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A vintage postcard depicts the Millerton train station when it was an active stop along the Harlem Railroad line.
Photo Courtesy North East Historical Society
The celebration is being built as a true community effort, with local organizations, businesses, historians and residents shaping the program. The goal, organizers say, is to create something that feels both nostalgic and exciting for people of all ages. Committee Chair Lisa Hermann said it will be a mix of retro fun, hometown pride and forward momentum.
Attendees can expect pop-up events across Main Street, historic exhibits and photo displays, local business collaborations, food and street celebrations, and more throughout the week.
The grand finale will be a multi-day fair in Eddie Collins Memorial Park with rides, games, live entertainment, an old-school carnival and a drone show that will light up the night sky with images of a train to wow spectators.
“We considered fireworks but opted for something more modern that would combine elements of the past and future,” Hermann said. “Plus, a lot of us on the committee have dogs,” she laughed, acknowledging that furry friends aren’t always fans of the popping sounds of fireworks.
Officials say the celebration is designed to feel like a living snapshot of Millerton with the past, present and future unfolding across the village throughout the week.
A full schedule of events can be found at villageofmillerton-ny.gov/175th.
Celebrating Millerton’s founding days
Sidney MillerPhoto Courtesy Village of Millerton
This year’s celebration marks 175 years since Millerton’s founding in 1851, when civil engineer Sidney Miller brought the New York and Harlem Railroad through what was then farmland in the Town of North East — itself established in 1788. Almost overnight, a village formed around the railroad tracks. In tribute to the engineer whose work sparked its creation, the new settlement was named Millerton.
The railroad transformed the area from a quiet, agricultural landscape into a bustling commercial hub. Soon after, additional rail lines connected Millerton to Boston, Poughkeepsie and the Hudson River, positioning the village as a key shipping point for milk, crops, goods and travelers moving between rural communities and major cities.
With the trains came hotels, stores and workers. Early visitors arrived seeking fresh country air, while farmers shipped milk and crops to growing urban centers. In a New York Times article published in 2011, longtime resident Phil Terni – whose grandparents founded Terni’s General Store in 1919 – described the early days as “an agricultural crossroads with three hotels served by three railroads.”
Industry also helped shape the young village. In nearby Irondale, established in 1854, the Millerton Iron Company produced cast iron railcar wheels and employed more than 100 workers at its peak, underscoring how rail and iron together fueled Millerton’s early growth.
Though Millerton traces its founding to 1851 with the arrival of the railroad, the village was formally incorporated in 1875 – securing its status as an independent municipality.
Behind the logo – inspired by the history of the railroad
The Millerton 175th Anniversary Committee’s logo.Illustration Courtesy Village of Millerton
When the Millerton 175th Anniversary Committee set out to design a logo for the milestone celebration, it wanted an image that reflected how the village began – not just a graphic, but a symbol of how Millerton came to be.
Committee member Eric Rewilak spearheaded the design process, grounding the logo in the village’s history as a railroad town.
“We wanted the logo to represent the foundation of the Village of Millerton,” Rewilak said.
In Millerton’s early years, three intersecting train lines transformed the rural hamlet into a regional commercial and agricultural hub, connecting local farms and businesses to the Northeast.
“Although the train is no longer in operation, we felt it was important to recognize what put Millerton on the map when the community formed in 1851,” Rewilak said.
Committee Chair Lisa Hermann said the train motif reflects both movement and connection – a nod to the village’s past and a symbol of how the community continues to come together 175 years later.
Follow along and get involved
The Millerton 175th Anniversary Committee is encouraging residents and visitors to follow along as plans continue to take shape and new events are added to the calendar. Social media and the village website will serve as the main hub for announcements, schedules, volunteer opportunities, contests and a behind-the-scenes look at what’s coming.
Follow the 175th Anniversary Committee:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=6157594923...
Instagram: @millertons175th
Community members who want to get involved are invited to reach out to the committee at 175th@villageofmillerton-ny.gov.
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