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.