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Abandoned Cemeteries One of my
original goals as the Town Historian was to organize a program to cleanup and care for abandoned cemeteries. This undertaking
has been slow to develop because it involves so much time, physical labor and so many cemeteries in Beekman are in dire need.
I had contacted a number of Boy Scout groups who were looking at projects, for scout medals of advancement. One group was
looking to start right away Pack 77 and I agreed to start with the Flagler Cemetery. The scouts under parent and Scout Master
supervision will paint, clean-up, clear brush and old plants, scrub algae and lichen from markers, reset fallen markers, edge
around markers set flush with the ground and upright fallen headstones, remove loads of leaves
and prune overgrown shrubs and trees that have fully masked this cemertry. The finances will be small, the cost of
a few gallons of paint and supplies I would need to chip the cut trees and brush and remove the cut trees that are to big
to be chipped. The Iron gates and iron fence needs some welding and TLC that I think I can get some community volunteers to
do. Part of this project will involve The Girl Scouts converting the cemetery's entrance
into a memorial garden as part of an ongoing campaign to turn the spot into a source of community pride. I think this is something
worthwhile and good for the community. The project for this one cemetery will take six to nine months historical
markers In an effort to identify
and interpret undocumented local historic sites as well as to commemorate places of significance in the history of the Town
of Beekman. The Town purchased three roadside historic area markers to be placed on The Old Upper Road the
cost of these markers are $950.00 each the placement of the historical markers along the Old Upper Road will be as follows: Marker #1 At the intersection of Gardner
Hollow and Pleasant Ridge Roads Marker
#2 At Beekman-Poughquag Road (County Route 7) Marker
#3 At Beekman-Poughquag Rd. near intersection of Recreation Road T.O.U.R. The Friends of History
have started a program called T.O.U.R. (The Old Upper Road) are reaching out to the communities of Dover, Union Vale, Beekman,
East Fishkill, Fishkill, and Beacon for help and support in getting Historic status or acknowledgment. In Washington’s
diary it is documented the number of times he traveled this route and in particular his visits to Col. Vanderburg’s
home on the Upper Road, which also served as a munitions depot. After the defeat of Burgoyne’s army, the route they
would first travel was east and then south. As a favor to Col. Vanderburg, the defeated officers and their families were taken
to Fishkill over the Bull’s Bridge on the Upper Road passing Col. Vanderburg’s House and Mill and Tavern that
he had an interest in. The rest of the defeated army entered Dutchess County near Amenia and moved on to Fishkill. Many of
the Taverns, houses and Mills existing at the time of the Revolution have disappeared, but a number of them still remain on
the Upper Road that ran 74 miles - and today, some 225 years later, with very little change in the route, the road remains
74 miles long.
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| Some of the work done at the site |
Grist Mill Renovation Begins at Beekman-Poughquag Junction
The Beekman gristmill is
a post and beam frame structure with horizontal lapped siding and a slate roof. To be reconstructed next
to the historical old upper colonial road near Bush creek a tributary of the Fishkill Creek.
A gristmill, by definition, is a mill for grinding grain, especially for individual
farmers. This is exactly what Isaac Dennis did. He used large, grooved stones placed one on top of another to grind grain,
mostly corn, for local farmers. One of these stones is still on the property, as part of the walkway the original mill boasted two sets of millstones. These were circular 42-inch diameter stones.
Grain placed between the stones, and the revolution of the stones would crush the grain into flour.
Gristmills evoke nostalgia, with the sun hitting water as
it spills over the turning wheel, are favorite spots for picnickers and photographers. However, more than that, gristmills
recall a time when towns grew up around and economies relied on the mills. Work is already under way to transform a section
of the 19th century mill into a museum and Tourist center. Envision a renovation that will maintain the historic dignity of
the mill but will allow new generations to see and understand the rural beginnings and the role the
mill played in providing necessities for the farm and a place to socialize.
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