[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12752-12753]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  CELEBRATING THE 325TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF NEW PALTZ, NEW 
                                  YORK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MAURICE D. HINCHEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 21, 2003

  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
community of New Paltz in Ulster County, New York, which is part of the 
22nd Congressional District that I proudly serve. This year marks the 
325th Anniversary of the founding of New Paltz, as well as the 175th 
Anniversary of the founding of the College of New Paltz. I am delighted 
to recognize this community's rich historical heritage and continued 
vitality, as the Town of New Paltz and State University of New York 
(SUNY) at New Paltz mark these important milestones.
  New Paltz was founded in 1678 by Huguenot families who were seeking 
refuge from severe religious persecution in France. The community was 
self-governed by the Duzine, referring to the twelve partners who 
acquired the royal land patent in 1677 on more than 33,000 acres 
purchased from local Native Americans. The Duzine decided local matters 
and consisted of one representative from each of the original families. 
That form of government continued well past the time of the American 
Revolution, by special action of the New York State Legislature. New 
Paltz was dominated for more than 150 years by the founding partners 
and their heirs, whose family names can still be found today in the 
area.
  The lands encompassed in the original patent, stretching all the way 
from the Shawangunk Mountains to the Hudson River, were augmented soon 
by additional patents to the south. These lands were eventually divided 
among the twelve partners, their relatives, and a few friends into 
large plots--part wilderness and part farm. The farms were grouped 
principally around the heights west and east of the Wallkill River.
  The area's commercial center was located on the east shore of the 
Wallkill River, where the Huguenots built wooden homes and later, stone 
houses. These houses were located on what is now known as Huguenot 
Street, the oldest continuously inhabited street in America. Many of 
the seventeenth century stone buildings still stand today and have been 
preserved as a museum community. The Huguenot Street Historic District 
has also been designated a National Historical Landmark.
  The population of New Paltz gradually increased and moved up from the 
Wallkill River to what is now Main Street and beyond. Areas that are 
now incorporated into the nearby towns of Lloyd, Shawangunk, Esopus and 
Gardiner split off from the Town of New Paltz between 1843 and 1853. 
The Village of New Paltz was incorporated within the town in 1887. For 
200 years after its settlement, New Paltz remained a small, isolated 
farming community. Farming, particularly of apples, is still one of New 
Paltz's largest businesses.
  New Paltz farmers looked early on to surrounding communities and even 
to New York City for markets. Establishment of the Wallkill Valley 
Railroad in 1870 gave a great boost to their commercial efforts. After 
fifty years or so,

[[Page 12753]]

the automobile began to replace the train, and finally, in the early 
1950's, the opening of the New York State Thruway with an exit for New 
Paltz made this community much more accessible, leading to substantial 
growth in the town and at the University.
  Higher education has long been one of the main concerns of the 
community, especially since 1828 when the New Paltz Classical School 
was established and, shortly thereafter, became the New Paltz Academy. 
This Academy slowly metamorphosed into the State University of New York 
(SUNY) at New Paltz, which continues to offer high quality education to 
thousands of undergraduate and graduate students each year. I would 
like to note I am a proud alumnus of SUNY New Paltz. I would also like 
to mention that SUNY's library is named after one of Ulster County's 
most famous residents, Sojourner Truth, the abolitionist and champion 
for women's suffrage, who lived in and around New Paltz for part of her 
life.
  Over many generations, New Paltz's population has been enriched with 
a variety of races, faiths and ethnic backgrounds. New Paltz continues 
to uphold its long-held traditions of respect for diversity and civic 
involvement, while actively working to preserve its historic, cultural 
and scenic resources. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to 
recognize and honor New Paltz as this community prepares to celebrate 
the 325th Anniversary of its founding and the 175th Anniversary of the 
founding of the College of New Paltz.

                          ____________________