LETTERS OF SUPPORT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL

IF YOU WANT TO JOIN OUR COMMITTEE TO PRESERVE THE ODELL HOUSE COMPLETE FORM BELOW

This past Wednesday the Greenburgh Town Board voted to support the submission of a grant to New York State for funding for the restoration of Odell House. The grant will be submitted July 23^rd. Following my initial announcement of the Town Board’s intent to submit for this grant, many residents sent in emails of support. Many residents also generously offered to volunteer their skills and time in a variety of capacities (photography, carpentry, landscaping, social media, etc.). These generous offers from residents are much appreciated and will supplement the major effort needed to bring this historic property back to its former state. Additional volunteer partnerships are most valuable for a project of this nature. Any individual letters of support would also be much appreciated as the Town seeks to put forth the strongest grant application possible.   If you send me a letter or e mail in support of the application we will include the letter in our grant application.  Letters received after July 23rd will also be shared with other potential organizations that are interested in preserving important historical buildings.

Thanks for your interest.  ALSO  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING A PART OF A COMMITTEE THAT WILL BE WORKING ON THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE - PLEASE ADVISE.

PAUL FEINER

Greenburgh Town Supervisor

PS: ON SATURDAY, JULY 21 AT 9 PM YOU WILL HEAR LOUD NOISES--IT'S OUR ANNUAL FIREWORKS EVENT AT AF VETERAN PARK (PART OF FAMILY DAY). HOPE YOU ENJOY!

RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE SUBMISSION OF A 2018 APPLICATION FOR

HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE NEW YORK

STATE OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION

(NYSOPRHP) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FUND (EPF) GRANTS

PROGRAM FOR PARKS, PRESERVATION AND HERITAGE FOR FUNDING

FOR RESTORATION IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ODELL HOUSE, LOCATED

AT 425 RIDGE ROAD IN THE TOWN OF GREENBURGH

WHEREAS, the 2018 Environmental Protection Fund Parks, Preservation and Heritage grant

funding application, through the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation,

provides grant funds to eligible applicants to acquire, improve, protect, preserve, rehabilitate or restore

properties listed on the State or National Register of Historic Places and for structural assessments and/or

planning for such project; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Greenburgh is a municipality within Westchester County, NY and is an

eligible applicant seeking to partner with the Odell House owner (New York Chapter of the Sons of the

American Revolution); and

WHEREAS, the Odell House, located at 425 Ridge Road in the Town of Greenburgh, was added

to the National Register of Historic Places on March 28, 1973, the New York State Register of Historic

Places on June 23, 1980, and to the Town's List of Landmarked Prope1iies on September 12, 2012; and

WHEREAS, the Odell House served as headquarters for French General Rochambeau for six

weeks in 1781 during the Philipsburg Encampment of the American War for Independence, and is a

landmark on the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail; and

WHEREAS, the Odell House is falling rapidly into a state of disrepair, and this grant represents an

opportunity to provide much needed restoration to this important piece of our nation's history; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Greenburgh consistently supports local history resources through Town

Law and Policy (creation of a Historic and Landmark Preservation Board, Reconnaissance-level Historic

Resource Survey, local Historic Preservation Ordinance, local Town Historian, etc.); and

WHEREAS, the Town of Greenburgh Comprehensive Plan identifies the local importance of the

Washington-Rochambeau Trail and specifically notes the Odell House's role as a historic resource; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Greenburgh has the full support of the New York Chapter of the Sons

of the American Revolution, as established in a letter dated December 8, 2016, and in a letter dated July

10,2018; and

WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Greenburgh EPF Grant through New York State's

Consolidated Funding Application (CF A) process will be in the amount of $300,000, which will be

matched by the New York Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution in an amount of$300,000, for

a total of $600,000 of project budget for restorative work; and

WHEREAS, the goal of the project for which the grant funding is sought will be to fully restore

the Odell House to a point where the building and site are publicly accessible and can be enjoyed by

residents and visitors as part of educational tours;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Greenburgh

hereby endorses the submission of an application for Historic Preservation in connection with the New

York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYSOPRHP) Environmental Protection

Fund (EPF) Grants Program for Parks, Preservation and Heritage for Funding for Restoration

Improvements to the Odell House, located at 425 Ridge Road m the Town of Greenburgh.

HISTORIC HOUSE ON RIDGE ROAD WHICH WAS USED DURING REVOLUTIONARY WAR by ROCHAMBEAU IS RAPIDLY DETERIORATING--TOWN SEEKING FUNDS TO RESTORE HOUSE

ON JULY 4TH LET'S REFLECT ON THE ROLE THE ODELL HOUSE HAD IN AMERICAN HISTORY

Odell House-Rochambeau Headquarters at 425 Ridge Road in the

Hartsdale section of Greenburgh. The early 1700’s farmhouse, which served as headquarters

for French General Rochambeau for six weeks in 1781 during the Philipsburg Encampment

The Town of Greenburgh is assisting the Sons of the American Revolution (private owner of the historic Odell House on Ridge Road)  in seeking to obtain  a grant to continue restoration efforts for the Odell House. We believe that at least $500,000 will have to be spent to save the building.  In recent years, the condition of the house has deteriorated. A grant opportunity exists through the New York State Consolidated Funding Application process (Environmental Protection Fund), which will be submitted later this month. The funds sought will be used for architectural planning/design and construction work for an initial phase of securing the house from a structural/safety standpoint. It is anticipated that additional funding will be necessary to bring the house full circle, to a point where the house is publicly accessible. The Odell House is part of the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail and its history and story can only properly be conveyed through a restored site. Although the Town does not own the site, it is hoped that continued Town assistance can be a contributor towards the goal of preserving the Odell House.  

It would be a crime not to take action. This house played an important role in our nation's history. There is currently a historic marker at the site of the house.

Paul Feiner Greenburgh Town Supervisor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Odell House is a historic home located at Greenburgh, Westchester County, New York, United States. During the American Revolutionary War, the Odell farm served as headquarters of Count de Rochambeau and campsite for the French expeditionary forces under his command from July 6 to August 18, 1781.

The house consists of a 1 ¹⁄₂-story central section erected in 1732, with flanking wings. The east wing was built in 1765 as a 1 ¹⁄₂-story structure and raised to a full two stories in 1785. The central section and east wing are of wood-frame construction, covered with cedar wood shingles, and rest on a fieldstone foundation. The 2-story stone west wing was built between 1853 and 1855. The house features three divided Dutch doors.

In 1965, the house was deeded to the New York chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.^[2]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.^[1]

TO: TOWN BOARD AND PLANNING COMMISSIONER

(  )YES. I BELIEVE THAT THE HISTORIC ODELL HOUSE SHOULD BE PRESERVED

(  )YES. I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN JOINING A COMMITTEE THAT WILL ASSIST IN THE EFFORT TO PRESERVE THIS HISTORIC LANDMARK.

(  ) YES. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PARTICIPATE IN AN EFFORT TO HELP THE TOWN OBTAIN OTHER FINANCIAL GRANTS FROM PRIVATE FUNDERS 

I THINK  YOU SHOULD REACH OUT TO THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS OR POTENTIAL DONORS WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN HELPING THE TOWN PRESERVE HISTORY.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

NAME

ADDRESS

E MAIL

PHONE