PJ story on the Fishkill Tea Party 1776

This is what the original Fishkill Tea Party was about. Today, setting governmental prices on goods would be called Socialist. Last year, the Fishkill GOP hosted 2 Tea Parties at Dutchess Stadium. While they were complaining about the "stimulus", they applied for "stimulus" aid for a drawdown on the 12 million dollar sewer district, that includes the stadium!

Never mind that Fishkill Republicans have raised taxes 30% in the last 3 years and that Moody's downgraded the town to one step above junk bond status.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20100429/NEWS01/4290338/1006/news01/Town-of-Fishkill-works-to-cut-deficit-after-credit-rating-drops

The Fishkill Tea Party of 1776 was a historical moment in US history. The Fishkill Tea Party of 2009, was nothing but a disgrace to that legacy.

During the mid-18th century, Abram Brinckerhoff owned and operated a grain mill and general store at a site now occupied by Blue Seal Feeds on Route 52 in Fishkill.

In 1776, Brinckerhoff learned firsthand the hazards associated with coming under the wrath of women in the community.

Similar to what caused a major disturbance three years earlier in Boston, the subject of controversy involved tea, a scarce commodity locally during the American Revolution.

Brinckerhoff managed to secure a shipment of tea in fall 1776 and immediately made it available to the public.

But when he offered it at a price that exceeded state regulations, the ever-growing spirit of independence embraced by local residents spurred the irritated women to action.

"There was a very bad scarcity of tea during the Revolutionary War, but somehow Brinckerhoff managed to get a shipment to his store," Town of Fishkill Historian Willa Skinner said. "But instead of charging the legal price of six shillings a pound, he charged market prices for it.

"All the good Dutch housewives in the area wanted their tea, but didn't want to pay an exorbitant price for it."

Led by Catherine Schutt, 100 women rallied and marched on Brinckerhoff's store, demanding that the state-regulated price for tea be enforced.

At first, the businessman balked at the women's demands, but quickly came to realize the tenuous position he was in.

"Who was he to face the wrath of 100 women?" Skinner said. "The women threatened to seize the supply of tea and throw it into the nearby Fishkill Creek if Brinckerhoff did not comply with selling it to them at the legal price."

Brinckerhoff eventually bowed to the wishes of the large gathering and sold them tea within the boundaries of state law.

"I would consider the Fishkill Tea Party to be one of the first women's protest movements in the country," Skinner said.

Todd Brinckerhoff, a descendent of Abram, said that while the Fishkill Tea Party ended peacefully, another local protest was more disruptive.

"The march in Fishkill was peaceful, but a similar tea price protest held at Meiser Park in Wappingers Falls had some serious confrontations," he said.

Fishkill's newspaper, the New York Packet, prominently featured the women's action — and Brinckerhoff's wise retreat — in its next edition.

Brinckerhoff's mill also experienced difficulties during the war, but that was at the hands of Continental Army troops rather than the women of Fishkill.

"Star Mills burned down in 1777 and the soldiers that were stationed throughout the Fishkill area took wood from the mill ruins for their fires," Skinner said. "There was a shortage of wood at the time and General Washington demanded that the mill be repaired."

Once operational again, the mill was used to grind grain for the nearby Fishkill Encampment and Supply Depot, near today's Route 9.

Historic markers on Route 52 identify the site of the Fishkill Tea Party and the location of Brinckerhoff's Star Mills.
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http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20100526/NEWS01/5260315/Brinckerhoff-store-mill-Women-protested-tea-prices-at-Fishkill-site

Chevron/Texaco Property Update in Glenham

Chevron will be holding a informal Open House, Public Information session at Slater Chemical on May 25, at 5:30 p.m. The firehouse is located at 76 Old Glenham Rd. Questions will be taken in regard to the Texaco research Center.

see www.texacobeaconinfo.com for more.

May 12th 2010, Fishkill Town Board Meeting

Development was the hot topic today. There was s public hearing involving maximum building size. A developer representing Magnolia on 9D. Spoke up against it. He also reminded the town. Of his $700,000 donation to the drawdown, on the 12 million Rombout Sewer District. Of importance, is that Fishkill officials. Made a claim that this was a PLA (Project Labor Agreement). The developer never heard of the PLA. This development is on the Blossom Loop accross from Castle Point.

The board then went into Executive Session.

Upon Return, a discussion about the new Highland Valley Trailer Park was discussed. This WAS NOT ON THE AGENDA, and was brought up after the Executive Session, as people leave the meeting and do not return.

http://www.fishkill-ny.gov/pdfs/TownBoardAgendas/2010Agendas/05-12-2010%20%20TB%20Agenda.pdf

This will be a Lot Lease agreement. There will be 110 units at 70-140K each. This property is the Montfort Mine. It adjoins Highland Valley and public access will be off Snow Mountain. Clove Creek is also in the area. This will also add 111 children to Haldane School District.

Fishkill-Dutchess Watershed Website

This is the new Dutchess County watershed website, created by Vassar and Cornell Colleges. This site includes Fishkill.

http://www.dutchesswatersheds.org/

5/3/2010 Fishkill Town Board Meeting

Board went into Executive Session right after the pledge. It appears that the town may be either working on a settlement, or preparing for trial, regarding a Civil Rights case filed in White Plains in Federal Court.


Executive Sessions are closed to the public.