Bellvale, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bellvale, New York
Hamlet
Bellvale from NY 17A
Bellvale, New York Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Orange
Town	Warwick
Elevation	640 ft (200 m)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	10912
Area code(s)	845
GNIS feature ID	942435
Early name	Wawayanda

Bellvale is a small, wooded community called a hamlet in Warwick, New York. It is located in Orange County, New York. Bellvale sits near Bellvale Mountain along New York State Route 17A. Long ago, in 1750, a metal workshop called an iron forge here was destroyed by British soldiers. Many buildings in Bellvale are even older than the United States itself! Even though it's not far from New York City, Bellvale has kept its quiet, natural feel because of its location in the Warwick Valley.

A Look Back: Bellvale's History

Before European settlers arrived, the Lenape people lived in the Warwick Valley. They were part of the "wolf" clan, known as Munsees. These native people lived in special long houses made from tree branches and bark. They grew crops like corn, beans, and squash together, a method called Three Sisters. They also hunted and fished in the forests and streams. The Munsees in this area had a long house by a creek they named Wawayanda.

Early Settlers and Iron Works

Bellvale was once part of a large land grant given by Queen Anne in 1703. Back then, it was called Wawayanda, just like the land grant. People came to this area because it had lots of trees, animals for hunting, and strong water flow from Long House Creek. This water power was perfect for running mills.

• Mills used water wheels to grind grain, cut wood, and even process animal hides into leather.
• In 1745, Lawrence Scrauley built a special mill here to work with iron. It was the only one of its kind in New York at the time.
• Scrauley hoped Bellvale's hidden location would keep his iron mill a secret from the British. The British government wanted to stop American colonies from making their own iron.
• By 1750, a law called the Iron Act was passed. It required the governor to report on iron mills. Scrauley's mill was later destroyed by the British. This event was one of many that led to the American Revolutionary War.

Bellvale During and After the Revolution

The Iron Act was canceled in 1758. Even though Scrauley didn't rebuild his mill, others built more water-powered mills and forges along the creek. By 1775, the iron-making places in Bellvale and nearby areas were strong enough to create a giant chain. This chain was used to block the Hudson River at West Point during the American Revolution! Each link of the chain weighed 150 pounds, and the whole thing weighed 188 tons.

During the war, local mills also made flour for the army. Sawmills turned local trees into wood for building. Textile mills made wool cloth for uniforms and blankets. By the early 1800s, Bellvale was a busy village. A new road helped goods reach markets closer to the Hudson River. But when railroads came to the Warwick Valley, Bellvale's time as a big manufacturing center ended. The valley, now cleared of many tall trees, became rich farmland. Farmers grew wheat, corn, and especially apples, mostly for making cider.

Where is Bellvale?

1875 map of Warwick, with Bellvale and Florida

Bellvale is split by New York State Route 17A. One of its older roads, Pumpkin Hill Road, follows an old path that was improved by army engineers in 1779. Wooden bridges were built over Long House Creek, which were later replaced by stone bridges, and now by modern concrete ones.

Mountains and Trails

• East of Bellvale, Route 17A goes steeply uphill, passing a ski resort.
• The rocks in this area are called Bellvale Sandstone.
• A special tower for watching hawks is at the top of Mount Peter.
• The famous Appalachian Trail crosses the highway here.
• A local dairy farm makes milk for an ice cream shop that serves hikers and drivers.
• After crossing the mountain ridge, Route 17A goes down towards the village of Greenwood Lake.

Local Landmarks

• North of Bellvale, Lower Wisner Road branches off where the old Crawley's mill used to be.
• Iron Forge Road passes the Iron Forge Inn, a restaurant in an old mill building from 1760.
• The Bellvale United Methodist Church has been a church home for people since 1853.
• West of Bellvale, Route 17A goes over small hills, passing old homes and apple orchards before reaching the Village of Warwick.

Bellvale's Weather

Bellvale has four clear seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Summers are warm, and spring and fall are mild with low humidity. Winters are cool, with about 23.0 inches (58 cm) of snow each year. The average winter temperature is around 20 °F (−5 °C). Snowstorms called "nor'easters" often bring strong winds, heavy rain, and sometimes snow.

• The hottest temperature ever recorded was 101 °F (38 °C) in 1995.
• The coldest temperature ever recorded was −23 °F (−31 °C) in 1994.

What Bellvale Offers

Bellvale has a few local businesses, mostly for visitors and tourists.

• Bellvale Farms Creamery and Mount Peter Ski Area are open during certain seasons.
• The Iron Forge Inn restaurant, Bellvale Market grocery store, and Winslow Therapeutic Riding Center are open all year.

Bellvale used to have its own post office for over 160 years. But it closed in 2010. Even though Bellvale still has the zip code 10912, people now go to Greenwood Lake for postal services.

Getting Around Bellvale

New York State Route 17A connects Bellvale to Warwick in the west and to Greenwood Lake and Tuxedo in the east. This route goes through the mountains of Sterling Forest. Bellvale Lakes Road goes north to Chester and Monroe. Upper and Lower Wisner roads meet before reaching King's Highway (New York State Route 94). Cascade Road goes south into a mountain valley and then loops back north towards Warwick. New Jersey Transit buses also serve Bellvale, connecting it to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City.

Learning in Bellvale

Children in Bellvale attend schools in the Warwick Valley Central School District.

• Elementary school students go to Park Avenue Elementary in Warwick village.
• Older students attend Warwick Valley Middle School or Warwick Valley High School.
• Nearby, St. Stephen-St. Edwards School offers Catholic school education for younger students.
• Cedarwood Christian School also provides faith-based education.
• Orange-Ulster BOCES offers job training and special education programs.

Churches in Bellvale

Methodist church meetings started in people's homes as early as 1809. Circuit preachers would visit the valley. The upper floor of the local schoolhouse was used as a meeting place for different church groups for many years. It was even called "The Tabernacle."

• The Methodist group decided to build their own church. The first stone was laid on April 27, 1853, and the church opened a year later.
• The church was built strongly with local timber.
• This wooden building served the community for 86 years. It was even the location for the Bellvale Circus, a popular summer show put on by local people.
• Sadly, the church was badly damaged by a fire in 1940 and had to be taken down.
• The current church building was actually moved from another town called Spring Glen, New York. The people there couldn't afford to keep their church, so they sold it to the Bellvale church for just one dollar!
• The chapel was carefully taken apart, and then the building, pews, stained-glass windows, and organ were put back together on the repaired foundation in Bellvale.

Famous People from Bellvale

• Lydia Sayer Hasbrouck: A woman who fought for women's rights and for changes in women's clothing.
• Joe Jackson Sr. (born Joseph Jiranek, 1873–1942): A famous trick cyclist.