Happy New Year 2006..

Greetings and best wishes to all of our readers for a happy and very healthy New Year. I am privileged to be starting my third year writing my column about days gone by in Nyack. I hope that I might stir a few memories for long-time residents and for the newcomers, to provide a bit of insight into how Nyack developed into such a great place to live.

For this month's column I thought a little bit of catching up and correction might be in order as I sit down here in my warm Florida retirement while you enjoy all the wonderful snow, ice and cold.

In my column last January I asked the question: "What is the oldest business in Nyack?" My answer was Nyack Hospital, but others disagreed and suggested that Nyack College was older. Well, guess what? We were all incorrect. There are actually two businesses still operating in the same location that are older than either hospital or college. The oldest operating business (defined as it is supposed to make a profit sometime) happens to be Koblin's Pharmacy, opened in the same location as Blauvelt Drugs in the Spring of 1858. (See Green's History of Rockland County page 337). There has been a drug store at that location for the past 148 years.

The grand daddy of all business in the Nyack area (profit or not) happens to be Oak Hill Cemetery. June of 1848 saw its dedication and a month later the cemetery opened, receiving its charter by special act of the NYS Legislature, to receive Nyackers for their permanent residence under the supervision of T.F. Tasman. (See Cole's History of Rockland County, page 220). Sorry for the confusion folks. The next time I ask a question I will have to do a bit more research!

Speaking of questions, how about this year's entry. Let's see if this generates as much interest as the business question. Who is the oldest person to live in Nyack? Before I answer, let me set the criteria. The person had to spend a significant portion of his/her life living in the Nyack area and had to pass away while living in Nyack. Uncle Joe, who moved to Florida, doesn't count. So, who do I think is Nyack's oldest living citizen? Mary E. Halliday was a month short of her 103 birthdays when she passed away 1984. She came to Nyack when she was 7 years old and lived at her home at 10 Court Street for the next 96 years. Born in March of 1860, one of her fondest memories was her father, George Coates and her five uncles returning from fighting for the Union Army in the Civil War. Mrs. Halliday married her husband, Robert, in October of 1873 and was mother to eight children. She was active in her church and many civic associations in the village. She was the guiding light of Nyack's Rainbow Girls, an offshoot of the local Masonic Lodge that she helped found in 1947. Anybody have a different answer?

A few columns ago, I gave you the origin of several of the street names in our area. I'd like to add a few more. Elysian Avenue in South Nyack may have the most interesting origin that remains a secret. In Webster's Elysian is defined as pertaining to Elysium and that is further defined as the abode of the blessed after death. It can also be a place of ideal happiness. Since there is nary a cemetery on Elysian Avenue on the 1884 map, I trust Elysian Avenue was a happy place to live much as it is to this very day. A bit further south in the village is the relatively new street, Cooper Drive. The street was construction when the NYS Thruway cut off the tops of White, Brookside and Clinton Avenues and was aptly named for the mayor of South Nyack at the time, Louis V. Cooper.

There you have a few of my corrections and thoughts for your long January winter's nights. I am currently working on two future columns that you might be interested in reading--a list of the ten most influential people who lived in the area during the Twentieth Century and a list of Nyack High School's all-time top football team members.

If you would like a form to contribute your choices for these selections send me an e-mail at info@nyackvillager.com

The Nyack Villager thanks Jim Leiner for helping us all 'Remember the Days'

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