Restoring the Dead - the Wallkill Valley Times June 10, 2015

While a casino resort is no longer moving in next door, descendants of the Colden family fear that an historic cemetery is still in danger.

The Colden Family Cemetery—now owned by the town of Montgomery—is inaccessible to the public and according to the family, has not been maintained for some time. Although veterans dating back as far as the Revolutionary War are buried in the small cemetery, no wreaths are placed and no memorial services are held there.

Robin Assenza, a descendant of Cadwallader Colden, told the Montgomery Town Board last week that these and other issues are “a little disturbing to the descendants.”

Assenza pointed out that in every deed from 1837 to 1997, the cemetery is described as half an acre in size. However, in 1974 it was inexplicably reduced to just 0.12 acres in county records, or about a quarter of its former size.

“As direct descendants of Cadwallader Colden, Sr. and Cadwallader Colden, Jr., we are concerned with the reduction in size of the cemetery’s boundaries, which was made in 1974 without any apparent attempt to contact the family,” said Assenza and another descendant in a letter previously provided to the board.

Town Councilman Mark Hoyt explained that the reduction was done by the county when it was going through a mapping process and it was likely reduced after no one came forward to claim it.
The new boundary follows the existing stone wall around the cemetery, which leaves it with no buffer. Concern was also expressed that some of the earliest burials’ which date back as far as 1729, may not be located within the wall, but on the remaining half-acre which has been taken away.
The cemetery is listed on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places and dozens of Colden family members are buried in the cemetery.

Among those buried in the cemetery is John Fell, a judge and member of the Continental Congress who signed the Constitution. During the Revolutionary War he was imprisoned in the infamous Provost Jail in New York City by the British. Also buried in the Colden cemetery is Alexander Colden Rhind, who served with the U.S. Navy in the Mexican War and Civil War and retired in 1883 as a rear admiral. He is the namesake of a World War II-era U.S. Navy destroyer, the U.S.S. Rhind.
Town Historian Suzanne Isaksen called the cemetery “one of the most important historical sites” of the town and even the county because of the notable people and historical figures who are buried there.

Assenza and Isaksen expressed concern about the lack of maintenance and pictures were presented to the board showing recent conditions and the deterioration of the centuries-old stone markers.
“The more time you waste not doing anything, the more problems we’ll have with the stones,” said Assenza.

Currently the cemetery is landlocked and inaccessible at its reduced size. While descendants of the Colden family are granted the right to access over private property, maintenance and public access are another story.

Isaksen also questioned what happened to the trust (established in a 1911 will) which was taken over by the town in 1988. The trust provided for the maintenance of the cemetery and contained more than $2,300. She reminded the board that the supervisor at the time had signed an agreement to accept and maintain the trust and cemetery. The board admitted that the town has not been maintaining the cemetery.

“Since the town did take responsibility for it, what are we going to do about it now?” asked Isaksen.
Assenza said the descendants of the Colden family are looking to restore the cemetery to its correct size, restore and preserve the stones and establish better access for visiting and maintenance. At the moment, they are just asking the town for a plan of action.

“We have some homework to do,” said Supervisor Mike Hayes.

By RACHEL COLEMAN

More Casino news

Here we go again: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/14/nyregion/new-york-gambling-board-to-reconsider-a-casino-for-the-southern-tier.html?_r=0

http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2015/01/15/rejected-casino-bidder-files-complaint-with-comptrollers-office/

No to Casino in Orange County

The good news is that there will not be a casino built in Orange County: http://www.northjersey.com/news/new-york-casino-license-board-votes-no-on-orange-county-casinos-opts-for-catskills-bid-1.1160990

The bad news is that officials from Newburgh have not given up and are still pursuing this foolhardiness. So stay tuned and hope that good sense will prevail.

What Would Colden Say? "NO!"

What would Cadwallader Colden say to the Hudson Valley Casino & Resort's proposal to build an 890,000 sq. ft. monstrosity on Route 17K right in the middle of the land patent that he purchased in 1719? A resounding "No!"

It's a beautiful proposal filled with wonderful images of all things pretty in the Hudson Valley. It talks of jobs created, of revenue generated, partnerships with education, and building on the Hudson Valley's key assets. What it does not tell you is that building the casino will destroy almost 300 years of colonial history.

For the Hudson Valley Casino & Resort's proposal: http://www.co.orange.ny.us/content/124/1362/16386/16495.aspx

Colden would say "NO!" because here is where he built his farm -- hacking out a homestead from the wilderness; and to transport building materials, he created what could possibly be the first canal ever dug out in North America and that canal is still on the land, waiting to be rediscovered.

On this land, his daughter, Jane Colden, Colonial America's first female botanist, roamed, cataloguing in the Linnaeus system, the plants of this new world.

On this land, his son, Cadwallader Colden, Jr., built the first stone mansion in the Hudson Valley.

From this land, Colden corresponded with the great minds of Europe and Colonial America, including Benjamin Franklin, with whom he enjoyed 30 years of friendship. They discussed electricity, astronomy, gravity, light, sound and medicine and replicated each other's experiments. They talked about a cure for breast cancer and the creation of a philosophical society.

On this land, Colden wrote The History of the Five Indian Nations -- the first book written in English of the tribes of New York Province. Thomas Jefferson studied this book while he was contemplating the set up of the new republic, and it is on the catalogue of  his library.

There are many firsts on this land that the Hudson Valley Casino & Resort wants to bulldoze into oblivion. What it doesn't seem to understand is that in the destruction of the Colden land is the destruction of part of our very history.

When sometime down the road the casino closes as many across the country are closing, Hudson Valley Gaming LLC, will move on to something else and people will find jobs in different industries, but the Colden land will still be destroyed and all that history will still be gone forever.

While the Hudson Valley Casino & Resort talks about everything good about its proposal, it says not a thing about a 2012 study of casino crime by the University of Maryland researchers which shows the 10 % increase in substance abuse, suicide, violent crime, theft and bankruptcy that occur when a new casino comes to town. Or about the 100% increase in crime in a 30 mile radius of Atlantic City casinos. It also doesn't mention that most of the jobs generated are low paying jobs and do not go to the locals.

If you'd like to help stop this madness, urge the NY Gaming Commission to say "NO!" --

The Commission is accepting written comments both at the September 23 event and up to seven days following the event.
"Statements received beyond seven days will not be included in the formal record. All submissions should clearly identify the submitter’s name, and affiliation, if any.”
Written statements should be sent to the commissioners via Gail Thorpe at Gail.Thorpe@gaming.ny.gov. List the names of the commissioners at the top of the body of the message, and she’ll get it to them.
The members of The New York Gaming Commission Board:
Mark Gearan, Chair
John A. Crotty
Peter J. Moschetti, Jr.
John J. Poklemba
Barry Sample
Todd R. Snyder.

Please feel free to write to the Town of Montgomery Planning Board. Suzanne Hadden at shadden@townofmontgomery.com. Ask her to forward your letter to Fred Reichle, Chairman and the Town of Montgomery Planning Board. They will be accepting correspondence on this matter until October.

I believe that we have a right to the history that this land represents. I believe that the Colden Family Cemetery will eventually be destroyed beyond salvation by the construction, traffic, noise and vandalism that will result from being surrounded on three sides by the casino. This cemetery which is on the National Register of Historic Places and has survived for almost 300 years, will die if this casino lives.

This family which contributed so greatly to the medical, health, sciences, philosophy, business, botany, cultural and political life of this country, deserves to have its ancestral land protected from destruction. If the casino wins, we all lose forever.

We have to say "NO!" ... help spread the word.

Colden Preservation & Historical Society Meeting

There will be a meeting of the CP&HS on Sunday, Dec. 16, at 2 pm, at the John A. Crabtree House,15 Factory St (a few houses behind Wallkill River School, on the right side), Montgomery, NY 12549.

Agenda items include review of provisional status documents and meeting dates for 2013.

Coldenham Preservation & Historical Society meeting

The Coldengham Preservation & Historical Society will meet this Sunday, June 26, 2011, at 2:00 pm, at the Wallkill River School, 232 Ward Street (Route 17K) in the Village of Montgomery. The results of last month's meeting of the Board will be discussed and a number of small administrative items need to be reviewed. A plan of action for the coming months will also be discussed.

Coldenham Preservation & Historical Society Meeting, Sept. 26, 2010

The Society will be meeting at 3:00 - 5:00 pm at the Wallkill River School, 232 Ward Street, in the Village of Montgomery.

This is an important meeting, so please make time to attend! Attendees will receive copies of the draft bylaws, constitution, and petition for provisional charter for the new society. Final vote will take place at the October meeting.

At this meeting former Town of Montgomery Historian Robert Williams will talk about the early efforts to preserve the Colden Mansion Ruins site and the development of the heritage park concept. Current town historian, Suzanne Isaksen will bring pictures of the interior of the mansion.

Light refreshments will be served.

For information, please contact Suzanne Isaksen at 845-641-0463, or sisaksen@earthlink.net.

Project Wins Award from Greater Hudson Heritage Network!

Congratulations to all who have worked tirelessly on the Colden Mansion Ruins project!

The Geater Hudson Heritage Network has selected Michael Hayes, Town of Montgomery Supervisor; Marion Brown, Chair of the Colden Mansion Preservation Team, Suzanne Isaksen, Town Historian and Stephen Tilly, Architect to receive a 2010 Award Towards Excellence for the community collaboration, historic preservation, and Regional Heritage Advancement for the Colden Mansion Emergency Stabilization Project.

This award is in recognition of the successful effort to stabilize, maintain and interpret the remains of an important piece of local history which was in danger of being lost completely.

The award will be presented on October 1, 2010, at the annual meeting of the Greater Hudson Heritage Network. For more information, please visit http://www.greaterhudson.org/

This award would not have been possible without the hard work of everyone over the years to overcome what seemed like unsurmountable odds to preserve the Colden Mansion Ruins from the ravages of time, neglect, indifference and the bulldozers of development. They have always understood that this preservation project protects an important part of where we as a country have come from, and is a gift to generations to come. The history of the Colden Mansion Ruins is our history.

Colden Mansion Ruins Meetings

The next Colden Mansion Ruins site meeting will be held on June 26 (Saturday) at 10 a.m., at the site of the ruins at the junction of NYS 17K and Stone Castle Road.

The Summer Research meeting will be held at 3 p.m. on June 27 (Sunsay) at Wallkill River School.

The Preservation of the Ruins: the Stabilization Begins

Photos by Lisa Melville, taken April 18, 2010, during a site visit to the Colden Mansion ruins.

Stabilization work is being done by Yankee Construction.

A Project of Urgency

In over seventy years of neglect and abandonment, nature and the elements aided by the inaction of men, came back to claim a once historic home, collapsing roofs and crumbling walls. And now unless something is done quickly, the little that remains of this historic structure will be lost forever and a part of Montgomery's history will be wiped off the face of this earth. Future generations will not know about the people who came before them and paved the way for present day Montgomery.

Here is an excerpt from the January 11, 2007 meeting of the town board meeting of the Town of Montgomery, which illustrates perfectly why we cannot possibly delay action on preserving and stabilising the ruins:

Richard Phelps (Audience) came before the Board and Public regarding some serious problems at the Colden Mansion Site that he wanted to bring to the Board's attention.

Mr. Phelps requested the Colden Mansion to be on the February 1st Agenda and stated that he has a preliminary copy of a Stabilization Report on the Colden Mansion and that the Committee would like to give a presentation on that at the February 1st meeting.

Mr. Phelps passed out a packet of copies of photographs to the Town Board.
Supervisor Cockburn stated that the Colden Mansion would get added to the February 1st Agenda.

Mr. Phelps referred to the photographs in the packet which he presented to the Board and stated that the Colden Mansion needed immediate attention because there are 2 trees leaning against the 1 remaining stone column that is in the front of the Mansion and the base of the column has been undermined where a wooden beam which went through the column as a support is rotted away and is now leaving a large cavity in the back of the column and The trees in question will press against the stone column and cause the column to tumble into the cellar. The stone column to the right of the front door has collapsed inside the cellar and that is what will happen to the remaining column if the Town doesn't act in a judicious manner. The solution is for this cavity to be filled in with stone and mortar and the 2 trees, which are leaning against the column, to be removed after that cavity is filled.

A discussion was held on the matter and about a Preservation Fund for the Colden Mansion.

A Motion by Councilwoman Jasiel, seconded by Councilwoman Buck Smith that the Town Board of the Town of Montgomery go forward with getting quotes for the stone column and remove the 2 trees at the Colden Mansion Site.

Roll Call: All Ayes Motion Carried: 5-0

Mr. Phelps stated that any work that is going to be done has to be brought before the Historic Preservation Board and he offered to draw up the specifications/work proposal for the Board to go out to quote with.

Supervisor Cockburn suggested that if Mr. Phelps draws up a work proposal that it should be reviewed by an Engineer and then get it to the Historic Preservation Commission or leave it for her and she will get it to them.

Supervisor Cockburn told Mr. Phelps to bring in the work proposal to her and she would make sure that Mr. Aiello reviewed it.

Nomination for National Register of Historic Places

On June 28, 2006 the Colden Mansion Ruins was among 31 properties that the New York State Board for Historic Preservation recommended for nomination to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. See Federal Register: June 28, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 124), page 35508-35509.

The Cadwallader Colden Mansion today

The once handsome mansion now stands in complete and utter ruin at the intersection of Stone Castle Road and Route 17K in the town of Montgomery, New York. The woods have grown up around the ruins of the mansion to claim back the land 241 years after Cadwallader Colden Jr., felled the first tree on the property he had inherited from his father. If you peer through the trees you will catch glimpses of the stone walls and foundations.

And if you brave the undergrowth and the trash, as the photographers below have done, you will stand before the crumbling walls of the mansion, and if you try very hard, you will see it in your mind's eye as it once was and you will have been witness to part of your own history. It is men like Cadwallader Colden, Sr., who braved the wilderness of a new land, literally hacking their dwellings out of the forests ... building their homes and taming the land with crops and cattle. It was a hostile land that they groomed with their sweat and their blood, often burying those family members that did not survive the harsh conditions.

The pictures below were taken from rchrdcnnnghm's photostream on flickr. Copyright is owned by rchrdcnnnghm.

The Story of the Cadwallader Colden Mansion

In 1744, Cadwallader Colden, gave to his son, Cadwallader Colden Jr., five hundred and twenty-five acres of the three thousand acre family estate known as Coldenham. It was probably a wedding gift. Colden had purchased the land in 1718, soon after he had moved from Philadelphia to New York, see the Colden family blog for more details about the purchase: http://coldensofcoldenham.blogspot.com/

Cadwallader Jr. or Cad as he was known to his family, was twenty-two years old when he receives his land from his father. He immediately starts working on his property. Everything he knows about farming, he has learnt on Coldenham. He fells the first tree with his own hands and starts farming his five hundred plus acres, and builds two homes and various structures on it. One of the homes which became known as the Colden Mansion, was constructed in 1767 for Cad and his wife Elizabeth Ellison. It was one of the first stone houses in the area and there are people who mistakenly refer to this as Cadwallader Colden, Sr's house. This is of course not true. Sr's house has long since been demolished and no one can really tell where the original Colden house was. But we know that Sr's original house still existed in 1797 because in his will Cad leaves five hundred acres and the original Cadwallader Colden house to his son Cadwallader Colden III.

The oldest surviving image of Cad's mansion is the 1859 engraving seen above. It was a handsome house that stood two and a half stories tall and was five bays wide. The first floor had two parlors, one on each side of the central hall. There were two chambers above the parlors and a basement kitchen below the east parlor.

Another description says this of the mansion, "...was a hipped roofed two story rectangle. It had centrally located front and rear doors with a connecting hall and a staircase of black walnut that swept from the entrance around the foyer to the second floor. Later Colden would add a wing to make the building "L" shaped, and still later he would restore its rectangular form with another wing. The rooms were spacious, with ten feet high ceilings, rich interior wood paneling, and fluted base relief columns balancing the doors and fireplaces, typical of its genre. Neatly sculptured cornices topped the clear vertical lines of wood paneled walls".

The mansion and Coldenham (which Cad inherited in 1761 when his father moved to the city), remained in Cad's family even when he was imprisoned from 1774 to 1784 for being a loyalist. The mansion and lands remain in the Colden family when Cad dies on February 18, 1797. His will leaves the use of the mansion to his wife Elizabeth for her lifetime.

Sometime in the mid to late 1800s the mansion is sold out of the Colden family. The mansion remains intact until about the 1930s when it is abandoned as a result of estate litigation. Below is probably what the mansion looked like before it fell victim to neglect and the elements.

It is fortunate that in 1940 The Metropolitan Museum of Art acquired some of the original woodwork from the west parlor of the house. This paneling is now displayed in the museum's Verplanck room, see below for two pictures from the Met's website.

Bits and pieces of the mansion, including more woodwork and the front door and the mile marker, are on display in town hall in Montgomery, New York. Below are pictures taken during a visit to the town hall in 2004.