The HSRC Historical Marker Program

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1 The HSRC Historical Marker Program John Scott, a local historian and member of the HSRC for many years, was the driving force behind the Historical Marker Program. In 1979, John was appointed chairman of the newly established Historic Sites Preservation Committee. By the next year, he had established the Historical Marker Program. Markers went up in front of the old sandstone homesteads along Western Highway in Blauvelt, at the Clarksville Inn in West Nyack, at the Hopper House in Nyack, at the Dr. Davies Farm in Congers, at Torne Brook Farm in Ramapo, at the Pig Knoll School in Pomona, and at the site of Bogertown in Piermont. When John resigned as chairman of the committee in 1995, fifty of the brown cast aluminum markers had been erected throughout the Rockland. Before John began the current marker program, the HSRC had erected a marker in 1967 at the site of the Treason House in front of Helen Hayes Hospital on Route 9W in West Haverstraw. The marker replaced a damaged marker that had been erected by the New York State Department of Education in the 1930s. We now know, through exhaustive research done by the historian Richard J. Koke, that the marker is improperly placed. The Treason House stood farther south. An early nineteenth-century house that is in poor condition now stands on the site. The Tappan Zee Historical Society, a predecessor to the Historical Society of Rockland County, erected a marker at the Onderdonk House in Piermont in 1958 to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the meeting of General George Washington and British General Sir Guy Carleton at the end of the American Revolution. In 1983, a second plaque was dedicated at the DeWint House, Tappan, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the meeting. That marker was co-sponsored by the HSRC and the Tappantown Historical Society. Another predecessor of the HSRC, the Rockland County Society, placed thirteen bronze plaques from 1921 to They are listed in Cornelia Bedell s book Now and Then and Long Ago. All plaques remain in place except for three: two that were placed near the meeting place of General Benedict Arnold and Major John André in Haverstraw and are now located in Emeline Park in Haverstraw, and one that was placed on the Salisbury House in South Nyack, which was razed in The fate of the Salisbury House marker is unknown. Except for recently erected markers, the Rockland County Planning Department has entered the locations and names of the markers into its GIS, which links geographic data to computerized maps. We are pleased that the county is enhancing awareness of our historic places and considers their importance within the framework of county planning. A total of 77 cast aluminum historical markers on posts and three plaques on boulders have been erected since the HSRC started the Historical Marker Program in A notebook containing the text of each marker, as well as photographs and further information about the sites, is in the HSRC s library. Many of the markers can be seen at What follows is a comprehensive list of all the markers: revised

2 Historical Markers Erected by the Historical Society of Rockland County 1. Treason Site, Route 9W, Haverstraw, north of the intersection with Route 303. Sponsors: Town and Village of Haverstraw. Dedicated: September 15, (Whereabouts of marker unknown since it was put into storage years ago after being knocked over by a car.) 2. Blauvelt House, HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City. Sponsor: Dellwood Country Club. Dedicated: October 19, (The post was severely damaged possibly by a snowplow in Sponsor: the marker was removed and has since been replaced by #73.) 3. Clarksville, West Nyack Road and Sickletown Road, West Nyack. Sponsor: West Nyack Rotary Club. Dedicated: May 30, Clarksville Inn, 1 Strawtown Road, West Nyack. Sponsor: West Nyack American Legion Memorial Post #1519. Dedicated: May 30, Colonial Clarkstown, 135 Strawtown Road, West Nyack. Sponsors: Nanuet Bank, Bank of New York, and Dr. and Mrs. Louis Korngold. Dedicated: May 30, Clarkstown Reformed Church, 107 Strawtown Road, West Nyack. Sponsors: Edwin and Georgia Kretschmar. Dedicated: April 24, The Old Parsonage, 106 Strawtown Road, West Nyack. Sponsors: Charlene and Edward Dixon. Dedicated: May 30, Washington and Carleton Meetings, 200th Anniversary (plaque on boulder), DeWint House, Livingston Street and Oak Tree Road, Tappan. Sponsors: HSRC and Tappantown Historical Society. Dedicated: May 15, Nyack Turnpike, West Nyack Road and West Nyack Way, West Nyack. Sponsor: West Nyack Lions Club. Dedicated: May 30, Johannes J. Blauvelt Homestead, 514 South Western Highway, Blauvelt. Sponsors: Mr. and Mrs. Emil Pedersen. Dedicated: September 5, Jacob J. Blauvelt Homestead, 525 South Western Highway, Blauvelt. Sponsors: Mr. and Mrs. Ben F. Jackson. Dedicated: September 5, Johannes Perry House, 49 Elizabeth Street, Pearl River. Sponsors: Mr. and Mrs. Harold Kennedy. Dedicated: October 13, 1984.

3 13. Johannes Isaac Blauvelt House, 820 North Western Highway, Blauvelt. Sponsors: Mr. and Mrs. David Egan. Dedicated: December 29, Pye s Corner, 145 Strawtown Road, West Nyack. Sponsors: Mr. and Mrs. Edwin P. Kretschmar. Dedicated: May 27, Sneden House, 38 Paradise Avenue, Piermont. Sponsor: Edward H. Brown. Dedicated: June 30, Hopper House, 82 North Broadway, Nyack. Sponsor: Rotary Club of Nyack. Dedicated: July 21, Montebello, 75 Montebello Road, Montebello Park, Montebello. Sponsor: Gary Goldberg. Dedicated: October 6, Blauvelt-Norris-Burr House, 608 Western Highway, Blauvelt. Sponsors: Mr. and Mrs. Garton Del Savio. Dedicated: April 26, Haring Homestead, 606 South Pascack Road, Chestnut Ridge. Sponsors: Mr. and Mrs. Gerard Saybold. Dedicated: June 14, Dogwoods (Ralph Borsodi Residence), 24 DeBaun Avenue, Airmont. Sponsors: Richard and Linda Harvey. Dedicated: June 21, Dr. Davies Farm, Dr. Davies Road, Congers. Sponsor: Mr. and Mrs. Niles M. Davies Jr. Dedicated: August 10, Shady Side Farm, 670 New Hempstead Road, New Hempstead. Sponsor: Pauline H. Sherwood. Dedicated: October 25, Torne Brook Farm, Torne Brook Road, Ramapo. Sponsor: George Demas. Dedicated: November 2, Kakiat Lodge, 680 Route 202 (opposite Grandview Avenue), Montebello. Sponsors: Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Katz. Dedicated: May 9, (Kakiat Lodge demolished September 2000;the marker was removed by the owner.) 25. Clausland Cemetery, Greenbush Road at Mountainview Avenue, Orangeburg. Sponsor: World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. Dedicated: May 20, Kings Highway, Kings Highway and Lake Road, Congers. Sponsor: Congers-Valley Cottage Rotary Club. Dedicated: May 30, 1987.

4 27. Snedeker Farm, 74 Endicott Street, Congers. Sponsors: Mr. and Mrs. Martin E. Holbrook and Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Holbrook. Dedicated: July 26, Rockland County Court House, New City. Sponsor: Rockland County Commission on the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution. Dedicated: September 17, Van Houten Fields, Van Houten Fields and Sickeltown Roads, West Nyack. Sponsor: Van Houten Fields Association. Dedicated: October 24, First Reformed Church, 18 South Broadway, Nyack. Sponsor: First Reformed Church. Dedicated: May 21, Street Charles A.M.E. Zion Church, 127 Valentine Avenue, Sparkill. Sponsor: African- American Historical Society of Rockland County. Dedicated: June 18, Old Clarkstown Reformed Church Cemetery, 254 Germonds Road near Huested Lane, West Nyack. Sponsor: American Legion Memorial Post #1519. Dedicated: June 26, Shanks Village, Orangetown Town Hall, 26 Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg. Sponsor: Orangetown Tricentennial Committee. Dedicated: November 6, Camp Shanks, Camp Shanks Memorial, Independence Avenue, Tappan. Sponsor: Orangetown Tricentennial Committee. Dedicated: November 6, Cuyper-Van Houten House, 66 Sickeltown Road, Nauraushaun. Sponsors: James Bradford Van Houten and James Blauvelt Van Houten. Dedicated: November 20, The First Courthouse, Tappan Green, Tappan. Sponsor: Orangetown Tricentennial Committee. Dedicated: April 29, Pig Knoll School, Pomona Cultural Center, 76 Route 306, Pomona. Sponsor: West Pomona Community Center Association. Dedicated: April 23, Gravesite of General John Charles Fremont (bronze plaque on boulder), Rockland Cemetery, 201 Kings Highway, Sparkill. Sponsor: Friends of Fremont. Dedicated: May 20, Mount Moor Cemetery, southwestern entrance to Palisades Center Mall, West Nyack. Sponsors: African-American Historical Society of Rockland County and Mount Moor Cemetery Association. Dedicated: June 17, Colonial Orangetown, Veterans Memorial Park, Orangeburg Road and Hunt Road, Orangeburg. Sponsor: Orangetown Tricentennial Committee. Dedicated: June 2, 1990.

5 41. Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Church and South Airmont Roads, Airmont. Sponsor: Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church. Dedicated: June 15, Snedekers Landing, Route 9W and Long Clove Road, Congers. Sponsor: Charles E. Holbrook. Dedicated: August 19, Congers Station, Lake Road and Burnside Avenue, Congers. Sponsor: Charles E. Holbrook. Dedicated: June 13, Viola United Methodist Church, Viola Road near College Road, Suffern. Sponsor: Viola United Methodist Church. Dedicated: December 29, Bayard Lane, Route 202, Montebello. Sponsor: Bayard Lane Association. Dedicated: October School of Living, 21 Bayard Lane, Montebello. Sponsor: Bayard Lane Association. Dedicated: October Martinus Hogenkamp Cemetery, South Little Tor Road, New City. Sponsor: Martinus Hogenkamp Cemetery Association. Dedicated: November 21, Washington s Encampment, 134 Strawtown Road, West Nyack. Sponsors: Rabbi and Mrs. Abraham Krantz. Dedicated: August 1, Michael Salyer House, 213 Blue Hill Road, Pearl River. Sponsor: Town of Orangetown. Dedicated: November 6, Bogertown, 102 Paradise Avenue, Piermont. Sponsors: Marjorie Smith and Paul Palen. Dedicated: April 22, Treason Site, Hook Mountain State Park, Town of Clarkstown (off Riverside Avenue, Dutchtown, Haverstraw). Sponsor: Palisades Interstate Park Commission. Dedicated: September 21, Soldier s Monument, Lafayette and Washington Avenues, Suffern. Sponsor: Suffern Chamber of Commerce. Dedicated: April 16, Carson McCullers House, 131 South Broadway, South Nyack. Sponsor: Mary E. Mercer, MD. Dedicated: September 29, Paul Farmhouse, c. 1810, Gilchrest Road, Congers. Sponsor: Town of Clarkstown. Dedicated: June 14, 1997.

6 55. Congers Lake Dam, Gilchrest Road, Congers. Sponsor: Town of Clarkstown. Dedicated: June 14, Kings Highway and the Long Clove, Old Haverstraw Road near Route 304, Congers. Sponsor: Town of Clarkstown. Dedicated: Collyer Farm Pond and New City Park, Collyer Road and Lake Drive, New City. Sponsor: New City Park Club, Inc. Dedicated: Suffern s Depot, , 41 Erie Plaza, Suffern. Sponsor: Suffern Centennial Committee. Dedicated: November 15, Rochambeau s Encampment, , Washington Avenue, Suffern. Sponsor: Suffern Chamber of Commerce. Dedicated: 1998.s 60. Suffern Grammar School, 41 Wayne Avenue, Suffern. Sponsor: Sycamore Estates, Inc. Dedicated: Hickory Hill Cooperative, Hickory Hill and Old Tappan Roads, Tappan. Sponsor: Hickory Hill Cooperative. Dedicated: June Scotland Hill Burial Ground, Carriage Lane, Nanuet. Sponsor: Town of Clarkstown. Dedicated: Memorial Park, July 26, 1920, Piermont and DePew Aves., Nyack. Sponsor: C. R. and R. O. Blauvelt Post 310, Nyack. Dedicated: May 28, Couch Court, 46 South Broadway, Nyack. Sponsor: Karen E. Acker. Dedicated: Cobblestone Farm, Viola Road and Cobblestone Farm Court, Montebello. Sponsor: Cobblestone Farm, Inc. Dedicated: August Oak Hill Cemetery, 140 North Highland Avenue, Nyack. Sponsor: Board of Trustees, Oak Hill Cemetery. Dedicated: October Congers Elementary School, 9 Lake Road, Congers. Sponsor: Town of Clarkstown. Dedicated: June 18, West Nyack s Last Horse Trough, West Nyack Free Library, 65 Strawtown Road, West Nyack. Sponsors: Rotary Club of West Nyack and Friends of the West Nyack Library. Dedicated: June 12, King s Ferry Site ((bronze plaque on boulder on private property; no admission without permission), Battlefield Road, Stony Point. Sponsor: Eric Emanuel. Dedicated: August 26, 2006.

7 70. Rockland Lake and Hook Mountain, Rockland Lake State Park, corner of Landing Road and Collyer Avenue, across from Knickerbocker Fire Engine Company. Sponsor: Friends of Rockland Lake and Hook Mountain, Inc. Dedicated: October 4, Stephen Rowe Bradley Sr. Park, Bradley Hill Road/County Route 38 at Park Road (Tweed Boulevard)/County Route 5, South Nyack. Sponsor: Benson Blake Jr.. Dedicated: June 30, Rockland Brink s Robbery, Brinks Memorial, Mountainview Avenue, just south of entrance to New York State Thruway entrance, Central Nyack. Sponsors: Rockland County Patrolmen s Benevolent Association and Police Chiefs Association of Rockland County. Dedicated: October 20, Jacob J. Blauvelt Homestead, 20 Zukor Road, New City. Sponsor: Marjorie Hornblower Johnson. Dedicated: November 20, Ladentown United Methodist Church, 14 Ladentown Road, Pomona. Sponsor: Joni Anger. Dedicated: August 27, Grand View-on-Hudson, Birthplace of the Modern Women s Movement, Grand View Village Hall, 118 River Road, Grand View-on-Hudson. Sponsor: Rockland Chapter of NOW. Dedicated: November 10, Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya, main entrance, Mount Repose Cemetery, Haverstraw. Sponsor: Kurt Weill Foundation for Music. Dedicated: October Christ Episcopal Church of Piermont and Sparkill, Valentine Street, Sparkill. Sponsors: Clare and Bill Sheridan. Dedicated: November 9, 2014.