Larchmont NY

Larchmont, NY at a Glance

Slipping his vessel through a narrow tidal straight called Hell Gate on the East River in 1614, Dutch Captain Adrien Block glimpsed fires glowing along the shores of Long Island Sound. His report suggests he was the first European to lay eyes upon the Village Larchmont.

Doubtless, these campfires were the work of the Siwanoy Indians, members of the Algonquin tribe who were Larchmont's earliest settlers. Prior to the 18th Century, the natives lived off the land, culling a diet from the rich marshlands, and hunting bear, deer and other animals.

Larchmont, NY at a Glance

Purchase of the territory by British and Dutch settlers and the arrival of Quaker refugees from New England quickly decimated the Siwanoy, of whom only a few remained by 1720. A product of the rapidly modernizing nation, wealthy New York elites soon poured in to build their luxurious summer estates, and evidence of the area's past as a pleasure-ground for vacationers can still be seen in the so-called Victorian Cottages standing in Larchmont Manor.

Among these is the historic Manor House that was built by Peter Jay Munro, nephew to the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Jay Munro. To block out the dust and commotion of the abutting Boston Post Road, Munro's gardener imported a species of Scottish Larch with which to form a barricade. The tree later became the Village namesake.

Larchmont became a municipality in 1891, when its occasional summer residents incorporated. Today the village measures one square mile within the larger Town of Mamaroneck.

Many illustrious television and movie stars have lived in Larchmont, including Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and Joan Rivers. Other notables include Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Edward Albee and journalist Walter Kerr, as well as baseball player Lou Gehrig, who once lived in the Chatsworth Avenue apartments.

The small-town feel of Larchmont is prized by its close-knit community of less than 7,000 residents. Save the date for community events like the Fall Larchmont Art Show, an outdoor exhibition of local work, and the 4th of July Races at Flint Park. In summer (usually July) weekly entertainment is to be had at Flint Park, which hosts the Thursday Night Outdoor Summer Concert Series.

The "Tour de Larchmont" is one of the most anticipated yearly events. It begins with bicycle decorating in the park, followed by a relaxed, 4-mile afternoon ride through the Manor.

Several Larchmont community groups are active in providing aid and assistance to neighbors in need. The Larchmont-based Junior League of Westchester is committed not only to encouraging women to become strong leaders but to promoting volunteerism as a whole. The food pantry coalition called Larchmont-Mamaroneck Hunger Task Force is another charitable group that focuses on providing groceries to local families.

An important role in conservation and sustainability is filled by Larchmont's Sheldrake Environmental Center, located at the Larchmont Reservoir. It serves by educating the community through various programs to instill appreciation for the ecological systems within which we live. You can find out more about nearby opportunities to serve in the Larchmont Volunteer Guide.