VI. - VILLAGES AND HAMLET

THE VILLAGE OF NEW PALTZ
situated on the east bank of the Wallkill, near the geographical center of the town, is, as we have seen, the oldest point of settlement within the town. It is now a flourishing centre of trade, and one of the points of greatest interest in the entire county. It contains three churches, viz., Reformed Protestant Dutch, Methodist Episcopal, and African Methodist, the New Paltz Academy, two newspapers, the New Paltz Times and the New Paltz Independent, a national bank and a savings-bank, three hotels, a number of stores and mechanic shops of various kinds, a district school, and about 500 inhabitants. A number of old stone houses are to be seen in different parts of the village, some of which were built during the last century. Probably the most ancient is the one occupied by Jesse Elting. The village hall is a fine brick structure, 40 by 80 feet, with a basement. It was built by the New Paltz Literary Association in 1863, and will seat about 500 persons. A daily stage connects the village with Highland and Poughkeepsie, and it is a station on the Wallkill Valley Railroad.

It may prove of interest at a later day to indicate here the leading business men of the village in 1880, aside from those who receive consideration elsewhere. The general stores are kept by Josiah J. Hasbrouck, Oscar C. Hasbrouck, ands Solomon Deyo; the drug-stores by James Barney and George E. Johnson; and the hard-ware stores by John Elting and M. Hotchkin. George Eady has a shoe-store. Zachariah Bruyn has had a flourishing harness-making shop for over thirty-five years. Lefever DuBois has another shop of the same kind. The blacksmiths are George Frere, Dennis Creighton, and John Drake.

The village post office was established at a very early day. The name of the first postmaster is not known. The office was kept at Buddís hotel over sixty years ago, and Wade H. Budd was the postmaster. He was succeeded by Abraham A. Deyo, Jr., who moved the office to the "white storehouse." Ezekiel S. Elting followed next, and after him came Zachariah Bruyn with the administration of James Buchanan. He was followed by Easton Van Wagenen. Theodore Deyo has filled the office several terms.

OHIOVILLE
is a small settlement about two miles east of New Paltz and contains two wagon shops, a blacksmith shop, a schoolhouse and twenty houses. It is not considered a very near relative of the important State whose name it bears, but ids said to have been named in honor of Moses Frere, who proposed to emigrate to that State , but did not, settling instead at Ohioville. The post-office was created over twenty years ago. Samuel B. Stillwell is the present postmaster.

SPRINGTOWN
a growing point, is located in the northwest part of the town, on the Wallkill Valley Railroad. A post office was established there a few years ago, and John C. Schaffer is the present postmaster.

COLD SPRING CORNERS
is in the northeast corner of the town, on Black Creek, and contains a Methodist church, a store, blacksmith-shop, a schoolhouse, and half a dozen dwellings. It derives its name from a fine spring of water that exists there.

PUT CORNERS
is a hamlet about a mile east of New Paltz village, and is named in honor of Napolean Purdy, who came from Putnam, New York., and located there.

BUTLERVILLE
about two miles west of New Paltz, is a centre of prosperous farming community. Here are a Friendís meetinghouse and a schoolhouse.

NEWSPAPERS
The New Paltz Times was started in July, 1860, and the first copy of the paper was issued on July 6th of that year. It was founded by Charles J. Ackert, Esq., the present editor and proprietor of the paper, who has succeeded in making it a first-class weekly paper, having a wide circulation and influence. It is Democratic in politics, though conducted in a fearless and independent manner. An excellent job-office is attached to the paper.

The New Paltz Independent was founded in the year of 1868 by an association composed of about eighty stockholders. Easton Van Wagenen was the first editor of the paper, and was succeeded by Ralph Lefever, Esq., in the spring of 1869. In 1871, the latter purchased the paper of the association and became sole proprietor. It is Republican in politics and enjoys a good circulation. Job work is done in the office