I’ve dedicated this site to the advancement and revitalization of the Village of Haverstraw, a community at the widest point of the Hudson River in New York. This small city of 11,000 people on 2 square miles is set below a dramatic back-drop between the jagged edifice of High Tor Mountain and the expanse of Haverstraw Bay on the Hudson. The village is currently undergoing an almost billion dollar transformation, and is on the path to becoming one of the premier places to visit along the Hudson River. I hope you will use HaverstrawLife.com as a tool to explore and discover the historic Village of Haverstraw.
HaverstrawLife.com is an openly pro-biased view of the Village of Haverstraw and its immediate area. HaverstrawLife promotes the revitalization of Haverstraw as a cultural center. HaverstrawLife supports the renewal, improvement, revival and return of Haverstraw to its original grandeur.
If you would like to contribute content to HaverstrawLife, please, contact me at jared.t.rodriguez (at) gmail.com
Feel free to enter the Village of Haverstraw’s official website.
Black and white website header images are credited to Joseph Barber-Buxbaum.
HaverstrawLife.com 
Just visited Haverstraw for the first time in my life, after growing up across the river in Yorktown Heights (now living in Seattle for the past 22 years). I was wondering what the translation for the Latin motto on the “Welcome to Haverstraw” sign means:
Et Libertas Natale Solum Fumus Patriae Igne Alieno Lucuientior
”Et Libertas Natale Solum” means “Liberty and Homeland”. The rest means: “The smoke of one’s own country is brighter than any fire in a foreign land.” Essentially, there’s no place like home. It’s an old patriotic phrase.
I think the motto is the wrong way around. I think it should be, “Fumus Patriae Igne Alieno Lucientior Et Libertas Natale Solum.” Which would work out as, “The smoke of my country is brighter than a foreign fire, and liberty is my birthright.”
It is isn’t it? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Village_of_Haverstraw_Seal.png
I think it can be read either way?
I really have no background in Latin, but I did try to translate the motto. . . this is what I came up with:
“Remember the fathers of our country, who held the torch of liberty. . .”
This kind of makes sense, since Haverstraw was an important locale during the Revolution (Benedict Arnold made his famous deal here, and an important battle occurred to the north, in Stony Point). Also, the top of High Tor Mountain, during the Revolution, was used as a beacon where bonfires were lit to notify the Continental Army of British activity. These bonfires could be considered “the torch of liberty.” If you could figure anything else out, please feel free to post again! Thanks!
I’ve read your article regarding the forthcomming Havestraw ferry to pier 11 in lower manhattan and am very pleased that this has been approved. However, the only reference is to may 07 and the indications were that it was to start on Aug 1. There is no information in the parking lot nor on the Water Taxi web site. do you have any further information/
thanks
Thanks for your interest! There are other articles with more updated information on the new ferry service. The last time I spoke to the head of transit project at the Rockland County Department of Planning, the start date for the Water Taxi service was the first week of August. I have not heard anything new since, and there hasn’t been a press release. The new ferry boat will make port at the existing ferry landing (NY Waterway) in Haverstraw. I will continue to search for more information and contact the County. Until then, please continue to visit HaverstrawLife.com and feel free to converse with other readers! Again, thank you for your interest!
I’ve found this article on Lohud.com: http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070713/NEWS01/707130439
The ferry, from the way it sounds, is on schedule. And, it looks like there will be some good updates to the landing!
My parents and I had the good fortune to visit Brook House in the summer of 1954, where my Uncle George and his wife of three years, Lenya, lived. It was a grand visit, and I remember the large house, the patio, the lower level, and (of course) the wonderful brook and the wooded hills on all sides.
I would like to learn whether or not Brook House is still standing and whether or not any photographs still exist, especially photographs from the days of Kurt Weil and Lenya and from the days of my Uncle George and Lenya.
Please email me at davis@ic.edu if you have any knowledge concerning Brook House, Weil, Lenya, or Uncle George, and any photos of Brook House.
Aslo, would local newspapers in either Haverstraw or New City have issues from the early and mid 1950s? Finally, I have vivid childhood memories of staying with my family for some weeks in the summer of 1946 at my Uncle George’s brownstone on East 86th Street. Would anyone in the Haverstraw/New City region have any memories or photos of that brownstone?
I live in Ossining and work in the financial district. I enjoy taking the New York Water Taxi from Wall Street to Yonkers on occasion and am wondering if it is convenient to take the Water Taxi ferry to Haverstraw and then the ferry to Ossining. Do both ferries operate from the same pier at Haverstraw?
Hi Dennis:
I’m glad you are adapting to higher gas prices! Yes, it is more than possible to do what you are proposing. Here is the NYWaterway Ferry (Ossining to Haverstraw) Schedule:
http://nywaterway.com/Home/RidetheFerry/SchedulesRoutes/ViewSchedule/tabid/133/Default.aspx?ID=96
Here is the New York Water Taxi (Haverstraw to Yonkers to World Financial Center/Wall Street) Schedule:
http://www.nywatertaxi.com/commuters/hudsonriver/
You can take the 6:30am ferry (NY Waterway) from Ossining to Haverstraw, and then get on the 7:00am ferry (NY Water Taxi) from Haverstraw to Lower Manhattan. It might just be the perfect commute, if it works out. It would cost you $15.00 each way, and $460.00 per month, but it is an incredible view and is quite relaxing. I’ve taken the ferries to Yonkers from Haverstraw for dinner and then return to Haverstraw after dinner. You can be very creative with your commute now. Good Luck!
Please send me updates. Emily
Beutiful website. Thank you Jared
I am a proud Village resident. I am wondering what the future is for the Harbors. That yellow half finished mess is supposed to anchor our renewal. If that look is our future, Haverstraw is in big trouble.
The “Parkside” building, as it is called, is now 70% leased. It has been leasing for roughly one year, which is actually a good absorption rate in this economy. The rents are strong. It looks like this will give Ginsburg the boost to continue building on Phase I of the Harbors project.
As you know, the housing market has slowed down significantly across the nation. The condominium building at the entrance to Harbors is unfinished, and will likely stay unfinished until a majority of the units are sold for that building particularly. At this moment, I believe, there are not enough units sold in the building to justify finishing it. Unfortunately for us, the “Revitalization” is only slowed down by this.
What we need to do is not rely on Ginsburg to make our downtown thrive. We need to get others to come and patronize the downtown and act more locally to sustain this Revitalization Movement in the Village. Please, support local stores and restaurants. Keep and eye out for and report crimes. Together, we can work to move our Revitalization forward.
Hi,
thanks for the great quality of your blog, every time i come here, i’m amazed.
black hattitude.
very informative article… I would like to use a piece of this on my blog, is that feasible?
very informative article… I would like to use a piece of this on my blog, is that feasible?
Amex:
I’m sorry it took so long to respond to this post. Please, feel free to use content on your website; but I would ask for a link or track-back in return! Thanks! Happy reading.
I LOVE HAVERSTRAW!
i HAVE VIST HAVERSTRAW AND IT LOOKS COOL I HAVE FAMILY AND I LOVE HAVERSTRAW
Hi..I live in South Florida and am nearly 60 years old. When I was growing up in the ’50s, my grandparents (Edith and David Rubin) lived in Haverstraw, right down the block from what was the local library..on the river. I always played with these three boys: Ray, Jimmy and Bobby. I remember their mom was named Hazel. I always wondered what happened to them. Have fun memories. Know anything. Let me know.
Hi Martin:
Thanks for posting on the website! Do you remember the Natale family? Joey Natale, Veronica? That’s actually my father’s side of the family. They lived over on the corner of West Street and Maple/Riverside Avenue. Hopefully some of your childhood friends will post here. Good luck!
Best Regards,
Jared
I also lived on West St.and remember Joey Natale-He played football with my husband Mike Ryan.(#89)
Thanks P Ryan. Beyond the Natale family, I’m also a Livsey. My great grandmother was Veronica Livsey, who married Pat Natale (they lived in a home on West Street). She passed away in 1969. He passed in 2002.
Sorry it took so long-I just found this site. The boys you played with are the Carnell boys. I think of them every time I go down First St. I don’t know what became of them but maybe with a last name you can find them on Facebook. Good luck.
Hi . I was looking at the units for sale at the Harbors website and could not find anywhere on the site if pets were allowed, would you happen to know?
I have a dog and that is a big factor in looking for a unit.
I’m assuming you’re looking at the condo units in the large condominium building(s)? Dogs are absolutely allowed in the townhomes, of course. I have friends that live in the condo buildings and they do have dogs; I’m not positive what the official policy is. It wouldn’t hurt to visit the concierge and ask at the main condo building. Hope that helps!
amazing stuff thanks 🙂
Great Post! It’s very nice to read this info from someone that actually knows what they are talking about.
This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your wonderful post. Also, I have shared your site in my social networks!
Wow this is a great resource.. I’m enjoying it.. good article
We absolutely love your blog and find a lot of your post’s to be what precisely I’m looking for. Does one offer guest writers to write content for yourself? I wouldn’t mind producing a post or elaborating on some of the subjects you write regarding here. Again, awesome web log!
yes, if you’re interested in writing for the blog, please contact me! Thanks for commenting!
I’d love it if you could add to the content here. That’s what this website is for. I want it to be a forum for the ongoing betterment of the Village! Definitely, contact me.
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyway, just wanted to say fantastic blog!
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say superb blog!
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WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..extra wait .. …
Have you ever thought about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is valuable and everything. However just imagine if you added some great pictures or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and clips, this website could certainly be one of the best in its field. Amazing blog!
When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now every time a remark is added I get four emails with the identical comment. Is there any means you’ll be able to remove me from that service? Thanks!
Perfect soulation to what I was searching for, happy to stumble here
My father Joseph Broder grew up in Haverstraw. He is now 83. His parents owned the meat market there on Broadway. I have a photo of it from about 40 years ago and had the opportunity to visit it.
He has told me so many stories about a police officer, Micky the Goose, the movies, school, and lots of customers that used to come in to his fathers store. There was also a Dr. Hirsch that delivered them all.
Love to connect with people that might remember him.
thanks
I highly recommend joining this group on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/2211981328/?id=10150336490691329¬if_t=group_activity It has a lot of former and current Haverstraw residents on it. You can even post the picture of the old store there. If you join, please say that you found out about it on this website. Thanks!
Thanks so much. I did join and already posted a photo I had of his home. This was after they lived there but still looked similar.
I shared the photos with him and he remembers so many of the places. How nice to have this site and now FB!
Thanks again,
Jennifer
Thanks Jennifer!
Smart information. Keep up the very reliable performance.
I am a Haverstraw native my dad was born on Van Houten St- I am thrilled to see that “young” people are getting interested in Haverstraw- it is a wonderful town- I grew up on Middle St- just to let you know we may never see a passenger rail in Havserstraw again- in the development stage is a DC current line form Canada to NYC and it will travel the CSX ROW – the line is being brought down the Hudson to just north of the Stony Point Light House and will travel the CSX ROW through Stony Point- Haverstraw and under Rockland Lake back to the Hudson to power Manhattan- there will be no jobs for Rockland- but what will be the environmental impact to our Towns- the line is called the Champlain Hudson Power Express- you can Google it or send me an email and I will send you details.
Light Monorail and TZ Bridge: You do not even need a train. It would seem logical to join other advanced nations by putting an economical light monorail (in some areas it could be raised too) associated to the new TZ Bridge Project. This running from Haverstraw with stops at other towns like Congers / Valley Cottage (Palisades Mall stop) before crossing the new TZ Bridge. It would than allow transfer to metro north and it could further be done in conjunction with the city of White Plains / maybe Tarrytown in particular. This would be a favorable project.
Yes, that is also a viable option. By the way, the gallery is amazing. Are you affiliated with it? You must visit Haverstraw, there are a number of spaces that would be ideal for a gallery.
Great site! Thank you, Jared and Richard for being such champions of our hometown. I am the 5th generation of my family to be raised in Haverstraw, so it is literally in my blood! I heard stories my whole life about the Village and Town in its hayday, and remember the remnants of it from when I was a kid (Mardof’s – where I worked until it closed, the 5 and 10, getting the paper at Meyer’s with my grandfather. I would love to see the Village evolve into a new life and find a new way to commute into the city!
❤❤❤
Any chance the ferry might come back? I am looking to move possibly to the area, and knowing I could take a ferry to work would surely sweeten the deal! Excellent blog. Town pride is a wonderful thing to have.
Hi Jill, there is a ferry now that goes to Ossining and then you take the train to Grand Central. I do it every day now. It’s super convenient.
Thanks for this informative and thoughtful site! I’m researching Haverstraw as a potential place to purchase a home and relocate to. Do you have any articles on your site (or others) that you can recommend for someone to learn a bit more about what it’s like to live in town? Thanks!
Hi there! Yes, the best way to learn more about Haverstraw is to peruse this blog. Haverstraw is very ethnically diverse, has low crime, is most definitely urban, and has an active arts and culinary scene. Haverstraw is best for folks that want to be engaged with their community and are open to maintaining an urban lifestyle in an historic Rivertown Village. It’s not a good place for those with a typical, isolating suburban mindset.