Dobbs Ferry

Westchester County

10522 History Dobbs Ferry Children's Room Adult Reading Hudson River Downloadable Audiobooks Children's Programs Westchester Library System Homepage | Westchester Dobbs Ferry Public Library

914-693-6614
  The Dobbs Ferry Public Library is located at 55 Main Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522.

Brief History about Dobbs Ferry Public Library
"In 1899, the Dobbs Ferry Free Library and Reading Room was organized under the " Women's Christian. Temperance Union." The small collection of books gathered by the ladies was placed in the front parlor of a home on lower Main Street. Mrs. Pearse, the wife of the owner, acted as librarian. Situated in what was then the very center of town, she kept the library open every day, and allowed books to circulate for two weeks. Dobbs Ferry Public Library | Westchester  website and more . . .


Educational Programs for Kids | Dobbs Ferry Educational Programs for Kids | Westchester Educational Programs for Kids | Hudson Valley
Hudson River Towns | Dobbs Ferry Hudson River Towns | Westchester Hudson River Towns | Hudson Valley
NYS Library | Dobbs Ferry Library | Westchester NYS Library | Hudson Valley

10522, Fitness Center Address, Dobbs Ferry, NY, Southern Westchester County | Westchester New York Sports Clubs - Dobbs Ferry

914-478-0944
  Fitness Center Address
50 Livingstone Ave
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
southern Westchester County New York Sports Clubs - Dobbs Ferry | Westchester  more . . .


Exercise | Dobbs Ferry Gyms | Westchester Exercise | Hudson Valley

10522, Dobbs Ferry, NY, History, National Historic Landmark, historic sites, museum, horseback riding, biking, bird watching, cross country skiing, activities, Biking, Birding, Bridle Path, Hiking, Nature Trails, Self Guided Tours, Winter Activities | Westchester Old Croton Aqueduct "State Historic Park"

914-693-5259
  Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park is located at 15 Walnut Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 in Westchester County.

A Bit of History about Old Croton Aqueduct
"During the 1830s New York City was in dire need of a fresh water supply to combat the steady rise of disease and to fight numerous fires that often engulfed large tracts of businesses and homes. After numerous proposals and an abandoned plan two years into its production, construction of an unprecedented magnitude began in 1837 under the expertise of John Bloomfield Jervis. The proposed plan called for a 41 mile aqueduct and dam to be built in order to run water from the Croton River to New York City. Three to four thousand workers, mostly Irish immigrants earning up to $1.00 per day, completed the masonry marvel in just five years. In 1842 water flowed into above ground reservoirs located at the present sites of the New York Public Library and the Great Lawn of Central Park. Throngs of people attended the formal celebration held on October 14th and celebrated with "Croton cocktails" - a mix of Croton water and lemonade." Old Croton Aqueduct  "State Historic Park" | Westchester  website and more . . .


Bird Watching | Dobbs Ferry Bird Watching | Westchester Audubon | Hudson Valley
Bike Paths | Dobbs Ferry Biking Trails | Westchester Bike Paths | Hudson Valley
Snowshoeing | Dobbs Ferry Cross-Country Skiing | Westchester Snowshoeing | Hudson Valley
Horseback Riding | Dobbs Ferry Equestrian Facilities | Westchester Horseback Riding | Hudson Valley
Gardens & Nature Centers | Dobbs Ferry Gardens, Nature Centers & Nature Trails | Westchester Gardens & Nature Centers | Hudson Valley
Places To Hike | Dobbs Ferry Hiking Trails | Westchester Places To Hike | Hudson Valley
Historic Hudson Valley | Dobbs Ferry Historic Sites | Westchester Historic Hudson Valley | Hudson Valley
Historic Sites for Kids | Dobbs Ferry Historic Sites for Kids | Westchester Historic Sites for Kids | Hudson Valley
Hudson River Towns | Dobbs Ferry Hudson River Towns | Westchester Hudson River Towns | Hudson Valley
Local and State | Dobbs Ferry Parks | Westchester Local and State | Hudson Valley
Winter Sports | Dobbs Ferry Winter Activities | Westchester Winter Sports | Hudson Valley



Dobbs Ferry
Westchester County
Hudson Valley

History of Dobbs Ferry
Dobbs Ferry is a charming historic town located along the Hudson River in Westchester County, approximately 20 miles north of New York City. The name of Dobbs Ferry is derived from Jeremiah Dobbs, a fisherman, who in 1698 hollowed out a log and started the first river ferry. Dobbs Ferry is one of the charming River Towns of Westchester County.

Recent archaeological excavations near Wicker's Creek have recently established that Dobbs Ferry was inhabited at least four thousand years ago, before the first European contact.

The Weckquaesgeek Indians, a branch of the Mohican tribe of the Algonquin nation, later inhabited Dobbs Ferry. Due to Dobbs Ferry's close proximity to the Hudson, fresh fish was available in addition to game and various crops such as planted pumpkins and beans that sustained the inhabitants of this area.

Henry Hudson's explorations in 1609 opened the area to Dutch settlements. By 1629, the Dutch West India Company was issuing grants requiring settlers to acquire the land from the Native Americans. By the late 1600's, the land became part of the vast Philipse Manor. "Vreedrych Felypse, an immigrant carpenter from Holland who became a successful New Amsterdam trader, purchased the territory bounded by Spuyten Duyvil, the Hudson, the Croton and the Bronx Rivers. When the British conquered New Amsterdam, Felypse anglicized his name to Frederick Philipse, and in 1693 received a Royal Charter confirming him as Lord of the Manor of Philipsborough."

The Philipse family owned this area for several generations. However, during the Revolution, the third lord of the Philipse Family remained loyal to the King and was forced to flee. His land was confiscated by the State and sold mostly to former tenant farmers who had supported the patriot cause. Many historic properties, such as Washington Irving's Sunnyside Historic Site were part of the original Philipseburg Farm.

During the Revolution, this area was the ground for many battles. On September 30, 1778, at Edgars Lane, American militia ambushed and destroyed an eighty-man Hessian patrol. In 1781, the Dobbs Ferry shoreline and Sneden's Landing were fortified to prevent the British fleet from disabling American and French supply lines. American fire from the Dobbs Ferry Redoubt sank the warship HMS Savage that had been attacking American supply sloops off Tarrytown. Also, original manuscripts of General George Washington state that Washington met at Dobbs Ferry with French allies the Comte de Rochambeau and the Comte de Grasse at this location to plan the Battle of Yorktown that ended the war with Great Britain. Historians have long debated whether this meeting took place at present day Dobbs Ferry or at the ferry location directly opposite on the Hudson River. However, a monument stands in Dobbs Ferry at Livingston Manor, the site of the claimed 1781 meeting.

During the 1830s New York City was in dire need of a fresh water supply to combat the steady rise of disease and to fight numerous fires that often engulfed large tracts of businesses and homes. Construction of an unprecedented magnitude began in 1837 under the expertise of John Bloomfield Jervis. The proposed plan called for a 41-mile aqueduct and dam to be built in order to run water from the Croton River to New York City. The Croton Aqueduct was completed in 1842 and passed through the center of what is now the Dobbs Ferry central business district. Press: Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park for more information.

The growth of this area was further stimulated by the advent of the steamboat and later in the 1880s by the building of the railroad. The advent of the railroad had a large impact on the growth of Dobbs Ferry. The railroad stimulated growth and industry in most towns running along the banks of the Hudson River.

By the end of the 19th century, the region had attracted wealthy New Yorkers who established large estates. The newspaper tycoon Henry Villard settled within Dobbs Ferry. The homes of the Vanderbilts, the Goulds, Rockefellers, and others were built nearby.

In the last half of the nineteenth century, Westchester's proximity to New York City, its transportation systems, and its available labor force attracted many manufacturing concerns, particularly along the Hudson River. Peekskill and Croton continued to be centers for the iron industry and Dobbs Ferry along with its neighboring towns continued to prosper and grow.




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