Purchase, New York

History

In 1967, 200 residents stated support for a plan to incorporate Purchase so corporations could not build in the community. In response, officials from the Town of Harrison put forward plans to try to become a city in an attempt to stop Purchase from seceding from the Town of Harrison.

There are many historic sites located in Purchase. The grave of Revolutionary War General Thomas Thomas is located on the grounds of SUNY Purchase. The grounds that SUNY Purchase now occupies was once Strathglass Farms, a dairy farm. The Quaker Friends Meeting house was founded in the 18th century. The original building fell victim to fire years ago and the present one is an accurate reconstruction. Before the headquarters of Pepsi was built, the Blind Brook Polo Club was located on that site. Amelia Earhart would fly her plane from the polo grounds. Many colonial era homes and unspoiled natural woodlands have decreased in the last 30 years due to residential development. The Old Oaks Country Club, originally named 'Hill Crest', is a splendid mansion house built in the late 1880s by millionaire Trenor Luther Park and his wife Julia Catlin Park. Trenor Luther was a Harvard Graduate, who studied law, and a silk merchant. His father, Trenor William Park, funded the Panama Railway, ran for Vice President of the United States in 1864 and was involved with the California Gold Mines. Purchase is also known for being one of the richest areas in the country.

The Reid Hall, Manhattanville College was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Economy and business

MasterCard's headquarters, MasterCard International Global Headquarters; PepsiCo; Atlas Air and its subsidiary Polar Air Cargo; and Central National-Gottesman are headquartered in Purchase. Pernod Ricard has offices in Purchase.

Previously Lenovo had its U.S. headquarters in Purchase. In 2006 the company announced it was moving to Morrisville, North Carolina.

The average household income in Purchase, NY is estimated to be approximately $352,000, which, according to Time Magazine, is the highest among all cities and towns in the United States.

Public schools

Purchase School is the local K–5 elementary school, which is part of the Harrison Central School District. Harrison High School is the local high school, which offers the IB Diploma Programme, and which is the only high school operated by the Harrison Central School District. Harrison High School also serves the entire area of the Town of Harrison, including the Village of Harrison, which is economically diverse. In 2010, Superintendent of the Harrison Central School District, Louis N. Wool was named Superintendent of the Year in New York State.

Private schools

Keio Academy of New York, a Japanese international boarding school, is in Purchase.

Colleges and universities

Purchase is home to the State University of New York at Purchase and Manhattanville College, as well as the Westchester Campus of Fordham University, a private liberal arts college. Keio University also operates a high school named Keio Academy of New York.

Media and culture

Purchase is known for the Purchase Community House (PCH), home of the Purchase Day Camp (PDC). It also runs after-school activities during the rest of the year. On the PCH property, there are four pools and numerous playing fields.

The Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens at the PepsiCo headquarters and the Neuberger Museum of Art at Purchase College are two significant art collections found in the community.

During the 1980s, the city hosted the festival Pepsico Summerfare, known for their opera productions which included Benjamin Britten's Noye's Fludde (1981–4), David Eaton's The Cry of Clytaemnestra (1982), and Peter Sellars's Little Mahagonny/Cantata 60: Conversations with Fear and Hope After Death (1985), Peter Sellars's productions of Mozart's Così fan tutte (1986), Don Giovanni (1987) and Le nozze di Figaro (1988). Now, SUNY produces two operas each year.

Notable residents