Kevin A. Boyce
03-22-2006, 16:19
This was in today's paper about Webatuk, since the trail passes through, I thought someone may find this of interest...
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http://www.pojonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060322/NEWS01/603220315/1006/NEWS01
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Land swap in 1731 added serene hamlet to county
http://www.pojonews.com/graphics/main/spacer.gif
By Larry Fisher-Hertz
Poughkeepsie Journal
WEBATUCK — This picturesque eastern Dutchess County hamlet is known today as a place to buy crafts and as the site of a factory that ships furniture to communities across the country.
Nearly 230 years ago, it was on the route George Washington chose to lead the Continental Army from Connecticut to Fishkill Landing — and Washington probably never forgot what happened to him there.
"As he was crossing the Ten Mile River in 1778, his horse crashed through Bulls Bridge and had to be rescued," history buff Richard Polhemus, a Dover attorney, said.
Originally part of Connecticut, Webatuck — east of the hamlet of Wingdale — was part of a land swap called the Oblong. In 1731, New York and Connecticut traded land, New York receiving a 1.8-mile-wide swath along the border from Westchester County to the Massachusetts line. Connecticut received land east of Westchester where New Canaan, Fairfield and Greenwich were later founded.
Settled by Quakers
Unlike the rest of Dutchess, which was held principally by large landowners, the Oblong was populated by craftsmen and tradesmen who owned smaller tracts of land. Webatuck was originally settled by Quakers, who founded other small communities in the Oblong, such as Quaker Hill in what is now the Town of Pawling, according to Dover Town Historian Donna Hearn.
She said the region's major industry for more than two centuries was quarrying. "Until 1936, there were two quarries that operated out of Webatuck, selling what was called South Dover marble."
The stone was used in the construction of buildings in New York City, including the public library in Manhattan and the Washington Arch in Greenwich Village, she said.
Today, the hamlet consists of single family homes that line the Ten Mile River and Dogtail Corners Road to the Connecticut line, small businesses such as lawn mower repair shops and bait shops, and Hunt Country Furniture, the region's main industry.
Founded in 1926 by owners of a logging company, Hunt Country ships chairs, tables and other furniture to customers in most of the 50 states and overseas, company Vice President Joseph E. Guagente said.
200 years and counting
"Our furniture is still made the same way furniture was made 200 years ago," he said, adding the factory isn't likely to pull up stakes any time soon.
"The Hunt family is very community-minded and has a commitment to Webatuck, to the Dover area," he said.
Hearn said Webatuck has long been considered one of the most beautiful hamlets in the region, thanks to its rolling topography and the serene Ten Mile River. In fact, the New York City Camera Club once named Webatuck the most scenic community in all of Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties.
"Many of the club members came up here in 1935 and spent time photographing the area around Old Route 55 and Dogtail Corners Road," the historian said. "They displayed the photographs at shows nationally and internationally. It's still renowned as a place of great beauty."
<!-- SHIRT TAIL -->Dateline appears each Wednesday. To suggest a topic, please call 845-437-4834. Larry Fisher-Hertz can be reached at lhertz@poughkeepsiejournal.com (lhertz@poughkeepsiejournal.com)
================================================== ======
http://www.pojonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060322/NEWS01/603220315/1006/NEWS01
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Land swap in 1731 added serene hamlet to county
http://www.pojonews.com/graphics/main/spacer.gif
By Larry Fisher-Hertz
Poughkeepsie Journal
WEBATUCK — This picturesque eastern Dutchess County hamlet is known today as a place to buy crafts and as the site of a factory that ships furniture to communities across the country.
Nearly 230 years ago, it was on the route George Washington chose to lead the Continental Army from Connecticut to Fishkill Landing — and Washington probably never forgot what happened to him there.
"As he was crossing the Ten Mile River in 1778, his horse crashed through Bulls Bridge and had to be rescued," history buff Richard Polhemus, a Dover attorney, said.
Originally part of Connecticut, Webatuck — east of the hamlet of Wingdale — was part of a land swap called the Oblong. In 1731, New York and Connecticut traded land, New York receiving a 1.8-mile-wide swath along the border from Westchester County to the Massachusetts line. Connecticut received land east of Westchester where New Canaan, Fairfield and Greenwich were later founded.
Settled by Quakers
Unlike the rest of Dutchess, which was held principally by large landowners, the Oblong was populated by craftsmen and tradesmen who owned smaller tracts of land. Webatuck was originally settled by Quakers, who founded other small communities in the Oblong, such as Quaker Hill in what is now the Town of Pawling, according to Dover Town Historian Donna Hearn.
She said the region's major industry for more than two centuries was quarrying. "Until 1936, there were two quarries that operated out of Webatuck, selling what was called South Dover marble."
The stone was used in the construction of buildings in New York City, including the public library in Manhattan and the Washington Arch in Greenwich Village, she said.
Today, the hamlet consists of single family homes that line the Ten Mile River and Dogtail Corners Road to the Connecticut line, small businesses such as lawn mower repair shops and bait shops, and Hunt Country Furniture, the region's main industry.
Founded in 1926 by owners of a logging company, Hunt Country ships chairs, tables and other furniture to customers in most of the 50 states and overseas, company Vice President Joseph E. Guagente said.
200 years and counting
"Our furniture is still made the same way furniture was made 200 years ago," he said, adding the factory isn't likely to pull up stakes any time soon.
"The Hunt family is very community-minded and has a commitment to Webatuck, to the Dover area," he said.
Hearn said Webatuck has long been considered one of the most beautiful hamlets in the region, thanks to its rolling topography and the serene Ten Mile River. In fact, the New York City Camera Club once named Webatuck the most scenic community in all of Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties.
"Many of the club members came up here in 1935 and spent time photographing the area around Old Route 55 and Dogtail Corners Road," the historian said. "They displayed the photographs at shows nationally and internationally. It's still renowned as a place of great beauty."
<!-- SHIRT TAIL -->Dateline appears each Wednesday. To suggest a topic, please call 845-437-4834. Larry Fisher-Hertz can be reached at lhertz@poughkeepsiejournal.com (lhertz@poughkeepsiejournal.com)