - scarce American chestnut wood. The 13 stained-glass windows in the main sanctuary were designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and continue to amaze.
- Edward Hopper House-Made Famous by Hitchcock's Movie Psycho
- Haverstraw Brick Museum - Exhibits of the over 100-year history of brick-making in the Haverstraw area once known as “The Brick-making Capital of the World”.
- Haverstraw King's Daughters Village Library - The oldest public library in Rockland County, chartered in 1895.
Homestead
- King’s Daughters Public Library - 85 Main Street
- M/V Commander - Haverstraw Marina - Commander is a rare design link between the heavily built-for-steam boats of the late nineteenth century and the more lightly built vessels of the twentieth century. It was listed in 1984 on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places and is also listed in the International Register of Historic Ships, Great American Ships and the Dictionary of American Fighting ships. It may be chartered for private parties and excursions.
- United States Post Office, 86 Main Street
- St. Peter's Catholic Church, 115 Broadway., - The first Mass was celebrated in 1847.
- The Congregation of the Sons of Jacob, 37 Clove Avenue., begun in 1877 is the oldest Jewish congregation in Rockland County.
Festival & Events
- Puerto Rican Day Parade and Festival - June
- Dominican Republic Day Parade and Festival - August
- Multi-Cultural Festival - September
Notable Residents
- Manuel Lopez Army Cpl - Age 20, died in the war in Iraq on April 12, 2005 when the Humvee in which he was riding was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade.
- Toni Morrison, American author, owns a home in the village.
Notable People Buried in Mount Repose Cemetery
- Denoyelles, Peter - Representative from New York - 13th United States Congress
- Haskell, Reuben Locke - (L.L.B. 1898) - United States Congress New York, 1915-19.
- Weill, Kurt Julian - German-born, leading composer for the stage and writer of numbers of concert works. Most notable work is song "Mack the Knife". Married to Lotte Lenya twice - (1926) and 1937).
- Lenya, Lotte - Born Karoline Wilhelmine Blamauer - Tony Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated singer and actress. She stated in interviews that when she met new people, the first thing they looked at was her shoes. Hint: James Bond - From Russia with Love
Communities & Locations In Haverstraw
- 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.
- Haverstraw -- The Village of Haverstraw.
- 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 -- The Village of Pomona is partly in the town and partly in the Town of Ramapo.
- Samsondale -- A hamlet east of West Haverstraw.
- Thiells -- A hamlet west of West Haverstraw.
- West Haverstraw -- The Village of West Haverstraw.
- Willow Grove -- A hamlet on the north town line.
Official Links For Haverstraw
*All information excerpted from Wikipedia.
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Other Rockland
Communities
Town of Ramapo
| Town of Stony Point
| Town of Haverstraw
| Town of Clarkstown
Town of Orangetown
| The Riverfront Communities
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