Rockland Manufacturing history

Large deposits of clay in the Hudson River brought about the beginning of brick manufacturing in Rockland in 1771; Haverstraw became the brick-making center of the East in 1817 when James Wood discovered that coal dust could be mixed with clay, reducing the price of the bricks.

In 1822 they began processing cotton at the new cotton mill known as the Wallace Cotton Factory, named for Young’s son William Wallace.

In 1827, steamboat travel debuted from Nyack to New York City, attracting competition from steamboats later built at Haverstraw and Tappan.

Thirty-four school districts had been established in the county by 1829, as compulsory education spread.

With the passing of the Pierson brothers, the Ramapo Works effectively shut down after 1850.

In 1852, the industry was given fresh impetus by Richard VerValen’s invention of the automatic brick machine, which tempered the clay, pressed the malleable clay into molds, and produced bricks of uniform size.

The first schoolhouse was built in Tappan in 1711 and was still in use as a school until 1860.

Zebley, Frank R. (1940). Along the Brandywine.

Tom decided to take matters into his own hands and in 1951 built the first Rockland RF-3 rake behind a gas station.

The mills continued until 1973 when they were sold and converted to residences.

Jay Shoemaker and Patricia Wright (March 1982). “National Register of Historic Places Registration: William Young House”. National Park Service.