Historic Carnwath Farms
HISTORIC CARNW ATH FARMS
.5bm1.Bistory o( Carnwatb..farms
Mr. William Henry Willis built the Carnwath Manor Home in 1850, and
called it Carnwath Farms. The name is derived from a Manor home set ir
Scotland. Property is located on Wheeler Hill Road.
Just after the ending of the Civil War, General Barclay purchased the
estate from Mr. Willis. In 1870, Mr. Francis Robert Rives. who married
the daUghter of General Barclay, purchased Carnwath Farms. He added
the east wing to the manor house, servant's quarters and the large rear
kitchen. The formal Georgian appearance was changed to a less formal
look which was preferred by late19th century architects. In 1873, the
Carriage House was built, modeled after French architecture, to hold Mr.
Rives' horses. Years later his son, Reginald Rives, built the finest stable
of harness and saddle horses in the county.
In the early 1900's, the property then known as Rives Hill, was purchased
by a New York attomey named Untermeyer who was famous for
defending William "Boss" Tweed. In 1925, the Order of the Brothers of
Hermits purchased the property and built the Chapel in 1950, and the
dormitory building in 1958. In 1980 the property was sold to Greystone
Programs Inc. The Town of Wappinger purchased the property in 2000
and renamed it to its original name Carnwath Farms in 2003.
Camwath Farms is located on 99.7 acres of Hudson River front property
and recently became the new home of the Sports Museum of Dutchess
ColUlty, housed in the Frances Reese Cultural Center building.