Singsing Town of Ossining, Westchester Co. N.Y.

A town once known for more than its notorious prison.

The Sing Sing Correctional Facility, named after the local Sintsink tribe, was first constructed by New York state authorities on the banks of the Hudson River in 1825. Completed three years later, the complex was known for harsh discipline and a strict code of silence among the inmates.

The grounds expanded steadily in the following decades and can be seen in the lower left on this 1867 map covering the nearby village of Ossining. Storehouses, workshops, and foundries are among the several labeled buildings. Across the tracks, the small town is neatly outlined, with notable structures and property owners named throughout the image. A business directory in the lower right lists numerous local establishments such as tailors, banks, carriage manufacturers, tobacconists, and saloons.

The map was originally designed by Frederick W. Beers and published by Beers, Ellis, & Soule in 1876 as part of the Atlas of New York and Vicinity.