On January 3, 1911,one hundred years ago, the Village Saddle Rock was created by
the State of New York. Saddle Rock is not just a place to buy a house, it is our
home and place to live in comfort and safety. It is a community of people from
all walks of life living together, enjoying their homes, and raising their
families. Yes, from time to time residents suffer sorrow, but we understand that
the Village of Saddle Rock is part of life and living. The Saddle Rock
Centennial represents the past 100 years, the present, and the bright future of
in the Village. We look forward to a year of celebration.
The Eldridge family ancestors and
relatives settled the area in the late 1600”s and the property later served as
their estate. The Eldridge family resided in a mansion constructed on the shores
of Udall’s Pond near the Grist Mill overlooking Little Neck Bay, Long Island
Sound and the East River |
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The Petition to create the Village,
dated October 26, 1910, was filed with the State. Since there were very few
roads in the area, except for “Bay View” Avenue and “Udall’s Mill Pond Road” the
Petition generally described the boundaries of the Village as running from, to,
and along the lands of neighboring named landowners, and the shores of Little
Neck Bay.
When the Village was initially incorporated in December, 1910, Louise designated
her husband Rosewell, “Acting Mayor” and all Village Officials, including the
Trustees and Commissioners, who were of course relatives and employees.
In 1911, among the homes in the Village, were: the Eldridge mansion; a large
home just to the east of the Grist Mill Lane (which later served as part of the
Underground Railway in the 1860’s) and a large home set on a hill just off
Bayview Avenue at the intersection of what is now Emerson Drive. That home was
occupied by the Treadwell family, Louise’s cousins. The balance of the lands of
Saddle Rock were open and wooded fields filling the very hilly terrain and
flowing to the cliffs which bordered Little Neck Bay. Of course, the Bridges
over the East River and skyline of New York which can be seen today did not
exist.
The open lands of Saddle Rock were in sharp contrast to the Eldridge gardens
which surrounded the mansion and were open to the public, to the objection of
the local landowners. The Village has continued the tradition of public gardens
as well as the open Village character.
The lands of Saddle Rock were purchased in 1950 by Samuel Berger who developed
the Village. The plans included a million dollar recreational center, yacht club
and ice skating rink. Although the expensive recreational facility was not
built, a simple large park area was dedicated. Over the years various other
facilities were added by the Village including, among other things, a pool,
tennis courts, ball facilities, and dock.
May I on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Saddle Rock wish the
Village and its residents a happy one-hundredth birthday. We look forward to
continuing to protect the warmth, beauty, openness and character of the Village
of Saddle Rock
J. Leonard Samansky, Mayor
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