Monday, June 7, 2010

Letter about Fishkill History

'09 Tea Party is 'disgrace' to Fishkill

I read the story about the original Fishkill Tea Party, circa 1776 in your paper ("Women protested tea prices at Fishkill site," May 26). It was not only a story about the strong women in Fishkill history, it was a story about government regulation, that in today's age would be considered socialist. While the merchant attempted to sell tea over the regulated price, Fishkill women would have none of it. Fast-forward to the Fishkill Tea Party of 2009, hosted by the Fishkill GOP at Dutchess Stadium. At that event, local Republican elected officials complained about the "stimulus," even though they applied for "stimulus" aid!

The Tea Party of 1776 was a historic moment in Fishkill history. The Tea Party of 2009 was a disgrace to that legacy.

The article talked about the New York Packet. Samuel Loudon was the publisher who fled the British in New York City and published his paper here in Fishkill during the Revolutionary War. It was not only the paper of record, he also published the original copies of the New York State Constitution in Fishkill.

What's truly sad is that history was lost. There was a Daughters of the American Revolution monument, identifying the site of Loudon's printing press. That marker was removed and replaced by an apartment complex. Similarly, a DAR monument identifying the Burial Ground of Revolutionary Soldiers, at the Fishkill Supply Depot, was also moved, and a Hess gas station was later built on the site. In Fishkill, development overrides history.

Ozzy Albra

Fishkill

3 comments:

  1. That really disgusts me, building over the grave sites of the soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom from the British.

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  2. The town government does not care about the historic past and maintaining it. They just care about greed and making more $ for them to tax and spend.

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  3. Well you are pretty accurate with your analysis.

    ReplyDelete