Wykagyl, New Rochelle, New York
Wykagyl is a suburban community in New Rochelle, New York. The area, located in the "North End" of the city, consists primarily of sprawling, residential neighborhoods and large "period" homes. Architectural styles include Elizabethan and Cotswold Tudors, Mediterranean-style villas, and classic colonials.[1] At the center of the community is a small business district of retail stores, condominium developments, and houses of worship.
The area's name is a shortening of the name for the Algonquin tribe of Native Americans who originally inhabited the area. [2]
Points of interest
Several sites in Wykagyl commemorate the life of Thomas Paine, American pamphleteer and Revolutionary War hero, including his home, his burial site, and a museum. Paine's home, the Thomas Paine Cottage, was built in 1793 after a fire destroyed the previous home. The cottage was moved to its current location, which is on land that was part of the 300-acre (120 ha) farm owned by Paine. The house, which is a National Historic Landmark, is currently operated as a museum.[3][4] The Thomas Paine Memorial Building, which houses the library and museum collection of the Thomas Paine National Historical Association,[5] was built in 1925.[6][7][8]
Artist Norman Rockwell's studio, in which he lived for years and created much of his iconic Saturday Evening Post work, is in Wykagyl.
Parks and recreation
- Wykagyl Country Club is a private facility that has hosted Ladies Professional Golf Association tournaments.
- Ward Acres is a combination of untouched forest, wild lawns and meadows, acres of hiking and exercise trails, and historic horse stables and cemeteries. It encompasses 62 acres (25 ha), with the forests divided into four main sections (North Woods, Northwest Woods, Central Woods, and Southeast Woods), each distinct in both general characteristics and species presence.
- The Leatherstocking Trail is a 2 miles (3.2 km) long, inter-municipal hiking trail situated between New Rochelle and Mamaroneck, eventually linking into Saxon Woods County Park.
- Sheldrake Lake, which formerly served as a reservoir supplying the area's drinking water, is now a 60-acre park and nature conservancy promoting an increased understanding of the local ecology.
- Twin Lakes Park and the adjacent Nature Study Woods together comprise 220 acres (89 ha) of woods, marsh, lakes, ponds, and some fields along the Hutchinson River. There are many foot trails weaving through woods, marshlands, and fields and around two large lakes.
Wykagyl in film
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- Parts of Catch Me If You Can were filmed in Wykagyl. The movie is loosely based on the life of Frank Abagnale.
- Scenes in Goodfellas were filmed on Alfred Lane, off Quaker Ridge Road in the Pinebrook Heights neighborhood. The house of the parents of Henry Hill's eventual wife, Karen, is on Alfred Lane. Henry goes across the street and pistol whips the neighbor after the neighbor sexually attacks Karen.
- The Oscar-nominated Burt Reynolds film Starting Over includes a school carnival scene filmed at what is now known as the Hudson Montessori School on Quaker Ridge Road.
References
- ^ Robert Merrill (1981). New Rochelle: Portrait of A City. Abbeville Press. pp. 6–11. ISBN 0896591867.
- ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE0DF1439F934A25752C0A965958260
- ^ "Thomas Paine Cottage". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. 2007-09-11.
- ^ Charles W. Snell (April 24, 1972), Template:PDFlink, National Park Service and Template:PDFlink
- ^ "Museum". Thomas Paine National Historical Association. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
- ^ Museum
- ^ Founding Father Seeks Common Sense - New York Times
- ^ PHOTOS of STATUES of TOM PAINE and some of his writings - tompaine.htm
40°56′29″N 73°47′56″W / 40.94139°N 73.79889°W
