KENSICO VILLAGE ACTIVITY SHEET ANSWERS

 Kensico Village supported about 200 people.  When the village was chosen as the base for the Catskill water system for that “infernal New York” the villagers realized that their only church, school, stores, farms, and homes would be torn down and drowned.

What was Kensico like prior to the building of the dam?  

To answer questions 1-6 look at the pictures and map 1872 of Kensico in your packet. 

  1.  What was the most common form of transportation used?

Horses & horse-drawn carriages   

2. What other form of transportation is illustrated on the top of page 3?

Train

3. The photo entitled STATE ROAD, from the top of page 3, shows a modern convenience that is still used today.  Can you identify what it is? 

Telephone poles                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

4. What other structures besides houses do you see in these pictures?

Train station, post office, barn, Odell store

5. Look at the photo from page 1 entitled KENSICO, why do you think Kensico was considered the perfect location for the building of the dam?         

It was located in a valley north of New York City.                                                          

6.  Look at the 1872 map of the village.  Do you see any clues that would indicate Kensico was a working village?                                               

The map shows different places of business such a hotel, post office and stores.  There was a school and church for the local residents.  There were also many roads leading in and out of the village.                                              

7. Circle the following locations on the 1908 and 1911 maps.

1908 Map

          a.    Lake Kensico

b.    Carpenter family lots                                         

          c.   Public-School,  #7

d.   Bronx River

e.    Mile Square Road

             1911 Map- Sheet 37    

          a.   Old Kensico Dam                                               

          b.   Proposed site of the new Kensico dam.   Kensico Manor  

d.   Lake Kensico                                              

          e.   NYC & H.R. (New York Central & Harlem Rive Railroad)                                           

            1911 Map-Sheet 24

          a.   Construction Plant Catskill Aqueduct

b.    Construction Camp

c.   Mt. Pleasant Cemetery

d.   Station

e.    Chapel

8.  The building of the Kensico dam made many changes in the lives of the people in the area and also in the use of the land.  Do you have specific questions about such changes? Note them below: