History and Community in Purchase, NY

The car accident attorneys in Purchase, NY, sponsor this article is present a detailed excerpt about the area.

Purchase is a hamlet in the town of Harison in Westchester County, New York. The total population of the hamlet is approximately 5,391 and belongs to ZIP code 10577. The area is also home to SUNY Purchase University.

History in Purchase

Local legend tells that Purchase its name is derived from Harrison's purchase where John Harrison was to be granted as much land as he could ride in one day.

The story of Purchase begins in 1967 when 200 residents supported a plan to incorporate Purchase in order to keep large corporations out of the area. In response to residents, officials from the town of Harrison set plans to become a city in order to stop Purchase from seceding from the Town of Harrison.

Walking through the streets of Purchase you can see the hamlet's deep history. There are many historic sites in Purchase including,

The Grave of Revolutionary War General Thomas

• Located on the grounds of SUNY Purchase. The ground of SUNY Purchase also occupied the Strathglass Farms.

The Quaker Friends Meeting House

• Founded in the 18th Century, the original house burned down in a dreadful fire years ago but the current building is an accurate reconstruction.

The Blind Brook Polo Club

• What is currently the headquarters of Pepsi, used to be the Blind Brook Polo Club. Amelia Earhart flew her plane from these grounds.

The Old Oaks Country Club

• Originally named 'Hilcrest', the stunning mansion was built in the late 1880s by millionaire Trenor Luther Park and his wife Julia Catlin Park. Trenor's father, Trenor William Park, funded the Panama Railway, ran for President of the United States in 1864, and was involved in the California Gold Mines.

The Reid Hall, Manhattanville College

• Also known as "The Castle", the historic academic building was designed by Stanford White and built in 1892. The hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Community Within Purchase

The community within Purchase has been strong since residents petitioned in 1967. Within the area of Purchase there a several locations where community members join together to make a difference and have a good time.

One of those places is the Purchase Community House (PCH), home of the Purchase Day Camp (PDC).Purchase is known for its splendid community programs including after-school activities. The Purchase Community House consists of four pools and numerous playing fields. There is also the Purchase Free Library located on the premise where many children of the area congregate for tutoring sessions and study groups.

Another stand-out location in Purchase is The Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens at the PepsiCo headquarters. The sculpture gardens is a collection of 45 outdoor sculptures where people can visit, for free, and admire the creative sculptures.

Purchase also has a strong connection to music. In the 1980s, Purchase hosted the festival Pepsico Summerfare, known for their opera productions which included Benjamin Britten's Noye's Fludde (1981–84), David Eaton's The Cry of Clytaemnestra (1982), and Peter Sellars's Little Mahagonny/Cantata 60: Conversations with Fear and Hope After Death (1985), Peter Sellars's productions of Mozart's Così fan tutte (1986), Don Giovanni (1987) and Le nozze di Figaro (1988).

Today, SUNY Purchase produces two operas each year and community members of all ages are in attendance.

Notable Persons

The town of Purchase has been home to some notable folks including,

• Skylar Brandt, an American Ballet Dancer
• Eddy Curry, an American professional basketball player
• James Badge Dale, an American actor
• Mariano Rivera, a Panamanian-American former professional baseball pitcher for the Yankees
• Indra Nooyi, an Indian business executive and former chairperson of and CEO of PepsiCO
• Joe Girardi, an American manager for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball
• Hassan Abbas, a Pakistani-American scholar in the field of South Asian and Middle Eastern studies
• Stephon Marbur, an American professional head basketball coach of the Beijing Royal Fighters

If you're looking to visit or reside in a charming area that is rich in history and community, then look no further than Purchase, NY.

Enjoyed this article? Check out the next one!

• A Historic Look at Port Chester, NY

Our Local Office

Have you sustained injuries from a car accident? Trust the Purchase, NY, car accident attorneys to help you get the justice you deserve. Contact our legal team today for a free consultation.

Banville Law
44 S Broadway #100
White Plains, NY 10601, USA
(914) 228-1866