1979
TOWN OF WAPPINGER
RECElVEO
NO\} 14 1979
ElMtlE \\. SNOWDEN
ANNUAL HISTORIAN REPORT
1979
Jan. 28
Attended Wappinger Historical Society meeting.
Presented slide program on Southern Dutchess Historical Markers to Grinnell
Library.
Researched for family of Mrs. Barbara Ann Snyder (formerly Hindle).
Jan. 3
Jan. 16
Feb. 14
Fe b. 28
Met with Mt. Hope boy scout leaders to plan for boy scout troop assistance at
Robinson Lane Cemetery in clean-up and cataloging.
Spoke to Mt. Hope boy scouts and gave slide presentation on Town of Wappinger
historic places of interest.
Attended Town Board meeting.
Town Community Day and Parade committee meeting.
Feb. 6
Feb. 8
Mar. 28
Mar. 29
Researched family records of William T. Cox and Maria Mullen, residents of
Town in 1870 for Margaret E. Pierson of Poughkeepsie.
Attended Town Historical Society meeting.
Attended Dutchess County Historians meeting at Poughkeepsie.
Met with Mr. B. Schettino to observe abandoned Booth Cemetery for property
between his and his neighbor's property.
Community Day and Parage Committee meeting.
Wrote to County D.P. W. Commissioner opposing removal of many old maple
trees in Town.
Mar.
Mar. 7
Mar. 10
Mar. 18
Apr. 28
Attended Wappinger Historical Society meeting. Distributed "l LOVE NEW
YORK" bumper stickers and buttons.
Attended Bowdoin Park Historical Society meeting.
Received reply from Commissioner of Public Works concerning tree removal.
Visited home of Mrs. Costello in Hughsonville to observe gravestone found
under tree on her property. (Stone of Hannah and Will iam Lent dated ).
Attended Visual Environment meeting.
Researched Booth Cemetery property at County Clerk's office, Real Property
Tax Department, Town Assessor's and conferred with Town Highway Supt.
concerning past. Also sent letter to State requesting any new laws pertaining
to same.
Met with Mr. Diehl, Town Supervisor, and discussed Booth Cemetery on
Schettino property. He would send him letter of permission to clean up.
Sent Mr. Schettino laws pertaining to abandoned cemeteries and informed
him that he would not be able to purchase property.
Attended County Historian meeting in Rhinebeck.
Apr. 4
Apr. 5
Apr. 5
Apr. 9
Apr. 10
Apr. 19
Apr. 20
Apr. 20
May 2
May 3
May 5
May 6
May 7
May 12
May 13
May 30
June
June 6
June 7
June 13
June 25
July 14
July 15
July 19
July 21/22
Aug.
Aug. 12
Aug. 29
Sept.
Sept. 5
Sept. 9
Sept. 14
Oct. 3
Oct. 4
Oct. 6
Oct. 10
Oct. 13
Oct. 14
Nov. 7
Nov. 10
Nov. 13
Nov. 21
-2-
Community Day and Parade Committee meeting.
Bowdoin Park Historical Society meeting.
Met with Girl Scout #382 at Robinson Lane Cemetery for cataloging stones.
Met with Mt. Hope Boy Scout troop at Robinson Lane Cemetery for clean up.
Visual Environment meeting
Dutchess County Historical Society Pilgrimage - Beacon.
Attended Open House at Mt. Gulian Historic Site.
Assisted with Town Memorial Day ceremonies at Town Bell Site. Picked up
2 girl scouts and 2 boy scouts at school to participate since school was not in
session on Monday and our Town ceremony was held on Memorial Day - not
Monday which made a long holiday weekend.
Researched Grinnell Library history and sent letter of recommendation to be
I isted on National Register to Commissioner Lehman in Albany.
Wappinger Historical Society picnic.
Presented King Tut slides to Boy Scouts at Mt. Hope Grange.
Environment meeting.
Research and tour of Bleachery and Print Works.
Environmental meeting.
Participated in Picnic in Park - Displayed old Town photos at Mesier Homestead.
Community Day meeting.
Attended and participated in Clinton Days at Clinton Hollow.
Researched extensively the Hughson family of Hughsonville for Cynthia Frisch
of Spencerport, New York.
Sent "I LOVE NEW YORK" information to Rosalie Alfonso as she requested.
Community Day meeting.
Researched Brewer fami Iy for Mrs. Clifford M. Smith of Hyde Park, N.Y.
Attended Wappinger Historical Society meeting.
Town Community Day & Parade.
Presented slide program of Southern Dutchess and Town of Wappinger to 3rd -
6th grade classes of Fishkill Plains School.
Attended Wappinger Historical Society meeting.
Attended Bowdoin Park Historical Society meeting.
Researched Rombout Patent with Miss Wixson, Vii lage of Wappingers Historian.
Attended Olympic practice meeting at Bell Site.
Attended Dutchess County Historian's Association meeting.
Toured Samuel F. B. Morse home.
Wappinger Historical Society meeting.
Two walking tours with Girl Scout Troop #36.
Present King Tut Exhibit slides to Mt. Hope Grange.
Olympic meeting.
-3-
Dec. 4/5
Dec. 5
Dec. 19
Attended Hudson Valley Area "I LOVE NEW YORK" conference in Kingston.
Attended Wappinger Historical Society meeting.
Presented King Tut slide program to Fishkill Plains School 6th grade classes.
I have updated and organized fi les so that they are easily accessible to area residents. I have
also finally completed albums of Town from 1968 through 1979. This was a mammoth job, and I am
pleased with the results. I have every intention to see to it that both the files and the albums are
kept up-to-date from now on. The albums are available for anyone wishing to use them. I have
also organized an al~1t\ of old "Looking Back" clippings.
This year I have worked with both the girl scouts and the boy scouts. I have answered many re-
quests for information for school students who needed the information for reports. The requests came
from within the area and outside and also included some from college students.
A guide for walking tours explaining various sites and including pictures of each was made up.
These gu ides are sent to students and are used in programs with the scouts.
Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Jr. Grangers are working to keep abandoned cemeteries clean. They
are also assisting me with cataloging and picture-taking of the stones. These youngsters are doing
a real good job, and I am proud and pleased to work with them.
I am in the process of taking new and, I hope, better slides of the Town historic sites so that the
sl ide presentat ion wi II be improved. Many of the old sl ides are not too good.
Extensive research was done on the bleachery, the print works and Wappingers bridge for the
Environmental Committee.
I am serving as Chairman of the Town's Olympic Committee and working with committee on a
program for the historic Torch Carrier event to be held on February 5, 1980. The Wappingers
District School band will participate as well as Girl Scout Troops #125, #188 and #382 and Mt. Hope
Boy Scouts and Jr. Grangers.
I am also serving as Dutchess County Historian Assn. Secretary, Town of Wappinger Community Day
and Parade Chairman and Dutchess County "I LOVE NEW YORKII representative.
I thank the Town Board again for allowing me to serve in this interesting and enjoyable position.
Respectfu Ily subm itted, /
/l 6) f "
L hZO Z;;<1.~c:'':. / . X::;;,)~L.-C Dc--
CONSTANCE O. SMITH,
Historian
WHEN RADIO WAS A MIRACLE
In the year 1888 Albert & Henry Brower (Brewer), sons
of Martin Brower (Brewer) came to Wappingers from Brooklyn, N.Y.
and settled on a farm on Channingville Road. For several years
after their arrival, they made shoes, that being their trade,
such as dancing pumps, dancing shoes, and some for larger shoe
houses. This was also their business when the brothers later
ventured into other businesses in Brooklyn.
~
In the early 1920's Albert moved from the farm to the
village of New Hamburg, and, at this time, when radio was a
miracle, he became interested and purchased a radio with head sets,
which was the first in this area. He had a small store on Point St.
where he supplied the village residents with music by hooked-up
wires. These were strung allover the village and he installed
over 75 head sets. Finally, in 1930 he became more interested
in radio and opened a larger store at Wappingers Falls on Market St.
formerly, Peacocks Drug Store. He sold many radios and, on nUDerous
occasions, the purchaser was not strong on paying, but Al never made
a complaint.
At one time he had a soup kitchen in the rear of his store
on Market St., and any man or woman who was passing through the
village was given a good breakfast. Al paid for all these things
and enjoyed it. "Live and let live" was his motto.
9/17/79
THE BHEWEH FAMILY OF WAPPINGERS FALLS
It ~ppears that the Brouwer, Brower, Brewer, family has
beem sadly neglected by historians in recording the early day
history of Wappingers Falls. Thus far, in my search regarding
thei~ activities, I have discovered the following facts:-
Adolphus and Nicholas Brewer were father and son (Adolphus
was the father). They came to Wappingers in the year 1737/
after havi~g purchased land here from the holders of the Rombout
~atent. Both were millers and millwrights, and they brought their
machiner~ with them. Smith and Hasbrough say they came from
Holland.
The former home of the Brewer family was in Bergenfield, N.J.
When the family moved here, they established the mill for grinding
grain. This mill stood in the vicinity of Mill Street, near the
stream of the Wappingers. The first year, they built their first
house, reported to have been in the area where the parking lot now
lies between the Town Offices and the Marine Midland Bank.
In June, Peter Zenger published in his Weekly Journal that
the daughter of Adolphus Brewer of Hackensack was bitten in three
places by a rattlesnake and died within a few hours thereafter.
The next month Zenger records the death by
Adolphus Brewer. Nicholas Brewer laid his father
plot of land later known as Zion Church Cemetary.
given to the Zion Church by Adolphus.
lightening of
to rest in the
This land was
known
~ouse
The. second house to be built by the Brewers was
to us as the Yellow House. Mesier Homestead was
to be built by Brewers.
the place
the third
It is pure supposition on my part, but, I believe that this
,"Yellow House" was occupied by the son/ Nicholas.
We must remember that, in those early days, there was no
designdting name of Wappingers Falls or/ even/ of Wappingers Creek,
but, that the term Hackensack, was applied to the area lying approx-
imately between the present New Hackensack and the Hudson at New
Hamburg.
New York Marriage Licenses (from Helen Reynolds' notes)
1765/ March 18
Nicholas Brewer married Sarah Drake
17S7, May 20
Nicholas Brewer married Mary DeGrale.
No date given
Nicholas married Susannan VanBreeman
2-20-1716
Adolf Browner born.
Illicit conception.
9-14-1717
Jcremina born
cont'd
The Brewer Family of Wappingers Falls cont'd
Albany Wills, Page 39
Nicholas Brower, city of Albany, wife Sarah
SONS - Nicholas, David, William, Jeremiah, and Jacob.
fl.
DAUGHTERS - Jane, wife of William Conklin
Mary, no date
Sarah, born 12-26-1771 Baptized 1-26-1772
Lina (no date)
Catherine, an unborn child.
9/17/79
TOWN OF WAPPINGER
TONN HISTO.'I>N ROUTE 376. RO 3
WAPPINGERS FALLS. N Y 12590
CONSTANCE 0 SMITH
TEL 452-1551
!l>
HUGHSONVILLE
In the 1880's Hughsonville had a population of about 245 and had
been founded by William Hughson. Dr. Walter Hughson. William's
son lived in the house on the corner of Rte 9D and j,:arlonville Rd.,
now owned by Harold Smith.
The post office in Hughsonville was established in 1847-1848 be-
fore that time the people had to go to Middlebush to collect their
mail.
Th8 Presbyterian Church was established in 1840 and had their
first minister appointed in 1892. The minister was Rev. Calvin
Wright, before this time the church was served by supply ministers.
The church was befun as a mission church to New Hamburg.
Hughsonville is located 1! miles south of the Village of Wappingers
Falls. In 1860 Hughsonville contained 1 church, a steam saw and
a srist mill.
Hug:1sonville .was made prosperous because of the trade the outskirts
of the Town of Wappinger and Chelsea. At that time Chelsea had the
largest shipping port between N.Y.C. and Albany. There is a house
on Old 'l'roy Rd., called the house at Farmer's landing which was a
gathering point for the farmers and all during the early years of
the area.
... , "...;'-1 ,.,;- "~'-1
\ \, I, \ ~,'I >;
\\.) \, / t;~~; \7..\.7 ~
v \j ';;';".2. J
"'--."" ~ ..~,~ () ~.1 .-1
i;~j .~ 'Ii {C5' :'\'"i': ',:\;.1'> ~/<: \" :r" ,,' :;;'(;
.!.:.i. ~ V I.-,_~. ,~ ., ~ ...~. '....;... 'OJ ~2.......'0
J,j- -,~.............. ~
c=-:-\
/
!.
'"
~-' .'~ ~:>;':"7" '~::':'~:~7"'~ -". '~~'~r:~:fr~~D'
\~ ....,. .' \,,,~.;..
, "",~ .,'t~'~';;t~:~~ii\i~i,
, t ~ " ' . , ~:' ~
Z_'"
~.,
.-; .:~
.,
" \ 'f" <'/' ,- ':i ~."' - ',;.., '.....~....,..
'y....
.~,. ".~;tY~ ~:~
. ~::,,'.: l::~~~., ~. t' ~ ~
(~. :;~': ! ~'~".;.'::'~(>t3
:: , .... ,,;:~<~~{~:Ii~J:,;~~>~J:"~
i...-... ...~...)...-- .~'"!!"'~..,.,
rtu;;hsonville is obviously an C3r1y seltlement. Some of its
Lui:djngs tell you that, and just as you would expect, it was
named for a family named Hughson.
However, the fIrst Hughsons of Hughsonville didn't use that
~:t)eJIjn;; of thdr name. They used Houghson. The first of that
name. William Houghson, was one of four brofhers who emi-
grated to this cour,riy from En;::land before the Hevolution,
.
.
.
O:\'E BROTHER'SETTLED in thc South, where his descen-
cants became HOl/stons. One settled in Ulstcr county, wilet'~
his dcsccndimts bccnme Hewsons. Wiliimn Hough50ii lived in
Yon};crs [or a while, thcn moved up tlle river to Dutchess c()unty.
rlc o'Ni'~d a large tract of land extellding alon;: the cast ,;ido
ot \\'aV;1ingcrs creck to t1le Hudson, then for some diswilce
down the Hudson.
.
.
.
TfIItEE OF WILLIA:\I HOUGHSON'S sons settled in wIn!
was to become Eughsor.ville, and a fourth went to sea and was
n,'ver heard of again. [n that period Ilughsonville W,lS purely
rural. MicidJebusl,. about lJ:llf a mile east, had the sm:Jll S.ui'CS,
the church, and i1fter 1824 ai' '2:;. the postoFtice in that :lrea,
Ailparcntly the building of the road bel ween the busy docb
at High Point, now New Hamburg, and l,lopcwdl gal'e Hugh-
liollvil1e its im;Jctus toward ~rowth around the J.1ew road's
o
':'::'~>".';~:,~:i/~~~;' ~~."",",- ~'~
'.... '
..':'" -..' ,. ~ ~"": ---....
,...--..j,,'....
,.:".',t
"
.....
" ~i
'.. . ;~,.. ; ,; ~
.! ....
...'.<,' -t' ..:'f.' ! ~,~. ..'. ". ..
. :,~;0 ni):~y~!;:/t;,;, ....:\
,,;~', ~ ."~ ~~.'
. .'~ .
...... '., ~ .
~
....1:
,!
k';:<;::;':?~v.' ." _,
. .,>~. :,,'~ '::; :" " '.. ' ." ",,',,,' .
. 0' . t" ~ . ._
--:..<' .
'.
;-.~{
_,1
..,
. -~~
::' .;:~i
'1
;j
~. ~i
. j
" .
~ ~
,') ~
,'.
~,
t
?~:<.
.. 'J,
......
- :~ ,.
.' ,
.,.;:.
" "
. \ ~
-" -:<~
.;.;.....~..._..~....'..;.,.......:.I
.--...-.......-.-. .....--..
.. _'.: ...i~.I.;:._..,J
}-'.....l.o;;hk("..:P.:'it!' .il"L(lIRI };hv~o .
intcrsection wi:J1 the Ali):;ny Post r03d. Li:Llc sloe,'s .:;rew up
nea.d)y, a l'rc's'bytcri,.Hl church 0pened t::2rc in 13if). a~,l: a post-
(,ffice WilS c:itabUshed in ~1(l lc::e ;0'O~.
.
.
.
. pR, W,\L'fE;~ lIuGl:,SO;\" \'.'3" Ci:", 0.:, Eughs",r;.';,lc's .I;;o~t
GlstlngUJ:iIWd re31dell~s \or tnd. r,~: ,r..::., r.:'~ \;'~~, ,'>5,>.;,:<11:)' :I
surgeon. 'whu pn.v'''tjcrJ not 0~j:j~ ;;1 :i;:~ l!::Jlrt"C.i;::e ;~re0. bur.
"north, south; t.\':IS't f':nrl \':L~t." .'f~: ::; '.\".--;;j..l C".L:',~:.. ~~li~~),"
.tlccofejing to a IDOti 'll'tiCic by Dr. Ct::~ C(~r::'~0;) n.1;."lc"y, Qtc;eo~l"
in,chid cll1d sll!>crjil~('nd\nt of V,,~,"ar h,'<;~,(aJ.
Ilr. IIugilson VlJ~ one of tJ~e 1(1[';'\: ~,jysl~inns \V~...O tt,'n:-gfrn-.
hed the Dutl'hc3S Cl)lln~:-r :\I"riicdJ sc-cie:y in 1(;5{ a:'(.'!.r it kd
become jn~jctivc b~cJ.use or D. sctJp ':~;~1\J:1~ }"t:C'tl~I~~r5 ~Lo;.:.t
grnlltin:~ (~iicense to p~'fJc:tice to a YOun~ m.:;,n ';:~-:vsa mOf}U:
charact.cI' W;JS questionClcl. Dr, R'Jgnso;: did YOlln:;. a~ tbe age
of 41, h1 1857.
.
.
.
HVGHSONVILLE CO:",'TI.\l:;ED TO GROW in th,.t pe,'wd,
and by the early IP.i;0s had a sd~i'lol. a r,lte] , l '.'10 s.tore,. a b:;,c",
sit1ith shop, a \\-,(1gun !oiho;> , a Cl.it iit.'r.tcr ~hrJr>. tWf) shoe sho~G
and a h;HIlCSS ~h()p. r:" ;llTu;aUo;] \\'33 ':,e!l 3J;1Ul LJ,
By that tiiTIC HU~;-lc;l:n\'j:Jc':.; ;,;-(\,~;:;;:t::y h3~1 r.i'-',",l,\;2d Ihe
rarii,~r' h;ln11f.:L of :\1iddlc:i.)usb. viLit:1 W~L..; ~L.;:np~ng. :\11\'.' 1\1;d--
cjjdJush IS gconc, and you Vim;'t lin.i ii s;r.;.;:c Iiu:;~.'{ln iil the
appropriilte 'section of tile currc;;t ,,,;epnor.<' ilire<.'toi'Y,
....
. .