Quiz: How Well Do You Actually Know Croton-on-Hudson?

Photo by Adobe Stock | Byelikova Oksana

The little Rivertown village is big on character, so test your local knowledge with this eight-question quiz on the hotspot’s history.

While elements of Croton-on-Hudson’s past are hard for current Westchester residents to ignore, some lesser-known historical nuggets hide behind the more visible landmarks and institutions you may pass daily. This quiz will (hopefully) challenge you to consider how well you really know Croton.

1. Croton, previously the towns of Mount Airy and Harmon, attracted members of what minor political party early in the 20th century?

1. A. American Communist Party
2. B. Socialist Party of America
3. C. National Women’s Party
4. D. Farmer-Labor Party

2. In addition to the 17th-century Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton, the Van Cortlandt family had an additional, little-known property that is currently home to what institution?

1. A. The Village Justice Court
2. B. Grand Street Firehouse
3. C. Cortlandt Healthcare
4. D. This is a trick question; there was no other property.

3. What industry tycoon restored Van Cortlandt Manor after purchasing it in 1953?

1. A. Henry J. Kaiser
2. B. Jay Gould
3. C. H.L. Hunt
4. D. John D. Rockefeller Jr.

4. Which U.S. president failed to respond to several invitations to be an honored guest at the Croton Water Celebration?

1. A. John Quincy Adams
2. B. James Monroe
3. C. Herbert Hoover
4. D. Ronald Reagan

5. Westchester is not the only place that receives water from the New Croton Dam, Old Croton Dam, or Croton Aqueduct. What NYS city also gets water from Croton?

1. A. Syracuse
2. B. Albany
3. C. New York City
4. D. Poughkeepsie

6. What is the New Croton Dam’s less commonly used alias, originating from the dam’s location on a farm of the same name?

1. A. Princeton Dam
2. B. Cornell Dam
3. C. Dartmouth Dam
4. D. Yale Dam

7. In 1924, the Westchester Park Commission bought 500 acres at Croton Point, now Croton Point Park. What were 70 of those acres designated for?

1. A. A landfill
2. B. A sandpit
3. C. A hunting ground
4. D. A bathhouse

8. Croton was home to Westchester’s first drive-in movie theater. What was its name?

1. A. The Harmon
2. B. The Algonquian
3. C. Mel’s
4. D. Starlight

1. A 2. C 3. D 4. A 5. C 6. B 7. A 8. D

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