Welcome to Chester

Photographed By Clifton Patrick, April 2, 2010

1. Welcome to Chester Marker

Inscription. Home of Neufchatel Cheese
Birthplace of Hambletonian
progenitor of trotters

Erected 1997 by Town of Chester Historian.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Notable Places • Sports.

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

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this location, 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

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such markers mounted at the Town of Chester boundary along the principal roadways entering Chester.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Other Welcome to Chester markers in the database.

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 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

Welcome to Chester Marker and surrounding view. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Clifton Patrick, April 2, 2010

2. Welcome to Chester Marker and surrounding view.

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 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.)

The Grave of the Great Progenitor in Chester image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Clifton Patrick, March 30, 2024

3. The Grave of the Great Progenitor in Chester

The monument is inscribed, “Hambletonian. The Great Progenitor of Trotters. Born May 5, 1849; Died March 27, 1876.”

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

Photographed By Clifton Patrick, March 18, 2024

4. Fallen Welcome to Chester Marker

This markered has been removed to the Town of Chester facilities for repair or replacement.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 3, 2010, by Clifton Patrick of Chester, NY, United States. This page has been viewed 916 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 3, 2010, by Clifton Patrick of Chester, NY, United States. 3. submitted on March 31, 2024, 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.