Out-of-town folks who move there seem to know what is best for Hyde Park. How did that community thrive for all these years? Oh, I know! There was no interference from out-of-town folks. The community carved its' own destiny, but that is now in extreme danger.
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From a friend who knows Hyde Park Central Schools intimately.
“The information about the schools in this piece troubles me. The article tells you about test scores, but I would like to throw some light on the vibrant, excellent instrumental and vocal music programs, and the school system's nationally-recognized studio arts program, and mention how there is a steady drip of arts-related graduates who go on to full-time, professional music and theatre careers. I would celebrate the scores and scores of people who went through this PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM's arts programs who didn't necessarily "go pro," but bring that arts education into their lives in a multitude of life-enhancing ways. I would mention the gorgeous new outdoor track & football field, and describe the amazing 11th-grade English-History cross disciplinary American Studies course that includes top-quality film-making opportunities in conjunction with Upstate Films.”
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I had wonderful opportunity to grow up in Hyde Park in the 60's,70's and 80's. I ready enjoyed and have great memories of my years growing up there. Just like any other area over the past 30 years it has changed some good and bad. I would encourage anyone to look at Hyde Park, I think it would be a good move for anyone. I just retired and started to volunteer at the national parks, and spend days hiking, biking and kayaking. My own children know the area very, as we spend time at the July 4 parade and spend time in the parks. Thank you for the article.
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Great article but oh - you missed mentioning 'Cranberry Cafe' on West Market Street across from the U.S. Post Office.
Hyde Park is a wonderful town for a day trip or holiday weekend getaway from Manhattan. My wife and I enjoyed a fantastic weekend with friends. We took took long walks from the old railroad station to Vanderbilt Mansion - a break at the Cranberry Cafe. Then, another walk through the town on W Market Street to FDR's home.
The distance from the Poughkeepsie Metro North railroad station is 6 miles, a 10-minute drive by taxi & the cost is between $15.00 & $20.00.
We can't wait to go back this Spring.
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Nice to see an affordable — and walkable - community profiled from the region. Not every town is 30 minutes to the city, with gourmet restaurants, top-performing schools, and million-dollar homes.
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I grew up in Staatsburg and went away for 30 years and I am now back in the area. Hyde Park and the area took a hit when IBM left and nothing replaced it. But like other towns along the Hudson Hyde Park and Staatsburg have potential for serene and fun and exciting living for many. The comments in the digital copy about “the heap” at Mills Mansion in Staatsburg was a very incorrect statement. If anyone has not visited the house or the website to see what there is to offer you should. They have a great house for you to tour, children’s programs, talk and teas that constantly sell out, 2 great galas by the friends group, sledding and concerts in the respective seasons. There are constant improvements and then you will also see the mansion as the family left it in 1938. All of my life the hamlet of Staatsburg has been considered not as good as Hyde Park, maybe forgotten alittle and maybe in someways that is good, because the walks along the river, or sitting at Norrie Point and enjoying the view of the River, or not having the train separate you from the river and the mansion are just little gems and jewels we are blessed with. We hope the writer of the article will visit the mansion either privately or in April when it opens again for the public and see the charm and amazing secrets of this wonderful place. In some cases time has stood still here and both the mansion and the town have a lot to be thankful for and only with a visit will anyone know.
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@Mary Alden Hello Mary, nice write up about the article. Dave Wickes
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We visited Mills last Christmas. The house is beautiful, and the docents we spoke with were knowledgeable and enthusiastic. And why not? A great place.
And it's the one Hudson River estate (at least of the ones we've walked) in which the railroad doesn't cut off access to the water. The trains run in the front of the estate, so one can actually walk right over to the river. Sweet.
What an odd term to use to describe Ogden Mills' house at Staatsburgh State Historic Site. The author called it a "heap." I'm not sure the author has actually visited. Everyone I know who has visited love the house with all its original furnishings. Saying it is warm and feels like the family still lives there. And you can walk the property right down to and along the river. Stanford White modeled it slightly on the White House. Would the author call that a heap too? Go visit. See for yourself.
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I grew up in Hyde Park in the 50’s and 60’s. It was a lovely place to be raised. I got a good education at Ralph Smith, Haviland and Roosevelt schools. I’m back to visit family and friends in April.
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It is affordable but I would I not want that commute to the city everyday. If I worked in the city I would not want to live north of Beacon. Another person is right in remarking that there is no real core to it.
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7 WEST VIEW DRIVE ain't a Cape Cod.
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@Yaj You're right; it's a ranch.
Although I grew up in Brooklyn, I've lived in the Hudson Valley on both banks my entire adult life, 44 years and counting. I've lived its ups and downs. I think of Hyde Park as relatively sleepy but with vantage points. If chosen wisely, It can be a good retirement possibility. The parks are beautiful and free to roam all year. Check out the rose garden at FDR. Besides the restaurants at the CIA, there's a gazillion choices on drives. The river is a highlight in all seasons. There's some serious building going on just south. Northward, Rhinebeck to Hudson, is a wealth of beauty and cultural activity. The shabbier spots are worrisome but I hold out hope for improvement as well as the schools as my town nearby is experiencing. When residents become actively involved on the town boards, there's possibility.
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Don't move there if you value a good education for your children. It ranks well below average and in the lowest 25% of School Districts in the state. This article points that out. EVERY surrounding town has a much higher ranking.
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@rob blake You are accurate; I am familiar with the area. There is a rough edge to Hyde Park.
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@rob blake
Your judgment about the schools is both unfair and untrue.
Standardized test scores are not the true measure of school district quality. One must look deeper when assessing the quality of a district, such as music and arts programs, athletics, AP honors courses, electives and of course the quality of teachers and support staff, to name a few worthy measures.
Look at test results in all of NYS and one might conclude that they measure nothing of value, except possibly the wealth of a community.
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@Jane
Dear Jane,
See my reply to rob blake above re: Hyde Park schools. There are more appropriate ways to measure school quality other than standardized test scores. If test scores measure much at all, it is the wealth of parents and the community.
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Reading this article gave me a nice, nostalgic feeling for my time in the Hudson Valley 20 years ago, esp. driving to the Rhino Records in Hyde Park while it was briefly in existence there. Thanks!
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As a visitor, there is lots to do in and around Hyde Park, but for residents there's no there there. It feels like a lonely little town with no core.
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When I attended the CIA students had free admission to Roosevelt’s Hyde Park estate. We’d walk along the river and enter the property up their pathway and explore the grounds and house. It was a fun way to spend an afternoon.
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“Eleanor Roosevelt had her own house, called Val-Kill, nearby, but at a safe distance from her mother-in-law)’
My mother-in-law is lovely, as are most, can we stop this stereotype please?
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@Mom
To be fair, Eleanor Roosevelt had a pretty formidable mother-in-law.
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@Mom I'm sure your mother-in-law is a lovely person, but perhaps you owe it to Eleanor Roosevelt to do a little reading about the history of her relationship with her mother-in-law, before you comment on stereotypes
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@Mom I thought this was an amusing anecdote. It also happened to be true that Eleanor Roosevelt's mother wasn't too fond of her. I think you are fortunate to enjoy a good relationship with yours, but it's far from being a stereotype!
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The dismissive and incomplete mention of Staatsburgh State Historic Site (aka Mills Mansion) is so unfortunate, in an article featuring the town’s Gilded Age history. It neglects the site’s year-round contributions to creative history and family programs, its contributions to the region’s quality of life and tourism economy, and the wonderful efforts of its Friends support group to preserve its original collections. And it’s 79 rooms counting bathrooms....just sayin’
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While I'm certain there are people who commute to NYC (part time or full time), Hyde Park likely has residents who work locally (Fishkill for example) or commute north to Albany.
It would be interesting to report where residents of Hyde Park actually are working rather than suggest every location is or should be a bedroom community to New York.
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You make a good point and as a life-long local resident I might be able to answer. Generally, local employment in Dutchess County is in small businesses, civil service/government, service industry, manufacturing, tradesmen/women, local schools, hospitals and colleges, IBM (Poughkeepsie), retail and so forth. Many residents do commute north to Albany it south to NYC. After selling their home in Rhinebeck and living in Germany for several years my retired parents purchased a home in Hyde Park to save on taxes and while the house was lovely the neighborhood was not to their liking. Kids on 4 wheel ATVs tearing up and down their street, neighbors with homes with junked cars and debris all over the yard, lots of motorcycle enthusiasts and Trump supporters left and right. They sold it and moved back to Rhinebeck.
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Thank you. I suspect very few residents commute to Manhattan. A few may drive to a White Plains or the Bronx, but probably just as many drive to Albany or Kingston or Fishkill.
This would be a brutal and extraordinarily expensive commute to Manhattan.
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@Matt Green Not to contradict my comment but there is a substantial commuter population- however, it does indeed eat up a significant part of the day- the Metro North trains from Poughkeepsie are 2 hours to the city. That's 4 hours added to your workday. I know people up here in Northern Dutchess who commute and it's rough on family life for sure.
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“Metro-North trains on the New Haven line” is incorrect”.
This should say Metro-North trains on the HUDSON line.
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'Like the New England of “Little Women,” Hyde Park presents a stark contrast between the homes of the super-wealthy (now museums) and the modest dwellings that are their neighbors.'
Why on earth is there a reference here to "Little Women"? Because there's a new film version out? Of what scenic area or metropolis could that not be said? How about the stark contrast in Brooklyn? Or on Cape Cod?
Or in Wilmington, Delaware, where DuPont mansions abut suburban sprawl? Good grief.
That said, Hyde Park has a lot going for it. The Frederick Vanderbilt estate is set in a lovely park with a formal garden, a great place to stroll no matter the season, its back entrance right in town. While not in Hyde Park, just south of the FDR estate is one once owned by Samuel Morse, a honey of a house and beautiful grounds.
People walk their dogs everywhere.
But the commercial strip, Route 9, is plug ugly, and has been for many decades. A far cry from Roosevelt's day, when the dirt-gravel road ran through woods, on either side some homes and churches, and carried buggies from one mansion to the next.
About ten miles north is Wilderstein, the home of FDR's cousin Daisy, well worth a look and a ramble down to the tracks.
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I should add that Alcott's New England had in those days fewer disparities in wealth; the Gilded Age had not yet arrived.
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I agree, people do walk their dogs everywhere.
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@B. "The residents, as advertised, are exceptionally kind and helpful wherever you find them."
Sorry, a bit of an overstatement.
I knew someone from Hyde Park in college, and he was not kind nor helpful.
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