Manor Park, Larchmont
Encyclopedia
Manor Park, in Larchmont, New York
consists of about 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) of land (with a shoreline of more than 5,000 feet) that lies along the Long Island Sound
and Larchmont Harbor. With its striated rocks, flora, marine wildlife, picturesque gazebos (with Umbrella point an especially attractive location), scenic views and pathways Manor Park has been the subject of thousands of photographs and paintings.
The history of Manor Park dates back to the 17th century when a Dutch ship captain "reported seeing campfires" belonging to the Siwanoy
Indians in the area that now comprises the park, in 1614. Within a century, British and Dutch settlers had purchased much of the land.
In 1661, John Richbell, a wealthy trader purchased "three necks" of land from "Chiefs Wappaquewam and Manhattan" with the "middle neck" consisting the land comprising Larchmont and Manor Park. Samuel Palmer purchased the "middle neck" in 1701. Afterwards he and his family resided in the area until 1790 when most of the land was purchased by Peter Jay Munro, a nephew of John Jay
, one of the "Founding Fathers" and the first Chief Justice
of the U.S. Supreme Court. Subsequent to Munro’s ownership, Thomas J.S. Flint purchased the property comprising Manor Park and much of the Village of Larchmont and established the Larchmont Manor Company with plans of "developing the [area] into a suburban community..." During the 1870s, he reserved 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) of waterfront land and named it Larchmont Manor Park," which became the heart of today’s park.
Afterwards, the Larchmont Manor Park Society was established in 1892 to "maintain, preserve and protect the park" which also includes "nearby Fountain Square and four small traffic islands" and Manor Beach. The Society’s latest endeavors included a successful $1 million capital improvement campaign in 2003 to provide for seawall reinforcement and repairs, path curbing and repairs, landscaping, replacement of an old chainlink fence, and rebuilding of the West gazebo and a permanent endowment fund as well as a highly successful art show "Manor Park - In All Seasons" in May 2004.
Although Manor Park is privately owned, it is open to the public from dawn to dusk. As a prized-jewel of Larchmont and Westchester County, it is visited by hundreds of people each day throughout the year, some to stroll and others to watch the sailboats or observe the marine life, and still others to read a book, bench sit, socialize, jog or simply walk their dogs.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
consists of about 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) of land (with a shoreline of more than 5,000 feet) that lies along the Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
and Larchmont Harbor. With its striated rocks, flora, marine wildlife, picturesque gazebos (with Umbrella point an especially attractive location), scenic views and pathways Manor Park has been the subject of thousands of photographs and paintings.
The history of Manor Park dates back to the 17th century when a Dutch ship captain "reported seeing campfires" belonging to the Siwanoy
Siwanoy
The Native American Siwanoy or Sinanoy were a band of Algonquian-speaking people, the Wappinger, in what is now the New York City area. By the mid-17th century, when their territory became hotly contested between Dutch and English colonial interests, the Siwanoy were settled along the East River...
Indians in the area that now comprises the park, in 1614. Within a century, British and Dutch settlers had purchased much of the land.
In 1661, John Richbell, a wealthy trader purchased "three necks" of land from "Chiefs Wappaquewam and Manhattan" with the "middle neck" consisting the land comprising Larchmont and Manor Park. Samuel Palmer purchased the "middle neck" in 1701. Afterwards he and his family resided in the area until 1790 when most of the land was purchased by Peter Jay Munro, a nephew of John Jay
John Jay
John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States ....
, one of the "Founding Fathers" and the first Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the U.S. Supreme Court. Subsequent to Munro’s ownership, Thomas J.S. Flint purchased the property comprising Manor Park and much of the Village of Larchmont and established the Larchmont Manor Company with plans of "developing the [area] into a suburban community..." During the 1870s, he reserved 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) of waterfront land and named it Larchmont Manor Park," which became the heart of today’s park.
Afterwards, the Larchmont Manor Park Society was established in 1892 to "maintain, preserve and protect the park" which also includes "nearby Fountain Square and four small traffic islands" and Manor Beach. The Society’s latest endeavors included a successful $1 million capital improvement campaign in 2003 to provide for seawall reinforcement and repairs, path curbing and repairs, landscaping, replacement of an old chainlink fence, and rebuilding of the West gazebo and a permanent endowment fund as well as a highly successful art show "Manor Park - In All Seasons" in May 2004.
Although Manor Park is privately owned, it is open to the public from dawn to dusk. As a prized-jewel of Larchmont and Westchester County, it is visited by hundreds of people each day throughout the year, some to stroll and others to watch the sailboats or observe the marine life, and still others to read a book, bench sit, socialize, jog or simply walk their dogs.
Footnotes
Early Larchmont History. Village of Larchmont: Larchmont History. 2005. A brief history of Rye, Larchmont and Mamaroneck, New York. Harborview Properties. Bruce Allen. A Century of Larchmont Manor Park. Larchmont Historical Society. January 1, 1991. Judy Silberstein. "Manor Park Campaign Meets $1 Million Goal: May 15 Art Show to Thank the Community." Larchmont Gazette. 6 March 2004. Support the Manor Park Capital Campaign. Larchmont Manor Park Society. 2003.External Links
- Larchmont Manor Park Society, Inc. Larchmont Gazette.
- Parks in the Village of Larchmont. Village of Larchmont: Parks. 2005.
- LarchmontManorPark.org. Larchmont Manor Park Society: 2010.