Amelia Earhart Lane-#10
Amelia Earhart is possibly Harrison’s most famous resident. Most people know who Ameila Earhart is, but some do not know she lived in Harrison with her husband, publisher George Palmer Putnam. She was a resident of Harrison when she took her historic flight across the Atlantic in 1932. It was 5 years later, when she disappeared somewhere over the Pacific Ocean, in 1937.Earhart often joked about how her house bordered Harrison/Rye, saying how she grew vegetables in her garden in Rye and ate them in her house in Harrison. Please note, this is a private residence.
Haines Cemetery aka Burger-Purdy Family Burial Ground
There are 18 people buried in this family cemetery. The findagrave.com listing has some photos contributed by the public. The date of death of those buried here ranges from 1834 to 1908. [1][1] Haines Cemetery in Harrison, New York. Accessed January 28, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2438965/haines-cemetery.
Amelia Earhart Memorial
This bronze statue features a full-size airplace propeller commemorating Earhart's nonstop transatlantic flight a month earlier. Dedicated on June 27, 1932, Earhart was present for the ceremony. A dinner at Westchester County Club where 600 guests gathered took place in her honor. [1]The statue was refurbished in 2017 to mark Earhart's 120th birthday and the 80th anniversary of her disappearance.[1] “Amelia Earhart at Home in Harrison.” The Westchester Historian 72, (2): 27-28.
Ma Riis Park
This park situated between Town Hall and the Harrison Library, is dedicated to Genevieve Riis, known affectionately as “Ma” Riis. Originally named Station Park, Riis was dedicated in 1988 “For Extraordinary and Devoted Service to Members of the Armed Forces During and After World War II.” Riis volunteered over 10,000 hours of her time at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Veterans Hospital located in Montrose, NY. A monument in her honor is located in front of the Veterans’ Honor Roll momument. This monument lists the names of men and women who have served in World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, Afghan War and lists over 300 names.The space in this small park is utilized well. In addition to a playground and adequate green space, you can walk around and see many plaques and monuments dedicated to past residents. A World War doughboy erected in 1939 lists the names of 300 Harrison men and women who served. A special memorial was built to recognize all Harrison first responders who responded to Ground Zero during 9/11. In 2019, a gazebo was erected in honor of past Town Clerk, Joseph Acocella, Jr. Who can also walk the perimeter path to see the names of individual past municipal employees who have had a tree planted in their memory.Learn more about Ma Riis here: https://www.harrisonpl.org/harrison-remembers/collections/show/15
Town Hall, Alfred F. Sulla, Jr. Municipal Building. 1 Heineman Place
The original town offices were located on the 2nd floor of an old stone building on Halstead Ave and included the Police Department. This was near the downtown fire house. The local government operated out of this space from 1914-1977. The current municipal building, called “The Town House” by most people, was built in 1977 at 1 Heineman Place in downtown Harrison and the old town house was demolished. The building was dedicated to former Supervisor Alfred F. Sulla, Jr. Heineman Place was originally called Hillside Avenue but was changed to Heineman Place after Mort Heineman. Heineman was a Purchase resident and former Town Councilman. [1]The records about how this Town was formed and who were the officials who made the decisions that made Harrison what it is today are stored here. The Town Clerk has minutes from meetings as far back as 1774. The handwritten ledgers are kept in a vault for safekeeping. In 1921, Town Clerk William A Wilding prepared a 21-page history [2]of the Town for the County Historian. Wilding listed the Supervisors and Town Clerks from 1774 to 1921. The first elected officials were Supervisor, Major Thomas Thomas and Town Clerk, William Miller. On this document, 168 men are credited for their participation during the Civil War. This is a remarkable number considering the population at the time was 1413. Their commitment to safety continued during World War I. Men and women opened spaces for drills, held recruiting rallies, assisted the Red Cross, and welcomed home soldiers with service medals. “Harrison feels proud of her 254 Sons who went forward to do or die…” [3] Seven of the 21 pages list those soldiers, sailors and marines by name.According to Robert Bolton’s A History of the County of Westchester, from its Settlement to the Present Time, the first law enforcing officials appointed in 1775 were Captain, Henry Dusinberry; 1st Lieutenant, Lyon Mills; 2nd Lieutenant Caleb Paulding; and Ensign, Gilbert Dusinberry. [4]So much about our past government can be learned from Wilding's 1921 report, which can be obtained from the Westchester County Archives, as well as Robert Bolton's Book which is available through the Westchester Library System. [1] Kelly, Jean. Town of Harrison Tricentennial, 1696-1996, 1996, p.35.[2] Division of Archives and History. The Records of Harrison. Westchester County. Prepared by William A. Wilding. 1921.[3] Division of Archives and History. The Records of Harrison. Westchester County. Prepared by William A. Wilding. 1921.[4] Bolton, Robert. “A History of the County of Westchester, from Its First Settlement to the Present Time : Bolton, Robert, 1814-1877. CN : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, January 1, 1970. https://archive.org/details/historyofcountyo02inbolt.
Original Patent-Town Hall
The most significant artifact stored in Town Hall is the 1696 original patent of John Harrison’s purchase of land. Written on sheepskin and framed for preservation, this proudly hangs in the current Mayor’s Office after being discovered in archives deteriorating. How John Harrison acquired this land is one of Harrison’s most interesting stories. The transaction of Harrison’s 1695 purchase from an Indian Sachem was granted by King William III to John Harrison and four others; William Nicholas, Ebenezer Willams, David Jamison and Samuel Haight. This land was claimed to already be owned by John Budd and Peter Disbrow. New York Governor, Colonel Fletcher ordered the property to be surveyed and for any proof of ownership by Budd and Disbrow to be presented to Fletcher. This proof was never submitted, and the patent was granted in 1696. The full transcription can be found several places online and in print. [1][1] Baird, Charles Washington. Chronicle of a Border Town: History of Rye, Westchester County, New York, 1660-1870,... including Harrison and the White Plains till 1788. HARBOR HILL BOOKS, 1974.
Harrison Fire Department, 206 Harrison Ave
The first Harrison Fire Department was housed at the Mansion House was located on the corner of Halstead Ave. and Purdy St. Their only equipment was a horse drawn pumper and a horse reel. Thanks to a project by the Harrison Library, a digital collection of photos of the Harrison Fire Department are on display for everyone to see. “The Harrison firehouse, built between 1895-1896, was more than just a hub for firefighting; it was the heart of Harrison's social life, hosting public events, religious services, court sessions, and even the town's first school sessions and library.” [1]In 1921, the firehouse was destroyed by fire and it was rebuilt in 1923. This firehouse remains today and underwent an addition and renovation in 2023. There is a bronze statue outside the firehouse of Albert 'Big Al' Mazzullo.Mazzullo was honored for his 45-year dedication as a volunteer firefighter.[1] “Harrison Firehouse.” Harrison Remembers: Digital Collections. Accessed June 14, 2024. https://www.harrisonpl.org/harrison-remembers/collections/show/16.
Haight Cemetery aka Village cemetery
Established in the 1700's for the Haight family and friends, this small cemetery holds only 9 graves. [1] Surnames Haight Dusenberry, and Purdy can be found here, all names found in early records of town officials. These graves range from 1819-1845.[1] Village Cemetery in Harrison, New York. Accessed January 28, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2438980/village-cemetery.
Miller Family Cemetery
There are 21 gravestones in the Miller cemetery. The findagrave.com listing references the date of death for those buried here to be between 1812 and 1844. [1]Buried here is Lyon Miller. Miller was a 1st Lt. - 2nd in command of 3rd Regiment in the Revolutionary War.[2][1] Miller Family Cemetery in Harrison, New York. Accessed January 28, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2264887/miller-family-cemetery.[2] Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27540151/lyon-miller: accessed October 15, 2024), memorial page for Lyon Miller (11 Jul 1736–15 Mar 1814), Find a Grave Memorial ID 27540151, citing Miller Family Cemetery, Harrison, Westchester County, New York, USA; Maintained by Bill S. (contributor 47010739).
Winfield Ave
There are so many homes in Harrison to see and learn about. One noteworthy home is known as the Hadden-Margolis House, located at 61 Winfield Ave. This house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places after an application made in January 2008 was approved in March 2008. On this 40-page submission [1] to the National Park Service, detail is given to the colonial era features that would prove its claim of being built in the mid to late 18th century. What is notably missing from this submission is any documentation from the Town Assessor, who records this house as being built in 1907. [2] No matter who is right in their claims, there is no doubt that is colonial era dwelling is worthy of its national recognition. Past notable owners are the first County Executive, William F. Bleakley. [3]Other houses on this street built even earlier than the Hadden-Margolis house according to the Town Assessor’s records. Also visibly featuring colonial era features like the Hadden-Margolis home, you will see homes built in 1777, [4] and 1747. [5]Houlihan Lawrence highlights one of these homes in a video seen here and another video herePlease note, these are all private residences. [1] “United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. National Register of Historic Places. Hadden-Margolis.” National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75323041.[2] Assessment Record, 61 Winfield Ave[3] “Westchester Additions to the National Register of Historic Places.” The Westchester Historian 87, (2) : 63-64.[4] Assessment Record, 46 Winfield Ave[5] Assessment Record, 19 Winfield Ave
Old Mill Farm and Grist Mill
Located on Love Lane, this one time fully operational grist mill on Old Mill Farm still stands today. “Harrison was originally a farming community, and people worked in weaving shops, saw mills or grist mills. One such relic of the past is unique to Harrison. Built circa 1700 by a Mr. Griffin, it is the only pre-Revolutionary grist mill in Westchester, and stands on the banks of the Mamaroneck River at West Street, adjacent to the Hutchinson River Parkway between Mamaroneck and Harrison, on a site steeped in Indian legend.” [1]Please note, this is located on private property. [1] “The Old Mill.” Accessed June 14, 2024. https://www.harrison-ny.gov/historian/pages/the-old-mill
Haviland Cemetery
The Haviland Cemetery is an old family burying ground in the beautiful suburb of Harrison, NY. It sits on the Northwest side of Pleasant Ridge Rd. in between the intersections of Sterling Rd. and Woodlands Rd., and is situated in a thicket between two large houses. The Haviland family came from Gloucestershire,England in the 1600's. Benjamin Haviland is the first Haviland to settle in Harrison on a 400 acre estate in 1711. Benjamin great-great grandson, William Haviland formally deeded the burial ground to the Haviland family, friends and their heirs on Feb 25, 1842. [1]There are 49 people buried in this cemetery. The Haviland's are a well documented family, and you can read more about them on a few WiKi tree sites, which includes many pictures. [2], [1] Raftery, Patrick J. The Cemeteries of Westchester. Vol. II. Westchester County Historical Society, 2011.[2] “Haviland Cemetery, Harrison, New York.” WikiTree. Accessed November 3, 2024. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Haviland_Cemetery%2C_Harrison%2C_New_York?fbclid=IwY2xjawEu9M9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHfQnqHF9Ny0Y8x7F08jn_RQYCd6eslpLPlfHzWvLvidvG9JpumPe2Tph9g_aem_t5Kv27grWaSw-UguQmodWA
