Highlights of New Castle History

1609 Henry Hudson explores the Hudson River.
1696 Caleb Heathcote purchases a large tract of land including what is now New Castle from Wampus and other Native American sachems.
1730 Quakers begin settling in the northern and western parts of North Castle, which will become New Castle.
1753-4 Quakers build meetinghouse on Quaker Road.
1776 Following the Battle of White Plains, the Quaker meetinghouse is used as a hospital for wounded soldiers of Washington's army.
1791 New Castle is divided from North Castle and becomes a separate town.
1846 The New York and Harlem Railroad, later the Harlem Division of the New York Central Railroad, reaches Chappaqua.
1853 Horace Greeley begins buying property in what is now downtown Chappaqua.
1872 Horace Greeley runs for president against incumbent Ulysses S. Grant.
1881 The New York and Northern Railroad, later the Putnam Division of the New York Central Railroad, reaches Merritt's Corners, now Millwood.
1902 Opening of the present Chappaqua railroad station, on property donated by Horace Greeley's daughter, Gabrielle Greeley Clendenin.
1904 A tornado sweeps across Quaker Road between the Sutton Reynolds house south of Gray Rock Lane and the Dodge house north of Marcourt Drive.
1912 The first central water system is installed in Chappaqua.
1914 Dedication of the Horace Greeley memorial statue.
1918 Dedication of Liberty Ship USS Chappaqua.
1929 Opening of the Horace Greeley School, now the Robert E. Bell Middle School.
1930 Celebration of the Chappaqua bicentennial. Opening of the railroad bridge.
1934 The Saw Mill River Parkway reaches Chappaqua.
1939 The Reader's Digest moves its headquarters to Chappaqua.
1957 Opening of the present Horace Greeley High School.
1958 Service ends on the Putnam Division of the New York Central Railroad.
1966 Founding of the New Castle Historical Society.
1999 President Bill Clinton and future Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton make their home in Chappaqua.
2000 Opening of the restored Horace Greeley House.