Chester in Orange County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Welcome to Chester

Photographed by Clifton Patrick, August 27, 2024

1. Welcome to Chester Marker

Inscription.
Birthplace of Hambletonian
Progenitor of Trotters
Yelverton Inn 1765
Erie RR Station 1841
Home of Neufchatel Cheese

Erected 1997 by Town of Chester Historian.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1765.

Location. 41° 22.607′ N, 74° 15.014′ W. Marker is in Chester, New York, in Orange County. It is on New York State Route 94 1.2 miles Craigville Road (County Route 51), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3406 New York 94, Chester NY 10918, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York

and in the Hudson Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At

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least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Pine Hill Farm (approx. 0.3 miles away); Site of Cromline House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Greycourt - Orange Co., N.Y. (approx. 1.1 miles away); Chester, New York (approx. 1.4 miles away); 1915 Chester Depot (approx. 1.4 miles away); Hambletonian (approx. 1.6 miles away); Hambletonian Monument (approx. 1.6 miles away); Wawayanda Patent (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chester.

Regarding Welcome to Chester. This is one of five similar markers originally planned for the Town of Chester boundary along the principal roadways entering Chester. See the list and map of all markers in Chester.

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia entry for Neufchâtel cheese. “In 1872, William Lawrence, a New York dairyman of the township of Chester, created the first American cream cheese as the result of adding cream to the recipe for Neufchâtel. This American Neufchâtel is softer than regular cream cheese due to its approximately 33% lower fat and higher moisture content. Due to this reduced fat content, it is found in most

Original Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Clifton Patrick, April 2, 2010

2. Original Marker

grocery stores as a reduced-fat option to cream cheese. In the United States, this Neufchâtel is sometimes called farmers’ cheese” (Submitted on March 26, 2017.)

2. Entry for Hambeltonian in the Harness Racing Museum Hall of Fame. “Foaled in 1849 by Abdallah 1 out of the Charles Kent Mare, Hambletonian was purchased with his dam from breeder Jonas Seeley for $125 by William Rysdyk, a Chester, New York farmer. In late October 1852, as a two-year-old, Hambletonian was matched in a trial with Abdallah Chief. Hambletonian won in 3:03. A day or two later he trialed in 2:48 (2:48 and ½ on some watches, so Rysdyk always gave the time as 2:48½). Rysdyk only trialed his colt this one time, then placed him in stud in Chester and bred him to local mares. An increasing production of speedy offspring soon made Hambletonian the top sire of what was to become known as the Standardbred horse. In twenty-four seasons, he sired over 1,300 foals, many of them champions and including foundation sires Dictator, Happy Medium, George Wilkes and Electioneer. Hambletonian lives today in just about every trotter and pacer racing, which is why

Photographed by Clifton Patrick, April 2, 2010

3. Welcome to Chester Marker

he is known as the "daddy of 'em all." His stud fees earned Rysdyk in excess of $200,000. The great progenitor Hambletonian died on Monday, March 27, 1876 in Chester, New York, where a tall monument marks his grave.” (Submitted on March 26, 2017.)

Fallen Welcome to Chester Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Clifton Patrick, March 18, 2024

4. Fallen Welcome to Chester Marker

This marker was removed for repair or replacement.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 3, 2010, by Clifton Patrick of Chester, NY, United States. This page has been viewed 1,434 times since then and 154 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 3, 2024, by Clifton Patrick of Chester, NY, United States. 2, 3. submitted on April 3, 2010, by Clifton Patrick of Chester, NY, United States. 4. submitted on March 28, 2024, by Clifton Patrick of Chester, NY, United States. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.