Verplanck Seniors present “Lost Annsville” by Kirk Moldoff this Thursday

The Annsville hamlet area, in the Town of Cortlandt, encompasses a fairly small corner of the town of Cortlandt and borders Peekskill. The area starts from the very bottom of the Bear Mountain Bridge Road aka the “Goat Trail” where Roa Hook Road starts, continues past Camp Smith, passes through the Annsville Circle, Mobil, Dunkin Donuts, and Table 9, and continues north all the way to the 123 Deli. The Annsville area also encompasses everything from Dunbar Heights in Peekskill, westward including the Annsville Creek, the “Rock Cut”, Hudson Highlands Gateway Park, and parts of Sprout Brook Road. A few businesses sprinkle the Annsville area including Cortlandt Colonial Restaurant, Jim Reed trucks, a Gulf gas station and the Redline Roadhouse. The entire Annsville area, which is mostly passed through now and not much noticed by travelers, was at one time the home to some of Peekskill and Cortlandt’s first industries. 

At one time, just before Highland Avenue ascends to join Route 9, a large paper mill once stood there operating from 1819 to 1831. The Wire Mill, once the largest employer in Peekskill, was also located there. The mill was a wonder to locals as it had a giant 23-foot wide water-wheel. Ultimately, the mill burned down in 1883. 

Other mills operated along the Annsville Creek including a Tobacco and Snuff Mill, followed by Capt. J.W. Binney’s lamp black factory on what became known as LampBlack Hill due to the amount of soot produced there. The Lampblack Factory was the antecedent to Crayola crayons. 

The Peekskill Iron Company was built in 1853 on the shores of the Annsville Creek to supply Peekskill’s many plow and stove foundries. The Peekskill Iron Company was so large that it even had its own narrow gauge railroad running all the way out to the Croft mines in Putnam County inside of what is now known as Fahnestock State Park. Peekskill was so famous for its plow and stoves that were made here, that the City of Peekskill honored its past by placing them onto the seal of the City of Peekskill. 

Yet, not a trace of any of these vibrant industries that once stood along the Annsville area exists. The only thing left are the sites depicted by Peekskill’s Frank Anderson (1844-1891), a painter and inventor who sketched and painted Peekskill and Annsville Creek more than any other artist.

“Lost Annsville” with Kirk Moldoff will take place at the Little Red Schoolhouse located at 210 6th Street in Verplanck, NY on Thursday, August 1st starting at 10:30 am. The program is brought free to the public by the Verplanck Senior Club.

Hilltop Hanover Farm hosts “Tasting in the Fields” on Saturday

Join the folks at Hilltop Hanover Farm in Yorktown on Saturday August 3rd from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and again on August 17th, as they journey into the fields to taste various crops that have been grown on the farm. The journey, using your taste buds, will allow your tongue to note the similarities and differences within a crop family, genus, and species of one type of seasonal crops. 

Tasting in the Fields is part of a series that highlights a different seasonal crop, exploring how and why tastes vary and the benefits of these distinctions. Attendees are bound to not only learn something new, but guarantee your tongue and taste buds will learn something new too. 

Tastings are $15 per person plus Eventbrite fee. This event is recommended for everyone ages 6+. Pre-registration is required to ensure ample supply will be there. To register, visit this link on Eventbrite.

After the Tasting in the Field on August 3rd, hang around just a little bit longer and enjoy an Old Time Country Jam from 11:30 am  to 4:00 pm. The Old Time Music Jam is a monthly gathering of local, acoustic musicians who play traditional Appalachian fiddle music. This Old Time Music Jam is sure to be a hit and make you want to dance. Even better, bring your instrument along and play with the band or just relax and listen to the sounds of the fiddle.

Hilltop Hanover Farm is a bucolic 400-year old historic working farm in Yorktown Heights, Westchester County, New York. This farm and historic land is also in a critical environmental area of the Croton Watershed, which supplies drinking water to Westchester County and NYC. 

From the 1930’s to the early 1990’s the farm was a prize-winning dairy farm, home to Guernsey and champion Holstein cattle. However, by 1991, the breeding program for Hilltop Hanover Holsteins ceased and the entire herd, 123 head, was sold at auction. When the herd was sold, there was tremendous pressure to convert the land into a condominium complex. However, with strong support from local residents, the County of Westchester purchased the 187 acres of the original 250 acre farm and surrounding woodlands in 2003. The County’s mission was to provide watershed protection, protect open space and preserve the area’s agricultural heritage. 

In 2011, the non-profit organization The Friends of Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center, Inc. a 501 (c) (3) was established. Today the Friends conduct farming and educational programming, in a cooperative public-private partnership with the County of Westchester. 

Today the farm is a regional education center that offers programs on healthy and sustainable food production and teaches skills for small-scale suburban and urban farming techniques, illustrating sustainable living practices for the region and local communities.

The farm features demonstration models for backyard farming, rainwater harvesting, composting, and green roof technology. Visitors can hike the farm’s 3.5 miles of woodland trails, picnic on the farm grounds, purchase produce from the Farm Stand, or attend any of the numerous classes and lectures. Hilltop Hanover Farm offers tours, classes and field trips to school groups, garden clubs, and scout troops.

Visit the Peekskill Herald Events Calendar Features and the Peekskill Herald Event Calendar to see more local events.

If you would like to have your event publicized and advertised for free, please add your event to the Peekskill Herald Event Calendar. You may even get to become a highlighted featured event of the week. Do you like what you see? Click here to subscribe for free to the Peekskill Herald. Do you really like what you see and want to support local thriving journalism? Click here to donate and become a member of the Peekskill Herald. The Peekskill Herald is a 501c3 charitable organization and all donations are tax-deductible.