Saugerties (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Ulster County
Ulster County, New York
Ulster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at...
, New York
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...
, USA. The population was 19,482 at the 2000 census. The Town of Saugerties contains the Village of Saugerties
Saugerties (village), New York
Saugerties is a village in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 4,955 at the 2000 census.The Village of Saugerties is a Town in the eastern part of the Town of Saugerties. U.S. Route 9W passes through the village...
. The town is in the northeast corner of Ulster County.
U.S. Route 9W
U.S. Route 9W
U.S. Route 9W is a north–south U.S. Highway in the states of New Jersey and New York. It begins on Fletcher Avenue in Fort Lee, New Jersey as it crosses the US 1 & 9, US 46, and the Interstate 95 approaches to the George Washington Bridge, where it heads north up the west...
and New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32 is a north–south state highway that extends for through the Hudson Valley and Capital District regions of the U.S. state of New York. It is a two-lane surface road for nearly its entire length, with few divided and no limited-access sections. From Harriman to Albany,...
pass through the town, converging at the center of the village and overlapping to the south. These routes parallel the New York State Thruway
New York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
(Interstate 87
Interstate 87
Interstate 87 is a Interstate Highway located entirely within New York State in the United States of America. I-87 is the longest intrastate Interstate highway in the Interstate Highway System. Its southern end is at the Bronx approaches of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in New York City...
), which passes through the town just west of the village.
History
The village land of "Saugerties" was obtained from Esopus Indian Kaelcop, chief of the Amorgarickakan Family. Governor Andros purchased the land on April 27, 1677, for the price of a piece of cloth, a blanket, some coarse fiber, a loaf of bread, and a shirt. The village was incorporated in 1831 as "Ulster," but it changed its name to "Saugerties" in 1855. In 1710, during the Palatine immigration, over 3,000 German PalatinesGerman Palatines
The German Palatines were natives of the Electoral Palatinate region of Germany, although a few had come to Germany from Switzerland, the Alsace, and probably other parts of Europe. Towards the end of the 17th century and into the 18th, the wealthy region was repeatedly invaded by French troops,...
were sent here by the English Crown to manufacture naval stores, tar, and turpentine.
In 1730, a subdivision of the town called "Katsbaan" was established. The Palatine settlers and Dutch settlers built a stone church in Katsbaan in 1732.
In 1777, During the American Revolution, a British Squadron came to Saugerties during October 18–22. Raiding British parties burned Clermont and Belvedere (these reside on the east side of the Hudson River). In Saugerties, the raiding parties burned sloops, which are rigid sail boats with one or two more head sails, in the Esopus Creek area, and several homes and barns. This is where General Vaughan learned that another general named John Burgoyne had surrendered his army at Saratoga, which is elsewhere in upstate New York, on October 17. On October 22, 1777, the British fleet had left from the Mid-Hudson Valley, never to return.
In 1825, a man by the name of Henry Barclay purchased land known as Esopus Creek. After Barclay bought Esopus Creek he soon began to build a dam and a rock cutting project. Between 1826 -1827, Barclay built Ulster Iron Works and a paper mill, thus beginning what became the largest water-powered industry in the world.
On January 3, 1851, Henry Barclay died and the Sheffield Company took over the paper mill. In July 1872 Henry Barclay's mill was destroyed by fire. It was then rebuilt out of all brick within one year. The roof of the rebuilt mill was then made completely made of slate. In 1903, the Cantine Company bought out the Sheffield mill. The Cantine mill was closed in 1975 after a long 72-year run, and later (in 1978) the Cantine mill burned to the ground.
The U.S. Congress gave $5,000.00 to the town of Saugerties for a lighthouse in 1834. The lighthouse was placed at the mouth of the Esopus Creek to guide ships away from shallow areas when daily commercial and passenger transportation come into the port. Construction began in 1835 by Charles Hooster, a residence of Saugerties. He won the job with the low bid of $2,988. The pier the lighthouse was built upon was made of chestnut cribbing and filled with stone. The original source of light came from 5 whale oil lamps with parabolic reflectors, but in 1850 the whale oil lamps were replaced with mineral oil lamps.
Yet after strides with this lighthouse, Congress passed a budget in 1867 for $25,000 to construct a newly developed lighthouse. It was built on a circular stone whose base is 60 feet (18.3 m) in diameter. The carpenters used the old mineral oil lamps from the original lighthouse in the new lighthouse building. Two years later in 1869 the newly built lighthouse became functional. This lighthouse is still the present-day light of the town of Saugerties.
Then in 1870, the population of the town of Saugerties sustained a 4000 resident count.
In 1873, there was a lantern room made out of cast-iron installed in the lighthouse with an iron-plate walkway that wrapped around for cleaning the outside panels of glass.
Saugerties harbor was enlarged in 1888 to grant access for dredging the Esopus Creek and to construct a small jetty. Then there was a small road made to connect the mainland and the lighthouse on top of the jetty which was created from the dredging spoils. During this year a man by the name of Martin Cantine built a paper mill on the north side of the dam that was built on the Esopus Creek by Henry Barclay in 1825.
On January 29, 1889, A group of men by the names of Robert A. Synder, John and George Seaman, Henry L. Finger, and James and William Maxwell started the "Saugerties and New York Steamboat Company".
1890 was the year that the historical "Orpheum Theater" was built by a man named John Cooper Davis. The Orpheum Theater was a center for movies, basketball, Vaudeville acts and roller skating. John Davis was born in 1852 and died at the age 62 in 1914.
February 7, 1891 was the first time in Saugerties, New York history that the Electric Light and Power Company turned on the electricity for the first time.
In 1909, in terms of the lighthouse, in the tower a fog bell was installed.
Then in 1940 the lighthouse was in dire need of repair in which the town did supply,
In the late 1940s in terms of electricity, telephones were added in the town as well as steam heat.
The year 1954, the automation of lights in the town made the need for light keepers obsolete. Shortly after this the coastguard closed the lighthouse and then over the years with no upkeep, fell into a decay state.
The art council of 1976 formed a committee attempting to save the lighthouse. The historian of the town Ruth Reynolds Glunt and local architect Elise Barry tried to place the once beautiful lighthouse on the National Register in 1978, and those two women succeeded in their trials. Now with the light house on the Register, the citizens of Saugerties seemed to have a fire in them to restore the decaying building.
As of 1986, the newly formed "Saugerties Lighthouse Conservancy" proceed to obtain the lighthouse and wetlands next to it. In 1987 The Saugerties Village became the first commercial district on the National Historic Register.
The Garlic Festival was established in 1989 by Pat Reppert of Shale Hill Farm and Herb Gardens. The Garlic festival is the biggest festival in the Mid-Hudson and possibly the biggest food festival on the East coast. The Kiwanis Club of Saugerties, took over the Garlic Festival within a couple of years. They then moved the festival to the central town baseball field known as "Cantine Field"; Where now the Festival is held every September and attracts about 20,000 people within the three day weekend from opening to closing.
In the year of 1990, the beautiful lighthouse was restored to operation after 36 years of no use. It took extensive fundraising and years of restoration until it was completely reconstructed. The Coast Guard installed a solar-powered beacon, and after that the lighthouse was re-commissioned as an aid to navigation on August 4, 1990.
In 1994, Saugerties was the home of the Woodstock '94
Woodstock '94
Woodstock '94, often called the "commercial Woodstock" or "Mudstock", was a music festival organized to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the original Woodstock Festival of 1969...
music festival, held on the 25th anniversary of the original Woodstock Festival. Saugerties is just 10 miles (16.1 km) east of the town of Woodstock, New York
Woodstock, New York
Woodstock is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 5,884 at the 2010 census, down from 6,241 at the 2000 census.The Town of Woodstock is in the northern part of the county...
. The original festival was held some 70 miles (112.7 km) southwest of the town of Woodstock (on Max Yasgur's farm
Max Yasgur
Max B. Yasgur was an American farmer, best known as the owner of the dairy farm in Bethel, New York at which the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was held between August 15 and August 18, 1969....
in Bethel
Bethel, New York
Bethel is a town in Sullivan County, New York, USA. The population has been estimated at 4,532 in 2007.The town received worldwide fame after it became the host of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, which was originally planned for Wallkill, New York, but was relocated to Bethel after Wallkill withdrew.-...
, New York
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...
), while the 1999 festival in Rome, NY was 160 miles (257.5 km) away from Woodstock.
One of the towns biggest attraction is HITS. HITS stands for "Horseshows In The Sun". They opened operation in 2003. They occupy 200 acre (0.809372 km²) of land and have a 10 ring, Olympic-status horse show facility in central part of Saugerties.
When 2005 came around, the "Esopus Bend Conservancy" was formed. They acquired over 150 acre (0.607029 km²) with a little more than 2 miles (3.2 km) of the shoreline on the upper Esopus Creek.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 68.0 square miles (176.2 km²), of which, 64.5 square miles (167.2 km²) of it is land and 3.5 square miles (9.0 km²) of it (5.13%) is water.
The north town line is the border of Greene County
Greene County, New York
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Its name is in honor of the American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. Its county seat is Catskill...
, New York
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...
, and the east town line, marked by the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
, is the border of Dutchess
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
and Columbia
Columbia County, New York
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
counties.
Esopus Creek
Esopus Creek
Esopus Creek is a tributary of the Hudson River that drains the east-central Catskill Mountains of the U.S. state of New York. From its source at Winnisook Lake on the slopes of Slide Mountain, the Catskills' highest peak, it flows across Ulster County to the Hudson at Saugerties. Many tributaries...
enters the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
south of Saugerties village.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 19,868 people, 7,478 households, and 5,062 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 307.8 people per square mile (118.9/km²). There were 8,257 housing units at an average density of 127.9 per square mile (49.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.99% White, 4.06% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.24% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.65% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.61% of the population.
There were 7,478 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 105.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,401, and the median income for a family was $50,033. Males had a median income of $36,400 versus $25,025 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $20,374. About 6.5% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- John ThornJohn ThornJohn Thorn is a noted sports historian, and the Official Baseball Historian for Major League Baseball.-Early life:Thorn was born in Stuttgart, West Germany. His Polish Jewish parents had come there as refugees. He immigrated to the United States in 1949...
, a prolific author, columnist, and noted authority on baseball history, resides in Saugerties. - Susun WeedSusun WeedSusun Weed is an American herbalist, author, and director of the Wise Woman Center located near Woodstock in New York State. She is known for her writing and teaching of what she describes as the "Wise Woman Way" of herbalism. Ms. Weed is the author of the Wise Woman Herbal Series. She believes...
, women's health expert, and authority on herbal medicine, resides in Saugerties. - Jimmy FallonJimmy FallonJames Thomas "Jimmy" Fallon, Jr. is an American actor, comedian, singer, musician and television host. He currently hosts Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a late-night talk show that airs Monday through Friday on NBC...
, Entertainer and current Late NightLate Night (NBC)Late Night is an American late-night talk and variety show airing on NBC since 1982. Late Night has been hosted by David Letterman , Conan O'Brien , and Jimmy Fallon...
host, grew up in Saugerties from age two, following his move from Sunset Park, BrooklynSunset Park, BrooklynSunset Park is a neighborhood in the western section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. It is bounded by Greenwood Heights to the north, Borough Park to the east, Bay Ridge to the south, and Upper New York Bay to the west...
. His parents currently reside in Saugerties. - The BandThe BandThe Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
resided in a house affectionately known as 'Big Pink' in West Saugerties, where they recorded The Basement TapesThe Basement TapesThe Basement Tapes is a 1975 studio album by Bob Dylan and The Band. The songs featuring Dylan's vocals were recorded in 1967, eight years before the album's release, at houses in and around Woodstock, New York, where Dylan and the Band lived...
(with Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
) in 1967. Their debut album, Music From Big PinkMusic from Big PinkMusic from Big Pink is the 1968 debut album by rock band The Band. It features the well-known song, "The Weight". The music was composed partly in 'Big Pink', a house shared by Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson in West Saugerties, in upstate New York...
was, in fact, recorded in studios in New York and Los Angeles. - Tom HallionTom HallionThomas Francis "Tom" Hallion is an American umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the National League from 1985 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2005. He is currently a crew chief. Hallion is well known for his exciting and demonstrative strikeout signal in which he...
, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
umpireUmpire (baseball)In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
, was born and raised in Saugerties. - Roger DonlonRoger DonlonRoger Hugh Charles Donlon is a retired United States Army officer who was the first man to receive the Medal of Honor in Vietnam, as well as the first member of the Special Forces so honored.-Biography:...
, born in Saugerties, was the first Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient of the Vietnam War, and the first Green BeretGreen beretThe green beret was the official headdress of the British Commandos of World War II. It is still worn with pride by members of the Royal Marines after passing the Commando Course and any member of the British Military who has passed the All Arms Commando Course.There are certain other military...
to receive the award. He currently resides in Kansas with his wife and family. - Joe SinnottJoe SinnottJoe Sinnott is an American comic book artist. Working primarily as an inker, Sinnott is best-known for his long stint on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, from 1965 to 1981 , initially over the pencils of industry legend Jack Kirby...
, Marvel Comics artist, is a lifelong resident of Saugerties.
Communities and locations in the Town of Saugerties
- Asbury – A hamletHamlet (place)A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
near the north town line, bordering the town of Catskill. - Barclay Heights – A location in the southern side of the village on Route 9W.
- Blue Mountain – A hamlet in the western part of the town.
- Canoe Hill – A hamlet north of Saugerties village.
- CentervilleCenterville, Ulster County, New YorkCenterville is a small community in Ulster County, New York, USA. Centerville is located along New York State Route 212, about west of Interstate 87, and several miles east of Catskill State Park. The community is located at ....
– A hamlet west of Veteran. - Eavesport – A hamlet on Route 9W north of Saugerties village.
- Fish Creek – A hamlet southwest of Saugerties village.
- Flatbush – A hamlet in the southeast corner of the town.
- GlascoGlasco, New YorkGlasco is a hamlet in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 1,692 at the 2000 census.Glasco is a community in the Town of Saugerties east of U.S. Route 9W...
– A hamlet in the southeast part of the town by the Hudson River. - Glenerie – A hamlet in the southeast part of the town on Route 9W.
- High Woods – A hamlet in the southwest part of the town south of Fish Creek and West of Mount Marion.
- Katsbaan – A hamlet northwest of Saugerties village, located on County Route 34.
- Malden-on-HudsonMalden, New YorkMalden is a hamlet in Ulster County, New York United States. The population was 413 at the 2000 census....
– A hamlet by the Hudson River, north of Saugerties village. - Mount Marion – A location in the southeast part of the town.
- Mount Marion Park – A hamlet west of Glasco.
- Quarryville – A hamlet west of Katsbaan on Route 32.
- Petersons Corner – A location south of Fish Creek.
- Pine Grove – A location west of Centerville.
- Saxton – A hamlet in the northwest corner of the town on Route 32.
- SaugertiesSaugerties (village), New YorkSaugerties is a village in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 4,955 at the 2000 census.The Village of Saugerties is a Town in the eastern part of the Town of Saugerties. U.S. Route 9W passes through the village...
– The Village of Saugerties is located in the eastern part of the town on Route 9W. - Saugerties SouthSaugerties South, New YorkSaugerties South is a hamlet in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 2,285 at the 2000 census.Saugerties South is a community south of the Village of Saugerties and Esopus Creek in the Town of Saugerties....
– A hamlet south of Saugerties village. Commonly known as Barclay Heights. - Shultis Corners – A hamlet in the southwest part of the town at the intersection of Glasco Turnpike and State Route 212.
- St. Mary of the Snow Catholic SchoolSt. Mary of the Snow (school)St. Mary of the Snow is an elementary Pre-school through grade 8, Catholic School located in Saugerties, New York.The school was founded in 1881 by the Sisters of Charity, St. Mary of The Snow School offers the children from all Hudson Valley, Saugerties, Kingston, Catskills and Onteora districts...
- Veteran (aka Toodlum) – A hamlet west of Saugerties village.
- West Camp – A hamlet on Route 9W north of Eavesport.
- West SaugertiesWest Saugerties, New YorkWest Saugerties is an hamlet in Ulster County, New York, United States and part of the Town of Saugerties.West Saugerties is located at . It lies above sea level.-History:...
– A hamlet near the west town line, west of Blue Mountain, near Platte ClovePlatte ClovePlatte Clove, sometimes Plattekill Clove, is a narrow and steep valley in the Catskill Mountains of New York. It is mostly in Greene County, although the lowest portions are in Ulster County....
.