Comments on: Tuesday Tour of the Harlem Line: Wassaic

By: William Hays

William Hays — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 22:03:00 +0000

I have a friend, a moo-cow DVM, who lives in Hinsdale. I believe he is a decendant of Gail Borden, who happened to own Willow Brook Farm in Wassaic. I do remember the Borden home-delivery trucks were lettered “Bordon-Willow Brook”. Borden had a lot of condensed milk factories on the Harlem and was a big shipper of fresh milk to the city.

By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:56:38 +0000

In reply to Sharon Kroeger.

You’re right, I haven’t really checked out much of the hamlet. But I really do like it up there, one of these days I’ll have to go back and take more photos. Usually I go the opposite way – towards Millerton on the HVRT. The last I heard they were working to bring that south into the hamlet, which would be great for you guys.

By: Sharon Kroeger

Sharon Kroeger — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 15:13:22 +0000

It is too bad that Emily didn’t have time to walk or bike the half mile south from the Wassaic Station. (They named it wrong) She would have come into the historic hamlet of Wassaic on Old Route 22, which has always been protected by extraordinary geography and which is one of the most authentic spots along the railroad. The 18th and 19th Century agricultural crossroads footprint is intact with buildings that speak their original differentiated purposes clearly and engage the visitor who cannot avoid being caught up in trying to understand the purpose and mystery of a place that time has forgotton. What is the tallest building between Albany and White Plains, and why has it been put on the State Register of Historic Places? Why is there no room for extra people at the local tavern on Wednesday evenings by 7:30 PM? And why did Mr. Borden invent his condensed milk here in Wassaic and not somewhere else? Emily, come back and write some more. Cheers, from the keeper of the General Store. SDK

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:27:05 +0000

In reply to Steven. You should have seen the face I had when I read the fares. It was like two months ago, I was at the Mount Kisco station, the last time I was on MN was like ages ago, so I remember the fares were around $15 (round trip to GCT). When the TVM told me $20. I was like, seriously? What the ****. I was completely dumbfounded. Lucky for me, during my spring semester I just took the train from White Plains, saving me about $5.50. A random side note, I enjoy your blog a lot. Keep up the good work.

By: Steven

Steven — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 03:58:20 +0000

In reply to Bryan. I agree with you Bryan. The fares are really getting out of control. Id' be nice say if MN gave a discount when buying round trip tickets.

By: Steven

Steven — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 03:54:56 +0000

I wonder how many people own the Wassaic to GCT monthy pass? The demand is there seeing how MN has direct Wassaic trains during the rush hour even one during the weekends, which I would image during the summer makes sense, but in the winter?

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 28 May 2010 01:41:18 +0000

Nice pictures. It looks quite nice in the upper Harlem. Too bad I haven’t been there in person, the far north I have been is Katonah. The pictures make it look like a lovely place to be. It just too bad the fares are insane.

By: Al Cyone

Al Cyone — Wed, 26 May 2010 13:41:31 +0000

Wassaic is also home to the Taconic Developmental Center (formerly the Wassaic Developmental Center, formerly the Wassaic State School). You might be interested in this review of a book by a local photographer which features a “client” named Emily:

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/12/books/at-the-mercy-of-strangers.html