Thiells, NY is a hamlet (community) within the town of Haverstraw. The Haverstraw area has a rich history in the American Revolution and before as it first appeared on maps in 1616. Thiells, NY, during the American Revolution, was referred to as Haverstraw Forge and it was here that the revolutionary General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, along with his 1300-plus army, was able to overlook Stony Point and ward off any British fortification or landing. Today, it is a thriving community with suburban real estate and an elaborate golf course along with some haunted tales.
Probably the oldest establishment in this community is the Thiells United Methodist Church. It was established over 226 years ago and is still active today. The church originally received its charter in 1784 from the City Road Chapel in London, England. It was originally a mission church with the intent to provide a place of worship for settlers and convert to Christianity the Native American Minneceongo people from the Mongo Tribe.
Thiells, NY is also the venue of the Philip J. Rotella Memorial Golf Course. It was named after the late Mr. Rotella who was a long time supervisor of the Town of Haverstraw. The course is set in a beautiful forest setting and measures some 6,500 yards. It is a par-72 course and offers facilities for practicing, golf club repair, and equipment shopping. Even if you are a beginner, you can enjoy this golf course because they offer golf camps, workshops, and private instruction.
Although it is not a place for visitors, some find the vacated Letchworth Village mental institution in Haverstraw a particularly interesting place. It was a massive structure built in 1911 in order to house and treat the mentally ill. It continued to operate until 1996 and the buildings are all interconnected by underground tunnels. Stories of patient abuse have come from this place and many ghost-seekers like to explore the abandoned buildings in search of the supernatural. Law enforcement officials advise against exploring these structures because of prior vandalism incidents.