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THE OLD PHILIPSTOWN TURNPIKE TOUR
1. NELSONVILLE ~ This tiny village remains much as it was in the 19th century. (#2) Its Baptist Church was built in 1830's. (#3) And on the left at 328 Main Street, is the only remaining Turnpike Tollhouse in Putnam County.
4. MEKEEL'S CORNERS ~ At the intersection of Route 301 and Route 9, there is a chapel to your right that dates from 1867.
5. DENNYTOWN and DUMP HILL ~ Going East on Route 301 you'll come to Dennytown. Once a thriving community with stores and a school. It survived only while the area iron mines were working. Iron ore was brought from the mines by mule carts on narrow railroads. It was reloaded onto wagons at the top of Dump Hill, and was sent down to the Cold Spring Foundry.
6. APPALACHIAN TRAIL ~ Right before Canopus Lake on Route 301 the Appalachian Trail crosses the road. The hiking trail runs from Main to Georgia.
7.CANOPUS LAKE ~ was created by dams built in the 30's during the depression it help provide work for the unemployed .The lake cover old iron mines and some old railroad tracks. As part of Fahnestock state park it is used for fishing, swimming, and boating.
8. FAHNESTOCK STATE PARK ~ The park is 6800 acres of beautiful grounds for hiking and fishing. When hiking u may cross evidence of old foundation, mine entrances and stone wall
9. TACONIC STATE PARKWAY ~ Where Route 301 passes over the Parkway, there was a Turnpike Tollhouse.
10. CHUANG YEN MONASTERY ~ Between Hortontown road and Fahnestock you will see the gateway of the monastery. Passing under the gateway the words "LAND OF ADORNMENT" greet all visitors ,opened to the public since 1985. The public is invited to attend religious services and festivals, Sundays there are vegetarian lunches served at noon.
11. MEADS CORNERS ~ This was the location where Philipstown, Westchester, and Dutchess Turnpikes intersected.
MADDEN OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER ~ Located on Miller Hill Road, is owned and operated by (BOCES) Northern Westchester /Putnam Board of Cooperative Educational Services. Madden offers environmental and outdoor education to students. In March on weekends the public is invited to watch the maple sugaring process.
12. FARMERS MILLS ~ Continuing East on Route 301, you arrive at Farmers Mills. This was once the most important interior hamlet in Putnam County.
13. KENT AND FISHKILL BAPTIST CHURCH ~ On Farmer mills road and White Pond Road is the Kent Baptist Church constituted in 1782. the present structure dates back to 1907. The burial grounds behind the church has 19th century gravesites and up the hill to the east is Mead Cemetery also dates back to the 19th century.
14. WHITE POND ~ Pristine White pond once was the primary source of water powering the mills at Farmers Mills. Also its a N.Y.S. Multiple use area.
15. EAST FISHKILL ~ Right past White Pond going down Milltown Road, you'll pass the Ballard Burial Grounds and a (#16) Turnpike tollhouse.
17. LUDINGTON MILL SITE ~ Putnam County's historical site of Col. Henry Ludington's mill, destroyed in a fire 1972 and the old Griffith store lost when construction started on I-84 .Col Ludington served under Washington and his daughter Sybil was known for her famous ride through Putnam where she alerted his regiment that the British were burning down Danbury.
18. PARADE GROUND AND DRILL FIELD ~ Col Ludington's troops drilled at the parade grounds at the junction of route 52 and Ludingtonville Road. If you take Mooney Hill Road where it forks right opposite the (#19) Kent Baptist Church, you'll be going the same route that Col. Ludington marched his men to Danbury.
20. RED GATE FARM ~ In the 1790's you might have stopped at this inn while traveling on the Turnpike. When you come to a fork in the road stay to the right.
21. TOWNSEND HOUSE ~ Built in 1827 the Townsend House stands on your left.
22. PATTERSON ~ Continuing on Mooney Hill Road, you'll pass the site of a Revolutionary War blockhouse with a historic marker that tells of Prendergast's rent revolt in 1776.
23. A short detour south on Cornwall Hill Road will take you to the Mathew Patterson House, built around 1780 by Judge Matthew Patterson.
24. LUDINGTON GRAVES ~ Going back to Route 301, the cemetery that is shared by the Episcopal & Presbyterian churches holds the graves of Sybil Ludington Ogden and her father Col. Henry Ludington.
25. THE "LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE" ~ Turn right on South Street, you'll see a restored school dating back from 1816.
26. DOWNTOWN PATTERSON ~ This hamlet was once a busy railroad depot.
27. THE GREAT SWAMP & PINE ISLAND ~ Going east on Route 311, stop by the bridge and look over the bridge to see the East Branch of the Croton River as it passes through the Great Swamp. The Swamp is home for wildlife and several endangered species. Pine Island is to the south, and was once home to a ring of counterfeiters in the mid 18th century.
28. THE GREAT WAY ~ Turn right on Route 22, this was a main road for cattle drovers before the railroad. The cattle were driven to the market at the Bowery, a 4 or 5 day trip. You can connect with the Hamlets & Farms Tour at Route 22 or turn left on Birch Hill Road to finish the tour.
29. THE OBLONG ~ Make a left on Birch Hill Road. When you come to a "T" intersection with Stage Coach Road, you have reached the stage coach route that went from Danbury to Pawling. The Oblong, extending from the Long Island Sound to the Massachusetts border, was disputed by New York and Connecticut. The land dispute was settled in 1683. Patterson was settled primarily by Quakers.