Town Hopes to Preserve "New York's Valley Forge"
By Margaret Foster | Online Only | May 26, 2009
New York's Route 9 before development
Credit: Fishkill Historical Focus
During the Revolutionary War, a 70-acre military city sprang up in Fishkill, N.Y., and became a critical supply depot. Today, however, less than 20 acres of open land remain, along with just one building, the 1732 Van Wyck Homestead Museum, which the Continental Army used as officers' quarters.
Now a group of four Fishkill residents wants to permanently preserve the land, where archaeologists identified potentially more than 100 graves, they announced last month.
The excavation "suggests that there are hundreds of graves present," wrote Douglas Mackey, an archaeology program analyst for the state, in an Apr. 8 letter to landowner and developer Scott Jerutis, who proposed a 50,000-square-foot retail center on the site.
The group, Fishkill Historical Focus, is reaching out to land-conservation groups to buy the last two remaining parcels of the depot, which are for sale.
"One of the best outcomes would be for this site to become a state [park]," says Mara Farrell of Fishkill Historical Focus. "Certainly the forest that is there could remain intact and pathways could be developed."
The Fishkill Supply Depot District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, but the designation hasn't protected it from development. A mall and gas station were built around the Van Wyck Homestead Museum. Still, town leaders say there is hope for these last two areas.
"The town of Fishkill supports preservation of the site," says Town Supervisor Joan Pagones. "We will do everything we can to bring people together … to come to a solution on how best the property can be preserved, covering everyone's interests."
In 2006, before the recession, Jerutis proposed his project, Crossroads of Fishkill. The following year, Fishkill Historic Focus gathered 350 signatures on a petition urging the state to survey the site. Archaeologists found architectural features on the land in addition to graves.
"There's a real beauty to this site," Farrell says. "It's very important to keep it undisturbed."
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Comments
Submitted by Brian at: June 19, 2009
We need to work harder educating the general public about American History. Then it wouldn't be so hard preserving sites like this.
Submitted by David at: June 3, 2009
The very idea that someone or some group would want to build a 50,000 sq ft retail space over the graves of American soldiers is the most outrageous thing I've ever heard. It doesn't say much for America if we allow this to happen. Where is our National pride when it comes to matters like this?
Submitted by Mara Farrell at: May 28, 2009
Fragile history, a fascinating part of our American heritage is at risk here. Let's keep these precious acres pristine and beautiful.