Honor Sloatsburg's 90th Anniversary

Assembly Resolution No. 158 BY: M. of A. Brabenec COMMEMORATING the 90th Anniversary of the Village of Sloatsburg, New York WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor and commemorate the distinguished histories of the communities which comprise the noble body of this great Empire State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Village of Sloatsburg, New York; and WHEREAS, In 1738, Dutch settler Wynant Van Gelder purchased a tract of land called Pothat from the local Indians which would become the Village of Sloatsburg; and WHEREAS, Wynant Van Gelder deeded the land to his brother-in-law, Isaac Van Duzer nine years later, who in turn deeded the property to his son-in-law, Stephen Sloat in 1763; during this time, there was no inland route for wagon travel upstate to Albany and other northern settlements; and WHEREAS, Dutch settlers like Isaac Van Duzer, Stephen Sloat and others recognized an old Indian trail through the Ramapo Pass which could be widened and leveled to form such a route; they began this work and expanded their homes into inns to accommodate the travelers along this roadway; and WHEREAS, The old Sloat Home & Inn located at the entrance to Sloatsburg has been preserved and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; and WHEREAS, This route was fully opened for wagon traffic at about the time of the start of the Revolutionary War; the British had conquered New York City, and were intent upon seizing Albany; and WHEREAS, General Washington blocked their access on the Hudson River with a huge chain stretched across the river and gun emplacements at West Point; to block the inland route at the Ramapo Pass, he established a command post at the Sloat home and placed Captain Stephen Sloat in charge of the troops guarding the Pass; and WHEREAS, Stephen Sloat's eldest son, Private John Sloat, was subsequently shot by a sentry and buried on a grass knoll which later became the Sloat Family burial plot and eventually the Sloatsburg Cemetery - also listed on the National Register of Historic Places; and WHEREAS, Isaac Sloat, son of pioneer Stephen and brother of Private John, was the first entrepreneur of this area; by 1792, he had constructed a dam across the Ramapo river with a system of sluice gates and a mill race to provide water power to run a saw mill and tannery located in what is now downtown Sloatsburg; and WHEREAS, Jacob Sloat, a son of Isaac, constructed a cotton mill in

1815; his operation was so successful it was enlarged several times and continued to be a major local employer until destroyed by fire in 1955; it was Jacob and his industry that put Sloatsburg on the map, becoming an incorporated village in 1929; and WHEREAS, The Orange Turnpike Association was formed in 1800, and until the New York State Thruway was completed in 1957, this Turnpike, now Route 17, was the only major route to upstate New York; and WHEREAS, In the early 1900s, thousands of passengers passed through downtown Sloatsburg annually; the Glenwood Inn, Taylor's Inn and the Henry Inn were elegant restaurants and hotels catering to those travelers; and WHEREAS, During this time, commerce flourished in downtown Sloatsburg with multiple grocery stores, gasoline stations, departments stores, and many other stores and services lining Main Street; upon the completion of World War II, however, the concept of shopping malls and other social changes negatively impacted shopping in local villages; and WHEREAS, Today, the Village of Sloatsburg is primarily a remote and environmentally attractive residential area for commuters who work in other areas; and WHEREAS, Of historic origin, and remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of growth and change, the Village of Sloatsburg continues to provide the quintessential quality of life for its residents; and WHEREAS, The residents of the Village of Sloatsburg have a bright outlook for the future of their community, which remains a beautiful place in which to live and raise a family; and WHEREAS, In recognition of the Village of Sloatsburg's rich history and enduring contribution to the State of New York, this Legislative Body is proud to pay tribute to this spirited village upon the occasion of its 90th Anniversary; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Village of Sloatsburg, New York, recognizing the significance of the role it continues to play in the life of the community of the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Village of Sloatsburg, New York.