Van Schaick Island facts for kids
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Mohawk River delta with Hudson River |
| Coordinates | 42°46′2″N 73°41′30″W / 42.76722°N 73.69167°W |
| Highest elevation | 66 ft (20.1 m) |
| Administration | |
| City | Cohoes, New York |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1,400 |
Van Schaick Island is a cool island located in the city of Cohoes, New York. It's part of the Mohawk River delta, which is where the Mohawk River splits into smaller streams before joining the Hudson River. Over time, this island has had many names, like Quehemesicos, Long, Anthony's, Isle of Cohoes, and Cohoes Island.
This island was important during the American Revolutionary War because it had special forts. Later, in the 1900s, it was home to a big shipyard that built many boats. Part of the island, including the old shipyard, is now part of Peebles Island State Park. You can only drive into this state park from Van Schaick Island.
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Island History: A Quick Look
The first European to see Van Schaick Island was Henry Hudson. Because of his travels, the island and the whole Hudson River area became part of the Dutch colony called New Netherland.
Early Owners and Names
After the English took over New Netherland, Van Schaick Island was bought in 1665. Goosen Gerritse Van Schaick and Philip Piertse Schuyler bought it from the Mohican people. The Native Americans called the island Quehemesicos. The Dutch called it Long Island.
In 1674, Schuyler gave his part of the island to Van Schaick. Goosen Gerritse Van Schaick passed away in 1676. His son, Anthony, then took over the island in 1687. The island was later called Anthony's Island after him.
The Van Schaick Mansion
Anthony van Schaick built the famous Van Schaick Mansion between 1735 and 1755. There might have been a smaller wooden house there before the mansion. Anthony also planned for a cemetery to be built near the mansion. The last Van Schaick family member lived in the mansion in the early 1900s.
A Key Spot in the Revolutionary War
Van Schaick Island was a very important stop on the Continental Trail. This was a main route from New York City to Montreal. The trail went through several islands at the mouth of the Mohawk River. These included Green Island, Van Schaick, and Peebles Island.
Starting in August 1777, over 5,000 Continental Army soldiers camped on Van Schaick and Peebles islands. Generals Philip Schuyler and Horatio Gates led these troops. Governor George Clinton even made the mansion the temporary state capitol for a few days. In September, the army moved north to fight in the Battle of Saratoga.
The Matton Shipyard
In 1916, John E. Matton moved his boat-building business to Van Schaick Island. The Matton Shipyard built many types of boats, like canal boats and tugboats. It stayed open until 1983.
During World War II, the shipyard built five submarine chasers for the US Navy. They also built four tugboats for the US Army. Some of these boats later went to the US Coast Guard or the USSR. The Matton Shipyard was one of the oldest boat builders in the United States when it closed.
Today, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation owns the shipyard. They are turning it into a learning center and museum. A historic boat called the Day Peckinpaugh is docked there.
Island Population
In 1992, about 1,400 people lived on Van Schaick Island. Most of them had Italian, French, or Polish backgrounds.
Island Geography
Van Schaick Island is part of the city of Cohoes. It sits in the Mohawk River delta. Here, the Mohawk River splits into several smaller streams, or "sprouts," before flowing into the Hudson River.
The Hudson River is on the east side of the island. Other islands in the delta surround Van Schaick Island. Peebles Island is to the north, and Green Island is to the south. To the west are Simmons Island and the main part of Cohoes. Across the Hudson River to the east is the Lansingburgh area of Troy.
Education on the Island
Van Schaick Island is part of the Cohoes City School District. Kids on the island go to Van Schaick Elementary School for kindergarten through fifth grade. Then they attend Cohoes Middle School and Cohoes High School.
Getting Around the Island
Ontario Street (NYS Route 470) is the main road that crosses Van Schaick Island from east to west. On the east side, Ontario Street crosses the 112th Street Bridge over the Hudson River. This bridge connects the island to Rensselaer County.
On the west side, Ontario Street crosses a bridge to Simmons Island. From there, you can reach NYS Route 787 and Downtown Cohoes. The rest of Van Schaick Island has a regular street layout, like a grid.
Railroad History and New Trails
The eastern side of the island used to have a Delaware and Hudson Railway line. This line ran from Green Island, through Van Schaick Island, and up to Peebles Island. The Black Bridge to Green Island was built in the 1890s. Trains used this line until the 1960s.
Now, the Open Space Institute is turning the old railway into a bike and hike trail. This new trail, called the Delaware Avenue Trail, will connect to the Mohawk Hudson Hike/Bike Trail and the Champlain Canal Bike Trail.
Fun Things to Do on the Island
Van Schaick Island has a city park with a pond, which is great for ice skating in winter. There's also a private golf course and places for walking and biking. You can also find a baseball field here.
The Van Schaick Island Country Club started in 1895 with just two golf holes. The current nine holes were designed in 1915. The club changed its name to Van Schaick Island Country Club the next year. Two marinas on the island let people access the Hudson River for boating.
