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Local History

An art deco roller skating rink occupied a portion of the building at the northwest corner of West Hartsdale Avenue and Central Avenue. The rink closed at the onset of World War II. 

Columbia Avenue in 1913 was a quiet residential street off present-day East Hartsdale Avenue.

This photo reminds us of the popularity of wide front porches on the homes of that era. 

Photo courtesy of Bernice I. Theall

Hartsdale Methodist Church

In its second location on E. Hartsdale Ave. Originally, it was at the junction of Hillcrest Avenue and Ridge Road. Original building still intact - now used as a residence

Ridge Road schoolhouse located on the property donated by the Odell Family built in 1827

This circa 1920s photo shows the ramshackle remains of the 1827 Ridge Road Schoolhouse. 

Hartsdale School, North Washington Avenue (1897-1919)

Building was demolished to make way for Washington Avenue school, which was just renovated into condos (1988)

Old Sprain Road in 1910

A very narrow road and unpaved. The driver is J. Leonard LeViness in his "Ford Special"

The community of Hartsdale held patriotic parades and ceremonies to honor war veterans

This picture shows the crowds that gathered for the laying of a memorial wreath in 1953

Hartsdale Garden Apartments

Photo courtesy of the Westchester County Archives

St. Andrew's Mission - Central Avenue - 1915

The St. Andrew's Mission was established by local residents in 1909. The first services were held in the Fire Company building, but by 1914, a plot of land just south of the Canine Cemetery was purchased. This small chapel building, outgrown by a parish in New Rochelle, was dismantled and re-erected on this site. This small chapel served the congregation until 1935, when the building was deemed unsafe. In 1937, a new church was erected on Columbia Avenue and served its members until 1951. The church is presently located on the former estate of Evangeline Booth, 4th General of the Salvation Army.  

By 1910 the area near the railroad station was changing.

This view includes the new depot and the large Tudor-style building that replaced the wooden storefronts that were there before. The crossing gates still guard the tracks, but by 1912, a new overhead bridge would eliminate the grade crossing. 

A familiar sighting along Hartsdale Avenue was the fleet of Robinson Fuel Oil trucks.

In 1921, Eban Robinson opened a hardware store and gas station in Hartsdale. By 1930, he had added home heating oil to his business using the slogan "The House That Service Built." Mr. Robinson was very active in community affairs, serving as Civil Defense Director during World War II and as Chief of the Hartsdale Fire Company for many years. 

Photo courtesy of Arone Collection

Hartsdale Post Office

By the 1920s, the Post Office was occupying space in the Scarsdale Estates Building. Between 1914 and 1919, the Hartsdale Free Library had been located in a portion of the second floor. World War I and the influenza epidemic of 1917-1918 caused the library to close. It was a common belief at the time that books were capable of spreading disease. In 1957, this structure was razed to make way for a modern commercial building. 

The Inwood Lodge circa 1907 was set back from the road by a beautiful rolling lawn

The house still stands today on West Hartsdale Avenue.

Photo courtesy of Bernice I. Theall

Early 1950's at the northwest corner of West Hartsdale Avenue and Central Avenue

Over the years, the building had various tenants, including the Town of Greenburgh. The building inspector and the Department of Public Works shared a small office on the second floor. 

Photo courtesy of Mrs. Francis Falkenbury 

Hartsdale Four Corners

In 1915, the Hartsdale Four Corners was still unpaved and rural. The white house shown in the photograph was located on the northwest corner of Central Avenue and Inwood Avenue (now West Hartsdale Avenue). In just a few short years, the scene would begin to change. 

Hartsdale Avenue - 1908

Post Offices in Hartsdale changed location to accommodate population density. The first Post Offices were located in the original "Corners" near Hillcrest Avenue and Washington Avenue. By 1870, the railroad station served as the Post Office, and the station agent served as the Postmaster. Shortly after 1898, when the railroad depot was destroyed by fire, the Post Office moved across the road into the small one-story framed building shown in the foreground of this picture. As in other hamlets, the Post Office would periodically move to new quarters as the needs of the community changed. 

Farm - West Hartsdale Avenue South of Secor

Photo courtesy of Barclay G. McKeough

Photo courtesy of Barclay G. McKeough

Photo courtesy of Barclay G. McKeough