N E W Y O R K S T A T E The PreservationistNYS OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION VOLUME 5/NO. 2 FALL/WINTER 2001 Crossroads of Independence In 1776, author and patriot Thomas Paine wrote, “these are the times that try men’s souls” at a particularly troubling period during America’s fight for freedom. These words are just as appropriate today in light of the tragic events in New York City, Washington D.C. and rural Pennsylvania. Paine’s words remind us what our ancestors fought for and call to mind their courage and resourcefulness as they struggled against tyranny. Now through 2008 we are celebrating the 225th anniversary of the Revolutionary War. This summer I inaugurated the New York State American Revolutionary War Heritage Trail, which will help to preserve and interpret this remarkable legacy. The trail is one of several interpretive efforts being developed under the Heritage New York Program. This great state played a key role during the American Revolution. With its abundant natural resources and well-connected network Although critically injured, General Nicholas Herkimer continued to of transportation corridors, New York was considered a command his troops after they were ambushed by pro-British Native valuable asset. Some of the war’s most decisive battles Americans and Loyalists at Oriskany. The Oriskany Battlefield and were fought here and some of our most prominent Herkimer Home State Historic Sites (in Little Falls) are some of the citizens helped shape the new republic. Mohawk Valley’s most prominent Revolutionary War landmarks. The Many of our state historic sites are associated with Battle of Oriskany by Frederick Yohn, ca. 1901 – Courtesy of the Utica the Revolutionary War, including Washington’s Public Library Headquarters in Newburgh, which was acquired by the state in 1850 and became the nation’s first publicly owned historic site. From battlefields and encampments to military headquarters, these properties offer us an opportunity to experience the events of the Revolution. Another chapter in the history of the Revolution is being rediscovered at Fort Montgomery State Historic Site near Bear Mountain. Constructed in 1776, Fort Montgomery and the adjacent Fort Clinton helped guard the southern entrance to the Hudson Highlands. Although the forts were overwhelmed by British forces in October 1777, this delayed the consolidation of British troops in the upper Hudson Valley, making possible the victory at Saratoga, a turning point in the war. And earlier this year, I was pleased to announce the initiation of the new National Purple Heart Hall of Honor at the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site in Vails Gate. This memorial will document the sacrifices of the more than 800,000 Americans wounded or killed in action while serving in the United States military. Through exhibits and educational pro- grams, the hall of honor will present a multi-media show celebrating the American spirit in war and peace. The history of the Purple Heart medal is directly linked to New York State and the Revolutionary War. In 1782, General George Washington issued orders from his headquarters in Newburgh to create a badge of merit in the form of a purple heart to honor meritorious action. The badge of merit became the precursor of today’s Purple Heart medal. These sites and others remind us that the struggle for democracy did not end after the war, but continues to this very day. As we celebrate the 225th anniversary of the American Revolution, I invite everyone to visit the many places across the state that are associated with one of the most important episodes in our history – America’s courageous fight for freedom and the birth of a new nation. George E. Pataki Governor, State of New York Printed on recycled paper The New York State Preservationist Historic Fireboats Respond When disaster struck the World Fighter, a National Historic Landmark, Normandie, which caught fire while Trade Center on September 11, two and the newer city fireboat John D. being converted into a troopship. In historic and beloved New York City McKean (built in 1954) in pumping the 1943, it bravely towed the burning fireboats responded to the crisis. As the only available water to the site. The munitions ship El Estero away from buildings of the World Trade Center New York City Fire Department critical shipping and industrial areas, fell, the State and National Registers- temporarily designated the Harvey as saving many lives while placing the listed fireboat John J. Harvey and its Marine Company Two for this assign- crew at extreme risk. In addition to all-volunteer crew put itself in harm’s ment and placed an officer on board to numerous calls over the course of more way removing survivors to a safe coordinate its efforts. The Harvey and than sixty years, the boat fought its volunteers, dangerous fires involving two petro- including retired leum tankers in 1958 and again in 1966. Fire Department The Harvey was retired from the Fire Pilot Bob Lenney, Department in 1994 and was purchased served around-the- in 1999 for preservation by its current clock under the owners, John J. Harvey Ltd., who command of the restored it to full operation in 2000. department until the The John J. Harvey was placed on the evening of Septem- State and National Register of Historic ber 14. In addition Places last year as part of our Millen- to supplying water nium Initiative. to the World Trade Like the Harvey, the Fire Fighter Center site, the has a long and distinguished tradition of restored fireboat fire fighting in the city. It also re- also served as a base sponded to the fires aboard the of operations for Normandie and El Estero, the 1946 fire several volunteers that destroyed the St. George Ferry involved in search terminal, the 1960 fire that killed fifty The Fire Fighter pumping water for the World Trade Center fire at the and rescue opera- aboard the aircraft carrier Constellation, seawall alongside the World Financial Center on September 19, tions. Two respond- and the 1973 fire involving the Esso 2001. Photograph Courtesy of Al Trojanowicz, Marine Historian, ing fireboat volun- Brussels and the Sea Witch. Built in New York City Fire Department (retired) teers are members of 1938 on Staten Island, the Fire Fighter location and providing the only water at families made homeless by the remains in the service of the New York the site to fight the raging ground fires. disaster. City Fire Department and was desig- The boat arrived at a crowded bulkhead Built in 1931 in Brooklyn, the nated as a National Historic Landmark near the Battery and carried 150 John J. Harvey has a long and distin- in 1989. Both historic fireboats and traumatized people to safety at Pier 40. guished firefighting career in New their respective professional and At the request of the New York City York City. In 1932, it fought a five- volunteer crews carry on a proud New Fire Department, the Harvey quickly alarm fire at Cunard’s Pier 54. In York fire fighting tradition, as evi- returned to the site where it joined the 1942, the Harvey responded to the denced in their immediate and effective commissioned 1938 fireboat Fire burning of the magnificent French liner responses to the September 11 disaster. NEW YORK STATE BOARD FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION N E W Y O R K S T A T E DR. ROBERT B. MACKAY, CHAIRMAN ARETE SWARTZ WARREN Executive Director, Society for the Preservation Trustee, Preservation League of NYS PreservationistThe of Long Island Antiquities ELIZABETH L. WATSON CHRISTINA R. DAVIS President, Planting Fields Foundation NYS OFFICE OF PARKS,RECREATION New York, NY EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION ELISE JOHNSON-SCHMIDT EDWARD F. COX Executive Director, Market Street Restoration, Corning, NY Chairman, NYS Council of Parks The Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza JOSEPH RYAN RICHARD J, SCHWARTZ Agency Building 1 Educator & Fellow of the Company of Military Historians Chairman, NYS Council on the Arts Albany, NY 12238-0001 Buchanan, NY RICHARD P. MILLS FRANK E. SANCHIS Commissioner, NYS Dept. of Education Executive Director, The Municipal Art Society of New York RANDY A. DANIELS George E. Pataki, Governor CHARLES D. URSTADT Secretary of State New York, NY Bernadette Castro, Commissioner ERIN M. CROTTY Commissioner, NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation J. Winthrop Aldrich, Deputy Commissioner Newsletter contributors: Linda Abston, Virginia Bartos, The Preservationist is published semi-annually by the New for Historic Preservation Richard Clauss, Marie Culver, Christopher Flagg, Robert Kuhn, York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Kathleen LaFrank, John Lovell (Associate Editor), Ruth L. Pierpont, Director, Preservation. Address all correspondence to: Editor, The Dave Meyersburg, Heidi Miksch, Audrey Nieson, Austin O’Brien Historic Preservation Field Services Bureau Preservationist, NYS State Office of Parks, Recreation & (Editor), Mark Peckham, Ruth Pierpont, Pamela Sinko (Design/ James P. Gold, Director, Bureau of Historic Sites Historic Preservation, Peebles Island State Park, PO Box Production), Sarah Stevens and Deborah Trupin. 189, Waterford, NY 12188-0189. The New York State Commission on the Restoration of the Capitol generously donated its logo for use on this newsletter. 2 The New York State Preservationist From the Commissioner Throughout our history, we Like so many individuals, organi- properties located in the impact zone. Americans have faced disasters, zations and governmental agencies, the overcome extraordinary hardships and Office of Parks, Recreation and have triumphed over adversity on Historic Preservation (OPRHP) has countless occasions. In doing so, we been helping in the massive disaster have become stronger and even more management project. Our staff has determined to safeguard our precious donated thousands of hours of time and freedom.