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Palisades in Rockland County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
 

Skunk Hollow

 
 
Skunk Hollow Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, June 28, 2008
1. Skunk Hollow Marker
Inscription.
Skunk Hollow or, “the mountain,” was a free black community from 1806-1905. The first known deed dated 1806 belonged to Jack Earnest from Palisades.

In 1841, William Thompson, an African Methodist Episcopal itinerant preacher bought Jack’s house, built a church on his land, and became resident preacher.

Over one hundred families lived in Skunk Hollow including Brown, Oliver, Sisco, Thompson, Williams and others.
 
Erected by African-American Historical Society of Rockland County.
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: African Americans. In addition, it is included in the New York, Historical Society of Rockland County series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1806.
 
Location. 41° 0.09′ N, 73° 54.699′ W. Marker is in Palisades, New York, in Rockland County. It is on U.S. 9W, on the right when traveling north. Marker is on Route 9W just north of the New Jersey border. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Palisades NY 10964, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Hudson Valley and in the New York City Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. 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 least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Palisades Historic District (approx. 0.6 miles away); Joseph Dubois House (approx. Ύ mile away in New Jersey); Rockleigh (approx. Ύ mile away in New Jersey);
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Jacob Concklin House (approx. 0.8 miles away in New Jersey); a different marker also named Palisades Historic District (approx. 0.8 miles away); Rockleigh Road (approx. one mile away in New Jersey); Abraham A. Haring House (approx. one mile away in New Jersey); Piermont Road (approx. 1.1 miles away in New Jersey). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Palisades.
 
Also see . . .  Skunk Hollow: History of a 19th Century Community of Free African-Americans. The Palisades Newsletter. (Submitted on June 29, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.) 
 
Uncle Billy Thompson image. Click for full size.
via Palisades Free Library., unknown
2. Uncle Billy Thompson
Historic photograph of Uncle Billy (William) Thompson, an African Methodist Episcopal minister in Skunk Hollow.
Marker on Route 9W image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, June 28, 2008
3. Marker on Route 9W
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on August 10, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 7,125 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos:   1. submitted on June 29, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.   2. submitted on August 10, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.   3. submitted on June 29, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
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Jun. 12, 2026