Milltown, New York Explained

Official Name:Milltown, New York
Settlement Type:Hamlet
Mapsize:250px
Pushpin Map:New York#USA
Pushpin Label:Milltown
Pushpin Label Position:left
Coordinates:41.4126°N -73.5601°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Putnam
Subdivision Type3:Town
Subdivision Name3:Southeast
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Elevation Ft:436
Elevation M:133
Postal Code Type:ZIP Code
Postal Code:10509
Area Codes:845
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:972803

Milltown is a hamlet in the town of Southeast located in Putnam County, New York, United States. It is in the easternmost part of town, bordering the city of Danbury, Connecticut.

History

Located on the Croton River, Milltown took its name from the mills built along its banks.[1] The first settlers to the area arrived in 1679. At this time, Milltown sat in the middle of the Oblong, a long-disputed strip of land between New York and Connecticut.[2]

Southeast's first library was established here[2] in 1825, operating out of Asa Raymond's general store & post office.[3] [4] It would eventually be given the name Columbia Library, until the entire collection was sold at auction.[5] The post office was in service from 1826 to 1867.[6]

Milltown is also the site of what local historians believe to be the oldest house in all of Putnam County. The Gage House,[2] a saltbox farmhouse, was built in 1719.[7] It is now an apothecary and center for spiritual healing.[8]

The Milltown Historic District was established in 1988.[9] Three years later, a sign marking the "Historic Milltown Area" was installed at Milltown and Federal Hill Road.[10]

Geography

Milltown is situated along the East Branch of the Croton River, which flows into the East Branch Reservoir. This is one of 12 reservoirs that feed New York City's Croton Water Supply System. To create the reservoir, a dam was constructed in 1890[11] and the western section of Milltown was flooded as a result. In times when water levels have been significantly low, remnants of nineteenth century Milltown, such as stone walls, home foundations, and roads, have been made visible.[12]

On the other side of Milltown is the exclusive and mysterious Morefar Golf Course. The 500acres extend from New York into the Joes Hill / Mill Plain section of Danbury.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Foster. Emma J. Livingston. Julia R. The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. 1907. New York, NY. New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. 273. July 9, 2023.
  2. News: Nuccitelli. Lisa. August 30, 1988. Historic status sought for Southeast's Milltown Road. The Reporter Dispatch. White Plains, New York. June 15, 2023.
  3. News: Lane. Ellen. June 17, 1981. Library to mark its start. The Reporter Dispatch. White Plains, New York. July 9, 2023.
  4. Book: United States Civil Service Commission. Official Register of the United States: Persons in the Civil, Military, and Naval Service, Exclusive of the Postal Service. 1847. Washington, D.C.. U.S. Government Printing Office. 90. July 9, 2023.
  5. Book: History of Putnam County, New York. Pelletreau. William Smith. 1886. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. W. W. Preston. 431. July 9, 2023.
  6. Book: Kay. John L.. Smith. Chester M.. 1982. New York Postal History: The Post Offices and First Postmaster from 1775 to 1980. State College, PA. American Philatelic Society. 0933580053.
  7. News: Cary. Bill. March 5, 2005. 18th-century charm. The Journal News. White Plains, New York. July 9, 2023.
  8. Web site: The Gage House Apothecary. 9 July 2023.
  9. News: McMains. Andrew. January 12, 1991. Milltown area to celebrate sign of historic past. The Reporter Dispatch. White Plains, New York. July 9, 2023.
  10. News: . January 22, 1991. DEDICATION. Putnam Reporter Dispatch. White Plains, New York. July 9, 2023.
  11. Web site: East Branch. New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP). https://web.archive.org/web/20061014164552/http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/watershed/html/eastbranchinfo.html . July 9, 2023. October 14, 2006 .
  12. News: Risinit. Michael. April 8, 2009. DEP to refill reservoirs under repair. The Journal News. White Plains, New York. July 9, 2023.
  13. News: Association of Golf Club With A.I.G. Still Rankles. Kilgannon. Corey. Cohen, Noam. August 16, 2009. The New York Times. July 9, 2023.