Wreaths Across America

I was so happy to see a wreath from this great organization at my father's grave just a few days ago. Usually I'm the maintenance manager for his grave and I visit consistently. Clean up several times throughout the year and always change the flowers to match the current season.

     When I saw this wreath leaning against the St. Frances statue my first thought was that a friend or family member had placed  it there. I was getting ready to send a few inquiring texts. Upon closer inspection I saw the tag and had such a wonderful feeling towards not only the organization, but the volunteers who placed it. So much so that I immediately searched Wreaths Across America to learn more about them and promptly signed up to be a volunteer next December 2020!

Wreaths Across America has a great hometown grassroots origin.  Morrill Worcester, owner of the Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine, won a trip to Washington,  D.C. when he was 12. A trip that left an indelible impression on him of what a sacrifice the veterans buried at Arlington had made. 

     In 1992, the Worcester Wreath company found with a surplus of wreaths near the end of the Christmas season. Recalling his boyhood experience at Arlington,  Worcester saw the opportunity to honor our country's veterans. With help from Maine senator Olympia Snow, they set out to place the surplus wreaths at Arlington. These were placed in an older section of Arlington that was recieving less visitors every year.

     This tribute went on for many years, then in 2005 the iconic photo of the wreath decorated stones at Arlington hit the internet and the nation payed attention! Thousands of requests poured in from all over the country from people wanting to join in.

This network grows stronger and reaches farther every year. I'm looking forward to being a part of it in 2020!

Please use the link below to learn more. Maybe even becoming a part of this national activity that has become a tradition with so much meaning!

https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/

Crawford House. Newburgh Historical Society.

The  Captain David Crawford house sits on a bluff that overlooks the Newburgh Bay. It is a magnificent 19th century house and if you've never had the chance to visit before you must make time in the near future!

Overview:

Built in 1830 for Capt. David Crawford, his wife Fanny Belknap Crawford and their two daughters Mary Elizabeth and Anna Crawford. 

Capt. Crawford was a civic leader and maritime entrepreneur who played a key role in the transition of Newburgh from small town riverside community to a thriving shipping and industrial city.

Specifically:

This house is architecturally one of a kind in the Hudson Valley in that it is intact. It has been changed very little over the years and retains most of it's original detail.

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The Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands relies on the generosity of it's members for the ongoing stewardship of this magnificent house.

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Please enjoy this visual tour.

http://www.newburghhistoricalsociety.com/exhibits-2/crawford-house/

Poughkeepsie N.Y.'s Jewel, Locust Grove. Historic Estate • Museum • Nature Preserve

 On the busiest part of Route 9, admist all the chaos, the hustle and bustle, speeding cars, the maddening traffic lights, is a beautiful refuge that goes by the name of Locust Grove.
Nearly impossible to see in normal traffic,  I was very happy to find that approaching from the south it was a left at a stoplight!

William and Martha Young

    The most remarkable thing about this estate is that in 1901, new owners William and Martha Young  occupied the house until 1975. Upon Martha Young's death she bequeathed her home at Locust Grove, together with all it's contents and family papers to an independent not-for-profit corporation charter to preserve the estate.  As per her wishes for the enjoyment, visitation and enlightenment of the public.

The House.

Locust Grove Estate is a beautifully preserved property from the 19th century. This gem has been privately owned ever since Henry Livingston, Jr. named the estate for the black locust trees growing along the driveways.  Not until 1830, later owners John and Isabella Montgomery built a house on the bluff to take advantage of the noteworthy views of the Hudson River. The Montgomery's house for its time was a typical Greek Revival-style building set well back off the Post Road, known today as US Route 9.

View of the Hudson River from the wrap around porch.

In 1847 the Montgomery's sold their estate to Samuel Morse, (inventor of the Morse code), and from 1851 to 1852 Morse remodeled the house extensively and change the character forever. He was inspired by the colors and architecture of rural Tuscany as he was an artist himself and had an eye for such. Morse and his family lived there for more than twenty five years until his death in 1872.

The bones of the garden after an autumn snowfall. 

The Grounds.

Samuel Morse designed the grand scheme of the beautiful landscape at Locust Grove during the 1850s. Throughout his lifetime improved the grounds, planting trees and moving stone walls to make the most of what he called his home's capabilities. After William and Martha Young bought the estate 1901, they continued to preserve the great maple, locust and beech trees that define the landscape. Also purchasing adjoining property to preserve and protect the grounds from development. Marthy Young was an enthusiastic plant collector and ordered enormously large quantities of flowers and shrubs for the estate gardens. The gardens have been restored using original plans and seed orders from the Young family archives. In many cases using the same varieties ordered a century ago. The original kitchen garden has been restored as a display garden for heirloom vegetables.

There is a $10 fee for admission. A large and atteactive gift shop that will keep you busy for quite a while.  When you're ready to tear yourself away to take a tour of the house, as you walk through the gardens and see the Hudson River off in the distance behind the house, you become transported back in time. This house is a veritable time capsule and an absolute joy to visit. I didn't want to leave and you may not want to either!

Don't forget to check out the event building on the website.  Available for weddings.

Locust Grove event and reception venue.

https://www.lgny.org/

A Colonial Christmas. Historic Edmonston House.

 On the north side of Route 94 in New Windsor, N.Y., just west of the busy 5 corners intersection at Vails Gate, admist all the industry, a bus company, and a thriving supermarket, is a quiet little place lost in time. 

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 The Historic Edmondson House sits quietly on a small parcel of land with a few outbuildings an old dry well and is an excellent teacher for the 18th century. Managed by the New Windsor Historical Society and the National Temple Hill Association it sustains through donations, contributions and membership fees. 

House History.

 James and Margaret Smith Edmondson came from County Tipperary, Ireland in 1720.  After living seven years and Plymouth, Massachusetts they moved to New Windsor, N.Y. and bought 200 acres just West of Vails Gate from the widow Ingoldsby.  The Ingoldsby land was part of the early patent held by Captain John Evans. For a time Edmonston's log cabin was the only house between New Windsor and what would later become Washingtonville. 

The family lived in the log cabin until 1755 when the first 2-story stone house was built. Followed soon after by a 2-story stone addition.  This was built by Edmonston in 1755 and it is said that the house was used as headquarters during the last years of the Revolutionary War by generals Horatio Gates and Arthur St. Clair. The house also served as the medical staff headquarters for the nearby encampment for the Continental Army.

    ~  Visit Edmonston House and become a part of history if only for a short while. Walk on its well worn wooden floors, steady yourself on its well used banister and sit by the comfortingly warm hearth on a cold winter's night and listen to the tales and stories of the people who once lived there.~

Please check out their website below. They are open Sundays 2-5 p.m. July through September. Major holidays are always on the schedule for events.

https://orangetourism.org/events/edmonston-house-history-program/

Merry Christmas! Sands Ring Homestead.

 Sands Ring Homestead has long been a part of my life especially in childhood. During grade school we attended volunteer run classes where we learned colonial crafts and daily chores of the 18th century.  As I remember, these classes lasted about a week and we absolutely loved them because at that time in the seventies we were able to walk from our school to the Homestead.

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Historical Sampling.

On the 18th Century highway once known as the Newburgh Turnpike, now called Main St., sits the Dutch-colonial style building. Either 1732 or 1750 being the original date of the construction of this building, the fact that it stood before our Nation's beginning is of historical significance. 

Nathanial Sands built this house for his cousin Comfort Sands. His wife, however,  did not want to leave her home in Long Island.  Instead, Nathanial and his family moved in.

By 1777, Nathanial gave the house as a wedding gift to his son David and his bride Clementine Hallock. David was a member of the Society of Friends and opened the house to the Quaker community. 

~a short timeline of events:

●During the Spanish-American War the homestead was used as a soldier's convalescent home. 

●It is said that General George Washington visited many times on his way to his Newburgh Headquarters. 

●During the Civil War, the Dorcas Society used the house as a collection center for items later sent to Union Soldiers. 

●In 1912 preservation began under the Old Homestead Association. A group of local woman who began fundraising efforts to afford repairs. 

●WWI used the home for war relief and later meetings of the American Legion.

●After WWII the Homestead was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

●Owned by the Town of Cornwall since 1952.

Children's Activities 

Annual Harvest Dinner

https://orangetourism.org/locations/sands-ring-homestead-museum/

The Best Kept Secret in the Catskills: Mountain Trails Cross Country Ski Center.

The warming hut.

     It's still autumn!  That's right it's still autumn, and we're skiing. Cross country skiing that is! Winter comes December 21st and I keep reminding myself of that fact.

     A beautiful snowfall fell December 2nd this year. The first for my area in the lower Hudson Valley and left a good 4 to 6". Upon further investigation I discovered that not only is there wonderful snow at home but one of my favorite cross country ski centers in the Catskills recieved 28"!!
The snowstorm brought the opportunity to ski powder in the Catskill Mountains. My mission: get there no matter what, pray and hope the timing is perfect and the weather behaves.  The coveted day was perfect.

     Mountain Trails Cross Country Ski Center  is on land bought by Rosemary and Mark Hyer and 1978. Originally called Hyer Meadows.  The couple created a nordic ski area which worked extremely well with the beautiful forested landscape and wide open sunny meadows. It gives families and visitors a lovely winter experience.

     I've visited this center many times in the past, although it's usually late in season around March or April.  It tends to be icy during that time. This property is an old logging and tannery camp that dates back to the 18th century.  There is no old growth left but after the industry ended at the turn of the last century, the hemlocks specifically, including white pines grew back in force. Lending to its absolute glorious beauty and I always find a lot of ice in the shade underneath these pines.

     On this day I worried not about ice because it was all powdery fluff. In fact, it was such beautiful snow that it was like sking on silk.

     December 7th was a glorious day indeed. I am an avid cross country skier but in my neck of the woods I do not always get a chance to actually ski.  In the Lower Hudson Valley our opportunities for skiing after a 4 to 6" snowstorm are iffy at best. The temperate climate created by the Hudson River causes higher humidity and a warmer environment.  We tend to end up with either a lot of slush and overnight the snow freezes to near solidity, leading to not so perfect conditions.  It also tends to melt much faster.
So it's off to the mountains!

      Mountain Trails offers 35km of groomed trackset trails marked according to degree of difficulty beginner to expert.

State-of-the-art snow cat grooming.
Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) certified ski instruction available weekends and holiday weeks.
Cross country skiing, snowshoeing and pull sled rentals.
Warming hut with ski shop, fireplace and snack bar.
Trails patrolled weekends and holidays by National Nordic Ski Patrol.

 If you need to change at the ski center the only accommodations they afford are the single woman's or man's privy.

Please click the link below for trail conditions.

mtntrails.com

Kowawese Unique Area at Plum Point. Orange County Parks Series. #1

    ... a spot hollowed by Revolutionary incidents, semi-isolated by the conclusions of nature, overlooking to the north the broad expanse of Newburg Bay, to the South the placid bosom of the hurrying river as it nears the strait over which the mighty Storm King stands sentinel... here should be a public park, a want which the rapid growth of Newburgh and Cornwall will turn to a necessity in the early future. A more beautiful and appropriate site for the purpose cannot be found.
           U.S. Congressman Lewis Beach, 1873

Located on Route 9W in the town of New Windsor, N.Y. at Plum Point, is a lovely, well maintained county park.   
It affords visitors plenty of hiking, a beach (no swimming allowed), fishing, boating (car top boats only),  benches, picnic tables, grills, ample parking and an interpretive center (available for rentals). It also includes a playground equipped with swings and a slide, (also used for parties). 
Nestled on the banks of the Hudson River and the Newburgh Bay this site boasts magnificent vistas of the Hudson River gorge including Storm King Mountain, Breakneck Mountain, and farther in the distance West Point.

KOWAWESE, pronounced [Kow-a-way-say]  meant place of small pines to the native Americans who once lived there. Woarenecks, associated with the Munci clan of the Lenape nation.  The name Plum Point was used later by European settlers first among them a Scottish immigrant who arrived and 1685 building a log cabin on the site and a trading post just across Moodna Creek.
During the American Revolution a gun battery here threatened British ships. Over a century later a brick making operation moved in sand mined at Plum Point was used by other brickmakers along the Hudson and in constructing the New York State Thruway in the 1950's.

Renewed interest in the Hudson's beauty and ecology through corporate funded clean ups in the 1970s prompted recognition of Kowawese's outstanding vistas and valuable habitats. With front funds from the NYS Environmental Quality Bond Act of 1986, and donations from Scenic Hudson, The Wallace Fund for the Hudson Highlands, the Open Space Institute, the Trust for Public Land and the Hudson River Improvement Fund,  New York State purchased the property in 1988.
Kowawese Unique Area is now a 102 acre park site own by New York State and managed by the Orange County Department of Parks Recreation and Conservation.

The interpretive center located at this park is available to rent for gatherings.  It is an ideal space for meetings, classes or small parties. The large picture windows look out over the Hudson and through the gorge affording spectacular views.  Not to mention on sunny days, since it's facing south it makes the room very warm and cozy. So don't hesitate to book in the winter! For rental information call (845)615-3830.

Fishing:  Fishing is permitted along to 2000 feet of shoreline at Kowawese. Fishing licenses are required in accordance with New York State law.
Boating:  The park provides water access in two locations for the public to launch car top boats into the Hudson River. Motorized boats are prohibited.

 If you go check out the link below to find out if there are any upcoming events or anything that might change your visit to the park.

G

https://www.orangecountygov.com/1478/Kowawese-Unique-Area-at-Plum-Point

XC Skiing in the Heart of the Hudson Valley

     Let's hear it for NY State Parks!  They are affordable, here for the people, we pay for their operation and they are full of wonder!

     Fahnestock Winter Park is located within Clarence Fahnestock State Park in the town of Carmel New York, in Putnam County.  Approximately 50 miles north of New York City.  It affords 18 km of machine groomed trails for cross country within it's 1600 acres. There is also snow shoeing on a section of the Appalachian trail, the most popular is the Ojibwa trail.

      From the seasoned skier to the beginner, Fahnestock is an all purpose ski center suited to fit every ability. If you're a beginner or have never skied the staff is very knowledgeable and helpful about fitting you with the perfect pair of skis. You can also sign up for lessons, both ski and snowshoe. Rentals for the day are at a reasonable fee from adult to children sizes. They have a large inventory of selected ski names and brands. If you are not intrested in skiing or snow shoeing, they have a wonderful hill for a snow tubing. Complete with a set of stairs for an easy climb to the top.

      I have to say that Fahnestock Winter Park has the most beautiful trail system I have ever skied.  That's coming from someone who has skied many centers from Connecticut to Massachusetts, Southern Vermont,  the Catskills, Lake Placid area and west to the Tug Hill Plateau. The landscape at Fahnestock affords a perfect combination  of rolly polly hills, sharp uphills and fast steep downhills, but not always in combination. Many trails are very easy for the beginner and of course there are many that are spectacular for the expert.

     Open between December and March depending on the weather and if there is enough snow. It becomes very busy but is still a joy to ski.

     Originally this land of 2400 acres was donated in 1929 by Dr. Ernest Fahnestock in memory of his brother Clarence who died in the post World War I influenza epidemic while treating patients for the disease. Prior to that this land was an iron ore mining community.

 The newly renovated warming lodge is where the ski rentals are located.  Along with a food and beverage counter and cafe. Here you can buy homemade chili and cornbread ( made by a staff member!). Which by the way is delicious! Hot chocolate too. A large changing room and restroom including a gift shop plus cross country ski equipment and cold weather merchandise. There is also an outdoor picnic area with plenty of tables, ski racks and a fireplace that is always roaring and warm.

https://parks.ny.gov/parks/147/details.aspx