Cellists to perform at Smithfield Church
The Smithfield Valley Church on Smithfield Road in Amenia.
Photo by Leila Hawken
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The historic old Village Hall building sold on June 20 for $255,000 to a private owner.
Photo by Aly Morrissey
MILLERTON -— After sitting dormant for nearly six years, Millerton’s “Old Village Hall” has a new owner. Sold on June 20 for $255,000 — more than $5,000 above the original listing price — the transaction marks a new chapter for a building steeped in local history.
The property, listed in February by Arleen Shepley of Elyse Harney Real Estate, had previously been managed by the Village without an agent. According to Millerton Mayor Jenn Najdek, that approach proved time-consuming and generated little interest. With a professional listing in place, the sale closed in just under five months for the vacant property located at 21 Dutchess Ave.
Having worked in the building before the COVID-19 pandemic, Najdek said it had significantly deteriorated over the years. She noted that after the heating system broke, the estimated cost of repairs was steep — even with a grant to help make the building ADA-compliant.
“The interior renovations alone were going to cost around half a million dollars — and that didn’t even include the roof, windows or chimney,” said Najdek. After careful discussion, the Village decided the best path forward was to sell the building and relocate to a rental space on North Elm Avenue, where the Village Offices and Police Department currently reside.
Mayor Najdek expressed enthusiasm for the recent sale, noting that the formerly tax-exempt, village-owned building will now contribute to the local tax base and generate revenue for Millerton. “We’ll place the proceeds from the sale into a reserve account and wait until we find a property that truly makes sense for our offices to invest in,” she added.
Built in 1904 as Millerton’s first firehouse, the shingle-style structure originally housed the E.H. Thompson Hose Company — named after Edward H. Thompson, president of the Millerton Bank and a key figure in founding the village’s fire department.
According to a written history of the Millerton Fire Department — produced in 1992 to commemorate its centennial — the Village purchased the land for the firehouse in 1902, broke ground in the spring of 1904, and later named the company in honor of Thompson.
The document also notes that in 1892, “the Village Trustees adopted the bell of the old Presbyterian Church as the official fire alarm.” That same year, the Village purchased its first hose cart at a cost of $49.50 with a $3.98 bell. The growing inventory of equipment prompted the need for a building.
Edward Downey, President of the North East Historical Society, said the original hose cart was restored in 1990 and is now on display at the Firefighting Museum of Dutchess County, located at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck. And, according to documentation provided by the Main Street Walking Tour, “the fire whistle, once in the tower of this village hall, has been moved to the Millerton Fire Company’s location on Century Boulevard.”
The written history of the Millerton Fire Department also states that in the early 1900s, the E.H. Thompson Hose Company became a founding member of the Harlem Valley Fireman’s Association, along with departments from Dover Plains, Amenia, Sharon, Lakeville, Pawling, Philmont and Pine Plains.
In October 1924, the company officially became the Millerton Fire Department. By 1962, the department had outgrown its original space, prompting the construction of a new firehouse on Century Boulevard. According to historian Edward Downey, the former firehouse was repurposed as a library after the move. When the NorthEast-Millerton Library later opened, the building transitioned once again — this time into Village Hall.
With the sale of the original firehouse now complete, the 121-year-old structure stands ready for a new chapter — whatever its future holds, its place in Millerton’s history remains unchanged.
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The Thorne Building on Franklin Avenue in the village of Millbrook.
Archive photo
MILLBROOK — Summer fun is just around the corner, thanks to the fire department and the return of the Fire Department Carnival scheduled to open on Wednesday, July 9, and continue through Saturday, July 12, on the Thorne Building grounds on Franklin Avenue.
Opening night activities will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9. The Carnival will open each night at 7 p.m., remaining open until 11 p.m.
There will be fun for everyone. All activities are free. Visitors can enjoy Bingo, games of chance, rides and games, and a 50/50 raffle drawing each night. Food will be available.
Music will be a feature on Thursday through Saturday. From 8 to 11 p.m. enjoy the sounds of DJ Gourmet on Thursday, Heavy Gauge on Friday, and Rhythm and Blues on Saturday.
Also on Saturday plan to be on hand for one of the largest parades in Dutchess County, starting at 6 p.m., proceeding along Franklin Avenue.
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Awash in flowers within the Piecemeal Farm booth at the season’s first Amenia Farmers’ Market were vendor Ross Pforzheimer, left, with Town Supervisor Leo Blackman and NECC Food Program Coordinator Katie Cariello.
Photo by Leila Hawken
AMENIA — Brimming with colorful fresh seasonal produce, a pop-up farmers market welcomed shoppers on Friday, June 27 at the Town Hall lower parking lot. Choices were varied, including seasonal harvests of leafy greens and flowers, cheeses and meats, French crepes, and plants, all accompanied by live music and crafts for youngsters.
Sponsored by the North East Community Center and the Amenia-Wassaic Community Organization, the event will repeat on the second and fourth Fridays of each month through Sept. 5. Hours are 3 to 7 p.m.
“I’m excited to see it,” said Town Supervisor Leo Blackman. “We’ve been meeting with the NECC for a long time.”
Having brought playful black lab puppies to the season’s first Amenia Farmers’ Market on Friday, June 27, Mark Hussey was pleased to show one particularly patriotic puppy that was a big hit.Photo by Leila Hawken
Pleased with the collaborative effort between the sponsoring organizations, Danielle Mollica of the AWCO said that the pop-up market idea was a great way to bring the community together.
Vendors who wish to participate at the farmers market should contact Katie Cariello, Food Programs Coordinator at the NECC. For information, go to katie@neccmillerton.org or phone 518-407-7030.
For general questions about attending the farmers market, call 845-863-4862 or email danielle@ameniawassaic.org.
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Amenia Town Hall
Photo by John Coston
AMENIA — Following months of meetings and significant discussion at the regular meeting of the Planning Board on Wednesday, June 25, the board voted 5-1 to approve Hudson River Housing’s conservation analysis document in connection with the Cascade Creek affordable housing project.
Planning Board chairman Robert Boyles cast the negative vote.
Senior Planner Peter Sander of Rennia Engineering asked the planning board to approve the conservation analysis that he indicated had been revised to accommodate conservation concerns.
“We feel that our plans provide benefit to all involved,” Sander said of the conservation analysis. Board member Ken Topolsky questioned the definition of “benefit,” leading Sander to reply that “benefit” indicated “no impact.”
Planning board member Foz Bullock asked how utilities can co-exist with conservation interests.
“Because the utilities are sub-surface, there is no visual impact, no impact to wildlife, and no soil removal. The bottom line is that what they are proposing agrees with code,” planning board engineer John Andrews said.
Topolsky asked about grading and erosion control at the Cascade Creek site. Sander explained that those elements are to be detailed within the preliminary subdivision mapping phase of the application process, the next step coming up.
“This is preliminary,” planning board attorney Paul Van Cott explained. “Beyond the non-binding conservation findings will be the subdivision planning phases.
Explaining the order of the process, Atty. Van Cott said that preliminary mapping will provide project layout that will address such issues as drainage, stormwater runoff, and State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) requirements.
“All of that comes before a public hearing,” Van Cott said.
“We’re here to listen,” Sander said. “We will address your concerns within the next set of plans,” Sander said.
In a process that began in January with preliminary plans described by Sander of Rennia Engineering, and a determination from planning board engineer John Andrews that a conservation analysis was needed, several meetings ensued. One of the meetings was a listening session in which HRH met with neighboring property owners and residents to hear their concerns. Those concerns led to revised conservation planning, presented to the Planning Board in March.
In May, a public hearing about the revised conservation planning was held with many residents’ comments focusing on site development rather than conservation planning.
Silo Ridge
In other action on Wednesday, June 25, a public hearing invited comment on Silo Ridge plans to revise its official plans to eliminate 13 townhouses and substitute ten condominiums in the same space on a single lot.
Of concern to planning board members was the likely tax receipt impact where the town would lose $48,000 in tax revenue based on the change to the site plan.
Silo Ridge consultant Patrick O’Leary agreed to provide more information explaining that the tax impact would be offset by new homes being planned for future construction.
The public hearing was held open until the next planning board meeting on Wednesday, July 9, awaiting O’Leary’s information.
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