Mamaroneck Matters July 24, 2009
Today, I am going to attempt to explain why we have overlapping municipal jurisdictions and school districts that do not conform to municipal boundaries. It’s all about history.
Which Came First?
To begin, it is important to understand that Towns came first. In fact, the organization of the Town of Rye can be traced back to 1665 so it even precedes our nation and state. European settlers landed in Rye, purchased land from the Native Americans and started farming. Good land and prosperous settlers led to more people, trade and shops and so on and so forth. The Town of Rye website (www.townofrye.com) has a wonderful link to an 1865 book about the History of Rye that was commissioned on its 200th anniversary. The book has been digitized and is available to read on-line. It is fascinating reading for anyone curious about our rich past.
Originally, the Town of Rye contained what is now known as Rye Brook, Port Chester, the City of Rye and the portion of the Village of Mamaroneck “that side” of the Mamaroneck River. There have been few changes over time. The biggest one was the cessation of the City of Rye in 1942. Their action separated the Rye Neck section of the Village of Mamaroneck from the remainder of the Town of Rye.
One little known fact is that the Mamaroneck River was “moved” in Columbus Park so there is a very small section of the Town of Rye now on the “other side” of the Mamaroneck River.
Town of Mamaroneck
The Town of Mamaroneck organized itself in 1788. In its earliest days, the population was centered in the region now located in the Village of Mamaroneck. In 1888, however, things changed with the arrival of the railroad. Wealthy residents of New York City were now able to travel more easily and Mamaroneck became a summer haven for people who could afford to escape the summer heat and oppression of the city streets. They also created a demand for more services – both public and private. Homes needed to be built and there was good stone right here. Skilled laborers came for the work and many also settled in the area, creating even greater demand for local services.
Villages are Created
As more and more people arrived, village centers began to sprout and the people formed more local governments to meet the growing demand for essential services. Port Chester was the first to incorporate as a village in 1868.
Larchmont summer residents incorporated as a Village in 1891. The Village of Mamaroneck followed in 1895. Rye became a village in 1904 and many still remember when Rye Brook formed their village in 1982. It is important to note that New York State law requires that Villages be located within a town. You cannot be in a village without also living in a town but you can live in a town without living in a village, which makes sense since towns came first.
School Districts
Local governments do not govern the school districts; they have their own governing board. This fact reflects the history of public schools in our area – concerned citizens came together to create schools. Therefore, school district boundaries conform to the population centers of the time.
The Village of Mamaroneck
The formation of the Village of Mamaroneck did not go smoothly. The two population centers – informally known as the village of Mamaroneck and the village of Rye Neck – grew up side by side but had their differences along with their similarities. People shopped, worshipped, socialized, and recreated together but clung to their roots. In 1890, a committee was formed to work through the legal requirements and build support among the people in Rye Neck who were against incorporation.
After five years of work and opposition, a vote was taken on November 12, 1895. The tally was 414 for incorporation and 227 against. Rye Neck voters split 51% for and 49% against. The legal papers were filed on November 16th (the official date of incorporation) and four days later a court challenge was filed on the grounds of fraudulent votes.
It took until April 1896 to determine that the vote was valid and the Village of Mamaroneck was officially incorporated. A close look at our village seal sums up this history. The result of a contest and designed by a young girl, the seal depicts two women joining hands across a river. The two women represent the informal villages of Mamaroneck and Rye Neck and a close look at the river will yield a familiar bridge over the Mamaroneck River.
I hope this column sparks some interest in our history. There are several resources available to learn more about our history and they are available through the library. Have fun learning about where you live and Happy 125th Anniversary to our all-volunteer Fire Department.
| 
