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Celebrating
General (and Brother) Washington's
276th Birthday at His Headquarters in Tappan
 On Sunday, February 17, 2008, the De Wint Committee hosted guests in the Carriage House at the George Washington Masonic Historic Site at Tappan for a different kind of birthday celebration.
The colors were presented by The Heroes of ’76, Knickerbocker Chapter #13 of National Sojourners. The Pledge of Allegiance followed and the Invocation was given by RW Melvin Eckhaus, Vice Chairman of the De Wint Committee.
Chairman R. W. C. F. William Maurer welcomed the guests and introduced the De Wint Committee, House Staff and the Trustees of the Masonic Hall and Home and then the speaker.
“As Masons in New York we pledge a belief 1)
in a Supreme Being – One true and everlasting
God and 2) the immortality of the soul. The speaker
this afternoon, Brother Garrett Husveth, Raritan Lodge
#46, New Jersey, is a court approved forensic examiner
dealing with digital media. Garrett uses his expertise
in Electronic Voice Phenomena and psychical research
to explore the paranormal. His subject is “Hauntings
in Colonial New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.”
We heard through Garrett’s PowerPoint presentation of historic sites throughout our area where paranormal manifestations have been encountered and recorded by Garrett and his team.
 Brother Husveth answered questions from the audience, and Brother Maurer proposed the following toast to General Washington:
“To the immortal memory of Washington – In the field he taught us to acquire liberty; in the cabinet how to preserve it; and in private life how to enjoy it. Thy children will remember thee forever.”
RW David Blasch gave the Benediction. Mrs. Kathy Jones and our ladies provided refreshments.
The subject was well received by all. In a number of the small groups gathered together during refreshments, guests shared their own personal experiences of the paranormal. Quite an exciting program and one that people will continue to think about in the future.
Masonic Family Day
at the George Washington Headquarters National Historic Site
Sunday, September 16, 2007
The weather was perfect, although a little
cool for Masonic Family Day at Tappan. In the past we
tried to keep out of the sun but today everyone seemed
to want to stay out of the shade and get the sun on
this lovely day.
Something new was tried and done quite
successfully. A great BBQ was set up by Master Chef
Bob Reynolds and the Brothers of Hudson River Lodge
#309. Lunch started at noon and by 2 pm the program
began.
The afternoon started with the presentation
of a Plum Tree in honor of MW Neal I. Bidnick, Grand
Master of Masons in the State on New York. The tree
presentation was made by RW Mel Eckhaus, Vice President
of the Tappan Committee and Grand Tiler. Site Superintendent
RW Harold Jones explained the history of the tree, followed
by the MW Bidnick accepting the plum tree with his lovely
wife, Joyce.
RW Kenneth Wagner, Grand Chaplain, gave
the Invocation. The colors were presented by the Masonic
War Veterans under the command of First Lt. Commander
General of Grand Post, Eustace Kiryakos, and the Heroes
of '76, National Sojourners #13, accompanied the colors
under the direction of RW Edmund Kolb Jr. The Pledge
of Allegiance followed and RW C.F.William Maurer, Committee
Chairman, welcomed the visitors.
The first of four presentations was when
RW C.F. William Maurer introduced RW and Mrs. Eugene
Ericson who presented the print The Men Surrounding
Washington as a gift to be displayed in the De
Wint House in memory of their parents. Accepting the
print was RW Harold Jones. Maurer then presented Brother
Jones with a "Chancellor Livingston" medal
that had been awarded to RW Fred Dresdale, former Chairman
of the De Wint House, at Grand Lodge in 1992. RW Harold
Dresdale had desired that the medal be given to the
De Wint House in honor of his late father for display
in the De Wint Carriage House.
Past Grand Master Richard P. Thomas, President
of the Trustees of the Masonic Hall and Home, was introducted
and introduced the Trustees of the Masonic Hall and
Home. He then presented the De Wint House with a copy
of Greg Valentine's portrait of General Washington along
with a descriptive brochure that would explain the meaning
of the picture from the Erickson's and the Washington
portrait to our many visitors.
PGM Master Richard P. Thomas and RW Dominick
C. Grippo. Trustee and Liaison to the De Wint House,
then presented certificates of appreciation for "a
job well done" to Hugh O'Reilly, O'Reilly Family
Construction and Ronald Cook, County Tree Preservation.
Both these firms had worked for many years keeping the
De Wint House and the beautiful trees in tip top condition.
RW Kurt Ott, Grand Marshal, had the honor
in recognizing the Grand Line and their ladies and the
other prominent Masons. He then introduced RW Joe Leo,
District Deputy Grand Master, of the Orange/Rockland
District. Brother Leo is also a key member of the De
Wint House Committee.
RW Joseph R. Leo, DDGM, gave a brief history
of the site and then introduced the Grand Master of
Masons in the State of New York, the Most Honorable
Neal A. Bidnick.
Grand Master of Masons in the State of
New York, the Most Honorable Grand Master Neal A. Bidnick.
Grand Master Bidnick's remarks were concise
and to the point. He thanked the Trustees, the site's
staff and those present for their attendance and outlined
key plans for the coming season.
Grand Master Bidnick had a surprise for
Committee Member, RW Martin Dashevsky, and the surprise
is still in the works.
RW Kenneth Wagner, Grand Chaplain gave
the Benediction, and Taps was played, with echo, by
RW Raymond P. Alvarez, PC General, Grand Post, Masonic
War Veterans.
Light refreshments were served by Kathy
Jones and the ladies.
Thank you to Steven P. Koch, Netnews,
and W. Harry Anderson, Athelstane Lodge #839 for these
pictures.
Tappan's Carriage House Celebrates Washington's Birthday
By ALICE GOMSTYN
THE JOURNAL NEWS (Original publication: February 19, 2007)
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| Above: Artist Greg V. Valentine shows his portrait of Gen. George Washington and 11 other Revolutionary War figures during yesterday's celebration at the Carriage House in Tappan. |
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The De Wint House will shortly received copies of the two portraits that W.Cary Eberly and Greg Valentine spoke about last Sunday at Washington’s Birthday commemoration at the De Wint House. RW Gene and Martha Erickson and MW Richard Thomas - on behalf of the Trustees – have purchased a copy of each painting to be gifted to us. The paintings are in the process of being framed and will be presented shortly and displayed in the Carriage House. Thank you so much for this gift.
 Download the brochure based on Mr. Eberly's notes and to be kept alongside the paintings when on display. |
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TAPPAN - Everyone knows about George Washington, whose 275th birthday will be on Thursday.
But what about Alexander Millner, a Lake George native who was a drummer boy in the battles of Saratoga and Yorktown? And Conrad Heyer, who was with then-Gen. Washington when he crossed the Delaware River in 1776? And Capt. George Fishley, who served at Valley Forge without shoes or stockings and who witnessed the hanging of British spy Maj. John André at Tappan's now famous André Hill?
The three were among 11 little-known Revolutionary War figures memorialized in a speech yesterday by historian W. Cary Eberly.
Eberly, of West Chester, Pa., addressed a standing-room-only crowd at the Carriage House, a museum and visitors center at the George Washington Masonic Historic Site.
The building, which yesterday hosted a celebration of Washington's upcoming birthday, is adjacent to the historic DeWint House, where Washington stayed on four occasions during the Revolutionary War.
"We are all familiar with the statesmen and the generals" of the war, Eberly said, "but we are less familiar with the privates and the corporals."
The men who made up the rank and file of state militias and the Continental Army came "from all walks of life, occupations and social status," he said. By 1778, slaves and free black men, he said, made up nearly 10 percent of Washington's fighting force.
"From the very wealthy to the very poorest creatures," he said, "they could be found somewhere in the Continental Army."
While the legal minimum age to enlist was 16, some took up arms as early as 12 or 13.
"Certainly, many a wide-eyed youth were drawn in by the adventure of going to war," Eberly said.
The men whom Eberly profiled yesterday - Millner, Heyer, Fishley, William Hutchings, Peter Stephen Duponceau, Daniel Waldo, Lemuel Cook, Samuel Downing, Daniel Bakeman, Adam Link and John Gray - lived long enough to see the invention of rudimentary photography techniques and to have their pictures taken.
All but one lived to be at least a century old.
"So many of these men, they lived either into the Civil War or lived to see the conclusion of the Civil War," Eberly said. "That's another extraordinary part of these stories."
Artist Greg V. Valentine of West Conshohocken, Pa., included the men's likenesses in a portrait of Washington that was displayed at the Carriage House yesterday. (Copies of the painting are on sale through Historic American Prints, a business owned by Eberly and Valentine.)
Eberly also passed around booklets containing copies of the original pictures taken of the 11 men.
"Does this rock your soul, at all, to be looking at these guys?" Eberly asked the crowd, many of whom nodded in agreement.
Joan Steiner of Wesley Hills said she enjoyed Eberly's presentation.
"I thought it was excellent," she said. "I learned a lot, and it opened my mind."
Information on the men included in Eberly's speech may be found at www.historicamericanprints.com under the "Soldier History" link.
Reach Alice Gomstyn at agomstyn@lohud.com or 845-578-2420.
Masonic Family Day at Tappan Honors Four For Service to the Community
September 17, 2006 Grand Master of Masons of the State of New York, Neal I. Bidnick, suggested that he would like something a little different to be held this year rather than the annual “Grand Master's Day” at Washington's Headquarters in Tappan. GM Bidnick felt a “Masonic Family Day” would provide a pleasurable afternoon out for the Masons and their families. This past Sunday, September 17th the plans all came together. Brothers from the Orange-Rockland Masonic District, Athelstane Lodge #839 and Naurashank Lodge #589, both in Pearl River, prepared hot dogs and hamburgers for the hungry families. District Deputy GM Joe Leo and wife Helen planned and supervised the food buffet. RW (and Bishop) Herbert Groce Jr., Grand Chaplain, gave the Invocation. The NY Masonic War Veterans, accompanied by the Heroes of '76 from Knickerbocker Chapter of National Sojourners, Inc., presented the colors, and led the pledge of Allegiance. GM Bidnick was presented his “five star” cap as Commander of the NY Masonic War Veterans by Mel Hennen, Past Commander General of the Masonic War Veterans of the State of New York. The award presentations were for Masonic Service to the Washington's Headquarters Tappan Site and for contributions to the local community. Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds, the RW Harold Jones and wife, Kathy, were awarded special certificates and a medal on behalf of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for their continued efforts in the preservation of this historic Revolutionary War home. Representing the Statemuc Chapter, DAR, was Regent Martha Erickson, Accompanying Mrs. Erickson was Conservation Chairperson Isabel Wortendyke and many members of Statemuc Chapter. (Marty noted that just the evening before, husband RW Gene Erickson, was named as the “Outstanding Veteran in Rockland County.”) This past June, the New York Masons lost a loving representative of the Masonic family. Mrs. Gerardine M. Ellis was the wife of the late GM Raymond Ellis. GM Ellis was a descendent of the De Wints and he and Gerardine had contributed many lovely and important family artifacts to this historic house. A plaque was presented by the RW Paul Dewe-Mathews, chairman emeritus of the committee, to be placed alongside GM Ellis' dedicated tree on the house grounds. Brother Arthur Gunther, of Athelstane Lodge #839, former Editorial Page Editor of the Rockland Journal News was introduced by RW Ronald J. Steiner, Chairman Emeritus of the De Wint House. The Grand Master then came forward joining Ron and presented a special certificate from the Grand Lodge of Masons of the State of New York for Arthur's long and dedicated service to the Craft and the Rockland community. Recognizing an outstanding Mason and De Wint House Committee member is always a pleasure. RW Mel Eckhaus had the pleasure of asking RW Herbert Wasserman and wife Gertrude to the dias to present and dedicate a lovely white oak tree - just outside the presentation area - for Herb's long and dedicated service as a member of the committee and as its secretary. Grand Master Bidnick and RW Glazer who had both served in the 6th Masonic District with Brother Herb added kind remarks to the presentation. Gertrude presented a gift to the Masonic Brotherhood Fund to be used in preservation and education at the site. RW William Maurer, De Wint House Committee Chairman, accepted the check for the committee. Speeches were kept to a minimum. Past GM Richard Thomas, the chairman of the Trustees of the Masonic Hall and Home praised the beauty and the pride taken by his committee in the ownership and care of this historic site. Deputy Grand Master Edward G. Gilbert commented on the afternoon and had the pleasure of introducing the more attractive half of the Grand Line, their wives and family. The key note speaker, the Most Worshipful Neal I. Bidnick, capped the lovely afternoon with his easy manner and thoughtful message. He presented a framed certificate of the new Masonic Compact for display within the Carriage House to show the world the Masonic ideals of America, Brotherhood and Charity. Reverend Groce's benediction was followed by a moment of silence and the playing of Taps by RW Raymond Alvarez of the Masonic War Veterans. Brethren and the public are invited to visit George Washington's Headquarters in Tappan, NY. The house, built in 1700, has been under the care and concern of the New York Masons since November 22, 1931, some seventy-five years.
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