Greenwich, NY

In the year of Washington County's bicentennial, Greenwich is somewhat of a shopping center for southern Washington County, northern Rensselaer County, eastern Saratoga County and adjacent parts of Vermont. Besides the traditional business zone along Main Street from Bridge Street to Church Street, the development of Greenwich Plaza on West Main Street and the location of several businesses at the junction of New York Routes 29 and 40 in Middle Falls has added significantly to the local economy. Greenwich Plaza has 13 stores, with K-Mart and Grand Union Grocery being the anchor retailers.

Many other retail establishments are scattered throughout the town including six real estate brokers, nine restaurants, four agricultural supply stores, four banks, three car dealers, two pharmacies, six grocers and 11 auto maintenance shops-just to name a few. Professional services also are well represented in Greenwich with several doctors, attorneys, dentists, optometrists and veterinarians practicing in the community. Notably, Wallie's Restaurant, John Whiteside and Son and Barber Ken Moon have entered their second half-century in business in Greenwich.

The major industrial firms in the town are the newly-formed Battenkill Railroad, the S & T Paper Mill in Middle Falls and Hollingsworth and Vose Paper Mills in Center Falls and Clarks Mills.

Educationally, the Greenwich Central School District has three buildings and a bus garage. A senior high school, middle school and elementary school have a total student enrollment (K-12) of almost 1,200. Additionally, two area nursery schools take care of around 100 pre-schoolers.

There are several fraternal and public service organizations that are active in Greenwich. They include: Greenwich Historical Assn., Greenwich Fire Department, Cossayuna Volunteer Fire Company, Middle Falls Volunteer Hose Company, Ashlar Lodge #584 Free and Accepted Masons, Ashiar Chapter 147 Order of the Eastern Star, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge #2223 and auxiliary, Lion's, Horace J. Taber Chapter Order of DeMolay and

Washington Constellation Junior Stars. Additionally, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, cub Scouts, Brownie Scouts and 4-H all have strong programs for area youth.

Six Christian denominations are found in the village of Greenwich. The churches are: Bottskill Baptist, Centenary Methodist, Christian Science, St. Paul's Episcopal, St. Joseph's Roman Catholic and United Church which is Presbyterian.

There has been a library in the town since 1805, and in 1974 the Greenwich Free Library Association built a larger, modern building to provide for its expanded services to area citizens. Also operating for a long time in the area is Washington County's largest weekly newspaper, The Greenwich Journal and Salem Press. In its 142nd year of publication, the paper was originally known as the People's Journal.

Recreation has changed somewhat through the years, but the Battenkill River still provides swimming at the town-owned beach. Skaters use the area in winter, and sledding, skiing and

snowmobiling is popular on the area's many open fields in the winter. Tennis courts, bowling lanes and a country club also provide plenty of entertainment alternatives to area residents. In

1980, the town of Greenwich had a population of 4,272 with the village of Greenwich having a population of almost 2,000 in the same year. Careful plans are currently being made for the expansion and further development of the Greenwich area. Steady growth should continue for quite a while as Greenwich draws upon its natural resources and concerned citizens to lead the way.

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