Old Road Socity of Philipstown
A Capsule History of the
Old Albany to New York Post Road
The following are excerpts from various sources compiled by Carl Van Patten:
1669
The Dutch in New Amsterdam created a post road, the foundation of which were trails used by the Wappinger/Wicopee Indians. A postal service was established in 1671 and mail was carried by Indians on foot along "The Path."
1703
After the takeover by the British, it became the Queen's Road during the reign of Queen Anne and later, the King's Road during the reign of George I and II.
1730
The first settler was John Rodgers whose log homestead served as a tavern and inn throughout the French and Indian Wars of the 1750's. The site was probably the property now owned by Alexander Saunders, Jr. The road was widened at this time to accommodate wagons and military supply vehicles.
1769
Benjamin Franklin, the first Deputy Postmaster General, had milestones placed, first in Manhattan and farther north after 1798.
1772
The provisional assembly enacted a statute to carry mail from New York to Albany by postal rider.
1777
Continental Village was burned and pillaged. All through the Revolution it was the main supply center for the area. However, it was soon reoccupied and never attacked again.
1779-1780
George Washington often traveled to various outposts along the road. One place, near what is now the Stapf farm, was called "New Boston" by officers of the Massachusetts Line. Another, near Travis Corners was called Hempstead Huts. These outposts formed a line across to Connecticut.
1785
An act established a stage route between New York City and Albany. One of the stage stops was the tavern of John Warren, built in 1756, now known as the Bird and Bottle Inn.
1820
Iron ore was mined at the Hopper Farm at Travis Corners. Mineral rights to most Philipstown properties are held by the descendants of the Philipse family.
1849
Train tracks reached Peekskill. Two years later, they reached Albany and the stage coaches were retired.
1878-1880
High grade iron ore from the Croft or Indan Lake Mines was extracted and transported by narrow gauge railway down Canopus Valley to the Peekskill Blast Furnace at Annsville Creek. The mine was abandoned in 1887 and the tracks removed for salvage in 1910.
1922-1917
The Catskill Aqueduct was built in this area. All along the road and at the present aqueduct site, shacks, bars and hotels were built to accommodate workmen.
1921
The monument to the "Mothers of the Revolution" was unveiled at the southern end of the road. It was rededicated in 1976.
1925
Annie Stapf convinced her neighbors to accept electricity. Under the Rural Electrification Act the cost of installation was reduced from $13 to $5. For five years previously, Annie ran a Westinghouse generator for the farm's electricity.
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