A Brief History of Nyack, Part One

Just a bit over one-hundred years ago, local attorney Natalie Couch Williams was spending a lovely spring day working in the garden in the back of her law office building on lower Burd Street. She was surprised to dig up an Indian Tomahawk.

The Tomahawk, symbolic of Nyack's earliest history, was proudly displayed in her office for years. She was confident the war-club belonged to the Indians who once used the shores of the Hudson River as their fishing grounds. According to Tompkins History, the name Nyack came from a tribe of Indians on Long Island. Back in the 17th Century Graveshead Bay was called Nyack Bay. Historians believe the word "Nyack" or "Niac" was the Indian word meaning "fishing place." An old deed dated 1794 spells the name "Niack," and later a "y" was substituted for the "i"—and the name since has been Nyack.  

Indians were still coming to the area in the late 1600s when Harmann Dowe Tallman built a mill along a small brook not far from the present-day intersection of Main and Franklin streets. Tallman purchased most of the land, now encompassing the village, from another Dutchman, Claus Jansen Kuyper, who orginally was given the patent for the land. Kuyper's son, Cornelious Claussen Kuyper, either by inheritance or purchase soon afterwards, acquired the rest of the land between Hook Mountain on the north and the "Bight" a river bay a few miles to the south. 

Much of the land was divided and changed ownership over the ensuing years, but the Nyacks remained mostly farmland until the 1800s. As the foot of Hook Mountain vast orchards ran from the river bank west up the rolling hills. The farms were prosperous enough to attract raiding British parties during the Revolutionary War for Independence. British war ships seeking provisions often landed along the river shore. Nyack became the headquareters for Captain John Pray and his men of the Water Guard. This unit was sent to protect the farmers from the English soldiers.

In 1799, the property between the present First Avenue on the north and DePew on the south was purchased by Abraham Lydecker for $84. The first store in Nyack was opened in 1804 by Abram Tallman. It was located a short distance from the Burd Street river landing. Tunis Smith opened the next store on lower Main Street in 1810.

However, Nyack was still only a small rural settlement with only seven homes. The enterprise of Tunis and Peter Smith brothers from Blauvelt, along with the completion in 1827 of the Nyack-Ramapo Turnpike, helped to change Nyack into a bustling river port. Iron foundries in Ramapo and farm produce from the western and central farms of Rockland County were brought to Nyack over the new toll road, loaded onto boats for sale in New York City. The Smith brothers promoted construction of the turnpike.

As the road was being built they subdivided their land into lots. Tunis Smith, a son, built a store near the river front. Abraham Lydecker constructed a dock and opened a street where the loaded wagons from the turnpike were driven down to his dock. Sailing vessels similiar to today's "Clearwater," plied the Hudson for years and were orginally used to bring raw materials down river.

The early 1800s saw the invention of Robert Fulton's Steam Boat, the Clermont. Soon, a group of Nyack businessmen joined together and backed the construction of their own steamboat the "Orange."

To encourage the used of their steamboat, freight rates were the same as those for sailing vessels. The fare between Nyack and New York Cith was two shillings (25 Cents) for passengers with half fare for children. There were even a special cabin for "females" where smoking, profance language and brawling was prohibited.

With the coming of the Steamboats, Nyack would change and the large farms would soon dissapear.  

--

Part Two of our history will be posted soon.