Around Highland, Postcard History Series

The history of Highland began on the shores of the Hudson River in 1754, when entrepreneur Anthony Yelverton started a sawmill, later followed by a brickyard, store, and ferry service to Poughkeepsie. During the 19th century, steamboats made regular stops near Yelverton�s settlement. Starting around 1830, riverfront businesses began to relocate to the �high land� above the river, and a new Highland business district was born. The West Shore Railroad was completed in 1883, with a station at the riverfront. The area was called Highland Landing. The Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge, now the Walkway Over the Hudson, was completed in 1888, and in 1897, a trolley line began operation from Highland Landing up to the Highland village and, from there, westward. Highland had a new claim to fame as the �Gateway to Ulster County.�