ABOUT “AT HOME IN NYACK”: A montage of historical trivia, cool anecdotes, odd happenings, unusual personalities – living and deceased, and of course, the unique houses, condos and co-ops of the Nyack area of the Hudson Valley in New York State, written by Nyack’s own Village Historian.
The Author
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John Patrick Schutz was appointed the official Village Historian for Nyack in Spring of 2013. Frequently known just as “JP”, John Patrick Schutz is a native of the Nyack area (Blauvelt!) who returned to Nyack from Manhattan’s Theater District. He is a member of both the National Association of Realtors and the Actor’s Equity Union, and is devoted to both of his careers. The son of a librarian (stop in at Blauvelt Library and say “hello” to his Mom, Irene!) he has always had a fascination with History, especially that of his native Rockland County and beloved Nyack. He’s been the Baritone Soloist at St. Ann’s in Nyack for 30 years and has been a proud member of BH&G Rand Realty’s Nyack Team for over 13 years – their office is located in Couch Court, one of Nyack’s most historic properties!
At Home In Nyack 
I really like your blog and can’t wait for more posts 🙂
What a great blog J.P.! Informative, funny and worth the read!
Hello JP,
Love the site and the information you provide. We the Father/Son team that investigated the Old Palmer Burying Ground with astonishing results. Thank you for the mention in your article and the link for people to see.
Keep up the great work!
Regards
Mitch S.
Anytime Mitch! Glad you and your son approve! I was really pleased to find some folks doing some science-based research on some of our local hauntings – luck in the shadows to you!
Very nice blog J.P. Entertaining and useful…
Bravo
Great blog…
You should write more often.
Salute to you J.P., exactly what we desperately need- Creativity. In a community that pride itself on ‘creative people’ we sorely lack their product. J.M.
RickAccountant thinks this is a great website! Very interesting.
Can’t wait to hear u & B sing.
Thank you for your PSA regarding suicide. You are a true leader.
Do you have any information about the history of “The Mill at Nyack” which has now been redeveloped into an office space?
Great question, John. I do know that it was the Mill on the Nyack Brook which is now culverted and passes beneath much of the center of town – I’ll go look for more info!
I remember when the building was occupied by a plumbing supply company. I bought a sink and bathroom vanity there shortly after buying my house in Nyack in 1977. I even remember Leroy, the counterman there, always wearing a straw hat and with a cigar in his mouth. He was always helpful.
I tried finding info on line. So many other historic buildings are covered but I could not find any details about “the mill”.
just discovered your blog- it’s great! I am amazed at what you have found out about our town. would you be interested in doing a presentation for the Nyack Historical Society? Leontine Temsky
I would be happy to do so. I did a talk last summer at Blauvelt Library on 400 Years of History of Blauvelt and the Nyacks that was very well received.
Hi John,
I have just stumbled into/upon Nyack as part of my travels and research of the Hudson River area with my company Heritage Charts. I’ve arrived from the UK with a couple of maps under my arm from 1776, or there abouts, and have already had a great meeting with the staff of the Nyack Library and Historical Society. I am looking for any leads or references to the British in the area at the time and have already enjoyed John Patrick Schutz’s post ‘244 Years Ago Today – Nyack attacked by Redcoats!’ (October 16, 2010). I would be delighted to hear from anyone who has any other such information or stories.
If anyone wants to see what I do then check out my web-site http://www.heritagecharts.com. You’ll find never seen before historic British survey showing Nyack, the lower Hudson and military dispositions in 1776.
Andrew Adamson
Heritage Charts
The Nyack Library staff have my number.
The so called Mill on Mill St made pocketbooks they had two or three fires ther over the course of time . I think that a wood working co was on the first floor owned by a man named Bacon (ex mayor of Nyack)
Just signed up for your blog having just discovered it. You helped rent an apartment for me a couple fo years ago. Looking forward to your posts. Ken Potter
hi. i’m working on the 2017 centennial of the nystate suffrage win and was reading about caroline lexow, but i’m confused- you say she got a graduate degree from Barnard, but B was an undergraduate college. Can you direct me somewhere for sources on her? thanks Louise B
Hi, great blog. Thought you might be interested in Nyack Happenings, so here is one. http://nyack.patch.com/groups/events/p/playhouse-market-begins-healthy-workshop-series_bddaf3f1
JP- I love your blogs. The Historical Society of the Nyacks needs you! We present the Arm Chair Walking Tours, now in their 20th year, publish a Newsletter, run a house tour every two years, and set up exhibits of local history. Our next exhibit, opening March 14 is about Cynthia Hesdra and features some of the same information you wrote about her four years ago and a lot more. Please come to one of our open board meetings at 7:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month, usually at the South Nyack Village Hall, except March will be in the board room of the Nyack Library. Let’s join forces.
Win Perry
I grew up at Rockland Lake on Collyer Avenue & I was heartbroken to learn recently that the state intends to demolish my childhood home. I have no idea what benefit this would be to the state at all. Haven’t we already lost enough of Rockland Lakes history?
Thank you for writing about the Brinks Robbery and how it connects to recent events. It was thought provoking.
I’m amazed! Your first article re Rockland Lake was published in 2013 (I believe) and it’s still active. I love it. Thank you……
Wild, isn’t it Janet Kucera! Glad you like my blog!