Bellvale, New York
Bellvale, New York | |
---|---|
845 | |
GNIS feature ID | 942435[1] |
Early name | Wawayanda |
Bellvale is a wooded
History
Part of a land patent granted by
The Iron Act was repealed in 1758, and though Scrauley didn't rebuild his forge, others built a series of water-powered mills and forges along the creek, and by the 1775 the iron-working industries of Sterling Forest, Bellvale and Warwick were capable of creating an immense chain to block the Hudson River at West Point during the Revolution. Each link in the chain weighed 150 pounds; the entire length weighed 188 tons. During the war several gristmills were kept employed making flour and meal for local consumption and for the army's use. Sawmills turned the abundant local maples, oaks, and hemlocks into usable boards, and textile mills processed woolen cloth for uniforms and blankets. By the early 1800s Bellvale was a thriving village; the new "Continental road" from Warwick to Tuxedo allowed the community's goods to reach markets closer to the Hudson River. But when the new railroads came through the Warwick valley, Bellvale's best manufacturing days were over. The valley, now cleared of tall-growth trees, became fertile farmland. Wheat and corn were planted. Then as now, apple trees were planted, but then mostly for cider production.
Geography
Bellvale is bisected by New York State Route 17A, though one of its older streets, Pumpkin Hill Road, lies along the path of the historic Tuxedo to Warwick road, improved by Continental Army engineers in 1779.[citation needed] Wooden bridges were constructed across Long House creek for the Tuxedo road and on Iron Forge Road, both later replaced by stone arch bridges, now modern concrete structures. Cascade Road begins at NY17A and follows the creek's cascade south for much of its course upward toward its sources along the ridgetop lakes and marshes of the Bearfort Ridge; the Cascade Park community lies hidden in these mountains along this road.
Eastward of Bellvale Route 17A's roadway rises steeply, passing an active ski resort below the summit of the steep and ancient ridge.[9] Bellvale flags, Middle Devonian layers of sandstone were first identified by N.H. Darton in 1894 in this area.[10][11] A hawkwatch tower crowns the peak of Mount Peter[12] and the Appalachian Trail crosses the highway on the east face of Bellvale Mountain to the south and Bearfort Mountain to the north.[8] A local dairy in the valley below provides the milk for an ice cream parlor serving passing Appalachian Trail hikers and motorists.[13] After crossing the ridgeline NY17A descends toward the village of Greenwood Lake, where it turns eastward again toward Sterling Forest.
Northward, Lower Wisner Road, named from a prominent early valley family, forks left at the location of Crawley's destroyed mill; Iron Forge Road passes Iron Forge Inn, a restaurant based in a 1760-built grist mill [14] and the former Bellvale United Methodist Church, which had served Bellvale residents as a church for more than 150 years (beginning in 1853).[15] Westward, NY17A rises and falls on foothill ridges of nearby Mount Warwick, passing historic homes and apple orchards before entering the Village of Warwick.
Climate
Bellvale is located in the humid continental climate zone (Köppen climate classification: Dfa), exhibiting four distinct seasons.[16] Its climate is typical of Mid-Atlantic U.S. areas removed from bodies of water. The hamlet is located in plant hardiness zone 6a although much of surrounding Orange County varies from 6 to 7, indicating a cool temperate climate.[17] Summers are warm, spring and fall are mild, with low humidity, while winter is cool, with annual snowfall averaging 23.0 inches (58 cm).[citation needed] Average winter lows tend to be around 20 °F (−5 °C) from mid-December to mid-February. Blizzards affect Bellvale most years. The most violent nor'easters typically feature high winds, heavy rains, and occasional snow. These storms often affect large sections of the U.S. East Coast.
The highest recorded temperature was 101 °F (38 °C) in 1995, while the lowest recorded temperature was −23 °F (−31 °C) in 1994.[18]
Climate data for Bellvale, New York | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 66 (19) |
73 (23) |
85 (29) |
92 (33) |
93 (34) |
97 (36) |
101 (38) |
97 (36) |
100 (38) |
88 (31) |
78 (26) |
71 (22) |
101 (38) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 35 (2) |
39 (4) |
49 (9) |
61 (16) |
72 (22) |
80 (27) |
84 (29) |
82 (28) |
75 (24) |
64 (18) |
51 (11) |
40 (4) |
61 (16) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 18 (−8) |
19 (−7) |
28 (−2) |
38 (3) |
49 (9) |
57 (14) |
62 (17) |
61 (16) |
54 (12) |
43 (6) |
34 (1) |
24 (−4) |
41 (5) |
Record low °F (°C) | −23 (−31) |
−18 (−28) |
−7 (−22) |
13 (−11) |
29 (−2) |
38 (3) |
43 (6) |
41 (5) |
27 (−3) |
20 (−7) |
10 (−12) |
−21 (−29) |
−23 (−31) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.08 (78) |
2.51 (64) |
3.32 (84) |
3.96 (101) |
4.59 (117) |
4.28 (109) |
4.07 (103) |
3.84 (98) |
4.14 (105) |
3.44 (87) |
3.58 (91) |
3.19 (81) |
39.10 (993) |
Source: The Weather Channel[18] |
Economy
Bellvale, by virtue of its accessibility along the NY17A corridor, supports a handful of local businesses primarily within the tourism and hospitality industries. Bellvale Farms Creamery and Mount Peter Ski Area operate seasonally.[19][20] The Iron Forge Inn restaurant, Bellvale Market grocer and Winslow Therapeutic Riding Center are open year-round.[21][22][23]
Bellvale had previously been served by a post office for more than 160 years. Former Congressman
Government
Bellvale is administered as a part of the town of Warwick. Michael Sweeton is the Warwick
On the state level, Bellvale is represented in the
Transportation
Education
The Bellvale public school community is served by the Warwick Valley Central School District (WVCSD). Elementary-aged children residing in Bellvale attend Park Avenue Elementary in east central Warwick village about two miles away. Older students attend Warwick Valley Middle School or Warwick Valley High School, both about five miles away on the western side of the village.[26] Nearby St. Stephen-St. Edwards School provides Catholic school education for Pre K-8 grades.[27] Cedarwood Christian School nearby also provides faith-based education for Pre K-8 grade students.[28] Orange-Ulster BOCES provides vocational and technical education along with adult education and special education support.[29]
Religious organizations
The wooden building served the community for 86 years, providing the location for the Bellvale Circus, a popular summer entertainment staffed by local residents. The church suffered catastrophic fire damage in early 1940, and was demolished. The current church building began its career in Spring Glen, New York, where the congregation could no longer afford to host the church, and they sold it to the Bellvale congregation for one dollar. The chapel was carefully disassembled and the building, pews, stained-glass windows, and organ were lovingly reassembled on the repaired foundation.[15]
Notable people
- Lydia Sayer Hasbrouck, suffragist and advocate for reform of attire for women
- Joe Jackson Sr. (born Joseph Jiranek, 1873–1942), trick cyclist
References
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bellvale, New York. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ Burt, Thomas; Ford, F.; Roecker, F. "Old Bellvale". Bellvale School Home Page. Femi Roecker. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ "Native Americans in the Warwick Valley". Albert Wisner Public Library. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ "Place Names and Historic Hamlets". Warwick Valley History. Albert Wisner Public Library. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ "Historical Markers and Monuments of the Warwick Valley". Warwick Valley History. Albert Wisner Public Library. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ Burt, Thomas (1907). Old Bellvale. p. 1.
- ^ Clinton, George (1750). "Governor Clinton's Certificate About Iron Rolling Mills, etc.". In O'Callanghan, E. B. (ed.). Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New-York. pp. 604–5.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8117-2666-5.
- ^ "Mount Peter - About Us". Mount Peter website. Archived from the original on March 3, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ "Bellvale Sandstone". Mineral Resources On-Line Spatial Data by State. United States Geological Survey. February 8, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ Report of the State Paleontologist. Vol. 54. New York State Museum, University of the State of New York. Board of Regents. 1902. p. r149. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
- ^ Drennan, Susan Roney (1981). Where to find birds in New York State: the top 500 sites. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press. p. 473. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ "Bellvale Farms Creamery". Bellvale Farms website. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ Johansen, Erik. "About Us". Iron Forge Inn website. Bellvale, New York. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Bellvale United Methodist Church History". United Methodist Church website. General Board of Global Ministries. 2010. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ "World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated". University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. April 2006. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ "Hardiness Zones". Arbor Day Foundation. 2006. Archived from the original on February 17, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Bellvale, NY". The Weather Channel Interactive, Inc. 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ "Ice cream, Ice cream cakes and pies | Bellvale Farms Creamery". bellvalefarms.com. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- ^ "Welcome to Mount Peter Ski and Snowboard". Mtpeter.com. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- ^ "Holiday Menu". BELLVALE MARKET. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- ^ "Iron Forge Inn Home". Ironforgeinn.com. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- ^ "Winslow Therapeutic Healing with Horses". Winslow.org.
- ^ http://m.strausnews.com/articles/2010/10/01/warwick_advertiser/news/1.txt. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
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(help) - ^ "Town Contacts". Town of Warwick website. Archived from the original on April 11, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
- ^ "About Us". Warwick Valley Central School District website. June 23, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
- ^ "St. Stephen-St. Edwards School". Retrieved February 20, 2019.
- ^ "Cedarwood Christian School". Retrieved February 20, 2019.
- ^ "Orange-Ulster BOCES". Retrieved February 20, 2019.