Village of Saddle Rock, Long Island, NY

THE 9-11 MEMORIAL BRIDGE IN SADDLE ROCK

Following the attack upon the United States of America on September 11, 2001, the “Saddle Rock Bridge”, from which there is a view of the New York City skyline, became a place of vigil and memorial. Many people came to the bridge on that day and on the days that followed as the tragedy unfolded. The community watched as the World Trade Center Twin Towers disappeared from the skyline, and family members, friends, and neighbors placed candles, messages, and drawings of hope and remembrance on both sides of the entire span of the bridge.

In addition to the view of the skyline, (see above photo of the Empire State Building taken from the bridge) there is a view of the Saddle Rock Grist Mill built circa 1700 (see photos of the Mill on this web site). The bridge is within the Village and is owned and maintained by Nassau County. Together, the view from the bridge spans the history of the United States of America.

On December 27, 2001 the Village of Saddle Rock and Nassau County rededicated the bridge as the “9-11 Memorial Bridge”.

Among the almost 3000 people lost at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, were six Great Neck peninsula residents: Jonathan Ielpi, a heroic member of the New York City Fire Department, Squad 288 and Assistant Chief of the Vigilant Fire Company, one of our local volunteer Fire Departments; Andrew Stergiopoulos, a private citizen, and employee of Cantor-Fitzgerald, who like most Americans simply went to work on that fateful day; Peter Frank, Frederick Kuo, Jr., Joshua Vitale and Richard Yun Choon Lee.

We must never forget, but we must look to the future and keep watch as the skyline of the City of New York expands and is renewed, just as the view from the bridge reflects the growth from the Grist Mill and farmland to the most magnificent skyline in the world. Truly the sight from the bridge continues to be a view of “America the Beautiful”.

The rededication of the bridge took place on a cold and windy day before members of various uniformed services, including representatives of our volunteer Vigilant, Alert Hook and Ladder, and Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Companies; NYFD Squad 288; Police Departments from Nassau County, Great Neck Estates, Kensington, Kings Point, and Lake Success; the United States Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy; family members of those who were lost; clergy; federal, state, and local government officials; residents, and the media. The rededication included the erection of a flagpole, on the westerly side, at the center of the bridge (seen in the photo of the bridge) from which an American flag continues to fly by day and under lights at night. In addition, a commemorative plaque was placed on the center of the bridge. The inscription reads:

THE 9-11 MEMORIAL BRIDGE

THE ATTACK UPON THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 RESULTED IN HUMAN TRAGEDY, EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM, AND A PUBLIC RESOLVE TO BE VICTORIOUS IN A WAR AGAINST TERRORISM.

THE SADDLE ROCK BRIDGE WITH A VIEW OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER TWIN TOWERS BECAME BOTH A PLACE OF VIGIL AND MEMORIAL FOR THOSE UNIFORMED PERSONNEL, VOLUNTEERS, AND CITIZENS WHO WERE LOST IN THE ATTACK.

WE REDEDICATE THIS SITE AS THE 9-11 MEMORIAL BRIDGE
IN LOVING MEMORY OF THE HEROES WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES AND TO ALL WHO CONTINUE TO GIVE US STRENGTH, COURAGE AND PRIDE IN
"The home of the brave and the land of the free."

God Bless America.

DECEMBER, 2001

THOMAS S. GULOTTA, NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE
J. LEONARD SAMANSKY, MAYOR, VILLAGE OF SADDLE ROCK

About the Village of Saddle Rock

The name Saddle Rock was derived from a large saddle shaped rock.

The Village of Saddle Rock is located on the northwest shore of the Great Neck peninsula, in Nassau County, Long Island, New York. Saddle Rock, incorporated in 1911, is the oldest of the nine Great Neck peninsula Villages. Saddle Rock's history can be traced back to the 1600's. The name "Saddle Rock" was derived from a large "saddle" shaped rock located just a few yards off shore in Little Neck Bay, and is noted on a map of the peninsula dated 1658.

The Village is exclusively residential. The private, single-family homes, originally developed in the 1950's, were carefully located on the hills of the Village in order to maintain open space and maximum views of the water and the New York City skyline. A public Authority supplies drinking water from deep wells within the aquifer, and all homes are connected to a district sewer facility. The Village is served by the Nassau County Police Department. Fire and ambulance services are provided by the Alert and Vigilant Fire Companies.

An arial view of the Village of Saddle Rock

Saddle Rock is only 22 minutes from Manhattan by Long Island Railroad; just minutes away from major north shore highways, and Kennedy and LaGuardia airports are easily accessible. The Village is part of the larger Great Neck community and the magnificent shopping areas, libraries, schools and houses of worship located on the peninsula. The Saddle Rock elementary, North Middle, and North High schools, as well as the Great Neck library, and many houses of worship are within easy walking distance of the Village of Saddle Rock.

The Xeriscape, dedicated in June, 1998, is located at the corner of Old Mill Road and Bayview Avenue in the Village of Saddle Rock. Xeriscape is a Greek word meaning “dry garden”. The garden, unique in Nassau County, is a conservation oriented educational project created by the Water Authority of Great Neck North and Nassau County to protect our drinking water. Saddle Rock Mayor J. Leonard Samansky, a Director of the Water Authority and Chair of its Conservation Committee, was the originator of the Xeriscape project. The land upon which the Xeriscape is located was at one time overgrown, unsightly, and surrounded by a poorly maintained metal linked fence. The garden is now a place for visitors to stroll or sit on benches and view the more than 50 varieties of identified plantings.
The Xeriscape is a formal garden designed much the same way as a homeowner might landscape. All of the plantings are indigenous to Long Island. The use of drought tolerant grass, plants and shrubbery, landscaping design, and horticultural practices minimizes the need for irrigation and the need for the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. In the fall of 2002, to further conservation education, a section of the Xeriscape was dedicated as the “Saddle Rock Children’s Garden”. Children who attend the Saddle Rock Elementary School planted more than 100 bulbs.
Detailed Xeriscape information is available from the Water Authority of Great Neck North, www.waterauthorityofgreatnecknorth.com.

The Saddle Rock Grist Mill

The Saddle Rock Grist Mill, c.1700, the Village's symbol, is located in the Village just inside a small cove leading into Little Neck Bay. The Mill is listed in the Federal Historical Landmark Registry and it is the oldest continually operating tidal grist mill in the United States. The Mill is now owned and operated by Nassau County as a working museum open to the public. The last private individual to own the Mill was Louise Udall Eldridge, who was elected Mayor of the Village of Saddle Rock after its incorporation. Louise Eldridge is reported to have been the first female Mayor in the State of New York.

The Eldridge mansion, once overlooking the Grist Mill and Long Island Sound, has been replaced by the Village of Saddle Rock park facilities which are for the exclusive use of Village residents and their guests. Park facilities include a swimming pool, tennis courts, bowls court, basketball, baseball, badminton, volleyball, golf driving cage, putting area, and playground. Residents of the Village of Saddle Rock can also fish or set sail from the Village dock and mooring facility. The Village Hall, dedicated in 1999, is also located at the park.

Saddle Rock Bowls Court

Saddle Rock Village Hall

The Village of Saddle Rock is governed by a Board of Trustees, consisting of a Mayor and four Trustees, elected by the residents of the Village. The Board of Trustees continues to maintain and improve the Village infrastructure, the open vistas and character of the Village, and it is responsible for providing all government services effectively and efficiently; through carefully enacted zoning regulations and laws to better serve the health, welfare, and safety of the residents. Copies of the Village Code are available at the Village Hall and the Great Neck library. Saddle Rock Village Court conducts sessions at the Village Hall.

We in Saddle Rock take great pride in our Village and we encourage you to continue to view this site for further information and particulars. If you have any questions or require any further information please contact the Village of Saddle Rock by letter, phone, fax, or e-mail.
Thank you for visiting with us.

Udall's Mill postcard dated 1914

View from underneath the Saddle Rock bridge