Community Corner

Come Aboard the Peekskill Trolley Tour

City resident Leslie Masson has begun giving tours of the historic community in her very own trolley, which she calls 'Stella'

Whether you have lived in Peekskill all your life or have recently moved to the area, Leslie Masson will enlighten you with her array of knowledge of the past and present-day facts about the community that was established as a trading post by Jan Peeck (Peek, Peck) in the 1650s.

Commandeering a and bringing it to the Hudson Valley, Masson’s tour trolley, named "Stella," is a beautiful and even romantic way to take in the sights around town from Charles Point to the historic Old Hat Factory complex on North Division Street.

“It’s fun to have people from either out of town or even in town learning something new about an area so rich in history," said Masson, who runs the tour company with her brother Henry behind the wheel of the trolley while she churns out fact after fact about Peekskill.

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During the tour, beginning at Water Street and Central Avenue, passengers get to learn about President Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Peekskill in 1861.  Then Stella heads into downtown, roaring past the Inn on the Hudson and the old City Hall building, which goes back to the days of President Lincoln, serving as a law office.

Masson says that there are so many interesting older structures in town that she wants to begin touring only historic houses, saying, “Covering all of them in Peekskill would be tough but informative, given there are so many.”

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The trolley makes a few stops along the way, one of which is at the Old Hat Factory, where passengers disembark from Stella and head inside for a tour of one of the many art studios now located inside the factory walls.

Jeannie Egel is one of the artists you may encounter and she gladly will show off her creative space, giving Masson’s “tourists” a glimpse into her creative processes in creating decorative paintings and murals for private residences and even zoos and museums, where she is hired to construct creative designs for animal habitats.

“There is such a large art community in Peekskill and it is such a great place to be a part of,” Egel said. The art component of the tour offers participants a nice juxtaposition to its primarily historical feel.

Julia Semverde of Yonkers was on a recent tour with her boyfriend and said the trolley tour made for a perfect afternoon.

“We live in southern Westchester so it’s fun to be able to explore the other historic towns along the Hudson and have a great tour guide versus simply wandering around trying to figure out what stuff is,” Semverde said.

The Peekskill Trolley Company will resume tours in late August after  local festivals during the first weekends of the month.  Masson will also be offering sunset tours, private charters, party transportation and more, so no doubt Stella will be one busy trolley as she blazes up and down the streets of Peekskill.

“The trolley can get in and out of most places and everyone always wants me to ring the bell,” said Henry Masson of the 28,000-pound vehicle. He added that some people have already hung out of their second- or third-floor apartment windows and in their best Marlon Brando impression shouted “Stella!” as she rolled past.

For more information about the Peekskill Trolley Company or to schedule a tour, contact Leslie Masson at peekskilltrolleycompany@gmail.com.


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