history

Historians and neighbors celebrate Revolutionary War veterans at old Amenia Burying Ground

Historians and neighbors celebrate Revolutionary War veterans at old Amenia Burying Ground

Tim Middlebrook, President of the Columbia Mid-Hudson Valley chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, left, Amenia Town Supervisor Leo Blackman, center, and Amenia Historical Society President Betsy Strauss unveiled a new historical marker at the Old Amenia Burying Ground on Saturday, April 26. The marker commemorates revolutionary war veterans buried at the cemetery where the Red Meeting House once stood on Mygatt Road.

Photo By Nathan Miller

AMENIA — Tim Middlebrook of the Sons of the American Revolution and Amenia Historical Society President Betsy Strauss unveiled a new historical marker honoring Revolutionary War vets in the Amenia Burying Ground.

Rain all morning had threatened the event, but historical society members, lovers of history and sons of the revolution persisted and the rain let up just in time.

The gathering at the old burying ground on Saturday, April 26, began with Middlebrook, president of the Columbia Mid-Hudson Valley chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, talking about the process of acquiring the sign from the Pomeroy foundation. He thanked the Burke family, longtime neighbors of the burying ground, for the work they and their father, Bill Burke, had done with the cemetery.

Bill’s son, Stephen, said he and his father spent a lot of time mapping and cleaning the burying ground. “Putting the stones back up,” he said. “Putting them back up again.”

Stephen said his father had completed a map of the burying ground with the identifiable plots. That was part of Bill Burke and Betsy Strauss’s work with the historical society to find revolutionary war veterans and attain historical recognition for the cemetery.
“It’s pretty impressive, it’s all this poster board that he put together,” Stephen said. “When I first saw it I said ‘wow.’ Then my sister Karen said ‘Oh we’eve already translated all that and into this.’ I thought I had found a hidden gem.”

Tim Middlebrook of the Sons of the American Revolution and Amenia Historical Society President Betsy Strauss told the crowd of neighbors and historical society members about the centuries-long history of the Old Amenia Burying Ground and listed the names of the known Revolutionary War veterans in the cemetery. Photo by Nathan Miller

After Middlebrook’s remarks, the crowd moved into the burying ground for snacks and mingling, where the graves of revolutionary war veterans had been marked with American flags.

Betsy Strauss had lists of the names for visitors:

Col. William Barker
1740-1820

Daniel Bartlett
1755-1837

John Bates
1756-1801

Maj. Simeon Cook
1726-1811

Maj. Robert Freeman
1727-1798

John Garnsey
1734-1799

Robert Hebard
1737-1798

Capt. Job Mead Sr.
1735-1819

Job Mead Jr.
1761-1838

Capt. Abiah Palmer
1758-1834

Capt. Elijah Park
1744-1795

Capt. David Parsons
1748-1812

David Rundall
1757-1848

Samuel St. John
1752-1785

history

Latest News

Year in review: Amenia advances major projects while community life thrives

Year in review: Amenia advances major projects while community life thrives

Road crews began construction in August on a new sidewalk along Route 44 connecting Amenia’s town center to Beekman Park, a project scheduled for completion in spring 2026.

Photo by Leila Hawken

The past year in Amenia was marked by steady progress on infrastructure, preservation and community projects designed to improve daily life and position the town for future growth.

In March, the Town Board selected a contractor to extend the sidewalk along Route 44 between Broadway and Beekman Park, with construction beginning in August. When completed this spring, the project will provide a safer pedestrian connection between the town center and the park.

Keep ReadingShow less
amenia

Year in review: A year of pride, participation and progress in Millbrook

Year in review: A year of pride, participation and progress in Millbrook

Family members of Army PFC Charles R. Johnson attended a May 29 ceremony at Nine Partners Cemetery dedicating a permanent marker recognizing Johnson’s Medal of Honor for valor during the Korean War.

Photo by Leila Hawken

MILLBROOK -- Throughout the year, a supportive Millbrook community turned out for civic participation and celebratory events, reinforcing strong local bonds while finding moments of shared pride and reflection.

Among the most significant was the long-sought recognition of PFC Charles R. Johnson, a Millbrook native who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary valor during the Korean War.

Keep ReadingShow less
millbrook

Year in review: Pine Plains advances Town Hall plans and new businesses

Year in review: Pine Plains advances Town Hall plans and new businesses

In 2025, the historic weigh station on South Main Street was approved for reuse as Pine Plains’ first retail cannabis dispensary.

By Nathan Miller

PINE PLAINS — In 2025, Pine Plains advanced plans for a new Town Hall and welcomed new business development, even as the community grappled with the loss of its only grocery store.

The Pine Plains Town Board began in earnest this year the planning stages for a new Town Hall building. Officials plan to construct the facility at 8 N. Main St., neighboring the Bank of Millbrook branch at the intersection of Main and Church Street.

Keep ReadingShow less
pine plains

North East’s commercial rezoning puts focus on housing

North East’s commercial rezoning puts focus on housing

The North East Town Hall building, where town officials will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Jan. 8, at 7 p.m., on proposed zoning code amendments

By Nathan Miller

MILLERTON — The zoning code changes that will be the focus of a public hearing on Thursday, Jan. 8, represent a major overhaul of the code since it was adopted in the 1970s, placing a strong focus on promoting housing options in the town’s commercial district.

The hearing is scheduled for Jan.8 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall and the draft of the amendments can be found online at townofnortheastny.gov/zoning-review-committee/ or in person at Town Hall or at the NorthEast-Millerton Library.

Keep ReadingShow less
zoning