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Wykagyl, New Rochelle, New York

Coordinates: 40°56′29″N 73°47′56″W / 40.94139°N 73.79889°W / 40.94139; -73.79889
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Wykagyl is a suburban community in New Rochelle, New York.

Wykagyl 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 an 18 hole golf course and country club as well as a small business district of retail stores, condominium developments, and houses of worship.

The area's unusual name is commonly believed to have originated through the combination of two Native American words: "wigwos," meaning "birch bark," and "keag," meaning "country." The name most likely resulted from the shortening of the name of an Algonquin tribe of Native Americans who originally inhabited the area.[2]


Education

Public

The area is served by the City School District of New Rochelle, which operates a public high school, two junior high schools, and ten elementary schools. Located within Wykagyl are:

Private

Several private primary and secondary schools are located within the Wykagyl area, including:

Points of interest

Thomas Paine Cottage

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 (1.2 km2) 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]

  • The Brewster Schoolhouse, one of the oldest structural relics in Westchester County, dates back to the 18th century, and is a mere 15 feet (4.6 m) by 20 feet (6.1 m) in dimensions.

Parks and recreation

  • 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 (250,000 m2), 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.[2]
  • 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. It is part of a larger Colonial Greenway Trail in which it connects to Twin Lakes/Nature Study and Saxon Woods parks. [3]
  • Sheldrake Lake, which formerly served as a reservoir supplying the area's drinking water, is now a 60-acre (240,000 m2) 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 (0.89 km2) 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.[4]

Wykagyl in film

  • Scenes in Goodfellas were filmed on Alfred Lane, off Quaker Ridge Road and down the street from Albert Leonard Middle School. 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 scene where Karen is on a pay phone calling Henry and crying about her next-door neighbor bothering her was filmed in the parking lot next to Wykagyl Country Club.[9]

References

  1. ^ Robert Merrill (1981). New Rochelle: Portrait of A City. Abbeville Press. pp. 6–11. ISBN 0896591867.
  2. ^ Mary McAleer Vizard (January 17, 1993). NY Times%5d "If You're Thinking of Living in: New Rochelle". New York Times. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  3. ^ "Thomas Paine Cottage". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. 2007-09-11.
  4. ^ Charles W. Snell (April 24, 1972), Template:PDFlink, National Park Service and Template:PDFlink
  5. ^ "Museum". Thomas Paine National Historical Association. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  6. ^ Museum
  7. ^ Founding Father Seeks Common Sense - New York Times
  8. ^ PHOTOS of STATUES of TOM PAINE and some of his writings - tompaine.htm
  9. ^ [1]

40°56′29″N 73°47′56″W / 40.94139°N 73.79889°W / 40.94139; -73.79889

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