The Friends of the Fishkill Supply Depot, Friends of Griffin’s Tavern and the Rombout Rural Cemetery Association to hold Heroes of Fishkill Day.
RT 52 Brinckerhoff, Fishkill, NY, May 7, 2018:
The 2nd Annual Heroes of Fishkill Day will be held on Saturday, May 26, 2018, from 9:00am-3:00pm at the Rombout Rural Cemetery, 1571 Route 52 in Fishkill, NY, once a place where Revolutionary War soldiers were treated for injuries in the Middle Presbyterian Church that stood there until the mid-1800’s. The event will for the 1st time in history, honor the 57 Women of the Revolution who are buried in the cemetery. The Friends of the Fishkill Supply Depot, The Friends of Griffin’s Tavern and the Rombout Rural Cemetery Association are the hosts. At 9:30am, local dignitaries will provide inspirational remarks. Free admission.
The Melzingah Chapter for the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Columbia Mid-Hudson Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution will perform a wreath placing. Revolutionary War re-enactor living historians from the 5th NY Regiment and from the elite Hearts of Oak Independent Militia Company who attach themselves to founding father, Alexander Hamilton will perform marching drills, musket firing, and fife and drum music playing. The 5th NY Regiment will set up an actual campsite. Robert Selig, PhD, Historical Consultant for the National Parks Service’s Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary War Route (W3R) National Trail, which traverses East Fishkill and Fishkill, will give a talk on the Marquis de Lafayette’s travels through Fishkill in 1780. Brian Altonen will give a talk on medical practices during the war. Antonia Frederick Houston, Historian for the First Reformed (Dutch) Church in Fishkill will talk on the early families of Fishkill. RRCA Trustee, Ethan Dickerman designed a map of the cemetery and a listing of the names of the 57 women which attendees can use in their self-guided tour.
The Friends of Griffin’s Tavern, a not-for-profit group dedicated to the preservation of its namesake Revolutionary War landmark which stands in ruin on RT 82 and is owned by Watch Hill Holding Corp/Royal Carting, Inc. Revolutionary War Militia officer, and owner in 1776 of Griffin’s Tavern, Colonel Jacob Griffin his wife and other family members are interred at the Rombout Rural Cemetery. A gravesite display will describe Col. Jacob Griffin and the current efforts to preserve the landmark. The Friends of the Fishkill Supply Depot will distribute information about their efforts to save the 10+ acres on RT 9 in Fishkill from commercial development and display a poster with the names and states of origin of the known Continental soldiers who died and were probably buried at the Depot site during the Revolutionary War. Water and snacks available for sale on site. Check the Friends of Fishkill Supply Depot Facebook page or www.fishkillsupplydepot.org for event updates including any weather related news.
