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Jacob Purdy House to Host 224th Anniversary of Battle of White Plains on October 29:
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High School Band to play.
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Revolutionary War Campsite to be recreated.
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Sailors of U.S.S. Cole to be recognized with names of local militia men who fought in the Battle of White Plains.
George Washington's headquarters, the Jacob Purdy House, built in 1727, and the General's military base of operations in 1776 and 1778 in White Plains, will host the Commemoration of the 224th Anniversary of the pivotal Battle of White Plains on Sunday, October 29 from 1 PM to 3 PM at 60 Park Avenue. Admission to the event is free, and refreshments of milled cider, cookies and cakes will be served.
The home, which is opened to the public only in the fall and spring by the White Plains Historical Society, will host a Flag Raising Ceremony at 1:30 PM featuring the White Plains Militia Color Guard.
Program to commemorate the local White Plains Militia Men who fought and sailors lost aboard the U. S. S. Cole
After striking the colors, there will be a reading of the "Roll of Honor" naming the local militia men who fought in this historic turning point of the Revolutionary War. This year, according to Jack Harrington, President of the White Plains Historical Society, the Roll of Honor reading will commemorate the names of the US Navy sailors who perished on the attack on the U. S. S. Cole in Yemen last week.
The White Plains High School Band under the direction of Leslie Tompkins will play patriotic selections and an Echo Taps performance by Sue Massena and Mark Collins will close the memorial portion of the program.
Enactors to recreate Revolution campsite.
On the grounds, visitors can get the feel of the Revolution, through a recreated small Revolutionary War Campsite with reenactors in full uniforms of the time. Enactors this year are members of the 23rd Regiment of Foot Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Tents, campfires and military paraphernalia will be on display.
Inside the historic home, guests will see an Arts and Crafts Display by Beverly Barker featuring foot-and-a-half high miniature dolls in 18th century military and civilian dress. A video depicting the Battle of White Plains will be shown.
Purdy House originally on Water Street.
The Purdy House, Mr. Harrington reports, used to stand between the Pepe' Infiniti Auto Dealership on Water Street and the 1 Barker Avenue office building to the East of the Infiniti showroom. The home stood approximately 200 feet in from the end of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard where the Boulevard joins Water Street.
It served as the residence on the old Purdy Farm which occupied 132 acres of the Purdy's Hill area where Park Avenue runs today. After having many private owners, the Jacob Purdy House was purchased by the White Plains Battle Monument Commitee/White Plains Historical Society in 1963. The home was moved to its present site at 60 Park Avenue in 1973 with the financial support and cooperation of the City of White Plains.
The house now sits on the site of 60 Park Avenue and affords a commanding view of "White Plains" downtown, where on October 29, 1776, George Washington looked down upon the threatening red regiments of General William Howe.
On the site is a low stonewall rampart, a remnant of the lines where General Israel Putnam commanded General Washington's Purdy Hill cannon battery during the Battle of White Plains in 1776. Even though leafy trees obscure the view, it does not take too much imagination to "see" the troops stretching out before you in the plain below. Visitors put yourself in the minds of the patriots who stopped the British from advancing north up the Hudson River to West Point.
Admission to the event is free, and refreshments of milled cider, cookies and cakes will be served.
By WPCNR based on an interview with Jack Harrington, President of the White Plains Historical Society, and "The Battle of White Plains," a booklet available from the Historical Society. Booklets about The Battle of White Plains are available at very reasonable prices at the Jacob Purdy House, or by calling the Society at 328-1776. Memberships in the White Plains Historical Society are just $15 per individual, and $20 per family.
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