Sloatsburg’s old main drag — along Rt. 17 in 1929. 2014 marks the village’s 85th year as an official village in the Town of Ramapo.

Back 85 years ago yesterday, October 2, 1929, Sloatsburg residents voted to become the 4th village in the Town of Ramapo. At that time, Sloatsburg’s population was approximately 1600 total residents, said Sloatsburg Mayor Carl Wright.

154 people voted as the incorporation measure was approved 134 to 13. Five days later the village received its official certificate of incorporation.

Sloatsburg Mayor Carl Wright, former Village Historian and 50 year member of the Sloatsburg Fire Department.

The village will hold its 85th birthday celebration at the Sloatsburg Public Library on Saturday, October 4, in the Community Room, beginning at 1 p.m. During the ceremony the village will also honor three local men of the cloth: Pastor Gross, WM.C., Father Monaghan, R.C. and Father Harry Reis, Episcopal.

The village also joined with St. Joan of Arc Church in late May for an explosive and colorful fireworks display that closed the annual St. Joan of Arc Carnival and marked the birthdays of both the village and church.

Guest speaker will be Sloatsburg Mayor Carl Wright, who himself was recently celebrated for 50 years service to the Sloatsburg Volunteer Fire Department, which in 2014 itself marked 90 years of service to the surrounding community.

Sloatsburg Fire Department ice sculpture honoring Mayor Carl’s Wright half century of service with the department.

During September’s final Village Board meeting, Sloatsburg Trustee Peter Akey congratulated Mayor Carl Wright service to the fire department. Akey had announced that the SFD would honor the mayor the last Saturday of September during a special get together.

Mayor Wright then thanked Trustee Akey for the honor, chuckled and said, “Well, it’s taken me 50 years to construct my remarks.”

Rockland County Executive Ed Day and retired Rockland County Sheriff Ed Kralik attended the event.

The Village of Sloatsburg will hold a special celebration marking the 85 years as a village in the Town of Ramapo on Saturday, October 4, at 1 p.m. at the Sloatsburg Public Library. The public is invited and welcome.