Incorporated Spring Valley

-July 9, 1902-

Village of Spring Valley

Incorporated—July 9, 1902

August 1893, a movement began to have the Village of Spring Valley incorporated, which was the best solution for providing urgently needed improvements.  Incorporation meant government of the Village by its residents, and not by the Town of Ramapo. 

In Odd Fellows' Hall on October 9, 1894 a meeting was held   to discuss incorporation further.  A committee was appointed to employ a surveyor who would lay out the boundaries of the proposed area to be incorporated.  After research had been completed and the committee gave its reports, the citizens rejected it and the committee was discharged. 

The question of incorporation was again brought before the taxpayers in March of 1895.  Then on July 24, 1895 a special election was held and the proposition was downed again by a vote of 116 to 71.  Six years later, on April 16, 1901 another vote failed with 63 for incorporation and 92 against

April 8, 1902 at a meeting of the taxpayers it became clear that if Spring Valley was to have the it was unanimously voted to take the necessary steps to bring about the incorporation of the village. 

Spring Valley was incorporated on July 9, 1902. The territory incorporated did not exceed one square mile. Its population was 1,555. 

The first election was held on August 8,1902. Peter Van Orden was elected the first President, and Edward Turnure and Jacob Abrams were the first trustees. Augustus Van Zant was elected first treasurer. Jefferson Youmans elected as collector. When the village board was organized, Albert Goodhardt was appointed clerk and George Underhill as street commissioner. Wallace Van Houten was the first police officer.

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