Norwegian-Americans
A large number of Norwegians came to the U.S. after World War II, with many of them moving from New York City to places like Clarkstown during the building boom of the 1950s to work on building projects. Many of these Norwegian builders and carpenters found a home in New City Park. Norwegian-American builders like Sigmund Jacobsen, John Knutsen Sr., and Kenny Torsoe have been involved in the construction of thousands of homes in Clarkstown and Rockland, often utilizing many Norwegian workers on their projects. Norwegians in Clarkstown also established their own church, the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Free Church in Nanuet, which held some services in Norwegian for many years and which is now known as the Nanuet Lutheran Brethren Church.
Significant People
John Knutsen Sr. was a very successful builder who had left his native Norway after World War II and who began working in Clarkstown in the 1950s. He built thousands of homes in Clarkstown and Rockland along with his children, John Knutsen Jr. and Linda Dimick. Employing many Norwegians to help on their projects over the years, Knutsen Sr. and his family have helped build the Eagle Ridge Condominiums in Nanuet, the Dells in New City, and Quail Hollow in West Nyack. Knutsen Sr. was named Rockland’s Builder of the Year in 1985, and his daughter Linda Dimick was Rockland Builder of the Year in 1998.
Theodore K. Omley left Norway for the U.S. in the early 1900s, participating in several business ventures before purchasing the Collyer Farm property along with Nils J. Hansen and Reinhard Hall in the 1920s and developing it into New City Park. Omley and the others bought the property to develop it into a summer community, but over time many families in the community decided to renovate their houses so that they could live in New City Park year-round.
Bibliography
Cacioppi, Nancy. “The Song of Norway Echoes in Rockland.” The Journal News, November 1, 1970, accessed on August 1, 2016. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5937992/song_of_norway_echoes_in_rockland/.
Genealogical Society of Rockland County. “Churches and other houses of worship of Rockland County, NY, past and present.” Last modified on July 31, 2011. http://rocklandgenealogy.org/rcchurches.htm.
Gribbon, Barbara. “Let’s Get Acquainted.” The Journal News, May 1, 1958, accessed on August 1, 2016. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6076700/gribbon_barbara_lets_get/.
Micklewright, Rena. “Construction moguls share heritage.” The Journal News, February 20, 1994, accessed on August 1, 2016.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5938032/construction_moguls_share_heritage_feb/.
Schnell, Noreen. History of New City Park. New City, NY, 1967.
Obituary of John Knutsen Sr. The Journal News, July 13, 2016, accessed on August 1, 2016. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/lohud/obituary.aspx?n=john-knutsen&pid=180644211&fhid=2172.
“Rockland Builder of the Year.” The Journal News, May 14, 1998, accessed on August 1, 2016. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6076326/rockland_builder_of_the_year_the/.