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 The
Village of West Haverstraw was incorporated on March 29, 1883. At
the time of its incorporation the Village had 1,602 residents. Dr.
Frank Green in his "History of Rockland County" described
the boundaries of the Village in this quaint manner: "The
boundaries of the Village are: South, by the Village of Haverstraw
and the Ramapo Road to its junction with a road that leads south to
John Springsteen's; West, by a line running from this junction to
the Stony Point line, near the New Jersey and New York Railroad; on
the North from the Stony Point boundary eastwardly to the road
leading north from Benson's Corner and by a line which continues the
course of the said boundary to a point on the Minisceongo Creek
north of the Farley house on the lands of the Haverstraw Clay and
Brick Company; and on the East by a line running southerly from the
above point to the north line of Haverstraw." The references to
the railroad and the brick yard in the description indicate that
West Haverstraw had a meaningful industrial and business history
prior to its incorporation. As early as the 18th century grist mills
were built along the Minisceongo Creek. In 1828 John Glass
constructed a calico printing factory in what would become the
hamlet of Garnerville in the Village. Glass was killed when a boiler
exploded on a steamboat which was taking his first shipment to the
city. The business was taken over by James and Thomas Garner in 1838
and they built the Garnerville Print Works into an important
industry that gave Garnerville its name and livelihood, The factory
buildings that were begun in the 1840's and many of the homes built
for the workers still exist today. There is evidence that it is the
oldest industrial complex still in use. Today the factory buildings,
known collectively as the Garnerville Arts and Industrial Center,
contain a variety of small businesses as well as studios for artists
and sculptors. In 1830 Elisha Peck brought the machinery from
England for a rolling mill. The firm produced sheet iron, wire,
screws as well as sulphuric acid and other chemicals. Later
cannonballs and armament were manufactured for the Union army. The
area became known as Samsondale after the ship Samson, on which Peck
returned from England. In 1873 the New York and New Jersey Railroad
ran from Jersey City through Mt. Ivy, Thiells, and West Haverstraw
at Benson's Corner in the Village. The line was extended to
Haverstraw Village in 1887. The West Shore Railroad opened to travel
in 1883. The West Haverstraw Railroad Station was the finest on the
line and included a well-known restaurant. It was destroyed by fire
in the early 20th century. The brick industry was the area's
greatest business. In the late 19th century and early 20th centuries
brickyards extended along the Hudson River from Haverstraw Village
to Grassy Point. Among present day businesses is Martino's Meat
Market on Railroad Avenue which has been in operation since 1913 and
is still owned and operated by the Martino Family.The residents of
West Haverstraw can be proud of living in a village with such a
remarkable history.
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