Henry Hudson Park stretches on the shore of the great river in the Cedar Hill area of the town. Here is a place to fish, boat, picnic, walk or just enjoy the beautiful river view. A large granite boulder with a bronze plaque commemorates Henry Hudson's river journey in 1607. Another distinctive feature of the town park is a submerged barge near the dock, a symbol of the commercial traffic which moved along the waterway. Ice harvesting flourished here in the 19th Century. Crushed stone from Callanan quarry was shipped from the Schiffendecker Dock where the park now stands.

From the banks of the Hudson (Van Wies point, Winne dock and others) furs, farm produce, hay, lumber and moulding sand (used for molds) were shipped out and furniture, hardware, coal and other goods were shipped in. These goods varied, of course, over the years. In 1835 the Hudson Steamboat Company began serving passengers going to and from Albany.

People settled along its banks a very long time ago. Artifacts from excavations at the Goes farm show development as early as 6500 B. C. by native inhabitants.

Source of photo: Archives of the Bethlehem Town Clerk.