News & Events
Treason of the Blackest Dye Exhibit Closing Day
Free Tickets & Special Programs!
Thousands of people and hundreds of school children have already seen Treason of the Blackest Dye—The True Story of André, Arnold and Three Honest Militiamen. The exhibit will close on Wednesday, December 11 with a special guest and program.
In addition to seeing the papers and artifacts related to the Tarrytown capture of British spy Major John André that revealed Benedict Arnold’s treason, you will be joined by Benedict Arnold himself, ready to answer your burning questions about this Revolutionary War turning point!
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: View exhibit and interact with Benedict Arnold
2 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Special interactive program where you can engage with exhibit artifacts and papers in an interactive, educator-guided program. Probe into Arnold’s treason, the fate of the American double agents he exposed, and the unfolding of André’s capture by militiamen John Paulding, Isaac Van Wart and David Williams. Register for the 2 p.m. ticket slot to participate in this program!
Free tickets are available here. Please note!
Click the “Register Now” button and navigate to December 11 on the calendar.
Click on a time to register. Benedict Arnold will be at the exhibit all day.
If you want to participate in the special one-hour interactive program, register for the 2 p.m. time period.
Questions? Email 1780capture@gmail.com.
Revolution on the Hudson!
Revolution on the Hudson! Living History Experience
Saturday, November 9, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rain or shine
Croton Point Park
FREE & FUN FOR ALL AGES
A living history day where the American Revolution and the story of Teller’s Point (now Croton Point Park) come to life!
Over 100 historic reenactors plus 18th-century craftspeople, musicians, farm animals, food trucks & more!
Explore British & Continental military camps, meet generals, soldiers, traitors, spies and revolutionary women!
Watch weavers, cooks, medics and demonstrations of blacksmithing and Lenape skills.
Participate in colonial games, colonial dancing, and try your hand at Revolutionary War spycraft.
See cannon and musket firings, horse drills, oxen pulls, colonial-era music performances, and a grand finale parade!
See displays from local historic sites and heritage organizations.
All on the beautiful Hudson River!
Free parking in the park or use the free shuttle from the Croton-Harmon Metro North Station.
We especially welcome veterans to this event honoring our original veterans.
Produced by Revolutionary Westchester 250 with the support of Westchester County; Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area; Village of Croton-on-Hudson; and Croton Historical Society.
Reflections on Heroes and Highwaymen: A Local Perspective on the Capture of Major André
This video of Dr. Sara Mascia’s 2024 Pocantico Fall Forum lecture provides a local perspective on Major John André’s remarkable capture in Tarrytown during the American Revolution and why the spy’s fame eclipsed the reputation of his captors. Using historical images of the capture and the local militiamen responsible, Dr. Mascia reflects on why local militiamen John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wart—who captured André as he fled toward New York City—have often been overlooked, diminished, or vilified. She also explores the rise of André’s persona in popular culture, as well as the historical importance and consequences of his capture.
Dr. Sara F. Mascia completed her Ph.D. in historical archaeology with a secondary area of historic preservation from Boston University. She is vice president of the cultural resource management firm Historical Perspectives Inc. and an assistant professor at SUNY Westchester Community College. She is also the executive director of The Historical Society, Inc. Serving Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown, the village historian of Tarrytown, and the author of numerous publications and presentations.
Special Event: Treason of the Blackest Dye Exhibition
Revolutionary Westchester 250 is thrilled to announce the September 25, 2024 opening of a very special free exhibit that highlights one of the most remarkable chapters in the Revolutionary War—one that played out right here in Westchester County. Intrigue, betrayal, and chance circumstances will come to life for visitors to Treason of the Blackest Dye, the True Story of Arnold, André, and the Three Honest Militiamen. If the events that unfolded here in 1780 had turned out differently, America’s war for Independence may well have been lost!
Curated and produced by Revolutionary Westchester 250 (RW250) and hosted by The Pocantico Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the exhibit highlights Benedict Arnold’s treasonous plans and the remarkable capture of the British spy, Major André. The exhibit runs from September 25 to December 11, 2024 and brings together rarely seen and valuable original documents and artifacts as well as costumes from the popular AMC television series Turn: Washington’s Spies. Following opening day, high quality facsimiles stand in for the some of the documents and artifacts. Several related events, including an immersive experience using AI-generated imagery and 360-degree content, will also take place in September.
It was very much a “treason of the blackest dye” that began to unfold on September 22, 1780. Meeting secretly, General Benedict Arnold turned over plans for West Point to British spy Major John André. With the plans, which André concealed in his boots, the British might have captured West Point and turned the tide of the war. Instead, André was captured in Tarrytown by three local militiamen and Arnold’s plot was uncovered. André would be executed as a spy days later, while Arnold made a narrow escape and defected to the British.
Benedict Arnold's pass for John André under the name "John Anderson."
Now, nearly 250 years later, the original “boot papers” return to Tarrytown for the very first time. Loaned by the New York State Archives, the rare papers will be on view during the exhibit’s opening day, and then replaced with exact facsimiles for the duration of the show.
Additional items on view will include the original Fidelity Medal awarded by a grateful Congress to one of the militiamen, Issac Van Wart, on loan from the New York State Museum; an original Revolutionary War orderly book, loaned by the U.S. Military Academy Library, with “Treason of the Blackest Dye” written boldly across its pages on the day General Nathanael Greene received news of Arnold’s treason; the buttons from the Hessian coat local militiaman John Paulding was wearing at the time of the capture, loaned by The Historical Society serving Sleepy Hollow & Tarrytown; and other items loaned by private collectors. Costumes, original cast photos and a script from the AMC Series Turn: Washington’s Spies will highlight the ongoing interest in this event in the popular imagination. (The Fidelity Medal and Orderly book will also be replaced with facsimiles after opening day.)
Information panels created by RW250 using primary sources and rarely seen visual material will tell the story of this remarkable event and the key players. In addition to the public viewing, RW250 is offering free docent-led field trips open to any Westchester school. The field trips incorporate the New York State Social Studies Framework for grade 7 (History of the United States and New York State) and grade 11 (United States History and Government) and allow students to engage with the wealth of primary sources included in the exhibit. To learn more about scheduling a field trip, contact 1780capture@gmail.com.
With financial support from Westchester County, RW250 has created a free informational brochure about the Arnold/André plot, based on the exhibit panels. The brochure will be available at The Pocantico Center exhibit and also distributed to the public at historic sites and other locations.
Treason of the Blackest Dye Exhibit
September 25 to December 11, 2024
The Pocantico Center, 200 Lake Road, Tarrytown N.Y.
The exhibit is free, but advance timed-ticket reservations are required.
To reserve one of the limited number of tickets click here. Tickets issued on a first-come basis. Some original documents will be replaced with facsimiles after Sept. 25.
Fall Forum Lecture and Reception
At this year’s Pocantico Fall Forum, Sara Mascia, Ph.D., will present Reflections on Heroes and Highwaymen: A Local Perspective on the Capture of Major André. The 7:00 p.m. lecture will be preceded by a reception with special access to the exhibit.
September 25, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The Pocantico Center, 200 Lake Road, Tarrytown N.Y.
Free tickets will be offered beginning September 3 here.
ADDITIONAL EVENTS
Rendezvous with Treason: The André/Arnold Conspiracy
In partnership with RW250, Rockefeller State Park Preserve is excited to announce a special event in honor of this pivotal moment in our nation’s history. In a dramatic performance, Sean Grady and Gary Petagine will bring to life two of the most intriguing characters in the American Revolution—Major John André and General Benedict Arnold during their fateful meeting in Haverstraw, New York in September of 1780. The events following their collusion played out across Putnam, Westchester, Orange, and Rockland Counties. The 50-minute production allows these infamous men an opportunity to tell their side of the story and the motivations behind the plot that could have ended the cause for independence. A Q&A will follow the performance.
This special Rockefeller State Park Preserve program will take place at the Pocantico Hills Fire Department, 531 Bedford Rd., Tarrytown, NY 10591. The building is wheelchair accessible. The event is free but advance registration is required.
Sunday, September 8, 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. To register click here.
The Real Story: André, Arnold and Treason of the Blackest Dye
On September 23, 1780, Tarrytown was the site of an event that likely altered the outcome of the Revolutionary War: the capture of British spy Major John André and discovery of American General Benedict Arnold’s treason. Almost immediately, fabrications and fake news sprang up, myths that persist in today’s popular imagination.
Char Weigel, Vice President for Special Projects for Revolutionary Westchester 250, will correct the record with the real story of the capture by three honest Westchester militiamen and introduce new research on Arnold’s disclosure of two Westchester-based double agents.
This free presentation will be given online twice during September:
Wednesday, September 11, 7:00 p.m. for Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site. This program is sponsored by the Friends of Philipse Manor Hall and Tompkins Bank. Tickets for this virtual program are free, but registration is required. To register click here.
Tuesday, September 17, 7:00 p.m. for Warner Library in Tarrytown. Tickets for this virtual program are free, but registration is required. To register click here.
Revolutionary Westchester: The Story of Benedict Arnold, John André, and Three Honest Militia Men
In conjunction with the exhibit, the White Plains Public Library has created an immersive experience using AI-generated imagery and 360-degree content for the library’s new panoramic “Igloo” video room, funded by the Library Foundation and Optimum. Revolutionary Westchester: The Story of Benedict Arnold, John André and Three Honest Militiamen tells the story of Benedict Arnold’s treason, André’s role as General Clinton’s top spymaster engaged in negotiations with Arnold, André’s capture, Arnold’s escape behind British lines, and André’s trial and execution as a spy.
Thursday, September 26, 5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., with additional dates below. Seating is very limited. To register click here. White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Avenue, White Plains, N.Y.
Additional dates: October 3, October 15, and October 24.
RW250 Highlights Contributions of Black Soldiers,Indigenous Soldiers and Women in the Revolutionary War
Author Shirley L. Green, Ph.D.
Judith Kalaora portraying Deborah Sampson.
As the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States approaches, there is no better time than Black History Month (February 2024) and Women’s History Month (March 2024) to highlight the under told stories of the black soldiers, indigenous soldiers and women who fought for and created this country. The local non-profit organization Revolutionary Westchester 250 (RW250) is working to share a more complete picture of Westchester County’s crucial role in the war that includes the diversity of those involved in the war effort.
RW250 President Constance Kehoe commented, “There was much broader participation in the American Revolution than many realize. Women played an essential role in local encampments, caring for soldiers and sometimes themselves fighting. Free black men picked up their muskets to enlist as did enslaved men who were promised freedom at the end of the war.” She continued, “Wappinger Sachem Daniel Nimham, Captain in the American Army, along with his son and nearly every adult Wappinger male gave their lives fighting for America in what was then Westchester County. It is important that our county’s commemoration be an inclusive depiction of local sacrifice and success.”
RW250 is sponsoring a presentation in Ossining by author Shirley L. Green, Ph.D. as part of the Bethany Arts Community (BAC) Black History and Culture Exhibit: Black Presence. Profound Influence. The exhibit, running February 2 through March 8, will include the role of black soldiers in the Revolutionary War.
Joyce Sharrock-Cole, BAC board member, Village of Ossining Historian, and member of RW250 Advisory Committee said, “RW250 connected us to the Living History Co. We are excited that they will portray Revolutionary era black soldiers and black women who were camp members during our February 2 opening reception.” Sharrock-Cole continued, “We are grateful to RW250 for sponsoring Dr. Green’s presentation on her book Revolutionary Blacks: Discovering the Frank Brothers, Freeborn Men of Color, Soldiers of Independence as part of our exhibit.” Dr. Green’s February 22 presentation will start at 7 pm after a 6 pm reception at the Ossining Public Library (free but registration required at www.ossininglibrary.org).
RW250 is also sponsoring a presentation by Dr. Green on February 24 at 10 am at the Grinton I. Will Public Library in Yonkers (free but registration required at www.ypl.org/grinton-i-will-library). In both presentations, Dr. Green will discuss the experiences of William and Benjamin Frank, brothers who enlisted in Rhode Island Regiments during the American Revolutionary War in 1777. The brothers’ experiences include two major battles and the tragic circumstances met by Rhode Island soldiers at Pines Bridge (Yorktown, NY) in 1781. Dr. Green will talk about the significant distinction between free Blacks in military service and those who had been enslaved, and how they responded in different ways to the harsh realities of war.
RW250 is sponsoring a one woman living history experience by Judith Kalaora, founder of History at PlayTM LLC, at the Greenburgh Public Library on March 27 at 6:30 pm. In A Revolution of Her Own,TM Kalaora portrays Deborah Sampson, the first woman to enlist, fight, and be honorably discharged from the American Military. Disguised as a man and fighting in the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment, Sampson was wounded near Tarrytown. Families are encouraged to bring school-aged children given the youth focus of this experience (free but registration required at www.greenburghlibrary.org).
George Latimer, Westchester County Executive stated, “Westchester County holds a unique position in the tapestry of the American Revolution, boasting numerous crucial historical sites. In the narrative of our heritage, it is imperative to illuminate the pivotal roles played by indigenous, African-American, and female figures. Through RW250, we embark on a journey to tell the complete story, ensuring that these historical figures' voices and contributions are acknowledged and celebrated, forging a richer and more inclusive understanding of our shared past.”
Kehoe added, “Our commemoration of Westchester’s singular role in the Revolutionary War cannot be fully understood without including the names and stories of Captain Sachem Daniel Nimham, the Frank Brothers of the Rhode Island Regiment, Deborah Sampson, and other black and indigenous soldiers and women.”
Residents and visitors can stay informed about these and other upcoming events by subscribing to Revolutionary Westchester 250’s monthly e-newsletter here. They can also follow the organization on Facebook @revolutionarywestchester250 and on Instagram @revolutionary_westchester_250.
About Revolutionary Westchester 250
Revolutionary Westchester 250 (RW250) is a charitable not-for-profit corporation organized to provide for the observance and commemoration of the pivotal role of Westchester County, NY in the American Revolution, the founding of the United States and related events. RW250 was created to further the purpose of the national Semiquincentennial Commission, established by Congress in 2016 to commemorate the coming 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States, 1776-2026.
About the Bethany Arts Community
Bethany Arts Community in Ossining is a space and environment where all forms of art can be learned and expressed, where hope & acceptance are the norms. Nurturing the creative process, Bethany welcomes artists, from young to old, and all levels of experience, to explore and create art that the community can engage with. Bethany fosters sharing, connection, and collaboration, in an inclusive culture where people experience the power of art to improve lives and expand their perceptions and perspectives of the world. https://bethanyarts.org/
RW250 Roundtable Book Group
Professor Michael Crowder from Iona University’s Institute for Thomas Paine Studies moderated a wide ranging discussion of Rick Atkinson’s book The British are Coming, the first volume of a trilogy about the American Revolution. From the statistics about death rates of soldiers (one in ten), to how very long the conflict lasted (3,089 days—longer than WWII), participants covered topics such as the perception of the Hessian auxiliary troops, the Declaration of Independence, the Battle of White Plains—more than “just” the battle at Chatterton Hill. Nearly 40 people joined the discussion and viewed a short video of Atkinson revealing his experience examining newly-available British government documents in Windsor Castle—one of the first researchers to be given access.
To participate in our next book group discussion subscribe to our free monthly newsletter here.
RW250 Sets Sights on 250th Anniversary Celebration of American Independence Coming in 2026
From left to right, RW250 Executive Committee members Niles Jaeger, Constance Kehoe, Char Weigel, Marc Cheshire, Frank Kaiman review Revolutionary War era letters at the United States Military Academy Library at West Point.
The British are coming! And the French! In fact, representatives from countries around the world will arrive in the region in July of 2026 to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States. The local non-profit organization Revolutionary Westchester 250 (RW250) is working to ensure that Westchester County plays a central role in these regional celebrations, matching the crucial role the county played during the Revolutionary War itself. The organization has set an ambitious agenda for 2024, seeking to build momentum towards the “semiquincentennial,” while rolling out new programming ranging from free, GPS-enabled audio tours to presentations across the county.
RW250 President Constance Kehoe commented, “Many Westchester residents remember the excitement of the Bicentennial celebrations in 1976. As we approach the 250th Anniversary of our nation’s founding, we want to ensure that new audiences, including our young residents, gain an appreciation for the role that Westchester County played in the American Revolution.” She continued, “Perhaps we can even inspire a sense of wonder at the origins and future of our nation’s grand democratic experiment while we continue to work together to build a more perfect union.”
During 2024, RW250 plans a number of special initiatives. During Black History Month in February, the organization plans programming drawing attention to the often overlooked contribution of Black soldiers of the Rhode Island Regiment. During Women’s History Month in March, a program will highlight the remarkable story of Deborah Sampson, a courageous woman who disguised herself as a man and fought in the Continental Army.
In spring 2024, the organization will launch a free, GPS-enabled audio tour, created in partnership with TravelStorysGPS, that highlights key Revolutionary-era sites throughout Westchester County. Residents and visitors will be able to download the free app and the tour to their iPhone or Android devices and listen as they travel to the various locations. RW250 will also be debuting a free map and guide to key Revolutionary War sites across the county for residents and visitors to access.
In fall 2024, RW250 will partner with the Rockefeller Brothers Fund on a special exhibition at The Pocantico Center in Tarrytown with details to be announced.
One area of focus for RW250 in 2024 is working with regional partners including Sail 4th 250. This organization is well underway in its work to create the “Sail4th 250” celebration in New York, featuring tall ships from around the world. While New York City will be a focus for these vessels in celebrations culminating on July 4, 2026, RW250 is working closely with organizers to extend a Parade of Sail for selected vessels to sail north up the Hudson River immediately after the NYC event. Potential docking in cities including Yonkers and Peekskill, as well as spectator viewing from shoreline communities and the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge Path, would enable local residents to experience these magnificent ships from distinctive vantage points. The county’s sound shore communities would also experience selected ships sailing into New York City’s breathtaking celebration in advance of July 4th. Long Island Sound was a hunting ground for privateers, smugglers, and spies during the revolution.
The Hudson River played a pivotal role in the Revolutionary War, so a parade of ships up the river is historically relevant and will also provide access to anniversary celebrations for a broad cross-section of New York State residents. Such maritime displays do require financial support, however, and for this reason RW250 and its regional partners are urging NY State lawmakers to allocate funds towards the initiative. Likewise, the group is urging Governor Kathy Hochul to complete the appointments needed to seat New York State’s 250th Commemoration Commission. Formation of the commission will qualify the State for Federal Funding related to the 250th Anniversary Celebration.
Natasha Caputo, Director of Westchester County Tourism and Film, and a member of the RW250 Advisory Board, added, “Westchester played a vital role in America’s battle for independence. We look forward to welcoming visitors this year and in the years ahead who seek to learn more about the people and places that led to our country’s founding. We’re confident that the combination of historic sites, special events, natural beauty and recreational opportunities here in Westchester will have visitors coming back for more!”
Visitors can stay informed about upcoming events by subscribing to Revolutionary Westchester 250’s monthly e-newsletter at www.rw250.org. They can also follow the organization on Facebook @revolutionarywestchester250 or on Instagram @revolutionary_westchester_250
“Treason of the Blackest Dye” at West Point
RW250 Executive Committee (left to right): Niles Jaeger, Constance Kehoe, Char Weigel, Marc Cheshire, Frank Kaiman.
The RW250 Executive Committee was thrilled receive an invitation from Douglass Litts, Archive & Special Collections Librarian of the United States Military Academy Library at West Point, to see some of the rare letters, reports and maps related to the treason of Benedict Arnold, along with maps of the Battle of White Plains. To further our mission to bring awareness to the critically important events of the Revolution that played out right here in the Hudson Valley, we work to research and amplify the accurate historical record of events like these.
With Douglass and fellow librarian Susan Lintelman, we were treated to a chance to look closely at an original 1780 letter signed by General Washington in the immediate aftermath of Benedict Arnold’s betrayal, an orderly book recording that “treason of the blackest dye” was discovered the previous day and a letter from an ordinary soldier, recording his reaction to Arnold’s attempt to turn over the fort at West Point to the British—a plan foiled by the capture in Tarrytown of his accomplice, British Major John André, by three militiamen in Tarrytown.
Orderly Book of Captain Samuel Frost (6th. Mass. Rgt.) under General Nathanael Greene, Headquarters, Orange Town, Sept. 26, 1780, using the term “Treason of the Blackest Dye”.
RW250 Roundtable Book Group Selection
The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777 by Rick Atkinson is the next RW250 Roundtable Book Group selection.
The discussion will take place on Sunday, January 21 at 4 p.m. on Zoom.
To register click here.
The Institute for Thomas Paine Studies at Iona University is once again joining RW250 as a cosponsor. Dr. Michael Crowder, ITPS Public Historian, will moderate the discussion.
The first book in the Pulitzer Prize-winning author’s Revolution Trilogy recounts the first twenty-one months of America’s violent war for independence. From the battles at Lexington and Concord in spring 1775, to the Battle of White Plains in the fall of 1776 and to those at Trenton and Princeton in winter 1777, American militiamen and then the ragged Continental Army take on the world’s most formidable fighting force. It is a gripping saga alive with astonishing characters: Henry Knox, the former bookseller with an uncanny understanding of artillery; Nathanael Greene, the blue-eyed bumpkin who becomes a brilliant battle captain; Benjamin Franklin, the self-made man who proves to be the wiliest of diplomats; George Washington, the commander in chief who learns the difficult art of leadership when the war seems all but lost. The story is also told from the British perspective, making the mortal conflict between the redcoats and the rebels all the more compelling. Full of riveting details and untold stories, The British Are Coming is a tale of heroes and knaves, of sacrifice and blunder, of redemption and profound suffering.
Get your copy from a local library or bookseller and plan to join us on January 21.
December News & Events from RW250
NEWS
RW250 Roundtable Book Group
The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777 by Rick Atkinson is the next RW250 Roundtable Book Group selection.
The discussion will take place on Sunday, January 21 at 4 p.m. on Zoom.
To register click here.
The Institute for Thomas Paine Studies at Iona University is once again joining RW250 as a cosponsor. Dr. Michael Crowder, ITPS Public Historian, will moderate the discussion.
The first book in the Pulitzer Prize-winning author’s Revolution Trilogy recounts the first twenty-one months of America’s violent war for independence. From the battles at Lexington and Concord in spring 1775, to the Battle of White Plains in the fall of 1776 and to those at Trenton and Princeton in winter 1777, American militiamen and then the ragged Continental Army take on the world’s most formidable fighting force. It is a gripping saga alive with astonishing characters: Henry Knox, the former bookseller with an uncanny understanding of artillery; Nathanael Greene, the blue-eyed bumpkin who becomes a brilliant battle captain; Benjamin Franklin, the self-made man who proves to be the wiliest of diplomats; George Washington, the commander in chief who learns the difficult art of leadership when the war seems all but lost. The story is also told from the British perspective, making the mortal conflict between the redcoats and the rebels all the more compelling. Full of riveting details and untold stories, The British Are Coming is a tale of heroes and knaves, of sacrifice and blunder, of redemption and profound suffering.
Get your copy from a local library or bookseller and plan to join us on January 21.
Revolutionary Rye 250 Formed
RW250 president Constance Kehoe was pleased to join more than 30 invitees to the in-person and virtual kick off meeting of Revolutionary Rye 250 on November 28 at the Rye Free Library. McGuire will serve as co-chair of the steering committee along with Jennette Cummins. Anne Gold, new executive director of the Rye Historical Society initiated the kick-off meeting and will be a key organizer of the planning for the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Those joining on Zoom included the presidents of Purchase College, Milly Peña, and Manhattanville College, Frank Sanchez.
Gold serves on the RW250 advisory committee along with Peña and Dr. Lisa Keller, professor of history at Purchase, who also joined on Zoom.
Pictured are (left to right) Kehoe, McGuire and Gold.
Revolutionary 250 North Salem
In September North Salem announced Revolutionary 250 North Salem. Town Historian Susan Thompson is working with a team from the North Salem Historical Society, the Town of North Salem and the Ruth Keller Memorial Library and others. Recently Susan shared the logo the team developed. Susan and Library program director Caroline Reznick both attended the Countywide 250th Summit.
Advisory Committee Spotlight!
Natasha Caputo, Director of Westchester County Tourism & Film, (left) and State Senator the Honorable Shelley Mayer (right) both recently accepted appointments to the RW250 Advisory Committee. Their enthusiasm for highlighting the history of Westchester County was evident this past July 11. Here, in White Plains City Hall, Natasha and Shelley are pictured with Jonathan Kruk (center) following Jonathan’s dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence on the steps of City Hall. RW250 is thrilled to have had their active encouragement and involvement over several years and appreciate their willingness to add their thoughtful voices to the Advisory Committee.
Pictured are (left to right) Caputo, Kruk and Mayer.
EVENTS
Taking Manhattan
The history of New York City tells a complex story of competing identities and ambitions among the Indigenous tribes that long populated the area and European powers who sought to colonize the new world. Historian and author Russell Shorto will talk about how the Dutch created the colony of New Netherland, why the English wanted it, and how the clash between these two cultures and the local inhabitants resulted in the unique entity that became New York. Mr. Shorto is the director of the New Amsterdam Project at the New York Historical Society and a senior scholar at the New Netherland Institute. Admission is free. The event takes place at the Main Street School, 101 Main Street, Irvington, N.Y.
Friday, December 1, 7 p.m. Irvington Historical Society, 131 Main Street, Irvington, N.Y.
Candlelight Tours of Sherwood House
The Yonkers Historical Society is holding its annual Candlelight Tours at Sherwood House, one of the few remaining pre-Revolutionary War fully furnished tenant farmhouses in the New York Metropolitan area. Admission is free and there is a Holiday Boutique in the Weed Caretaker’s Cottage, where merchandise and refreshments are made available. Visitors are welcome to tour the second oldest house in Yonkers with friendly and knowledgeable volunteers as your guides. No registration is required.
Saturday, December 2 and Sunday, December 3, 1 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sherwood House, 340 Tuckahoe Road (at the southbound entrance to the Sprain Brook Parkway), Yonkers N.Y.
The Diversity of Revolutionary War Experiences
Richard Forliano, long-time Eastchester Town Historian and a retired history teacher, explores the diversity of experiences among local residents in the era of the American Revolution, using Eastchester, New York as an example. No reservations are necessary for in-person attendance. To receive the link to the livestream of the event click here.
Saturday, December 2, 3 p.m. Saint Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 S. Columbus Ave., Mt. Vernon, N.Y.
Washington’s Farewell to His Officers Reenactment
On December 4, 1783, George Washington and his officers met at Fraunces Tavern to say an emotional farewell. Stand in the room where it happened for a special reenactment and opportunity to talk with Washington himself before he returns to Mount Vernon! $1 reserves your space at one of four timed reenactments and also gives you admission to the museum to see the current exhibitions. To learn more and to register click here.
Sunday, December 3, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Fraunces Tavern Museum, 54 Pearl Street, New York, N.Y.
Feeding Washington’s Army: Surviving the Valley Forge Winter of 1778
In his new history of the Continental Army’s Grand Forage of 1778, military historian Ricardo A. Herrera uncovers what daily life was like for soldiers during the darkest and coldest days of the American Revolution at the Valley Forge. Here, the army launched its largest and riskiest operation—not a bloody battle against British forces but a campaign to feed itself and prevent starvation or dispersal during the long encampment. Herrera brings to light the army’s herculean efforts to feed itself, support local and Continental governments, and challenge the British Army. Highlighting the missteps and triumphs of both General George Washington and his officers as well as ordinary soldiers, sailors, and militiamen, Feeding Washington’s Army moves far beyond oft-told, heroic, and mythical tales of Valley Forge and digs deeply into its daily reality, revealing how close the Continental Army came to succumbing to starvation and how strong and resourceful its soldiers and leaders actually were. For details on this free Zoom presentation and how to register, click here.
Tuesday, December 5, 7:30 p.m. The American Revolution Round Table of New York.
God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America’s Most Hated Man
For more than two centuries, all most Americans have ever known about Benedict Arnold is that he committed treason—yet he was more than a turncoat. He was a superb leader, a brilliant tactician, a supremely courageous soldier and one of the most successful military officers of the early years of the Revolutionary War. His capture of Fort Ticonderoga, his Maine mountain expedition to attack Quebec, the famous artillery duel at Valcour Island and the turning point at the Battle of Saratoga all laid the groundwork for our independence. Although his new book doesn’t exonerate Arnold for his treason, historian Jack Kelly forces us to reexamine our understanding of Arnold by offering a fresh new perspective on the events and decisions that led to his momentous change of heart and the permanent stain on his character. For additional information and to register for the free virtual presentation click here.
Thursday, December 7, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati, 2118 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.
Warm Up at Washington’s Headquarters
As the days get chillier, you are invited to warm up at Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh. Historic interpreters in each seasonally decorated room will greet visitors who will learn about the period when the Washingtons occupied the Hasbrouck farmhouse during the last winter of the Revolutionary War. Listen to live 18th-century music as you learn about events that happened while General Washington was headquartered here, the longest stay at any of his wartime headquarters, and how the Hasbrouck House became the first publicly owned historic site in the nation. Admission is free for this open house, compliments of the Friends of the State Historic Sites of the Hudson Highlands. Please call 845-562-1195 for more information.
Saturday, December 9, noon to 3 p.m. Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site, 84 Liberty Street, Newburgh, N.Y. Rain/snow date for this event is Sunday, December 10th.
Holiday Open House at the Jacob Purdy House
The White Plains Historical Society invites you to a wassailing celebration with hot spiced cider and cookies at the historic Jacob Purdy House. Stop by for a neighborly visit and see the National Historic Register Site dressed for the holidays!
Monday, December 11, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Jacob Purdy House, 60 Park Avenue, White Plains, N.Y.
Lt. Lemuel Snow, Patriot and Pioneer
While serving for eight years in the Revolutionary War, Lt. Lemuel Snow, like most of the Massachusetts Line, spent most of his time in the Hudson River Valley. From Peekskill to Saratoga, Valley Forge, Monmouth, and Providence he endured the hardships that every soldier faced. He was a witness to the execution of André, was at Verplanck’s Point with his regiment to greet Rochambeau and with Washington for the British evacuation of New York City and Washington’s farewell. After the war, he returned to Barnstable, Massachusetts before taking his family West to settle in what would become Indiana. Speaker and Putnam History Museum Trustee Kirk Moldoff will tell this epic tale of one man’s love of country and family. The program will take place in-person and be live-streamed on Zoom. The cost is $10 per person (PHM Members free). To register click here.
Wednesday, December 13, 7 p.m. Putnam History Museum, 63 Chestnut Street, Cold Spring, N.Y.
Defiance of the Patriots: The Boston Tea Party and the Making of America
On the night of December 16, 1773, a party of Bostonians boarded three British vessels and dumped over three hundred chests of tea into Boston Harbor. In addition to objecting to taxation without representation, the participants were also protesting the Tea Act of 1773, which forced them to pay a tax on top of the monopoly prices set by the East India Company and benefitting the family of the royal governor of Massachusetts. To commemorate the 250th anniversary of this harbinger of the Revolution, Benjamin Carp, professor of history at Brooklyn College, discusses the event by examining the actions of those who carried out the raid in the context of the global story of British interests in India, North America and the Caribbean. For additional information and to register for the free virtual presentation click here.
Wednesday, December 13, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati, 2118 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.
George Washington at New Jersey’s Middlebrook
Bergen 250/The Bergen County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs invites you to a free presentation by Paul F. Soltis on George Washington at New Jersey’s Middlebrook. This free event is part of the Bergen 250 Revolutionary War Roundtable Speakers Series, sponsored by Bergen 250 and the Bergen County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs.
Wednesday, December 13, 7 p.m. One Bergen County Plaza, 1st Floor Multimedia Room, Hackensack, N.J.
Holiday Event at St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site
Join us for our annual Wreaths Across America program, in conjunction with the national celebration, honoring service members buried at St. Paul’s. Historic musician Erik Lichack and associates will give a holiday recital, with harpsichord, voice and some selections on the Erben pipe organ. The Westchester Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol will also participate in the wreath-laying event. These events are free and no registration is required. To join the livestream of the concert register here.
RW250 is pleased to be the cosponsor of the holiday music program and will participate in placing our wreaths during the ceremony in the historic graveyard.
Saturday, December 16, noon (wreath laying) and 2 p.m. (music). Saint Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 S. Columbus Ave., Mt. Vernon, N.Y.
Historical Games at Philipse Manor Hall
How did people entertain themselves in the past? Join us indoors (outdoors, weather-permitting) at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site to try your hand at all kinds of historical games. For children and adults. This event is free, no registration required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Saturday, December 16, 3 p.m. Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, 29 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, N.Y.
Religion in Colonial America: An Exploration
St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site historian and educator Maria Byrne explores religion in Colonial America. This will be a free in-person presentation and offered as a livestream. No reservations are necessary for in-person attendance. To receive the link to the livestream of the event click here.
Saturday, December 30, 1 p.m. Saint Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 S. Columbus Ave., Mt. Vernon, N.Y.
November News & Events from RW250
NEWS
Ask Governor Hochul to Support New York’s History
Please write to Governor Kathy Hochul and ask her to complete the appointments needed to seat the New York State 250th Commemoration Commission. The state cannot receive any Federal funds for projects relating to the 250th anniversary until the commission has been formed. New York State Historian Devin Lander has suggested that contacting the Governor would be helpful. Send a message to the Governor here.
RW250 Advisory Committee
RW250 has been recognized regionally and nationally for our leadership role in coordinating, planning, and offering commemorative events—and there are many more to come! Our Advisory Committee represent community leaders from across the county. We are pleased to welcome four new members to the Advisory Committee:
The Honorable Shelley B. Mayer, State Senator for the 37th District
Milagros “Milly” Peña, Ph.D., President of Purchase College SUNY
Natasha Caputo, Director of Westchester County Department of Tourism & Film
Anne Gold, Executive Director of the Rye Historical Society
See the RW250 website for the full list of officers, corporate board members and Advisory Committee members.
Advisory Board Spotlight!
Joyce Sharrock-Cole, a native of Ossining who serves as the Ossining Village Historian, recently accepted an appointment to the RW250 Advisory Committee. Born in 1976 she paid attention when her elementary school teachers proclaimed the class “Bicentennial babies.” Ossining’s Bethany Art Center, the Sparta and Dale cemeteries, and the Ossining Public Library are some of the venues where Joyce shares her passion for history and genealogy and the stories that have historically been silenced. Her Discovering in Genealogy (D.I.G.) program helps promote self-discovery and a sense of family connection to world history. We are thrilled that Joyce will bring her passion to planning for the 250th commemoration.
NY History Conference Call for Proposals
If you have a proposal for a presentation, panel or roundtable discussion that relates to the Revolutionary War period in New York you should consider submitting it to the New York History Conference, which will take place June 20-21, 2024, at the Cultural Education Center, Empire State Plaza, Albany. Proposals are due January 1, 2024. Click here for details.
EVENTS
Sherwood House Museum
Sherwood House Museum, operated by the Yonkers Historical Society, is open to the public Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. until November 19, 2023. Learn the history of this 1740 tenant farmhouse and the families who lived there before the Revolutionary War. Docents will guide you through each room and explain the history of the house and its contents. Special private tours can also be arranged with advanced notice. No registration required. Free parking is available on the site. Sherwood House, 340 Tuckahoe Road, Yonkers.
Smith’s Tavern Educational Complex
The Smith’s Tavern Educational Complex, operated by the North Castle Historical Society, is open every Sunday and Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m., excluding holidays. The centerpiece of the site is Captain John Smith’s Tavern, a National Register site which served the public as a stagecoach stop, militia headquarters, town hall, voting place, tavern, and North Castle’s first post office. Visitors can also see the Brundage Blacksmith Shop, East Middle Patent One-Room Schoolhouse, and the 1798 Quaker Meeting House. No registration required. Admission is by donation. Smith’s Tavern Educational Complex, 440 Bedford Road, Armonk N.Y.
King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father
John Hancock is often associated with the radical commencement of the Revolution and his audacious signature at the bottom of the Declaration of Independence, but his politics were not nearly as bold as they may have seemed. Throughout the Revolution, he frustrated both patriots and loyalists alike but remained the most popular and powerful man in Massachusetts through his ability to find middle ground amidst political turmoil. In her new book, historian Brooke Barbier examines the life and leadership of Hancock, whose steadying force and compromise proved the basis of profound social and political change. This event is free on Zoom. To register click here.
Wednesday, November 1, 6:30 p.m. The American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati, 2118 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.
Dutchess & Putnam County and the Hudson Valley Land Wars
In the 1760s Dutchess County (which then included Putnam) was a “land in controversy” as landlords, tenant farmers, and the Wappinger fought over who owned the land. First, the Wappinger and tenants joined forces and went to court. When that failed, they took different paths in search of justice. Tenant farmers set up a “mob government,” then faced off against British troops near modern Patterson. The Wappinger sailed to England, where they lobbied Crown officials to restore their homeland. This talk brings to light this largely forgotten episode in the history of the Hudson Valley. Guest speaker Jim Merrell taught American history at Vassar College for 39 years. His research interests focus on Natives and newcomers in early America. This presentation will take place in-person and on Zoom. To register click here.
Thursday, November 2, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Putnam History Museum, 63 Chestnut Street, Cold Spring, N.Y.
Honoring America’s First Female Veteran: The Revolutionary War Service of Margaret Corbin
Celebrate Veterans Day and learn about the Revolutionary War service of Margaret “Molly” Corbin, who dressed as a man and fought alongside her husband in an artillery regiment during the American Revolution. In recognition of her service, Congress awarded Corbin a pension and rations for life. She was the first woman to receive a military pension and to be recognized as a veteran in the United States. The curators of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History will discuss Corbin’s service with Dr. Holly Mayer of Duquesne University. This presentation will take place on Zoom. To register click here.
Thursday, November 2, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, 49 West 45th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, N.Y.
Historical Games
How did people entertain themselves in the past? Join us indoors (outdoors, weather-permitting) at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site to try your hand at all kinds of historical games. Learn the history behind these games and then learn how to play Quoits, Nine Men’s Morris, Shut the Box, Cribbage, Whist, and more! For children and adults.
This event is free, no registration required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Saturday, November 4 and 18, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, 29 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, N.Y.
Carving Legends: Walking Tour of Colonial Gravestones
Sleepy Hollow is renowned for the haunting beauty of gravestones crafted by two colonial carvers. Join master carver Robert Neal Carpenter and researcher Char Weigel to explore the art of gravestone carving, learn about these two colonial carvers, and hear the stories of the people, including many Revolutionary War soldiers, whose stones stand in the Burying Grounds. Sponsored by the Historical Society Serving Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased here.
Saturday, November 4 and Sunday, November 5 at 10 a.m. Old Dutch Church, 430 Broadway, Sleepy Hollow.
North and South Redoubts Hike
Protecting the Hudson River, an extremely valuable route for moving goods and people, was a key part of Washington’s plans during the American Revolution. While the sharp curve of the Hudson was defended by the forts that would become West Point, the defenses on the eastern side of the river were the North and South Redoubts in Garrison, N.Y. This history hike will visit both redoubts, discussing the history of chaining the Hudson during the Revolutionary War and how the redoubts helped defend the chain, the river, and the Continental cause.
The hike begins at the North Redoubts trail head, located off of Snake Hill Road in Garrison, between Avery Road and Walter Hoving Road, on the south side of Snake Hill. This 3-mile, moderate to strenuous hike, takes approximately 3 hours round trip. Hiking boots and long pants are strongly recommended. The cost is $15 per person (PHM Members $12). To register click here.
Saturday, November 4, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Putnam History Museum, 63 Chestnut Street, Cold Spring, N.Y.
People of the Opossum: Tracing the Ethnogenesis of the Wappinger People Over the Past Five Centuries
This presentation explores the Wappinger people, an amalgamation of Lenape groups around New York Bay and in the Hudson Highlands, over the course of the 17th century, through the colonial era, and their forced trek westward to their contemporary descendant communities in Wisconsin, Ontario, and Oklahoma. Ethnoecologist Justin Wexler of Wild Hudson Valley has studied Hudson Valley indigenous culture, language, and history for over twenty years, both connecting with their communities in exodus and doing extensive archival work on their recent ancestors.
In-person tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for seniors. Call 914-965-4027 or email sarah.johnson@parks.ny.gov to reserve your spot. Virtual attendance via WebEx is free, but registration is required here.
Wednesday, November 8, 7 p.m. Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, 29 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers N.Y.
2023 Empire State Archives & History Award
Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer and historian Jon Meacham will receive the 2023 Empire State Archives & History Award from the Archives Partnership Trust. The public is invited to hear Meacham speak about his distinguished career and the fascinating historical subjects of his numerous books with interviewer and host Harold Holzer.
The in-person event is sold out. Tickets for the virtual event are $20. Register here.
Wednesday, November 8, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sponsored by the New York State Archives Partnership Trust, 222 Madison Avenue, Albany, N.Y.
Veterans Day Commemoration & Program
The Veterans Day commemoration in the church at St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site will honor veterans buried in the historic cemetery. There will be a talk at 2 p.m. by Ranger Michael Callahan, exploring American military history in the period between the two world wars. This event is free.
Saturday, November 11, 11 a.m. St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 South Columbus Avenue, Mt. Vernon, N.Y.
Divided Loyalties: The Revolutionary War Along the Aqueduct Walking Tour
Join a free walking tour with Char Weigel (Revolutionary Westchester 250) and Robert A. Lee (Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park) to learn how the Revolutionary War divided neighbors and families into patriots or loyalists. The tour is based on original research on the tenant farmers of the last Lord of the Manor, Frederick Phillips III, and their lives in the dangerous, war-torn contested ground of Westchester County. We’ll be joined by a special guest from the past who will bring these divisions to life!
The tour starts at the Mercy University parking lot next to the Smith Ball Fields in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. The tour may be cancelled for severe weather. Registration required here.
Sunday, November 12, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sponsored by the Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park, Revolutionary Westchester 250, and Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct.
Commemoration of the Battle of Fort Washington
This year marks the 247th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Washington, a key event during the Revolutionary War. Be transported back in time and watch a blacksmith demonstration, listen to live 18th-century music, make arts and crafts, and play games from the revolutionary period. Tour the Fort Washington battle scene with heroine Margaret Corbin. Costumes are encouraged! Pack a picnic lunch and join the fun. Sponsored by the Fort Tryon Park Trust.
Sunday, November 12, noon to 3 p.m. Fort Tryon Park, 1 Margaret Corbin Drive, New York, N.Y.
A Client State or a Great Power? Radicals vs. Moderates in the Diplomacy of the American Revolution
During the American Revolution, American policymakers were divided into two factions: radicals and moderates. Radicals saw the United States as a great power, equal to France and worthy of alliances with as many foreign powers as possible. Moderates, however, doubted American military power and were content to rely on military assistance from France alone. In each case, battlefield results determined who held the upper hand when it came to diplomacy. Radicals prevailed when the war went well, but power quickly shifted in favor of the moderates when it went poorly. Robert Smith, professor of history at Worcester University, discusses the turbulence surrounding American diplomacy during the Revolution and how the Treaty of Paris was the final diplomatic triumph for the radicals. John Jay, one of the U.S. representatives at the Treaty of Paris, grew up in Rye and retired to Katonah.
This event is free on Zoom. To register click here.
Tuesday, November 14, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati, 2118 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.
Benjamin Franklin: His Life and His Role in the American Revolution
Bergen 250/The Bergen County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs invites you to a free presentation by Jack Sherry on Benjamin Franklin: His Life and His Role in the American Revolution. This free event is part of the Bergen 250 Revolutionary War Roundtable Speakers Series, sponsored by Bergen 250 and The Bergen County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs.
Wednesday, November 15, 7 p.m. One Bergen County Plaza, 1st Floor Multimedia Room, Hackensack, N.J.
Long Island City in 1776: The Revolution Comes to Queens
1775 belonged to Boston but after April 1776, the Revolutionary War’s focus became New York City and the highly strategic Long Island, from Brooklyn’s high ground to Hell Gate in Queens. The failures, defeats and eventual occupation of the area at the hands of the British forged the resolve and strength of character that would later ensure Patriot victories on distant battlegrounds throughout the rest of the colonies. The British did not evacuate western Queens County until November of 1783, but the events of 1776 would not soon be forgotten during the seven long years of occupation that followed. Join author Richard Melnick as he charts the military, political and cultural history 1776 in Long Island City.
This lecture will take place in-person and via Zoom. For details and to register click here.
Thursday, November 16, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Fraunces Tavern Museum, 54 Pearl Street, New York, N.Y.
Brigade of the American Revolution Fort Lee Reenactment
Held on the weekend nearest to the actual date of the British invasion of New Jersey and the beginning of the Continental Army’s strategic “Retreat to Victory” in 1776, this annual re-enactment event at Fort Lee Historic Park features music, cooking, artillery demonstrations, and more. A new and dynamic aspect to the event this year is the inclusion of the portrayals of Generals Washington and Greene on horseback; the Generals will give orders and watch the lines of battle throughout the day. The men will be joined by others from the 4th Dragoons acting as Washington’s lifeguards. Arrive before 8:30 a.m. Parking $5 (cash only, collected at entrance)
Saturday, November 18, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fort Lee Historic Park, Hudson Terrace, Fort Lee, N.J.
Common Sense, a Musical About Thomas Paine
Tutti Bravi Productions will perform a new musical play about Thomas Paine, one of the great writers and intellectual leaders of the American Revolution, who lived in New Rochelle after the Revolutionary War. This event is free.
Saturday, November 18, 1 p.m. St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 South Columbus Avenue, Mt. Vernon, N.Y.
George Washington’s New York Walking Tour
Join licensed tour guide Bruce Racond to visit the New York City that George Washington would have known from 1776 to 1790. This walking tour explores the people and places in New York City during the Revolutionary War and Washington’s first term as president, including the important contributions of women and African Americans.
Tickets for the walking tour includes complimentary Fraunces Tavern Museum admission. These tours are rain or shine. Tickets are $30 ($25 for museum members) and can be purchased here.
Saturday & Sunday, November 18 & 19, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fraunces Tavern Museum, 54 Pearl Street, New York, N.Y.
Evacuation Day: A Brief History of the End of the American Revolution in New York
The American Revolution officially ended on September 3, 1783, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. It was a stunning loss for the British Empire, and thousands of British troops and even more Loyalists were still in the American colonies. Although evacuations occurred in all the major Atlantic ports, New York City was one of the largest, and the last to evacuate. The British under General Sir Guy Carleton had begun evacuating New York in August 1783, and all British citizens were to be gone by noon on November 25. Like many Loyalists, the Philipse family went with them, abandoning Philipse Manor for the safety of England. November 25th became known as “Evacuation Day,” and became an early American holiday as the Patriots celebrated their victory and the freeing of New York City from British occupation.
In this talk, Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site programs and events manager Sarah Wassberg Johnson outlines the end of the Revolution and Evacuation Day itself. Learn what happened to the Philipses, Philipse Manor, their tenants, and the people they enslaved following the American Revolution.
Tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for seniors and students and include museum admission. Pay at the door. Virtual tickets are free, register here.
Saturday, November 25, 2 p.m. Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, 29 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers N.Y.
Revolutionary Westchester 250 Countywide Summit
Revolutionary Westchester 250 was pleased to partner with Westchester County Tourism & Film for the Revolutionary Westchester 250 Countywide Summit, which took place on September 27 at the County Center in White Plains. 2026 will mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and Westchester had a dramatic and crucial role in our fight for independence. The Summit provided a glance back at the programs and events over the last several years and a look forward into plans for reenactments, exhibits, audio tours, and a parade of historic tall ships.
More than 100 people attended from historic sites and museums, hotels, businesses, historical societies, local schools and libraries as well as many municipal administrators and elected officials. Philipse Manor Hall, St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, The Square House Museum, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund at the Pocantico Center, the Neuberger Museum, the Hudson River Museum, the Octagon House, the Smith Tavern Complex, Westchester County Historical Society and the Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters were among the organizations represented.
Following remarks from County Executive George Latimer and State Senator and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and a presentation by RW250 President Constance Kehoe, a panel moderated by Natasha Caputo, Westchester County Director of Tourism & Film, provided information about the national, state, and New York City plans for the 250th. Devin Lander, New York State Historian; Marie Salerno, President of New York City’s Federal Hall Conservancy; and Chris O’Brien, President of Sail250 New York, participated.
A second panel, highlighting 250th initiatives in Westchester, included White Plains Mayor Tom Roach, Tarrytown Village Administrator Richard Slingerland, Westchester Library System Executive Director Terry Kirchner, Niles Jaeger of Revolutionary Hastings and Barbara Davis, Co-director of the Westchester County Historical Society.
News & Events (Lots of Events!) from Revolutionary Westchester 250
NEWS
Discovering Local Stories of the Revolutionary War Era in New York State
The Albert Wisner Public Library in Warwick, N.Y. has prepared a useful guide to help historians, educators, and students discover a more complete story of their community in the Revolutionary War. Although the resources are often specific to the State of New York, the research strategies can help those researching other locations as well. See the guide here.
Educator’s Open House at Philipse Manor Hall
Educators of all backgrounds and grade levels are welcome to attend an Educator’s Open House free of charge with school ID. Explore the exhibits, learn more about field trip opportunities at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site and other Yonkers organizations, and try your hand at the fur trade game! Sponsored by the Friends of Philipse Manor Hall, who will also provide refreshments.
Saturday, September 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, 29 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, N.Y.
We Need Your Help!
As County-wide planning for 2026 begins, RW250 wants to make sure we’re reaching historical societies, heritage groups, reenactors, historic sites and museums in Westchester County. Can you help us contact key officers and program planners? Feel free to forward this newsletter to others and ask if they already receive it.
An email to 1776RW250@gmail.com with updated contact information for organizations would be appreciated. Anyone can sign up for the newsletter here.
¡Vénganse a explorar la casa histórica Philipse Manor Hall¡ (Spanish Language Tours of Philipse Manor Hall State)
Exploren el nuevo museo con una guía turística que habla español. Aprendan sobrelos pueblos europeos, africanos, e indígenas en Nueva York en la época colonial. Los niños son bienvenidos.
Entradas: $6 para los adultos, $3 para los Señores y los estudiantes. Los niños que tienen menos de 12 años : entrada gratis. Todos los domingos a la 1:30 de la tarde. Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, 29 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, N.Y.
EVENTS
Native American Reenactor at John Jay Homestead
Join historical reenactor and Algonkian Drew Shuptar-Rayvis (Pekatawas MakataweU “Black Corn”) to learn about Algonkian culture and history in New York State during the 18th century. Drew will discuss Algonkian customs of war, adoption and captivity, alliances, and friendships and marriages between Natives, Europeans, and Africans. Best of all, he will be displaying several traditional items and artifacts for guests to examine. Feel free to bring your questions!
This free, family-friendly event will be held alongside the John Jay Homestead’s weekly Farm Market. The Homestead will be featuring Living History presenters on the first Saturday of every month through October.
Saturday, September 2, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. John Jay Homestead State Historic Site, 400 Jay Street, Katonah, N.Y.
Historical Games
How did people entertain themselves in the past? Join us indoors (outdoors, weather-permitting) at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site to try your hand at all kinds of historical games. Learn the history behind these games and then learn how to play Quoits, Nine Men’s Morris, Shut the Box, Cribbage, Whist, and more!
This event is free, no registration required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Saturday, September 2, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, 29 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, N.Y.
Carving Legends: Gravestones to Gourds in Sleepy Hollow
An interactive program with artist and pumpkin carver Jonas LG Karlsson to learn carving techniques using gourds, followed by an exhibit on colonial and patriot gravestones at The Historical Society, Inc., serving Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown.
There are three sessions on Friday and Saturday, September 8 and 9. A fee of $15 includes a gourd and use of carving tools. Click here to register.
The Historical Society, Inc., serving Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown. One Grove Street, Tarrytown, N.Y.
Tales of the Hudson Valley
Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk, accompanied by musician Steve Kelman, will delight audiences of all ages with 18th and 19th century stories focusing on the legends and lore of the Hudson Valley. Jonathan’s presentation will both entertain and educate visitors about our local heritage and culture. This event is free.
Saturday, September 9, 2 p.m. Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site, 44 Battlefield Road, Stony Point, N.Y.
Common Sense, a Musical About Thomas Paine
Tutti Bravi Productions, Inc. in collaboration with the New Rochelle Public Library, presents Thomas Paine: Common Sense, an original musical written by John Taylor Thomas of New Rochelle. The performance centers on the influential life of the political activist, philosopher, writer, and patriot who lived out his later years on his farm in New Rochelle. Some of the historical figures who gave birth to our country are also brought to life in this spirited production.
There are two free performances. Registration requested, click here for Saturday and here for Sunday.
Saturday & Sunday, September 9 & 10, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Ossie Davis Theater, New Rochelle Public Library, 1 Library Plaza, New Rochelle, N.Y.
Sherwood House Tours
Sherwood House Museum, operated by the Yonkers Historical Society, will open to the public for tours on Sunday, September 10, and every Sunday thereafter until December 3. Learn the history of this 1740 tenant farmhouse and the families that lived there before the Revolutionary War.
Sunday, September 10, 17, and 24, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sherwood House, 340 Tuckahoe Road, Yonkers. Free parking is available on the site.
Private small-group tours may be arranged by contacting the YHS at: info@yonkershistoricalsociety.org or by phone at 914-961-8940.
3rd New Jersey Garrison Day at Fort Montgomery
Witness a day of tactical demonstrations, drills, camp life, and cooking at historic Fort Montgomery. The 3rd New Jersey Regiment is a living history group dedicated to historical authenticity, offering an exciting, authentic glimpse of Continental soldiering and camp follower life during the American Revolution. This family-friendly outdoor event is free.
Sunday, September 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fort Montgomery State Historic Site, 690 Route 9W, Fort Montgomery, N.Y.
Unfriendly to Liberty: Loyalist Networks and the Coming of the American Revolution in New York City
Most histories of the American Revolution focus on those who became “patriots,” or revolutionaries. The standard narrative tracks their activism from the mid-1760s until the Battles of Lexington and Concord. This story, however, misunderstands and omits the importance of those who became loyalists in the American Revolution. Many, if not most, future loyalists opposed the British Parliament’s reorientation of the British Empire—just like those who became patriots. This talk will focus on a group of New Yorkers who became loyalists and document their paths to the American Revolution. In doing so, it will challenge traditional understandings of not only loyalists but also the coming of the American Revolution, the origins of American political practice, and the history of New York City.
Virtual tickets are free. Register here. In-person seating is limited. Call 914-965-4027 to reserve your spot. Tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for seniors and students, pay at the door. Doors open at 6:45 p.m.
September 13, 7 p.m. Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, 29 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, N.Y.
Rendezvous with Treason: Benedict Arnold & John André
Join Gary Petagine and Sean Grady as they portray General Benedict Arnold and Major John André meeting for the first time in Haverstraw to discuss transmitting the plans of West Point to the British Army. This 45-minute dramatic presentation will explain the famous Arnold/André plot and the importance of West Point to the American cause. Please arrive early to secure a seat for this popular performance. This event is free.
Saturday, September 16, 2 p.m. Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site, 44 Battlefield Road, Stony Point, N.Y.
Yonkers Waterfront Walking Tour
Why was Philipse Manor Hall built where it was? Why did the Munsee have a village in downtown Yonkers for thousands of years? How did the Yonkers waterfront change over time? Learn the answers to these questions and more as you explore the daylighted Saw Mill River and Yonkers’ Hudson River waterfront.
Tickets are $6 for adults $3 for seniors and students and include museum admission. To reserve your spot email sarah.johnson@parks.ny.gov or call 914-965-4027.
Saturday, September 16, 10:30 a.m. Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, 29 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, N.Y.
Colonial Wool Spinning and Dyeing
Discover out how wool was carded and spun in the 18th century. Spin your own sample of knitting wool! Watch a natural dyeing demonstration and learn about the dyeing process from Handweaver’s Guild member and reenactor Barbara Johns. This free program has a hands-on component for kids.
Saturday, September 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fort Montgomery State Historic Site, 690 Route 9W, Fort Montgomery, N.Y.
John Jay and the United States Constitution
Join Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York to celebrate the signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, featuring special guest Justice Mark Dillon. Dillon is the author of The First Chief Justice: John Jay and the Struggle of a New Nation. He will speak on John Jay and the United States Constitution.
The in-person event is a fundraiser, but the presentation will be free on Zoom. Click here to register for either event.
Monday, September 18, 6:30 p.m. Fraunces Tavern Museum, 54 Pearl Street, New York, N.Y.
Harvest Festival at Philipse Manor Hall
Step back in time to the late 18th century! This free family-friendly outdoor festival will feature costumed reenactors and hands-on activities. September was the time of year when tenant farmers on the Philipse Manor would harvest their wheat and start to bring it to the Philipse grist mills for assessment and grinding into flour. September was also apple harvest time in the Philipse orchards.
Try your hand at grinding grain in a stone mill, grinding up apples for cider in a cider press, and other hands-on activities. Meet military and civilian reenactors, including General George Washington and his horse Nelson, members of Lord Dunmore’s Ethiopian Regiment and the American First Rhode Island Regiment, colonial-era craftsmen, and more. Play colonial-era games and learn more about the history of Westchester County before and during the American Revolution. The festival coincides with Yonkers RiverFest, featuring music, shopping, and food. Spend the day!
This free event is sponsored in part by the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area and the Friends of Philipse Manor Hall.
September 23, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, 29 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, N.Y.
Cookies with André
Spend a delightful afternoon with British Officer and spy Major John André, who will speak about his infamous life and death during the American Revolution. Major André will discuss his interactions with the traitorous Benedict Arnold as well as his career in the British Army. In true British fashion, tea and cookies will be served to all guests. Reenactor David Neilsen brings the infamous spy back to life just in time to celebrate the 243rd anniversary of his capture in Tarrytown by three honest militiamen. This program is presented by The Historical Society, Inc., serving Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown, in partnership with Revolutionary Westchester 250.
Seating is limited, advance reservations equired. Click here.
Saturday, September 23, 2 p.m. Christ Church, 43 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY. On street parking is recommended. There is no parking on the church property.
Spencer’s Additional Regiment Encampment
Raised as an auxiliary force for Washington’s Continental Army, the reenactors in Spencer’s Additional Regiment will conduct camp activities while explaining the unit’s start in New Jersey and how they followed the army. Spencer’s Regiment also garrisoned Stony Point in 1780 and was present during the Arnold/André affair. This event is free.
Saturday, September 23, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site, 44 Battlefield Road, Stony Point, N.Y.
This Man’s A Spy!
This Man’s A Spy! is a concert of songs inspired by the fateful encounter of American General Benedict Arnold and British Major John André and their treasonous plot to deliver West Point to the British. Had their plan succeeded, the British may have won the Revolutionary War. The songs are composed and performed by Carla Lynne Hall and Jim Keyes. This lively event is appropriate for families, children ages 6+ and history enthusiasts.
Saturday, September 23, 1 p.m. Fort Montgomery State Historic Site, 690 Route 9W, Fort Montgomery, N.Y.
Networks of Slavery: How Bondage Shaped Hudson River Valley Culture
Dr. Nicole Saffold Maskiell, author of Bound by Bondage: Slavery and the Creation of a Northern Gentry will discuss the ways that slavery shaped Hudson River Valley culture by examining the social and kinship networks that intertwined enslavers with those they enslaved in the region and throughout the Northeast. She is an Associate Professor of History at the University of South Carolina and has appeared on CSPAN, the podcast Ben Franklin’s World, and in a Historic Hudson Valley documentary film about the life and legacy of Margaret Hardenbroeck Philipse, an early female trader and enslaver.
This is a free hybrid event, presented by The Hudson River Valley Institute and hosted by the Marist College Office of Alumni Relations. Registration is required whether you attend in person or online. For registration details click here.
Thursday, September 28, 7 p.m. Marist College, 3399 North Road, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
George Washington’s Tents from the Museum of the American Revolution will be a highlight of Colonial Day.
Colonial Day, Featuring George Washington’s Tents from the Museum of the American Revolution
Come see what life was like during the 1781 Encampment of American and French troops in Greenburgh, N.Y.! Tour Washington’s Revolutionary War Tents, guided by historic interpreters from Philadelphia’s acclaimed Museum of the America Revolution.
Meet George Washington, Le Comte de Rochambeau, and Ben Franklin. See military marching and drills by re-enactors of the 5th New York Regiment and Hearts of Oak. Watch demonstrations of colonial cooking, wool spinning, blacksmithing, children’s toys and more. Learn about the role Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters played in the encampment and how this historic site is being restored.
Admission is $10 for ages 13+; $5 for ages 3-12 and active service members/veterans (with ID). Children under 3 are free.
Pay with cash, check or Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards at the event.
Saturday, September 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hart’s Brook Park & Preserve, 156 Ridge Road, Hartsdale, N.Y.
Parking at Ridge Road Park, 287 Ridge Rd, Hartsdale, NY.
Free shuttle bus service to the nearby event site.
Sponsored by Friends of Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters and the Town of Greenburgh.
18th-Century Living Crafts
Barbara Johns will demonstrate spinning as done in the 18th century. From flax breaking to drop spindles and spinning wheels, she will explain how these spun fibers turned into sheets of cloth for clothing. At the same event Sharon Morrison will demonstrate how to weave a basket—an everyday item used during the American Revolution. Take your basket home too!
No reservations required for this free event.
Saturday, September 30, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site, 44 Battlefield Road, Stony Point, N.Y.
In Their Own Words, the Battle for Fort Montgomery
Come for a unique, extended tour of one of the Hudson Valley’s most dramatic battle sites. Drawing mainly on first-hand accounts and archaeological data, this ramble will bring to life the Revolutionary War attack on Fort Montgomery using the words of the soldiers who were there and what they left behind. Program will last about 2 hours and include rarely visited spots of the battlefield. This event is free.
Saturday, September 30, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Fort Montgomery State Historic Site, 690 Route 9W, Fort Montgomery, N.Y.
Celebrate the Declaration of Independence and See a Rare 1776 Newspaper Printing
Master Storyteller Jonathan Kruk will give a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence on the steps of the White Plains City Hall, with a group of soldiers/musicians playing period fife and drum music, engaging the public with calls of “Huzzah!” and “Down with the King!” The program begins with greetings from local officials, including Mayor Thomas Roach, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by local scouts, recognition of veterans, and brief remarks from Constance Kehoe, President of Revolutionary Westchester 250.
After the event, the public is invited into the City Hall Rotunda to view a special exhibit of historic documents, including a rare July 11, 1776 newspaper printing of the Declaration of Independence. The pop-up exhibit, organized by White Plains-based historic documents dealer Seth Kaller, will also include an exact facsimile of the engrossed Declaration, an Alexander Hamilton love letter, and other rare documents related to America’s struggle for freedom and independence.
This free program is organized by the City of White Plains Recreation & Parks Department in partnership with Revolutionary Westchester 250.
Tuesday, July 11, 12:30 p.m. White Plains City Hall, 255 Main Street, White Plains, N.Y. Park at Hamilton-Main Garage, 365 Hamilton Avenue (behind City Hall) or White Plains Center Garage, 237 Martine Avenue (across the street).
Exciting News and an Opportunity to See a Rare 1776 Printing of the Declaration of Independence
NEWS
Important Revolutionary War André Capture Medal
Donated to the Citizens of New York
The 1780 Fidelity Medal measures about 2-1/4 x 1-5/8 inches and is engraved on both sides.
We are excited to share the news that the 1780 Fidelity Medal awarded to Isaac Van Wart, one of the captors of the British spy, Major John André, has been donated to the New York State Museum in Albany. The medal was donated by the estate of Rae Faith Van Wart Robinson, late of Westchester and a direct descendant of Van Wart, consistent with Robinson’s stated wishes.
The medal is one of three ordered to be struck by the United States Congress on November 3, 1780 in gratitude for Van Wart’s role in the capture of André. The British spy was captured in Tarrytown on September 23, 1780 by Issac Van Wart, John Paulding and David Williams. André was carrying papers in the handwriting of American General Benedict Arnold intended to aid the British in an attack on the American fort at West Point. André’s capture led to the discovery of the Arnold’s treason.
General George Washington applauded the actions of the three militiamen, stating that the soldiers “acted in such a manner as does them the highest honour, and proves them to be men of great virtue.”
The whereabouts of the Paulding and Williams medals are unknown. They were both donated to the New-York Historical Society in 1905 which displayed them in a locked, glass-topped case. In mid-1975, the two medals were apparently stolen, along with the pocket watch originally belonging to Major John André.
Jennifer Lemak, Chief Curator of History at the New York State Museum, and Devin Lander, New York State Historian, received the medal from the estate of the Van Wart family.
According to Devin Lander, New York State Historian, “These three young men from Westchester—Van Wart, Paulding and Williams—encountered André disguised in civilian clothes and traveling under a fake name. Had they not followed their instincts that something was amiss and searched him… had they not rejected his bribes to let him pass… the War could have had a different outcome. As we approach the 250th celebration of the Revolutionary War, we are especially grateful to Rae Faith Van Wart Robinson for sharing her family heirloom with all the people of New York State.”
During the Revolutionary War, Westchester County was contested ground between British-occupied New York City to the south and the Hudson Highlands to the north where the Continental Army was active.
“This medal is a tangible connection to one of the many important events that occurred in Westchester County during the Revolutionary War,” said Constance Kehoe, president of Revolutionary Westchester 250. “Despite the fact that Westchester was quite literally torn apart by the war, tenant farmers like Van Wart, Paulding and Williams picked up their muskets and fought for their new country and, by extension, us. Theirs is one of many stories that Revolutionary Westchester 250 will be highlighting throughout the 250th Commemoration.”
The medal is expected to be on periodic display at the New York State Museum and perhaps at other sites.
Living History-to-Go Catalog & Funding Support
If you’re looking for a professional living history reenactor for a presentation or event, RW250’s Living History-to-Go catalog is now online. The catalog includes more than 50 programs, arranged thematically, from spies and traitors to colonial crafts, music, and dance. The contact information, fees and site requirements for each program are included. Email us here and we will send you the link.
For organizations looking for financial support to cover the expense of engaging presenters, the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area (HRVNHA)’s sponsorships may be particularly helpful. Visit https://www.hudsonrivervalley.com/grants and read the requirements carefully.
Some relevant points are noted below:
All municipalities in Westchester County are in the NHV and may apply.
Not-for-profit organizations may apply, including “friends” groups.
Applications for Heritage Development sponsorship funds (up to $2,500) are approved on a rolling basis.
Application for Heritage Development Grants (up to $7,500) must be received by close of business September 1 or November 3, 2023.
The HRVNHA’s theme “Freedom and Dignity” includes projects about the Revolutionary War.
Funding priorities include projects that focus on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution in the Hudson Valley and/or commemorate this milestone.
Living history programs and reenactments are eligible.
Applications must list all expenses that will apply to the required 1/1 matching. In-kind labor (volunteer and staff) can be included.
EVENTS
The Revolution’s Last Men
Author and historian Don Hagist explores themes from his book, The Revolution’s Last Men: The Soldiers Behind the Photographs, which recounts the stories of the final six surviving Revolutionary War soldiers who were photographed and interviewed for a book that was published in 1864. Now, for the first time, the military careers of these men have been researched in detail using a wide range of primary sources. The result is a new perspective on the actual service of these soldiers, from enlistment to discharge, along with new details of their relatively quiet postwar lives. This event is free.
Saturday, July 1, 1 p.m. St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 South Columbus Avenue, Mt. Vernon, N.Y.
Annual Memorial Service for French Soldiers
The Van Cortlandtville Historical Society will hold its annual memorial service for the eight French soldiers who died at Old Saint Peter’s Church during the Revolutionary War.
Continuing a tradition that began in 2001, the Society’s Past President Jeff Canning will lead the 20-minute service which will include a background talk, a musket salute by uniformed re-enactors, a bilingual prayer and a mourn arms ceremony.
French forces used Old Saint Peter’s, located at Oregon Road and Locust Avenue in the Town of Cortlandt, as a military hospital in 1781 and 1782 when they were in the area before and after the victory of Generals Washington and Rochambeau over the British in Yorktown, Virginia in October 1781. This event is free.
Sunday, July 2, at 3:00 p.m. Old Saint Peter’s Church, corner of Locust Avenue and Oregon Road, Cortlandt, N.Y. Off-street parking is available in the cemetery, or at the Little Red Schoolhouse, 297 Locust Avenue, adjacent to the cemetery.
July 4th Revolutionary History Re-enactment Showcase
This Independence Day, join local historian Duane Jackson on the grounds of Van Cortlandt Manor for a Revolutionary History Re-enactment Showcase. Costumed presenters will portray soldiers in the 1st Rhode Island and 2nd New York Regiments, exploring local battles fought by a pioneering regiment of Black soldiers in the Revolutionary War. The presentation will last approximately 2 hours and will include a demonstration of musket firing. This event is free.
Tuesday, July 4, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Van Cortlandt Manor, 525 South Riverside Avenue, Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.
St. Paul’s Church Annual July 4th Celebration
St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site’s traditional Independence Day celebration features a reading of the Declaration of Independence and tolling—13 times—of the historic church bell, along with talks, re-enactors (including General Washington), music and refreshments. This event is free.
Tuesday, July 4, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the Declaration reading at 11 a.m. St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 South Columbus Avenue, Mt. Vernon, N.Y.
Walking Tour of the Battle of Pells Point
St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site’s staff leads an interpretive walking tour of the Pell’s Point battlefield, exploring the Revolutionary War battle of October 18, 1776, situated at what is today the northern end of Pelham Bay Park, in the Bronx, New York.
Wednesday, July 5, 10 a.m. Space is limited. Please call St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site at 914-667-4116 for reservations and details.
African Americans and the American Revolution: An Exploration
Dr. Michael Crowder, Public Historian at the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies, at Iona University, will explore the theme of African Americans and the American Revolution. Dr. Crowder also teaches American History at Queens College/CUNY. This event is free.
No reservations necessary for in person attendance, but registration is necessary for the livestream. Click here for details.
Saturday, July 8, 1 p.m. St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 South Columbus Avenue, Mt. Vernon, N.Y.
18th-Century Toys & Games
Unleash your inner child (or your actual child!) in this hands-on demonstration of 18th-century children’s activities. Tom Hunt will introduce period-correct reproductions of toys and games as he discusses a child’s place in the household and colonial society. Participants are encouraged to play with all toys and games – including whirly-gigs, ball & cup, game of goose, nine pins, bilbo catchers, Nine Men’s Morris, and more.
Purchase tickets here. Suggested for ages 8+. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
This program will be outdoors at Rockwood Hall. DO NOT go to the main entrance. The parking lot is on Kendal Way off route 117, just after the intersection of Phelps and Regeneron. If the lot is full, you may park in the Phelps garage (free). Walk up the hill across the street from the parking lot, make a right at the kiosk and walk 5 minutes until you reach the foundation.
Sunday, July 9, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Rain date: July 16. Rockwood Hall, Phelps Way Pleasantville, N.Y. Sponsored by Rockefeller State Park Preserve.
George Washington Tuesdays
Beginning on Tuesday, July 11, and on subsequent Tuesdays in July and August at the same time, General George Washington will be a special guest and tour guide at St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site. Learn about the history of the site and the Revolutionary War from his Excellency, portrayed by experienced living historian Michael Grillo. The events are free.
Tuesday, July 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 South Columbus Avenue, Mt. Vernon, N.Y.
Celebrate the Declaration of Independence and See a Rare 1776 Newspaper Printing
Master Storyteller Jonathan Kruk will give a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence on the steps of the White Plains City Hall, with a group of soldiers/musicians playing period fife and drum music, engaging the public with calls of “Huzzah!” and “Down with the King!” The program begins with greetings from local officials, including Mayor Thomas Roach, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by local scouts, recognition of veterans, and brief remarks from Constance Kehoe, President of Revolutionary Westchester 250.
After the event, the public is invited into the City Hall Rotunda to view a special exhibit of historic documents, including a rare July 11, 1776 newspaper printing of the Declaration of Independence. The pop-up exhibit, organized by White Plains-based historic documents dealer Seth Kaller, will also include an exact facsimile of the engrossed Declaration, an Alexander Hamilton love letter, and other rare documents related to America’s struggle for freedom and independence.
This free program is organized by the City of White Plains Recreation & Parks Department in partnership with Revolutionary Westchester 250.
Tuesday, July 11, 12:30 p.m. White Plains City Hall, 255 Main Street, White Plains, N.Y. Park at Hamilton-Main Garage, 365 Hamilton Avenue (behind City Hall) or White Plains Center Garage, 237 Martine Avenue (across the street).
Kids’ Historical Games
How did kids play in the past? Join the museum educators of Philipse Manor Hall to try out all kinds of hands-on historical games. Quoits (a.k.a. ring toss), graces, cup & ball, Dutch-style jousting, sack races, hoop and stick, and more. Bring a blanket and a picnic and spend the afternoon.
Free for all ages. No registration required. Program is weather dependent. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Additional games programs on Wednesdays July 26, August 9, August 23. These events are being held in partnership with Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park.
Wednesday, July 12, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, 29 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, N.Y.
Celebrate Local History in Tarrytown
RW250 and special guest General George Washington will participate in Open Streets Tarrytown, which has a focus this year on local history, particularly the area’s rich Revolutionary War history. Look for The General at our tent along Main Street, which will be closed to traffic. We are pleased to join The Historical Society serving Sleepy Hollow & Tarrytown and Tarrytown Village Historian, Dr. Sara Mascia, at this free, family friendly event.
Saturday, July 15, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. along Main Street in Tarrytown, N.Y.
Occupied America: British Military Rule and the Experiences of a Revolution
Professor Donald Johnson, a historian, and scholar from North Dakota State University, explores themes from his book Occupied America: British Military Rule and the Experiences of a Revolution. Johnson chronicles the everyday experience of ordinary people living under military occupation during the American Revolution. Focusing on day-to-day life in port cities held by the British Army, Johnson recounts how men and women from a variety of backgrounds navigated harsh conditions, mitigated threats to their families and livelihoods, took advantage of new opportunities, and balanced precariously between revolutionary and royal attempts to secure their allegiance.
No reservations necessary for in person attendance, but registration is necessary for the livestream. Click here for details.
Saturday, July 22, 1 p.m. St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 South Columbus Avenue, Mt. Vernon, N.Y.
Washington’s Marines: The Origins of the Corps and the American Revolution, 1775-77
In this virtual lecture, Major General Jason Bohm explores the origins of the United States Marines. He will explore the parallel stories of the creation and early operations of the Continental Marines, Navy, and Army during the American Revolution, culminating in the Battles of Trenton, Assunpink Creek, and Princeton.
This lecture will be held via Zoom. To register click here.
Thursday, July 27, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Presented by Fraunces Tavern Museum.
The American Revolution in Westchester: From the Hudson to the Sound
From July 9, 1776, when the Provincial Congress of the Province of New York took the vote that made the Declaration of Independence unanimous in White Plains, to the last day of the war seven years later, when the defeated British evacuated from New York City, Westchester County played a pivotal role in the American Revolution. RW250 President Constance Kehoe will highlight some of the Revolutionary War events that took place in Westchester, with a special emphasis on nautical engagements along the Hudson River and Long Island Sound. The presentation will cover well-known events—such as the treason of Benedict Arnold— as well as some lesser-known events that played out along the shores of the Hudson from Yonkers to West Point.
This free presentation is Zoom only. For registration information email FMiranda@warnerlibrary.org or call (914) 631-7734.
Wednesday, August 2, 7 p.m. Warner Library, 121 North Broadway, Tarrytown, N.Y.
City of White Plains & RW250 to Celebrate the Declaration of Independence
On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 12:30 p.m., Master Storyteller Jonathan Kruk will give a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence on the steps of the White Plains City Hall, 255 Main Street. Dressed in 1776 garb, Kruk and a group of soldiers/musicians playing period fife and drum music will engage the public with calls of “Huzzah!” and “Down with the King!”
The program begins with greetings from local officials, including Mayor Thomas Roach, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by local scouts, recognition of veterans, and brief remarks from Constance Kehoe, President of Revolutionary Westchester 250.
After the event, the public is invited into the City Hall Rotunda to view a special exhibit of historic documents, including a rare July 11, 1776 newspaper printing of the Declaration of Independence. The pop-up exhibit, organized by White Plains-based historic documents dealer Seth Kaller, will also include an exact facsimile of the engrossed Declaration of Independence and other documents related to America’s struggle for freedom and independence.
This program is organized by the City of White Plains Recreation & Parks Department in partnership with Revolutionary Westchester 250 (RW250). The mission or RW250 is to build awareness and appreciation of Westchester’s Revolutionary War era history in connection with the 250th Commemoration in 2026.
City of White Plains & the Declaration of Independence
Nearly 250 years ago, on July 11, 1776, crowds gathered at the old courthouse in White Plains to hear the news that the colonies had declared independence from Great Britain. In a dramatic event in the courthouse two days earlier, delegates of “the Provincial Congress of the Province of New-York” voted to approve the Declaration of Independence. This crucial vote made it unanimous — all 13 colonies had now agreed to fight Great Britain for their independence. The vote on July 9 was also the official birth of the State of New York. A little more than three months later the Battle of White Plains raged, with more than 13,000 troops engaged on both sides and with casualties in the hundreds.
HUZZAH!
Photo by Fred Charles
RW250 is pleased to announce that legislation just passed in Albany will allow reenactors, living history presenters, museums, and historical sites to once again use historical firearms “while lawfully engaged in historical reenactments, educational programming involving historical weapons of warfare or motion picture or theatrical productions, in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules and regulations.”
Special thanks go to State Senator Shelley Mayer and State Senator and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Member MaryJane Shimsky. All are long time supporters of legislation to support historic awareness and are good friends of RW250.
State Senator Shelley Mayer said “I am so pleased the adopted budget includes clarification that historical reenactors and reenactments can legally use antique or historical firearms for the purpose of educational and historical events. This clarification will allow these educational and entertaining reenactments to proceed without fear of violating the law. I look forward to attending as many of these events as possible.”
We are pleased that our suggestion to add “educational programming” was incorporated in the final legislation.
RW250 Roundtable Book Group June selection
Revolutionary Roads: Searching for the War That Made America Independent...and All the Places It Could Have Gone Terribly Wrong by Bob Thompson is the next RW250 Roundtable Book Group selection.
The discussion will take place on June 4 at 2 p.m. on Zoom.
To register click here.
The Institute for Thomas Paine Studies at Iona University is once again joining RW250 as a cosponsor. Dr. Michael Crowder, ITPS Public Historian, will moderate the discussion.
Revolutionary Roads takes readers on a time-traveling adventure through the crucial places American independence was won and might have been lost. You’ll ride shotgun with Bob Thompson as he puts more than 20,000 miles on his car, not to mention his legs; walks history-shaping battlefields from Georgia to Quebec; and hangs out with passionate lovers of revolutionary history whose vivid storytelling and deep knowledge of their subject enrich his own. Publisher’s Weekly said “Thompson enriches his well-chosen primary sources with entertaining profiles of museum curators and historical reenactors and down-home turns of phrase…The result is an eclectic yet cogent and cohesive account of the American Revolution.”
The choice of Revolutionary Roads was made partly because the author visited the Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters (OHRH) in Hartsdale and interviewed Susan Seal, President of the Friends of OHRH, about the house, the French-American encampment that surrounded it, and the dramatic decision made there on August 14, 1781, which set the stage for the crucial victory at the siege and battle in Yorktown, VA.
Get your copy from a local library or bookseller and plan to join us on June 4.
News & Events from Revolutionary Westchester 250
NEWS
RW250 Roundtable Book Group June selection
Revolutionary Roads: Searching for the War That Made America Independent...and All the Places It Could Have Gone Terribly Wrong by Bob Thompson is the next RW250 Roundtable Book Group selection.
The discussion will take place on June 4 at 2 p.m. on Zoom. We will include the Zoom link in our June newsletter. The Institute for Thomas Paine Studies at Iona University is once again joining RW250 as a cosponsor. Dr. Michael Crowder, ITPS Public Historian, will moderate the discussion.
Revolutionary Roads takes readers on a time-traveling adventure through the crucial places American independence was won and might have been lost. You’ll ride shotgun with Bob Thompson as he puts more than 20,000 miles on his car, not to mention his legs; walks history-shaping battlefields from Georgia to Quebec; and hangs out with passionate lovers of revolutionary history whose vivid storytelling and deep knowledge of their subject enrich his own. Publisher’s Weekly said “Thompson enriches his well-chosen primary sources with entertaining profiles of museum curators and historical reenactors and down-home turns of phrase…The result is an eclectic yet cogent and cohesive account of the American Revolution.”
The choice of Revolutionary Roads was made partly because the author visited the Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters (OHRH) in Hartsdale and interviewed Susan Seal, President of the Friends of OHRH, about the house, the French-American encampment that surrounded it, and the dramatic decision made there on August 14, 1781, which set the stage for the crucial victory at the siege and battle in Yorktown, VA.
Get your copy from a local library or bookseller and plan to join us on June 4.
New videos on our YouTube channel
Dr. Erik Weiselberg, Principal Historian of RW250, provides the history and context of events that occurred at a British encampment in October 1776, in the days before the Battle of White Plains. The site is now part of the Bonnie Briar Country Club on Weaver Street, in Larchmont, NY. Watch the three-minute video here.
Five more short videos—all under 2 minutes—are now on the RW250 YouTube channel. Each offers a glimpse into the life of civilians and soldiers during the colonial and Revolutionary War years and all appear in the playlist “Living History Events.” Filmmaker Nader Sadre captured blacksmith Tom Hunt, reenactor, Joe Ryan and flax spinner Nancy Van Tassell, among others, during RW250’s signature outdoor event of 2022, Revolution on the Hudson in Tarrytown. The channel has had more than 9,000 views. Thanks to our talented volunteer Chris Rubio who organized the videos into playlists.
A resource for educators and history enthusiasts
RW250 is pleased to let our readers know about Consider the Source, an online resource from the New York State Archives and the Archives Partnership Trust. If you love original source documents, maps and prints about the Revolution War period, especially in New York, start browsing! They have documents relating to Colonial America and the Revolution and New Nation.
Correction
In the April, 2023 newsletter, we omitted an important part of the announcement of the recognition of Ardsley Middle School teacher Sean Grady as the 2023 national NSDAR outstanding teacher of American history. Mr. Grady’s nomination was sponsored by the Hudson River Patriots Chapter of the DAR, Regent Philomena Dunn. Members of Hudson River Patriots Chapter come from the River Towns and surrounding area of Westchester county.
EVENTS
Colonial Candle Making
Join living history presenter Tom Hunt for Colonial candle making. Learn about different types of candles and illumination from the colonial time period. Participants will leave with a beeswax candle (while supplies last). This free program is geared towards families and children.
Saturday, May 6, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fort Montgomery State Historic Site, 690 Route 9W, Fort Montgomery, N.Y.
The Battle of Fort Montgomery
Fort Montgomery was the scene of a fierce Revolutionary War battle for control of the Hudson River. On October 6, 1777, British, Loyalist and German forces attacked Fort Montgomery and nearby Fort Clinton. The defending American Patriots, outnumbered three to one, fought desperately until driven out of their forts at the points of the enemy bayonets. More than half of the Patriot forces were killed, wounded, or captured. Today, the ruins of Fort Montgomery remain as a genuine artifact of war.
In this hybrid talk, on-site at the Putnam History Museum and virtually, Fort Montgomery site manager Grant Miller will discuss the history of the fort from its founding in February 1777 to its current presence as a New York State Historic Site. Sign up here
Sunday, May 7, 3:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Putnam History Museum, 63 Chestnut Street, Cold Spring, NY.
Jay Homestead Reenactor Showcase
This free, public, outdoor, interactive event will feature nearly two-dozen reenactors and living history presenters. Visitors will get a glimpse of regimental camp life, live period music and dance, Native American craftsmanship, blacksmithing and more. Meet Founding Fathers George Washington and his family, Alexander Hamilton, and Benjamin Franklin as well as a women who fought in the Continental Army disguised as a man and a patriot who captured the British spy Major André. The Reenactor Showcase will include programs focussed on the long period of history from the earliest inhabitants of the land until the 1920s.
Look for RW250’s informational table. Our officers and volunteers will be there to learn about your interests and to share our listing of upcoming events.
The Showcase is an addition to the popular John Jay Homestead’s weekly farmers market. With fresh and prepared food available from the market, and acres of grounds, some visitors may wish to stay for the full program. Rain or shine. Parking on site.
Saturday, May 13, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. John Jay Homestead State Historic Site, 400 Jay Street, Katonah, N.Y.
The Trial of Major André
This dramatization of the 1780 trial in of the British officer who conspired with Benedict Arnold in the notorious treason conspiracy is performed by acclaimed educators and actors Sean Grady and Gary Petagine. Parking and admission are free.
Saturday, May 13 at 1 p.m. St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 South Columbus Avenue, Mt. Vernon, N.Y.
Honoring RW250 President Constance Kehoe
The Board of Trustees of the Society of the National Shrine of the Bill of Rights invites you to salute RW250 President Constance Kehoe at their annual fundraiser on behalf of the St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site.
Award presentation at 5:30 p.m. followed by a reception in the museum with music, food, drinks and a chance to meet some very special “historic” guests! Weather permitting, guests can mingle outdoors and explore the grounds and historic cemetery.
Tickets are $50 per person. Checks payable to “The Society of the National Shrine of the Bill of Rights” can be mailed to St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, Attention: Benefit Event, 897 South Columbus Avenue, Mt Vernon, NY 10550.
RSVP by May 4
For more information, call 914-667-4116
Saturday, May 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 South Columbus Avenue, Mt. Vernon, N.Y.
Lost Stories: How the New York City Fire of 1776 Illuminates Unfamiliar Lives of the American Revolution
On September 21, 1776, five days after the British occupied New York City, a devastating fire burned down about a fifth of the city. This mystery brings together a startling cast of characters from around the Atlantic World: soldiers and officers, but also Loyalists, women, and people of African and Indigenous descent. Fraunces Tavern Museum hosts the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society and author Benjamin L. Carp to explore these themes in the context of his new book, The Great New York Fire of 1776: A Lost Story of the American Revolution.
This free presentation will take place in person at Fraunces Tavern Museum and via Zoom. All in-person attendees will receive a copy of the book. Registration is required here.
Thursday, May 18, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Fraunces Tavern Museum, 54 Pearl Street, New York City.
Pinkster events
Pinkster is a holiday that was celebrated over several days by African and Dutch New Yorkers throughout the 1700s. The holiday was brought to the New World by Dutch settlers in the 1620s and flourished in the areas of heaviest Dutch settlement: the Hudson Valley, northern New Jersey, and western Long Island. Two historic sites in Westchester are holding Pinkster events in May.
Washington Reviewing Our Ally—the French—1781 by Henry Alexander Ogden. The Society of the Cincinnati, Washington, DC.
Follow the French Tour
Visit three historic Revolutionary War sites in Westchester, where French troops camped in 1781 near the end of the war, and along the way listen to a free audio tour about the crucial alliance with the French and their role in helping us win our war for independence. See their encampment sites, visit a historic tavern, meet Generals Rochambeau and Washington, tour a pop-up museum, and pet animals from the colonial period.
Travel at your own pace and visit the sites in any order. The three sites are: Smith’s Tavern in Armonk, Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters in Hartsdale, and Rochambeau Park/Yorktown Grange Fair Grounds—where there will be a re-creation of a French campsite. Each location will have family activities.
Saturday, May 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Click here for all the details and to download the free TravelStorys audio tour.
Experiences of a Revolutionary Soldier in the Hudson Valley
This program by John J. Curran will relate the varied experiences of Continental Army soldier Joseph Plumb Martin, as recorded in his detailed memoir, published in 1830. This soldier’s record of military life from 1776 to 1783—frequently cited by scholars as an excellent primary source for the Revolutionary War—is recounts in exceptional detail the dangers and sacrifices endured by Martin and other soldiers.
Presented by the Van Cortlandtville Historical Society. Refreshments will be served. A $5 donation is requested of non-Society members
Saturday, May 20 at 2 p.m. Little Red Schoolhouse, 297 Locust Avenue, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.
How the Colony of New York Prefigured the Future United States
Early New York—with its ethnic and religious diversity, spirited politics, unique geography, and economic vitality—set the pattern for what the Nation would become. Yet colonial New England and Virginia continue to dominate the narrative of our Founding Era in most history books. Author, History Professor Emerita and RW250 Consulting Historian Patricia Bonomi will challenge that narrative, shift the focus to New York, and highlight some of New York’s key contributions to the coming American Revolution and U.S. Constitution.
This presentation will be a live, in-person event by the Irvington Historical Society at the Irvington Public Library. The presentation is free.
Sunday, May 21, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Irvington Public Library, 12 South Astor Street, Irvington, N.Y.
Sherwood House Tours
Sherwood House Museum, operated by the Yonkers Historical Society, is open every Sunday until June 25th. Learn the history of this 1740 tenant farmhouse and the families that lived here before the Revolutionary War.
Museum hours are from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Sherwood House, 340 Tuckahoe Road, Yonkers. Free parking is available on the site.
St. Paul’s Honors Constance Kehoe – May 13
Constance Kehoe, RW250 President, is being honored by St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site for her leadership of Westchester County’s 250th commemoration of the American Revolution. Thanks to Connie, Westchester County is already being recognized for its planning, programs and tours highlighting our vital role in the creation of the country.
The Board of Trustees of The Society of the National Shrine of the Bill of Rights invites you to salute Connie on Saturday, May 13, 2023, from 5:30 -7:30 p.m. at their annual fundraiser on behalf of the historic site.
Award presentation at 5:30 followed by a reception in the Museum with music, food, drinks and mingling with some special heroes of the Revolutionary War.
Tickets are $50/person. Checks payable to “The Society of the National Shrine of the Bill of Rights” can be mailed to St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, Attention: Benefit Event, 897 South Columbus Avenue, Mt Vernon, NY 10550.
RSVP by May 4
For more information, call 914-667-4116
