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Archiver > NYDUTCHE > 2004-01 > 1073609935


From: Ginny Buechele <>
Subject: [NYDUTCHE] Wiccopee - Johnsville - Preserve Historic East Fishkill Hamlet
Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2004 19:59:44 -0500


Mr. Hawks mentioned in the article below is Isaac Hawks - Isaac Hawks
and I share a common Ancestor - I've done much research on Isaac's Wagon
Shop and Homestead which both exist today but for how long will they
exist is the question? Those of you who are taxpayers in or have
ancestors from East Fishkill might want to contact your The East
Fishkill Town/Planning Board and support the concept of a Historical
District for the Wiccopee/Johnsville Hamlet. Mr. Mills Letter certainly
provides food for thought!

Supervisor & Town Board
or
Planning Board
Town of East Fishkill
330 Route 376
Hopewell Junction, NY 12533
****************************************************
Poughkeepsie Journal - Letter to the Editor
Thursday, January 8, 2004

Preserve historic East Fishkill hamlet

The Town of East Fishkill is situated on land within Madam Catheryn
Brett's third share of 84,000 acres, known as the 1685 Rombout Patent.
The town originally consisted of several rural communities with names
like Gayhead, Hopewell, Adriance, Stormville and Johnsville. This last
hamlet, now known as Wiccopee, is the only one relatively unchanged from
when it was a thriving community in the mid-1800s.

Before being straightened, Route 52 curved around Fishkill Hook Road,
which is lined with old homes and the Wiccopee store. It continued past
the village green dominated by the fine 1825 Methodist Episcopal Church.

Maybe this is the last unspoiled corner of our town. Nineteen properties
are listed in the town's Survey of Historic Structures. More than a
century ago, these buildings were homes, stores, a shoemaker's shop and
Mr. Hawks' wagon shop, probably where Gene's cycle business is today.
The hamlet had its own schoolhouse and post office as early as 1832.

This may be the last opportunity for Johnsville's residents to seek
recognition of their hamlet as East Fishkill's first historic district.
Such designation could enhance property values and encourage home
restorations in a traditional style, thereby preserving the general
appearance of this hamlet as it was in the late 19th century. It may
attract visitors and remind future generations how our town looked
before development changed its character forever.

Malcolm Mills, Hopewell Junction
******************************************
Ginny
Ginny's Poorhouse Cemetery Page
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/2843/saveacemetery.html
The Day History Died!
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/2843/thedayhistorydied.html
Ginny's Home Page
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/2843
"Show me your cemeteries, and I will tell you what kind of people you
have."
Benjamin Franklin


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