History

Hilltop Hanover Farm was purchased by Westchester County in 2003 to preserve open space, protect the watershed and provide opportunities for the people of Westchester to become educated in sustainable agricultural and environmentally sensitive practices.
Currently, 180 acres is preserved. 50 acres of agricultural land on the west side and 130 acres of forest on the east side of Hanover Street in Yorktown Heights, NY.

The earliest inhabitants of the land were Native Americans whose foot trails are still used as roads today. The land was first developed as a farm by Abraham Underhill in the late 1780’s. It once totaled over 445 acres and was known for raising quality cattle and horses. The Underhill family called the Main House “Hillside Cottage” and they owned the property for over 125 years. In 1911, the farm was purchased by Philip Berolzheimer, President of the Eagle Pencil Company of NYC.  He named the farm Charhelen after two of his children, Charles and Helen.
In the 1940s, the farm was owned by Henry and Molly McMahon Christal. It was known as Hanover Hill Farm.  Prize winning Guernsey cows, Morgan horses and chickens were raised here. After 30 years, the dairy operations were shut down and the herd was sold.
Then in 1977, the farm was purchased by a group of investors form New York City for the purpose of raising high quality Holsteins.  The name was changed to Hilltop Hanover Farm. The original dairy barn was destroyed by fire in June of 1982; but the prized cows were saved by local firefighters. By 1991, the breeding program for Hilltop-Hanover Holsteins ceased and the entire herd, 123 head, was sold at auction.

Westchester County was able to secure the land through an initiative of County Executive Andy Spano to preserve open space and protect drinking water.