August 2005 Shadow of Supreme Court Announcement
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Issue 25 Summer Teaching Institutes End in August 2005 Shadow of Supreme Court Announcement The second week of the Sum- preme Court, retired leaving broad categories, including mer Teaching Institutes occurred President Bush to make an cases impacting civil rights, with coincidental timing, as the appointment that would likely economic regulation, federal- discussion of the Supreme Court’s change the ideological bal- ism, (the role of that national influence on American history coin- ance of the Court. Through a vs. state and local govern- cided with President George W. discussion of the Roberts ments), and war powers. Bush’s nomination of Washington, appointment, we returned to Like the previous week’s D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals some of the perennial themes Teaching Institute, the teach- Judge John Roberts as the next As- ers took the issues brought sociate Justice of the United States about the place of the Court up through the discussions Supreme Court. in our system of government, including a discussion of and applied them to the crea- Judge Roberts, if confirmed, will precedent, methods of consti- tion of curriculum plans. replace retiring Justice Sandra Day tutional interpretation, and These will eventually be O’Connor. It is the first Supreme the role of the Court in bring- placed online at Court vacancy since 1993. ing about social change, ” www.hudsonrivervalley.net/ learning under the title The announcement, broadcast on said political science Professor “Freedom and Dignity Pro- primetime television, came on Lynn Eckert. ject”. The Summer Teaching Tuesday night, July 19th, and was Though the Roberts confir- Institutes are funded by discussed by the teachers during the mation dominated Wednesday Dutchess and Ulster County early morning session on Wednes- morning’s discussion, the BOCES and the Hudson day. teachers soon moved on to the River Valley Institutes “The program took place at an rest of their agenda for the through the Department of opportune time. Weeks before the week, involving analysis of Education’s Teaching Ameri- program, Justice O'Connor, the landmark Supreme Court deci- can History grant. moderate swing vote on the Su- sions in American history. The teachers looked at several ~Neil Bhatiya Preview of Patriots’ Weekend Events The biggest event of the Hudson The Weekend will com- dict Arnold, formerly the River Valley Institute’s year, the memorate the 225th Anniver- hero of the American victory Patriots’ Weekend will be held Sep- sary of Arnold and André’s at the Battle of Saratoga, was tember 29 – October 2. The topic of plot to surrender West Point, forced to flee in disgrace to this year’s Patriots’ Weekend is the the linchpin of the colonial Britain. Activities during the “Treason! The Arnold-André Af- defense of the strategic Hudson weekend will include lec- fair” perhaps the most notorious act River, to the British. The plot tures at Marist College and of betrayal in American history. was foiled, however, when the U.S. Military Academy at André was captured and Bene- (Continued on page 5) Inside this issue: Special points of interest: Featured Historic Site 2 • Please be sure to consult the HRVI website, as we are constantly updating our content, Featured Website 2 a brief summary of which is on page 5 Featured Historic Town 3 Contact Us 6 • On page 4 is a summary of the “Teaching the Hudson Valley” lectures. Staff Listing 6 Hudson River Valley Institute YOUR GATEWAY TO THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY TO THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY GATEWAY YOUR Featured Historic Site—DeWint House As one of General George Washing- ing his time of service in the ton’s headquarters during the American Continental Army. The first Revolution, the De Wint House, located was from August 8 to 24, in Tappan, New York, witnessed the 1780; the second during the many life-and-death decisions that domi- Andre trial; the third from nated Washington’s generalship. It also May 4-8, 1783 when he was played a part in the most famous treason negotiating the final British case in America’s history. withdrawal from New York City; and the fourth from No- From September 28 to October 2, vember 11-14, 1783, on his 1780, the De Wint House was the venue way to New York City, where for Washington’s supervision of the trial he would tender his resigna- of British Major John Andre, who was tion to the Congress. Benedict Arnold’s co-conspirator in the plot to betray West Point to the British The house itself, con- (see Patriots’ Weekend Events article on De Wint House structed in the Dutch style, page 1). At the De Wint house, Washing- http://revolutionaryday.com/usroute9w/tappan/ dates back to 1700. Admis- ton heard the pleas from representatives sion to the site is free and of British general Sir Henry Clinton to open to the public from 10-4, thanks to bound, however, by the rules of war spare Andre’s life. Clinton argued that as the generosity of the Freemasons who which dictated that spies captured by the an officer in the British armed forces, he have maintained the site. enemy were to be hung. should be executed by a firing squad, ~ Neil Bhatiya which was considered a more honorable Washington headquartered in the De method of execution. Washingont was Wint house on three other occasions dur- Featured Historic Website– Historical Society of Rockland County The Historical Society of Rockland history of the county. Those interested County states its mission is to “acquire, can read listings of events, past, present preserve, document, and exhibit an his- or future, on the website. toric object and archival collection that reflects the diverse societal fabric of Other facilities include the Blauvelt Rockland.” The Society, though, has House, through which guided tours are extended this mission to the Internet, provided, and the Historic Barn, where enticing history buffs with their detailed the Historical Society of Rockland pages to visit and learn. County houses their special collections and events/lectures are held. Here, collec- The Historical Society of Rockland tions reaching back to approximately County actually possesses several build- 8000 B.C. are carefully preserved. For ings for public education and scholarly the less scholarly-inclined, topics of ex- research. The History Center Museum is hibits for the public range from Haitian the central hub for the Society’s interac- immigrants to the area to war letters from tion with the community, which the His- local veterans. To see what exhibit is torical Society considers to also be a cru- currently in display, a quick viewing of cial part of its mission. As its website the website is recommended. For infor- (http://www.rocklandhistory.org) ex- mation on tours and other inquiries, the plains, the Historical Society of Rockland Historical Society can be reached at (845) County has several educational programs 634-9269. The Historical Society is lo- for students that run throughout the year, cated at 20 Zukor Road, New City, New such as “Life on the Family Farm;” in York, 10956. Jacob Blauvelt House—http:// addition, it also holds many annual and www.rocklandhistory.org/ special programs for the general public to ~ Adrienne Harris house_overview.htm become better educated on the diverse Page 2 HUDSON RIVER VALLEY INSTITUTE Featured Historic Town—Fishkill The history of Fishkill, New York is a sides witnessing a military encampment, Geering Park. microcosm of the history of New York in the town also temporarily housed promi- general. From its Dutch roots to its role in nent officials, including Baron von Steu- Fishkill also played an important role Hudson River commerce, Fishkill’s his- ben, a Prussian officer largely credited in industrialization, specifically with the torical evolution parallels that of the with instilling discipline in the American Glenham Woolen Mill. The mill provided state’s. Even the town’s name illustrates Army, George Washington, and John Jay, employment for many families in the 19th its ancestry; Fishkill means “fish creek” the first Supreme Court Justice. Parallel- century, producing blue serge, a type of in Dutch and thus recognizes the contri- ing Boston, albeit on a much smaller twilled cloth, for Union soldiers. How- butions of its’ first European settlers. scale, Fishkill also hosted a Tea Party. ever, like other industries, the business However, in Fishkill’s case, it was a collapsed during the depression of the Fishkill was originally part of the group of women who were protesting the 1870s. In 1931, Texaco breathed new life Rombout Patent. In 1685, this patent was price of tea. into the area with the establishment of a purchased and divided into three smaller research center. land grants. Roger Brett owned the sec- Many of the buildings still in use in tion that includes contemporary Fishkill. Fishkill lay claim to a role in the Ameri- Today, the town is attempting to bal- Roger Brett died soon after, leaving Ca- can Revolution. Trinity Church was a ance the desire to grow with the need to tharyna Brett to be the sole provider for hospital for soldiers, while the Dutch preserve its history. Many of the farms their children. Thereafter, Catharyna Reformed Church was the home of a have now given way to residential Brett sold tracts of her land as a source of prison for Tories and the New York Pro- neighborhoods and commercial develop- income leading to the creations of home- vincial Congress, making Fishkill the ment. Similar to New York, the struggle steads in the burgeoning town. temporary capital of New York. Further- between past and future will continue in more, George Washington’s sword, de- Fishkill. Fishkill’s strongest historical attach- picted in Washington Crossing the Dela- ment is to the American Revolution.