History of Port Chester
Wandering tribes of Mohegan Indians were the earliest inhabitants of the area known today as Rye Town and the Village of Port Chester. The first white settlers were a group of enterprising young men and women who came from the English colony of Connecticut in 1660. After land purchases from the Indians, negotiated mostly by Peter Disbrow, they settled on the island of "Manussing," for which they had paid "eight cotes and seven shirts fifteen fathom of womone." Although the land was part of the territory claimed by the Dutch, the defiant colonists drew up a proclamation in 1662 declaring allegiance to Charles of England. Through further treaties with the Indians, their combined holdings soon comprised all of what is now the City of Rye, Town of Rye, Harrison, White Plains and parts of Greenwich, North Castle and Mamaroneck. In 1665 the General Court of Connecticut merged the settlement under the name of Rye, in honor of a prominent family among the early colonists who has come from Rye, England.

Port Chester
"Port Chester, first known as Saw Log Swamp and later as Saw Pit, was settled about 1650. Port Chester, post village, is on the New York and Connecticut turnpike, and west side of Byram River, which is here the boundary line of Connecticut and New York; it is pleasantly situated, and contains 3 churches, and about 100 dwellings. This place possesses a convenient landing for steamboats and sloops."

Excerpts from "New York, A Guide to the Empire State" , Compiled by workers of the Writer's Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of New York, 1940 Albany

"Port Chester, 0.3 m. (34 alt.,23,074 pop.), . . . Its factories produce candy, ammonia, nuts and bolts, furnaces, coal and gas ranges, soft drinks, and cartons.

"The BUSH Homestead (open 9-4:30 Tues., Thurs., Sat.), Lyon Park overlooking King St., is a well-preserved Georgian Colonial house built shortly before the Revolution by Abraham Bush, a sea captain; it was the headquarters of General Israel Putnam, 1777-8. The original furniture has been preserved, including the bed and desk used by 'Old Put.'.

"The Samuel Brown Home, Browndale Place, built in 1774 on the site of an earlier homestead, has been altered several times, notably by the addition of a wing. The interior walls, doors, and floors are unchanged.

"The Brown Graveyard, at the rear of a vacant lot on Indian Road, a huddle of fallen tombstones among brambles, was the private burial ground of the Brown family from 1660 to 1900."

About Port Chester
Learn about attractions, things to do and places to see around the village of Port Chester, If you're looking for something to do this weekend, take the children to one of several parks in Port Chester. Port Chester parks offer many activities for children as well as adults. Kids can play at the playground; and on a hot summer day the kids will love the Water Spray Playground at Columbus Park. Columbus Park is 9.4-acres and is located east of Ryan Avenue, West of I-95 and North of Fox Island. Activities for kids includes a basketball court, two volleyball courts, and for younger children a large and a small play structure with small rock climbing wall. Columbus Park also offers a Water Spray Playground, open in the summer from 11 am to 7 pm.

If you enjoy antiquing, visit antique stores in and around Port Chester. If you're looking for a good movie in Port Chester, enjoy a night out at the movies; when its time to eat, select from one of the many excellent Port Chester Restaurants.