Edmonston House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Edmonston House
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In 2007
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| Location | Vails Gate, NY |
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| Nearest city | Newburgh |
| Built | 1755 |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001616 |
| Added to NRHP | 1979 |
The Edmonston House is a very old stone house located in Vails Gate, New York. It's in the Town of New Windsor in Orange County, New York. This historic home has been officially recognized and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979. It's a cool place to learn about history!
Contents
A Look Back: The Edmonston House Story
Early Settlers and Their First Home
The story of the Edmonston House began with James and Margaret Smith Edmonston. They came from County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1720. After living in Plymouth, Massachusetts, for seven years, they moved to New Windsor.
In New Windsor, they bought 200 acres of land. This land was just west of Vail's Gate. For a while, their simple log cabin was the only house in the area. It stood between New Windsor and what is now Washingtonville.
Building the Stone House
The Edmonston family lived in their log cabin until 1755. That year, they built the first part of the stone house you see today. It was a two-story stone building. Soon after, they added another two-story stone section.
A Role in the Revolutionary War
The Edmonston House is believed to have played a part in the American Revolutionary War. Some say it was used as a headquarters. Generals Horatio Gates and Arthur St. Clair might have used it in the last years of the war.
It may also have served as a medical staff headquarters. This was for the nearby camp of the Continental Army. This camp was called the New Windsor Cantonment. However, some historians believe the medical staff was at a different house. They think officers stayed in a building across the road from the Edmonston House.
Later Years and Today
In the 1940s, the house had a serious fire. The fire damaged the east wing of the building.
Today, the Edmonston House is a museum. It is managed by the National Temple Hill Association. This group also helps with the nearby Last Encampment. That is a part of the Cantonment owned by the town. You can visit the Edmonston House museum on Sundays from July through September. It is open from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
