Colden Mansion Ruins
Encyclopedia
The Colden Mansion Ruins are located in the Town of Montgomery
, New York
, USA, along NY 17K
, at the intersection of Stone Castle Road and Route 17K. The stone walls and foundations, still visible in the woods just off the road, are all that still stands from the house built in 1767 by Cadwallader Colden Jr., son of Cadwallader Colden
. The entire area, once the 3,000-acre (12 km²) family farm, is still known as Coldenham and East Coldenham, and the Colden Family Cemetery
is approximately a mile (1.6 km) to the southwest.
The Colden family owned the house until the mid-19th century when they sold it. In 1940, the Metropolitan Museum of Art
acquired some of the original wooden paneling which is now displayed in the museum's Verplanck Room. In the 1930s, the house was abandoned after a probate lawsuit, and in the later years of the 20th century, it fell into its present state of disrepair.
The site was one of the first properties identified by the town when it enacted its first local historic preservation
ordinance in 1997. In 2000, the town added it to its own listing of historic properties.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 2007, after the construction of Route 747 nearby and the completion of other Stewart Airport
access improvements, including the re-routing of the southern end of Stone Castle Road a hundred feet (30 m) westward, away from the ruins, to form a four-way intersection with 747.
As part of that construction, the state acquired the mansion property and turned it over to the town, which wants to make the area a park. It is exploring grant
opportunities to preserve the property.
Montgomery (town), New York
Montgomery is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 20,891 at the 2000 census. It was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 at the Battle of Quebec....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA, along NY 17K
New York State Route 17K
New York State Route 17K is an east–west state highway located within Orange County, New York, in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with County Route 76 east of Bloomingburg to a junction with U.S. Route 9W midway across the city of Newburgh...
, at the intersection of Stone Castle Road and Route 17K. The stone walls and foundations, still visible in the woods just off the road, are all that still stands from the house built in 1767 by Cadwallader Colden Jr., son of Cadwallader Colden
Cadwallader Colden
Cadwallader Colden was a physician, farmer, surveyor, botanist, and a lieutenant governor for the Province of New York.-Biography:...
. The entire area, once the 3,000-acre (12 km²) family farm, is still known as Coldenham and East Coldenham, and the Colden Family Cemetery
Colden Family Cemetery
The Colden Family Cemetery is a Registered Historic Place in the Town of Montgomery in Orange County, New York. It is located off Maple Avenue south of NY 17K, surrounded by a small stone wall....
is approximately a mile (1.6 km) to the southwest.
The Colden family owned the house until the mid-19th century when they sold it. In 1940, the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
acquired some of the original wooden paneling which is now displayed in the museum's Verplanck Room. In the 1930s, the house was abandoned after a probate lawsuit, and in the later years of the 20th century, it fell into its present state of disrepair.
The site was one of the first properties identified by the town when it enacted its first local historic preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
ordinance in 1997. In 2000, the town added it to its own listing of historic properties.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2007, after the construction of Route 747 nearby and the completion of other Stewart Airport
Stewart International Airport
Stewart International Airport is located in the southern Hudson Valley, west of Newburgh, New York and over north of Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The airport is located in the Town of Newburgh and the Town of New Windsor."." U.S. Census Bureau...
access improvements, including the re-routing of the southern end of Stone Castle Road a hundred feet (30 m) westward, away from the ruins, to form a four-way intersection with 747.
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
opportunities to preserve the property.