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Did You Know Rockland Had An Ice Bridge Connecting Nyack To Tarrytown

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1 month ago

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1866 the Rockland County Journal published an article that captured the imaginations of Tarrytown and Nyack residents. They announced the “construction” of a bridge across the Tappan Zee in just 48 hours. The bridge would be so strong it could support people, sleighs, cattle and cars.

This was not an ordinary bridge, it was nature’s handiwork. An ICE bridge that spanned the 3 mile wide Tappan Zee during the winter. Sometimes it appeared every winter while other times there were decade long gaps in it’s arrival. 

When the ice bridge did emerged, it became transportation and a playground for people of all ages. There were walkers, skaters, cyclists, cars, horses, and even motorcycles on its meticulously marked route across the nearly three-mile-wide Tappan Zee. 

A skater smoking a pipe gives a businessman a lift across the river. Photo is likely at Stony Point, a much narrower crossing then Nyack to Tarrytown.

Mistakes happen. This touring car found a soft spot in the ice while trying to cross the ice bridge. Norman Burke photograph.

One of the few photos of a car crossing the ice bridge. Notice the well defined tracks leading to Tarrytown. Courtesy of the Nyack Library.

For the full article please visit:   https://nyacknewsandviews.com/blog/2025/01/nyacks-famous-ice-bridge-2/

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18th Annual Penguin Plunge Chill For Charity March 2nd Memorial Park Nyack

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February 28, 2025

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Participate in an icy dip in the Hudson River while raising money for seriously ill children. The Plunge will be a thrilling challenge with a meaningful cause. So go ahead and test your personal resilience in freezing water while making a big difference in the lives of children and their families.

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Cynthia Hesdra A Brave African American Woman Who Ran The Underground Railroad In Rockland

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February 27, 2025

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Cynthia Hesdra’s life is a compelling blend of personal perseverance, business success, and significant involvement in the abolitionist movement, particularly through her participation in the Underground Railroad.

Born in 1808 in Tappan, NY, to John and Jane Moore, Cynthia came from a wealthy family, though much is unclear about her mother’s background. While some sources suggest Cynthia was born into slavery, her father’s wealth raises doubts about this claim. After marrying Edward D. Hesdra, a mixed-race man with a complex family history, Cynthia and her husband bought her freedom and moved to New York City.

Cynthia became a successful entrepreneur, running a profitable laundry business and accumulating several properties in both New York City and Nyack, NY. In Nyack, her home at 294 Main Street served as a safe house for the Underground Railroad, offering shelter to runaway slaves on their way to Canada. The house had key features, like a hidden entrance and a trap door in the cellar, making it an ideal refuge for escaping slaves. Local historian Dr. Frank Green and other historical accounts confirm her active role in assisting fugitive slaves, connecting agents from Jersey City and Newburgh to her Nyack home.

Despite her success, Cynthia’s death in 1879 led to a legal battle over her estate. Without a will, numerous falsified claims surfaced, including from her husband and alleged relatives. The case became a landmark for the new legal procedure in New York to handle signature disputes.

While Cynthia’s wealth and later estate struggles are well-documented, her significant contributions to the Underground Railroad and her legacy as a businesswoman and advocate for freedom remain an important part of history. The historical marker in Nyack stands as a reminder of her role in helping others seek liberty during a pivotal time in American history.

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