The following is an excerpt from Scenic Hudson's "Historic Evolution of the General Motors Site in Sleepy Hollow" brochure.
Introduction
The 97-acre site of the former General Motors (GM) factory on the Hudson River continues to play a vital role in the development of the historic Village of Sleepy Hollow and the Mid-Hudson Valley, as we await word from GM about its future redevelopment plans. The 400-year historical development of the site occurred in several stages, each opening a new chapter in community history.
Early Site Conditions (17-18th Centuries)
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Native Americans were the first to occupy this site and the surrounding area. In 1681 a Dutchman, Frederick Philipse, acquired it as part of a 54,000-acre manor extending from the Croton River to Spuyten Duyvil in the Bronx and from the Hudson River to the Bronx River, about one-third of Westchester County. |
On this site he built a manor house and a gristmill powered by the waters of the Pocantico River, an estuary that emptied into a shallow Hudson River harbor called Slapershaven or 'sleepy harbor' by the Dutch. The gristmill processed the grain produced in the area for shipment to New York City on shallow sloops accessing the mill through the harbor. By 1750 the tenant population at the manor, many of whom were African slaves, had grown to 1100. After the Revolutionary war in which a descendent of Frederick Philips had sided with the British, the entire estate was confiscated by the state and sold at auction (1785).
Later Site Conditions (19-20th Centuries)
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By the end of the seventeen hundreds, the gristmill had ceased to function. By then a portion of the harbor had silted in due to the erosion associated with farming along the Pocantico River during the previous one hundred years. The Pocantico River now extended as a meander through the center of the original harbor. |
In 1822 much of the land south of the harbor was subdivided and sold as lots to become Beekmantown, precursor of the present day Village of Sleepy Hollow. In 1849 the railroad was built along the Hudson River effectively sealing off approximately half of the original harbor, now silted in.
With rail service came rapid industrialization of the site. During the mid-1800's brick makers took advantage of the clay deposits in the area. In 1885 Wood Brick Yard sold its property at the foot of Beekman Avenue to the Rand Drill Company, in what would later become the home of several automobile manufactures. In 1899, on the south side of present day Kingsland Point Park, automobile making began with the Mobile Company of America producing the Stanley Steamer. This was succeeded by the Chevrolet Company and then the start of the General Motors Company in 1915.
Existing Site Conditions
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The General Motors Company expanded from its original location and the Stamford White building to eventually include 65 acres of landfill created in what remained of the old harbor west of the railroad. In the process, GM filled in and relocated the Pocantico River to the northern end of Kingsland Point Park. |
In 1940 the local historical society rescued Philipsburg Manor for conservation with funding from John D. Rockefeller Jr. The original mill and 200 foot long dam, long since demolished, were rebuilt as part of a restoration. In 1960, Westchester County sold a 32-acre parcel of land east of the railroad to General Motors for use as a shipping yard and a parking lot for employees. Previously the site was used as athletic fields and included DeVries Park. After the sale, ownership of DeVries was transferred to the Village.
In 1996 after having assembled some 11 million vehicles General Motors closed down and dismantled all of its buildings as required by local law. The proposed reuse of the site for a mixed-use development represents a new chapter in the history of this erstwhile 'sleepy harbor'.
This report is also available en Espanol. |
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| Historical map of proposed General Motors site in Sleepy Hollow. |
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