Happening This Weekend

On Saturday, May 10, the town historians of Columbia County and the Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution are hosting an open house at the historic Robert Jenkins House, 113 Warren Street, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Remarks by the historians will be followed at 2:00 p.m. by a docent-led tour of the house and its collections.

May 10 is an important date in Revolutionary War history. It marks 250 years since delegates from our area were first elected to the Albany County Committee of Correspondence. Such committees, located throughout the thirteen colonies, were key to organizing local patriotic efforts during the early years of the Revolutionary War. May 10 is also the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Ticonderoga. The two events are connected. The minutes from the meeting of the Committee of Correspondence reveal that the committee had been asked to supply arms for the action at Ticonderoga.

In 1775, what is now Columbia County, was part of Albany County. It was not established as a separate county until 1786. Among the committee delegates are names familiar to us in Columbia County and in Hudson: Ten Broeck, Livingston, Rockefeller, Van Ness, Van Rensselaer, Esselstyn, Hogeboom, Van Aelstyn, Vosburgh, Staats. The committee, established in 1774, initially met every few weeks. After the April 1775 battles at Lexington and Concord, the frequency of the meetings accelerated dramatically. At times, the committee met every few days--which seems remarkable given that communication and travel were considerably more difficult in the 18th century.

For those attending the open house on Saturday, a donation of $20 is suggested to support the ongoing restoration efforts at the Robert Jenkins House.