1953 Map of Averill Park

About this map

Averill Park and the neighboring hills of Sand Lake define this Rensselaer County landscape, where the foothills of the Taconic range met mid-century rural development. The terrain is characterized by a high density of water bodies, from Glass Lake and Crystal Lake in the south to the northern reaches of the Quacken Kill. This survey reveals a community in transition, balancing established settlements like Poestenkill and Eagle Mills with modern landmarks of the era. Cultural sites include the Pine Bowl Speedway, the Rensselaer Air Park, and a Drive-in Theater, alongside institutional fixtures like the Pawling Sanatorium. Genealogists will find numerous family-named landmarks and local burial grounds, including the Bonesteel Cem and Hillside Cem, while the rugged elevation of Snake Hill and Smauder Hill dominates the central topography.