Issue 26 September 2005 Fall Semester Begins at HRVI

Welcome to another exciting article on the Review will be to the history of the Hudson semester at the forthcoming in the October River Valley. Valley Institute, as we enter our issue. fourth year of operation at Marist The Institute’s Executive College. We eagerly anticipate Our staff will be especially Director, Professor Colonel continuing to act as a portal site busy during its annual Patriots’ (U.S. Army, retired) James and digital library for resources Weekend. In particular, the Johnson will be teaching two throughout the Hudson River lectures to be hosted at Marist course: History and Culture Valley. College on Thursday, Septem- of the Mid-Hudson Valley ber 29th will involve much and Hudson River Valley We are also looking forward activity by interns and volun- Studies, which are required to the Fall publication of the teers as they work to welcome for primary school education Hudson River Valley Review. scholars from around the coun- majors at Marist College. This issue of the Review will try. The conference will be There students learn how to focus on the Hudson River Val- focusing on the Arnold-Andre identify resources for teach- ley’s contribution to the Union Conspiracy, which was fea- ing local history, as well as cause during the American Civil tured in the August newsletter. gain essential practice in de- War. Among the features in this signing lesson plans for their We also hope to increase issue is an overview of the West future students. Point Foundry in Cold Spring, a our focus on the Hudson Ful- review of a Civil War-themed ton Champlain Quadricenten- ~ Neil Bhatiya exhibit at Huguenot Street in nial Commemoration, which New Paltz, and analyses of the will begin in 2007 to mark the contribution of area regiments to important contributions of the war effort. A comprehensive Herny Hudson, Samuel de Champlain, and Robert Fulton

The Hudson River Valley Ramble and the American Revolution

Filled with over a dozen Revolu- uniform every chance they to the public to bring the tionary War-era themed events and get. Revolution to life. Topics ending with Patriot’s Weekend, the vary from not just the War Hudson River Valley offers count- Starting Saturday, Sep- itself, but also how 18th cen- less opportunities for everyone to tember 17th, tours, lectures, tury colonists lived. learn more about the birth of our re-enactments, festivals, talks country, whether they routinely slept and walks scattered all over By simply clicking on the through history class or proudly the Hudson River Valley will “Events Calendar” on the top march around in their replica militia be offered at little to no cost (Continued on page 4)

Inside this issue: Special points of interest: Featured Historic Site 2 • Please be sure to consult the HRVI website, Featured Website 2 as we are constantly updating our content

Featured Historic Town 3 • A list of the new interns at the Hudson River Meet the Interns 4 Valley Institute can be found on page • Contact Us 5 • A Summary of Patriots’ Weekend 2005 held Staff Listing 5 later this month will be forthcoming in the Hudson River Valley Institute October issue YOUR GATEWAY TO THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY TO THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY GATEWAY YOUR Featured Historic Site— Mount Gulian

Nestled in a residential community, house was employed by the army. In the cinnati, and thus created America’s first Mount Gulian, an 18th century Dutch backyard a visitor can witness the pictur- fraternal veteran’s association. Colonial Homestead, is a reminder of the esque view that is created when the green During the 19th century, the conserva- Hudson River Valley’s prominent role in lawn subtly turns into the Hudson River. tive Verplanck family eventually sided our nation’s history. Located on the bor- Based on its strategic aspects, the house with abolitionists and employed and der of Beacon and Fishkill, the house aided James Brown, an escaped slave. played host to prominent generals, an Until 1931, the house provided a resi- escaped slave, and continues to support dence for the Verplanck family. and encourage the love of local history. Fortunately, efforts have been made to Around 1680, in partnership with restore and maintain this landmark of Francis Rombout and Stephanus Van American history. Mount Gulian contin- Cortlandt, Gulian Verplanck purchased ues to play a significant role in the Hud- 85,000 acres of land from the Wapping- son River Valley, promoting a love of ers Indians. Approximately fifty years regional history via tours and special later, the Valley witnessed the construc- events. Annually, it is the site of the tion of a frontier home, which came to be Revolutionary War Living History Week- known as Mount Gulian. In the years that end. (www.mountgulian.org/index.htm) followed, a working plantation and a The view from Mount Gulian ~ Lauren Santangelo dock on the Hudson were added. Mount Gulian played a significant role became the headquarters of General Editor’s Note: In the August issue of the newslet- in the American Revolution. The home Fredrich Von Steuben, who is credited ter, a question was raised over the omission of Mount Gulian from the Historic Fishkill article. was employed by the Continental Army; with instilling discipline in the Continen- The oversight was traced back to the fact that it was near the Fishkill Barracks and tal Army, from late 1782 until the sum- Mount Gulian has a Beacon mailing address. A across from Newburgh, which was home mer of 1783. After the American Revolu- previous Featured Historic Town article featured to Washington’s Headquarters. On a visit tion, General Von Steuben and his fellow Beacon, so we focused on other aspects of Fish- to the house, one can understand why the veterans formed the Society of the Cin- kill. However, since this is such an important site, we would be remiss in not highlighting it. Featured Historic Website– State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation Charged with the mainte- ter of the Office of Parks, Rec- nance and promotion of New reation and Historic Preserva- York State’s Public lands, the tion (http:// Office of Parks, Recreation, and nysparks.state.ny.us/news/ Historic Preservation maintains public/). The back issues are a website (http:// available for download in PDF nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/) format. Each issue contains dedicated to this end, filled with descriptions of various state enough information for even the parks, as well as delving into most curious park enthusiast. their fascinating history. The many services offered on The New York State His- the site include a searchable toric Preservation Office has its database of all of New York’s own sub-site, with a wealth of State Parks, indexed by region information, including a regis- and desired activity. There are ter of historic sites in New forty-two of these sub- York, assistance for those en- categories, spanning activities gaged in historic preservation, from ice skating and cross- Chimney Bluffs State Park http://nysparks.state.ny.us/ and links to other sites for fur- country skiing to beaches, golf, ther resources (http:// hiking, theater and campsites. Each indi- nysparks.state.ny.us/shpo/). vidual site has a full list of attractions, parks which might be of interest. ~ Neil Bhatiya direction to it using major roads, contact The websites has a repository of past information, and a list of nearby state issues of The Preservationist, the newslet-

Page 2 HUDSON RIVER VALLEY INSTITUTE Featured Historic Town— Tappan

The town of Tappan, located in in Tappan (the De Wint House was Rockland County in southern New Featured Historic Site in the August York State, shares a very rich common 2005 issue of the HRVI newsletter. history with its neighbors. According to After the turn of the century, trans- “A Brief History of Rockland County” portation improvements, alongside its by Thomas Casey, the first residents proximity to , meant were believed to be Native Americans the rapid development of towns like of either the Delaware or Lenape na- Tappan. Though in decline by the tions. The first European visitors were twentieth century, when industry be- the sailors of Henry Hudson’s first voy- came more geographically national- age to North America. The area was ized, these areas still remain vibrant first settled by the Dutch, until the communities, attached to the great eventual English take over in the mid- metropolis to its south, but still retain- seventeenth century. Permanent con- ing its country quality. struction in the town of Tappan began in earnest in 1691, with the construc- ~ Neil Bhatiya tion of a court house, and, nine years later, the DeWint House, which would come to figure so prominently in Tap- http://www.dutchdoorgenealogy.com/images/ pan history. map_tappan_1779.gif Perhaps the most famous incident to occur near Tappan was the plot by Brit- ish officer John Andre and American General Benedict Arnold to surrender West Point to the British. When Arnold was captured, he was detained, tried, and later hanged at the De Wint House

Fall 2005 Interns

The Hudson River Valley Institute is proud to introduce its roster of Interns for the Fall 2005 Semester:

• Neil Bhatiya—Internship Coordinator • Lauren Santangelo—Assistant Internship Coordinator • Michael Diaz—studying the Forts of Lake Champlain • Sarah Gunner—working on the Hudson River Valley Review • Megan Lavery—the mutiny and death of Henry Hudson • Michael Mauro—the career of Robert Fulton • Rory O’Brien—the career of Samuel de Champlain

Part of their internship will involve working on content for the HRVI website and its digital library. This includes scanning previous issues of the Hudson River Valley Review, maintaining our Events calendar, and expanding our Learning section (www.hudsonrivervalley.net/lessonplans.php).

The Interns will also be conducting individual research projects. Their topics will all relate to the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial, to begin in 2007 and run until 2009.

Page 3 HUDSON RIVER VALLEY INSTITUTE Meet the Interns— Sarah Gunner

Sarah Gunner is a junior at Marist College majoring in English writing and literature. She works at the James A. Cannavino library while she lives on campus. When she is home she works as a substitute teacher as well as a street outreach worker with a community not-for-profit organization. She plans on studying abroad in Florence next semester. Her internship at the Hudson River Valley Institute is focused on our biennial journal, the Hudson River Valley Review. She plans to continue her academic interests at a presentation at National Collegiate Honors Council in October. Her lecture is on Issues in Homosexual Equality After finishing at Marist, she plans to attend graduate school.

~ Sarah Gunner

Revolutionary War Events

(Continued from page 1) the very least, September looks as if it bar of the Hudson River Valley Institute’s will be good preparation for what will be website, even technophobes will be pre- an amazing Patriot’s Weekend. sented with a detailed description of the day’s itinerary and other useful informa- ~ Adrienne Harris tion. Several of the events are even timed so that history buffs can hop onto the next tour or performance held at that facility.

All of these events are family (and student) friendly and promise to be not just educational, but also fun for all. At

Meet the Interns— Michael Diaz

Michael Diaz is a junior at Marist College, pursuing a degree in history. He was born and raised in the Hudson Valley, and built a love of history by visiting the region’s numerous museums during his youth. He is now especially interested in military history , most specifically that of the American Revolution. Originally planning to become a high school teacher, he now plans to go on to graduate school (maybe even post-graduate if he feels particularly ambitious) and either get involved in the museum field or teach at the collegiate level. When not attending classes, Michael acts as the Vice-President of the Marist College Fencing Club. He also works as an historic interpreter at the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site. During his internship at the Hudson River Valley Institute, Mike will be looking at the importance of Lake George and Lake Cham- plain during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. ~ Mike Diaz

ISSUE 26 Page 4 Contact Us

The Hudson River Valley is one of only 23 Congressionally designated Na- tional Heritage Areas in the . As one of the most important re- Hudson River Valley Institute gions in the United States, it is the fountainhead of a truly American identity. Marist College Recognizing the area's national value, Congress formed the Hudson River 3399 North Road Valley National Heritage Area in 1996 to recognize, to preserve, to protect, Poughkeepise, NY 12601-1387 and to interpret the nationally-significant history and resources of the Valley Phone: 845-575-3052 for the benefit of the nation. Fax: 845-575-3176 E-mail: [email protected] As the center for the study of the Hudson River Valley, the Hudson River Valley Institute (HRVI) at Marist College is the central hub for information The Hudson River Valley—”The about the region. HRVI serves heritage tourists, scholars, elementary and Landscape that Defined America” secondary school educators, environmental organizations, the business com- munity, and the general public seeking to know more about the region that Congress called "the Landscape that defined America." www.hudsonrivervalley.net

Staff Dean of the Marist College School of Liberal Arts Thomas Wermuth, PhD, Director Hud- Contributors to this issue: son River Valley Institute Neil Bhatiya, Internship Coordinator Mike Diaz, Intern Professor Colonel James Johnson (U.S. Army, ret.), Executive Director Hudson River Sarah Gunner, Intern Valley Institute Adrienne Harris, Intern

Christopher Pryslopski, Program Director

Jean Defino, Office Manager

Neil Bhatiya, Internship Coordinator Lauren Santangelo, Assistant Internship Coordinator Webmaster: Biswajit Roy

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