11 January 2017
The 1906 Haverstraw landslide
Posted by Dave Petley
The 1906 Haverstraw landslide
This week marked the 111th anniversary of the disastrous Haverstraw landslide in Rockland County, New York, which killed 19 people. The disaster was caused by the folly of humans, chasing wealth to be made from the excavation of glacial blue clay, ideal for brick making. At the height of the industry there were an estimated 3,000 labourers making 350 million bricks per year in Haverstraw. Over time the quarries opened to exploit the clay moved closer to the town, and excavation was also undertaken in tunnels that ran beneath the settlement. There is some evidence that local people were raising concerns about the potential for landslides, but of course these were dismissed.
On 8th January 1906 an existing large crack, which had appeared a couple of years earlier, on Rockland Street started to widen. Some concern was raised, and it does appear that many people left their homes, but others reportedly stoked their coal fires and retired to bed.
The first landslide occurred at 11 pm, when of course it would have been dark and many would have been asleep. The landslide damaged a number of houses, but also started fires as stoves and lamps were upset. This was followed by a second landslide at 11:20 pm, and a final one at 11:31 pm. Several fires developed, but it proved difficult to fight them due to the cold temperatures and the loss of pressure in the pipes as they ruptured in the landslide. As noted above, 19 people lost their lives. Three of the bodies were not recovered.
In total about six blocks of the town, including 21 buildings, were lost. There are some amazing photographs of the aftermath of the disaster. The Rockland Times has a nice article that includes some of them, including this one:
The aftermath of the 1906 Haverstraw landslide, via the Rockland Times
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This postcard from the time provides a remarkable overview of the damage across the town:
A postcard providing a view of Landslide Haverstraw, NY
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Today the town has of course been rebuilt, but the Google Earth image shows the extraordinary landslide scar:
Google Earth image showing the scar of the 1906 Haverstraw landslide
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Haverstraw Library has a nice web page of resources providing reports and detail about the Haverstraw landslide, whilst Brick Collecting has a good newspaper article about the event.
Dave Petley is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hull in the United Kingdom. His blog provides commentary and analysis of landslide events occurring worldwide, including the landslides themselves, latest research, and conferences and meetings.
Hi! My maternal grandfather, Morris Kuritzky or Kuritsky, and his siblings lived in Haverstraw around that time. Morris, and his two brothers, Hymie and Selig were all tailors, and had a tailor shop in Haverstraw. They made clothing for the construction workers there. I don’t know the details about their tailor shop, or the exact years of its existence; but I am very interested in gathering as much information about it as I can. Through 23andme, I have made some connections with the Kuritsky side of my family. I learned they were from Breslov, Ukraine and came to the US.. NYC, in 1904 and 1908. Their father, Narsch, arrived later, I was told. It would be awesome to fill in the missing pieces of the family, know more about the Haverstraw tailor shop, and anything else that is relevant!!!
Hi! I just learned by way of my 23andme conversations with relatives, that my maternal grandfather, Morris Kuritsky (Kuritzky), and his brothers, Hymie and Selig, lived in Haverstraw and they had a tailor shop there. I don’t know the exact years when their shop was in operation.
They arrived in NY from Breslov, Ukraine separately.. in 1904 and in 1908. Their father was Narsch Kuritsky. It would be great to know more about this Haverstraw tailor shop, and any other relevant information!!!
Having grown up in Haverstraw and fished and crabed in the bowline I’ve just read that two of the victims were Named Coyne. my father and grandfather were from Haverstraw but both are deceased I would like to know if they were related in any way
I am looking at this post looking at a photo that has been in my family for years. The two victims named Coyne are distant relatives of mine. Great great grandparents I believe.
My grandfather was Michael Coyne. His parents were lost in the landslide. I have some family history if you would like to learn more about how he and his other orphan siblings Fred after their parents were lost in the landslide.