Van Wyck Homestead Museum

They bought the land from the peaceful Wappinger Indians, and legend has it that Rombout bargained with the Indians for "all the land he could see," then climbed to the top of Mt. Beacon to expand his view. This grant, known as the Rombout patent, included what is now the City of Beacon, the towns of Fishkill, Wappinger, East Fishkill and parts of Poughkeepsie.

After Rombout's death, his title passed to his daughter Catheryn, wife of British naval officer Lt.Roger Brett.

In 1732 Cornelius Van Wyck purchased 959 acres of land from Madam Brett and built a three-room house, the present east wing. Some time before 1757 the west wing was added and has remained "pure" Dutch colonial construction.

British strategy at the beginning of the Revolutionary War was based on getting the Hudson and Champlain Valleys. Fishkill became a strategic area. Located in a protected spot surrounded by mountains it was on the main north-south line, Westchester to northern forts, and eastwest to industrial New England colonies and Highland forts of West Point and Montgomery.

The Van Wyck house was requisitioned by the Continental Army as officers' headquarters. It was General Putnam's headquarters for a time and was visited by many notables, including Washington, Lafayette, van Steuben, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. Military trials were held here and orders for the army were issued from the house. It was also used by the Quartermaster Department for outfitting Continental troops with clothing.

On the land surrounding the house were a blacksmith shop, artillery park for repairing cannons, huts, barracks, a storehouse, stables and smaller buildings which were shops for the wig maker, baker, tent maker and wheelwright. In the village of Fishkill, the Dutch Reformed Church was used as a meeting place for the New York Provincial Convention and as a prison for Tories. The trinity Episcopal Church became a hospital for sick and wounded soldiers.

Samuel Loudon, publisher of the New York Packet,moved his press from British occupied New York City into the Van Wyck house, where he continued to print his newspaper, as well as orders for the Army. Loudon was appointed Postmaster for the state and Fishkill was the official New York State Post Office.

The house is reputed to be the setting for James Fenimore Cooper's novel, "The Spy." The real-life spy was Enoch Crosby, whose mock trial was held in the house. Crosby was imprisoned at the Dutch Reformed Church and allowed to escape under secret orders.

After the war ended, the house reverted to the owners, and the Van Wyck descendants occupied it for 150 years. The old barracks and huts were torn down and the history of the area was forgotten by most people.

The Homestead is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been awarded historic designation by Dutchess County Landmarks. The Society continues a program of restoring the house and welcomes visitors, school and community groups.

A library has been established where many original documents as well as reference and source material acquired by the Society are available to researchers.

The Van Wyck Homestead Museum is located at the intersection of Route 9 and Interstate 84, one mile south of the Village of Fishkill, New York. The entrance is on Snook Road.