Orangeburg in Rockland County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

John G. Bell

Photographed by Marianne B. Leese, 2018

1. John G. Bell Marker

Marjorie Douglas and her daughter Heather stand next to the historical marker sponsored by Douglas House Inc.

Inscription. Noted naturalist-taxidermist John Graham Bell (1812-89) and his wife, Ann Briggs Bell (1820-94), lived here. Mr. Bell was a pioneer in taxidermy and friend and associate of leading naturalists and ornithologists of his day. In 1843 he traveled with John James Audubon up the Missouri River to collect specimens and information for Audubon’s final project. Two birds are named after him: Bell’s Vireo and Bell's Sparrow. At his shop on Broadway in lower Manhattan, he gave lessons in taxidermy to 13-year-old Theodore Roosevelt. The original 1756 Dutch sandstone house has been greatly altered and expanded. The property includes a rare Anglicized Dutch barn. Since 1981 the house, remaining a residence, has been a location for filming television shows, commercials and movies.

Erected 2018 by Historical Society of Rockland County; Sponsored by Douglas House, Inc.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Arts, Letters, Music • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #26 Theodore Roosevelt series list.

Location. 41° 2.169′ N, 73° 55.681′ W. Marker is in Orangeburg, New York, in Rockland County. It is on Kings Highway

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. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 275 Kings Highway Sparkill NY 10962, Orangeburg NY 10962, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Hudson Valley

and in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gravesite of General John Charles Frémont (approx. 0.3 miles away); Christ Episcopal Church of Piermont and Sparkill (approx. 0.4 miles away); Sparkill World War I Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Sparkill Korean War Monument (approx. half a mile away); Sparkill Viet-Nam War Monument (approx. half a mile away); St. Charles A.M.E. Zion Church (approx. half a mile away); Sparkill Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Sparkill Veterans Monument (approx. half a mile away).

Also see . . . Rockland County's Birdman by Carol Weiss. An article by Carol Weiss about John G. Bell. It appeared in "South of the Mountains," Vol. 52, No. 1, January - March, 2008. (c) The Historical Society of Rockland County. (Submitted on August 22, 2018, by Clare Sheridan of Tappan, New York.)

Additional keywords. Ornithology

John G. Bell image. Click for full size.

2. John G. Bell

Home of John G. Bell, currently Douglas House, Inc. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglas House, Inc.

3. Home of John G. Bell, currently Douglas House, Inc.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 24, 2019. It was originally submitted on August 22, 2018, by Clare Sheridan of Tappan, New York. This page has been viewed 832 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 22, 2018, by Clare Sheridan of Tappan, New York. 3. submitted on October 22, 2019, by Clare Sheridan of Tappan, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Confirmation of coordinates, location. • Can you help?