Boston Corner, New York facts for kids
Boston Corner is a small community, called a hamlet, located in New York. It's a bit special because it sits partly in the town of Ancram in Columbia County, New York and partly in the town of Northeast in Dutchess County, New York.
This area has an interesting past! It was once part of Massachusetts and was officially created by Massachusetts in 1838. But because it was so far away and hard to reach from the rest of Massachusetts, it was tough for the state to keep things orderly and enforce laws there. Because of these challenges, Massachusetts decided to give Boston Corner to New York. This transfer happened on January 11, 1855.
In the past, three different railroad lines used to serve Boston Corner: the New York Central's Harlem Line, the Poughkeepsie and Eastern Railway, and the Rhinebeck and Connecticut Railroad. The New York Central even had a stop called Boston Corners station. Today, all these railway lines are no longer in use.
The Story of Boston Corner
Why Boston Corner Changed States
Boston Corner has a unique history because it actually moved from one state to another! It started as a piece of land that belonged to Massachusetts. In 1838, Massachusetts officially made it a district.
However, there was a big problem: Boston Corner was geographically isolated. This means it was very far away and hard to get to from the main parts of Massachusetts. Because of this, it was difficult for Massachusetts officials to maintain law and order in the area. People sometimes took advantage of this distance, making it a challenging place to govern.
The Transfer to New York
Because of these difficulties, Massachusetts and New York decided it would be best for Boston Corner to become part of New York. The two states agreed to this transfer in 1853, and it became official on January 11, 1855. This was a big deal because it's not every day that a piece of land changes states!
An event that happened in 1853, involving a famous boxing match, really highlighted why the transfer was needed. Even though the agreement to transfer the land was already made, this event showed just how hard it was for Massachusetts to control the area. The transfer officially solved this problem, making it easier for New York to manage the community.
