History | Hickory Hill Coop

ORIGINS

In September 1950, 32 families purchased 32 acres of hills, woods, fields, and orchards on the site of the McGillicuddy Farm in historic Tappan, NY, and began construction of this cooperative community. Many, but not all of the families had lived a cooperative lifestyle in what had been army barracks in Camp Shanks, Orangetown, New York. They were WWII veterans, graduate students with young families...they had energy and idealism, but not much money...click through below slide show to learn more.

Hickory Hill Cooperative historical marker, erected in 2000 by the Historical Society of Rockland County.

They cleared the land for the house sites themselves, and for the road through the property, which was named Hickory Hill Road. To save money, each family contributed 1,000 hours of self-help labor, working on whichever home was under construction.

In 1981, anticipating their needs as their families grew, homeowners in Hickory Hill purchased an adjoining parcel of land. A 30-unit condominium development, including a community house, was constructed around a meadow, and its winding road was named Hickory Hill Lane.

Hickory Hill Cooperative historical marker, erected in 2000 by the Historical Society of Rockland County.

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EARLY DAYS

Each slide show below encapsulates the combination of careful planning, hard work and cooperation that combined to create our unique Hickory Hill Cooperative.

Click on images to enlarge.

HOME CONSTRUCTION

Clearing Hickory Hill land

Ken Nishi building bridge at 92 Hickory Hill, now located in Hickory Hill 2

Clearing Hickory Hill land

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FOUNDERS

Toan family, circa 1960

The Darling family, 15 Hickory Hill

The Anwar family

Toan family, circa 1960

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POOL & TENNIS COURT CONSTRUCTION

Tennis court clearing, April 20, 1957

Tennis court - clearing wall, April 20,1957

Kiddie pool, 1960

Tennis court clearing, April 20, 1957

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EVENTS

Party, June 1959

Hickory Hill 50th Anniversary Founders Day celebration

Party, June 1959

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

The following images include scans of the first Hickory Hill newsletter, appropriately entitled "The Hickory Hill Log," as well as newspaper articles written about our community. Click on each image to enlarge and read.

Hickory Hill Log, Vol. 1 Issue 1, September 6, 1950	Hickory Hill Log, Vol. 1 Issue 1, September 6, 1950, Page 2
Hickory Hill Log, Volume 1, Issue 5, October 12, 1950, page 1	Hickory Hill Log, Volume 1, Issue 5, October 12, 1950, page 2
Hickory Hill Log, Volume 1, Issue 6, October 17, 1950	Hickory Hill Log, Volume 1, Issue 7, November 30, 1950

"The Happy Families of Hickory Hill"

Betty Friedan, Redbook, 1956

"The Happy Families of Hickory Hill"

Betty Friedan, Redbook, 1956

"The Happy Families of Hickory Hill"

Betty Friedan, Redbook, 1956

"The Happy Families of Hickory Hill"

Betty Friedan, Redbook, 1956

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ORAL HISTORY

For our 60th anniversary, we decided to interview as many of the surviving founders of Hickory Hill as we could. We also interviewed those who were children here primarily in the 1950s-60s. For another perspective, we interviewed a few of our past presidents. The goal was to construct a more personal history about the Coop than is found in the numerous newspaper and magazine articles written over the years. Please click on the images below to hear stories from members past and present.

Danforth and Jane Toan_ 1 of 3	Danforth and Jane Toan_ 2 of 3
Danforth and Jane Toan_ 3 of 3	Ted DeBary
Eliot Tozer	Jackie Fuller
The McAvoys	Donna Tozer, Cathy Strakosch, Sarah Sloa
Bill Melone	Andy Hadley
Meryl Toan and Mike Seliger	Ed Seliger
Kate Chipman	Peter Horton and Muriel Fox