1995 - Before the closure and demolition of GM's North Tarrytown Assembly
2020 - North Tarrytown Assembly Demolished, environmental remediation underway, to be re-developed
The North Tarrytown Assembly plant, located in what is now Sleepy Hollow, New York, was one of General Motors' most historic and longest-running facilities,operating for nearly a century from 1900 to 1996.
Early History & Maxwell-Briscoe (1900–1914)
The Walker Steamer: The facility opened in 1900 on the shores of the Hudson River to produce the "Mobile" steam carriage for the Mobile Company of America.
Transition to Gas: By 1903, steam power had lost its appeal, and the plant was leased to Maxwell-Briscoe. For a time, it was one of the largest and most advanced automobile factories in the world, designed by the famous architectural firm McKim, Mead & White.
The Chevrolet and GM Era (1914–1996)
Chevrolet Acquisition: Following Maxwell-Briscoe’s bankruptcy, the Chevrolet Motor Company acquired portions of the site in 1914 and 1915.
General Motors Merger: When Chevrolet merged with General Motors in 1918, the plant became the GM Assembly Division, Tarrytown. It would eventually become the largest GM assembly plant east of the Mississippi.
World War II: During the war, production shifted to military aircraft. As part of the Eastern Aircraft Division, the plant built wing assemblies and other components for the Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber, employing roughly 10,000 workers, including 2,900 women.
Post-War Prosperity: In 1963, the plant celebrated a major milestone by producing the 50 millionth Chevrolet, a gold-colored Impala SS. At its peak, the plant provided nearly 50% of the village's tax revenue.
Closure and Redevelopment
Plant Shut Down: The facility closed in June 1996. Its age was a primary factor; the multistory, land-constrained site could not be efficiently modernized for new production methods. The final vehicles produced were the "APV" minivans: the Chevrolet Lumina APV, Pontiac Trans Sport, and Oldsmobile Silhouette.
Demolition: The massive complex was demolished in 1999.
Edge-on-Hudson: Today, the 96-acre site is being transformed into a mixed-use development called Edge-on-Hudson, featuring residential units, retail space, and a waterfront park.
Helpful Hint: While I suggest you look on blog for a downloadable PDF Map, you should be able to print or save this map by clicking the print button on the map above.
Data Sources
Road Trip to Coal Country by Nate Matthews - You can download the KMZ File used in creation of this map.
NY Aerial (1995) - High-resolution aerial photography from National Agricultural Photograph Program taken between 1994 and 1998. These are false color images. NYSGIS. WMS Service: https://orthos.its.ny.gov/arcgis/services/wms/napp/MapServer/WMSServer, Layer: 0
NY Aerial (2020) - High-resolution aerial photography from NYSGIS, photos taken with leaves off in spring time between the years 2016-2020. NYSGIS. WMS Service: https://orthos.its.ny.gov/ArcGIS/services/wms/Latest/MapServer/WMSServer, Layer: 0,1,2,3
3DEP Elevation Hillshade. LIDAR and legacy USGS DRG Topo Derived hillshades used as a background. DEM - WMS Service: https://elevation.nationalmap.gov/arcgis/services/3DEPElevation/ImageServer/WMSServer, Layer: 3DEPElevation:Hillshade Gray
This 21.6-acre wetland in Delmar, located directly across Delaware Avenue from the Bethlehem Central High School sports field, was a gift from the Swift Group. The Preserve was created to protect the wetlands remaining after homes were constructed on neighboring parcels. It includes a 1-acre man-made wetland, built to help compensate for natural wetlands that were filled in. The Bethlehem Central High School Science Department used a grant administered by the Conservancy to integrate the wetland into the school's earth science and biology curriculums as an outdoor classroom. The Swift has several trails built by Chris Joyce as his Eagle Scout project for a local Boy Scout troop. Local volunteers, with funds donated by The Friendship Singers, built the kiosk at the Preserve's entrance.