Before 1685 Gulian Verplanck died, leaving minor children, and
settlements on his portion of the land were thus postponed. Divisions of
the estate were made in 1708, in 1722, and again in 1740. It is not
accurately known when the Homestead, the present low Dutch farm-house
was built, but we know that it stood where it now stands, before the
Revolutionary War, and the date commonly assigned to the building is a
little before 1740.
The house stands on a bluff overlooking the Hudson, about a mile and
one-half north of Fishkill Landing. It is one-story and one-half high,
of stone, plastered. The gambrel roof is shingled, descends low and has
dormer windows. The house has always been occupied and is in excellent
preservation. Baron Steuben chose it for his headquarters, no doubt for
its nearness to Washington's headquarters across the river, and for the
beauty and charm of the situation. It is made still further famous by
the fact that under its roof was organized in 1783 the Society of the
Cincinnati. The room then used is on the right of the hall, and is
carefully preserved. In fancy we can picture the assembly of officers
grouped about Washington, in that west room overlooking the river,
pledging themselves to preserve the memories of the years during which
they had struggled for their country's being.
The whole neighborhood, especially the village of Fishkill which was the
principal settlement in the county at that date, has many revolutionary
associations.
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