The North County Trailway - Now our Bicycle Trail

The North County Trailway on the right-of-way of the former Putnam Division of the New York Central Railroad. The "OLD PUT" provided service from 1881 to 1958 between the Bronx in New York City and Brewster in Putnam County. In the Town of Somers, the railroad traversed the western part of the town through Amawalk, Granite Springs and Baldwin Place, just over the Putnam County line.

The Granite Springs Old Put depot brought new life to a Hamlet, originally known as West Somers that had been in existence since the Revolutionary War. A hotel and two stores were build next to the depot. The post office was moved from its original location a mile east to take advantage of the improved mail service the railroad ushered in. The Hamlet had its own district school (the schoolhouse is now a private residence)for the education of its elementary school students. The older students commuted to Yorktown on the Old Put. In 1904 the Episcopal Church was erected on land opposite the depot. The Church of the Good Shepherd is still an active congregation woprshipping in its second building located on Granite Springs Road, about a quarter mile south of the former church.

This excerpt is taken from the North County Trail sign that is at it's Mahopac Avenue intersection near the post office.