Amenia Historical Society

……..the hillsides around today’s Amenia and Wassaic were almost treeless.    The native Americans had burned the forests so that they could hunt the deer.   There were no white men between Danbury Connecticut and the Hudson River.

All the land was claimed by the King and the only way to own some was to get a grant or patent.   The first white man to get land from the King here in Wassaic was Richard Sackett who lived in New York City.   He had to travel on horseback.  

The year was 1704.   There were no roads, cars, electricity or stores.  In fact, there were no other settlers.  Only the Mohican Indians lived in the Oblong Valley and they traveled long distances to hunt and fish – from Shekomeko to Kent, Connecticut.

200 years ago…

In the first 100 years of Amenia history many settlers came to these valleys and started farming.    There were small settlements called hamlets and several churches were established.   There was still no electricity or cars or even schools, except for private schools for rich children.   The railroad had not come up from New York city yet and  until 1776, the King of England still ruled all the colonies including New York.    Everyone had a horse and wagon.    They took all their farm goods to Poughkeepsie to be shipped by boat on the Hudson River to New York City.

100 years ago…

The Harlem Valley Railroad had been built and opened in 1850. Now citizens of Amenia could ship their milk to New York City.   Wassaic had not only an active iron furnace, but also a condensed milk factory…the valley’s agricultural products were mostly dairy  - providing milk to the Borden factory. 

Public schools had been established and electric lights invented.    The first airplane had just been flown by the Wright Brothers.

©2007 Amenia Historical Society