Village Historian of Dobbs Ferry

WELCOME...

Thank you for visiting this website. To learn about Dobbs Ferry's remarkable history, please consider the following options:

Persons who wish to conduct in-depth scholarly research regarding Dobbs Ferry's history are invited to schedule a visit to the archives of the Dobbs Ferry Historical Society, which is located at the Mead House, on 12 Elm Street-- telephone: (914-) 674-1007. These archives contain an extensive collection of historic documents, correspondence, artifacts and maps, historical publications, books, paintings, films and oral history recordings relating to Dobbs Ferry. The historical society also publishes The Ferryman, a lively and attractive historical newsletter, which appears quarterly. Please see the website of the Dobbs Ferry Historical Society for  additional guidance on ways to search for historical information about our village.

Historic Treasures of Westchester County is an initiative of "Virtual Archives," a collaborative effort of the Westchester County Archives and The Westchester County Historical Society. Access their web page, Historic Treasures of Westchester County , for a beautiful display of historical material from many of Westchester's towns and villages. On the web page relating to Dobbs Ferry, you will find exceptional picture postcards and other pictorial artifacts from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 

Dobbs Ferry and neighboring localities played a vital role during the Revolutionary War and are important sites on the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (W3R). At the present time Congress is considering legislation to designate this route as the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, a concept which has generated enthusiastic support from a large and diverse community of citizens in many states. Information about the role of Dobbs Ferry during the Revolutionary War is posted on the blog of the National W3R Association.

The website which you are currently visiting includes a pictorial account of the 1781 encampment of the allied American and French armies in Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley, Hartsdale and Edgemont. The strategic decisions made at the encampment in mid-August, 1781, led to a dramatic turnaround in the military fortunes of the United States at the Battle of Yorktown, in Virginia, two months later, to the end of the Revolutionary War and to remarkably favorable peace terms for our country.

Additional sections on this website include:
The historic maps web page
and
The notable quotations web page, which contains passages from articles and books which describe Dobbs Ferry of yesteryear.

Please feel free to contact me. I welcome your observations and feedback.

Richard Borkow, M.D.

Village Historian of Dobbs Ferry
Trustee, Dobbs Ferry Historical Society

January, 2008

 

We are very appreciative  for your assistance in June, 2007,  a critical time for the W-R legislation in the Senate

Faxes from the citizens of Dobbs Ferry, including all of those who responded to the mayor’s newsletter, and all of those who responded to e-mails from the leaders of both political parties, and from the citizens and supervisor of the Town of Greenburgh, were extremely helpful at the time of the Congressional alert in June, 2007. Your intervention changed the course of events! Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE

WE CONTINUE TO CALL UPON THE NPS TO RECOGNIZE DOBBS FERRY AS A KEY SITE ON THE WASHINGTON-ROCHAMBEAU
REVOLUTIONARY ROUTE (W3R)

The Dobbs Ferry Historical Society gave testimony before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on National Parks in support of Dobbs Ferry's petition on April 26, 2007. You can review that testimony here, as well as many related documents, including a strong statement of support by eminent historian, Thomas Fleming (January 6, 2008). (See Senate Testimony, Historical Documentation, Correspondence and Statements of Support)

We enthusiastically call for passage of the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail legislation now before Congress (S. 686 and H.R. 1286). Our goal is to improve that legislation by correcting a major omission,
the absence of any reference to the starting point of Washington’s march from New York to Virginia.

In 2007, Dobbs Ferry gained the support of Senator Lieberman (the main Senate sponsor of S. 686), Senator Clinton, and Senators Akaka and Thomas, chairman and ranking minority member on the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. But that support has not translated into recognition of Dobbs Ferry's historic role by the NPS.

At the present time the educational material of the NPS, including the main legislative map for S. 686 and H.R. 1286, does not acknowledge Dobbs Ferry's historical significance on the proposed Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail.

We are very appreciative that two of the most renowned historians in the United States, David Hackett Fischer, University Professor and Warren Professor of History at Brandeis University, and Thomas Fleming, President of the Society of American Historians, have taken the time to look through our historical material and have kindly expressed a willingness to be of assistance.  

Dr. Fischer, a distinguished scholar who has written acclaimed books about the Revolutionary War, and who won the Pulitzer Prize for his 2003 work, Washington’s Crossing, advised me to emphasize the convergence of Continental troop movements in Dobbs Ferry on August 19, 1781, and to present that convergence in pictorial form. The map of the parade for the march on that date, in the immediate vicinity of the Gateway intersection, was prepared in response to Dr. Fischer’s suggestions.

Thomas Fleming, a highly regarded expert on the Revolutionary War and author of many books which deal with the Revolutionary War period, including most recently, The Perils of Peace, America's Struggle for Survival after Yorktown, recipient of the Burack Award from Boston University in 2002, praising his lifetime’s work, the Abraham Lincoln Award from the Union League Club of New York in 2003 for his contribution to American literature, and numerous other awards, has written a compelling letter of support for Dobbs Ferry. The letter was sent to many staff professionals in the Senate and House on January 6, 2008.

Mr. Fleming’s letter confirms the historical accuracy of the 14-page document of the Dobbs Ferry Historical Society and strongly advocates recognition of Dobbs Ferry’s historic significance as a key site on the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail.  

Here is an excerpt from the statement he wrote about Dobbs Ferry:
"This is a serious matter in our era of growing historical tourism. The proposed Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail is likely to become a very popular attraction for hundreds of thousands of people.
"The Dobbs Ferry Historical Society submitted a 14 page comment to the NPS on December 2, 2006, with ample evidence that the town was the actual starting point for the march.  My investigation confirms the validity of their maps and citations."

Mr. Fleming’s statement reminds us of the importance of official recognition by the National Park Service, and he reminds us that the stakes are very high.

After almost two years of e-mail correspondence, telephone communication, appeals, petitions, faxes, official Historical Society resolutions, official Village of Dobbs Ferry resolutions, and U.S. Senate testimony, this much has become clear: Recognition of Dobbs Ferry’s significance as a key site on the Washington-Rochambeau Trail is not controversial at all from the historical point of view.

Our village is entitled to historically accurate recognition. To be consistent with its mission and purpose, the NPS should not be placing obstacles in our way but should, instead, be assisting us in celebrating our history.

Because Dobbs Ferry will persist in its efforts, there is every reason to expect that our village will, in the end, gain full recognition for its actual historic role --- a key site on the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail ---- the locality where the Continental troops were  paraded for the march and took the first steps of  "the largest and perhaps boldest movement of the war." *

Richard Borkow, M.D.
Village Historian of Dobbs Ferry
Trustee, Dobbs Ferry Historical Society

* Historian Benson Bobrick

MEAD HOUSE PRESERVATION FUND

The Dobbs Ferry Historical Society is requesting contributions to the Mead House Preservation Fund. The winter, 2007, issue of The Ferryman alerts the community: there is an urgent need for funds to save and preserve the Mead House, a source of village pride and a tremendously valuable asset for Dobbs Ferry. Please see The Ferryman for detailed information.

 

ROAD TO FREEDOM DAY IN DOBBS FERRY:
Save the date! Sunday, August 17, 2008

Exciting commemorative activities are planned, including the Road to Freedom Walk which will start at the parking lot of Scaramella's Restaurant (corner of Ashford and Southfield Avenues) at 1 pm.

We will be commemorating the 227th anniversary of Washington's 1781 march to Virginia and the Yorktown, Virginia, campaign. The first steps taken by the troops of the Continental Army, en route to victory at the Battle of Yorktown, were taken on Dobbs Ferry's main streets, Ashford Avenue and Broadway. The troops were "paraded for the march" in the immediate vicinity of Dobbs Ferry's Gateway intersection on Sunday, August 19, 1781, before setting out for their march of more than 400 miles.

After the Road to Freedom Walk, we plan to gather at the Mead House for spirited orations appropriate to the Revolutionary era, a historical skit, reenactments and presentation of awards to school children. Enjoy refreshments with an 18th century flavor.

The Dobbs Ferry Historical Society and the Village of Dobbs Ferry invite you to participate with us on Road to Freedom Day, 2008.
All are welcome!

On the website of the Dobbs Ferry Historical Society you can see photos that were taken at last year's celebration of Road to Freedom Day (Sunday, August 19, 2007).