History of the Town of Hyde Park
by Marriane Grace, former Town Historian

The history of Hyde Park is rich and full, dating back to the 17th Century.

The mere mention of "Hyde Park" conjures up visions of wealth and fame, i.e., the Roosevelts, Vanderbilts, and Rogers. It was, however, an area which made many other contributions. Some of its industries included that of sturgeon fishing, violet growing, and ice harvesting, dairy farming, and ice tool manufacturing.

The Crum Elbow Creek has its source in the Town of Milan and wound its way south between Rhibeck and Clinton into the Town of Hyde Park down to East Park, and then westerly until it reaches the Hudson River. Its course for the two miles was dotted with a number of dams impounding its waters to turn the gristmills and ground corn, oats, rye, wheat, and buckwheat.  It is thought that local mills ground corn for the British troops during the Revolution. 

Hyd Park was known as the "iceboating capital, " this being the most exciting sport of the local gentry (including FDR). These gigantic boats attained speeds up to 100 miles per hour, depending on the ice and wind conditions. It may have been the fastest man had ever traveled when done in the late 1800s.

We are indeed fortunate to live in an area in which our history has been, and continues to be, carefully preserved and documented.