The Museum in the Streets®: Millbrook, New York Historical Markers

By Michael Herrick, September 8, 2019

“Aren’t We Dressed Up Fine?” Marker

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1 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 7 — "Aren’t We Dressed Up Fine?" / "Come Siamo Eleganti!" — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

“Aren’t We Dressed Up Fine?” The Dutchess and Columbia Railroad Company built this corner building as its head- quarters in 1870. Later, its offices were moved to Dutchess Junction, near Beacon. From 1889 - 1891 the building was . . . — — Map (db m140040) HM

2 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 15 — "Downstreet" / Centro Città — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

“Downstreet” The intersection at this stoplight has been an important crossroads for generations, known colloquially to villagers as "downstreet." J.B. McQuaig, an Irish immigrant, ran the general store pictured here for much of the first half . . . — — Map (db m140119) HM

3 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 25 — "Gandy Dancers" / I Construttori della Ferrovia — Millwood, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

“Gandy Dancers” Railroad maintenance was a constant necessity. Skilled workers and day laborers were hired to grade the land, build trestles, lay and realign the tracks, and keep things in good repair. Nicknamed "gandy dancers," they . . . — — Map (db m140230) HM

4 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 9 — "Perfect Service and Perfect Food" / "Servizio e Cibo Perfetti" — Millford, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

“Perfect Service and Perfect Food” There have been three prefabricated diners at this location since Charlie Simonson brought the first one to Millbrook from Westchester County in 1929. Acquired in 1931 by Carmine Nardone, it was . . . — — Map (db m140043) HM

5 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 10 — "Rough Stonework a Specialty" / "Construzioni in Pietra una Specialità" — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

“Rough Stonework a Specialty” Rocks abound throughout the region in fields, streams, and forest glens. They were incorporated into structures and stone walls that line roadways and delineate old pastureland. In the hands of skilled . . . — — Map (db m140114) HM

6 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 4 — "Up to Date in Every Respect" / "Aggiornata in Ogni Aspetto" — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

“Up to Date in Every Respect” That was the boast of Sheldon's Pharmacy, across from the railroad station. It had a popular soda fountain, carried souvenirs, published and sold local postcard views like this one, and attracted . . . — — Map (db m140037) HM

7 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 2 — A Tribute and a Gift / Un tributo ed Un Regalo — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

A Tribute and a Gift The Descendants of Isaac and Hannah Thorn(e) have been part of this community since the 1740s, when much of the area was settled by the Society of Friends (Quakers). Isaac's great grandson, Jonathan Thorne . . . — — Map (db m139984) HM

8 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 18 — A Wing and a Prayer / La Chiesa delle Grazie — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

A Wing and a Prayer Grace Episcopal Church (1901) anchors the upper end of Millbrook's Franklin Avenue. Stucco, stone, turrets, and towers combine in homage to the English Arts and Crafts movement. The interior, though somewhat . . . — — Map (db m140175) HM

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9 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 17 — A World of Information / Un Mondo di Informazioni — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

A World of Information On November 11, 1901, thirteen prominent citizens discussed the need for a local library. Two weeks later, a constitution was adopted, charter members and a board of trustees were elected, and the Millbrook . . . — — Map (db m140174) HM

10 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 5 — All Aboard! / Tutti a Bord! — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

All Aboard! Rail service had been debated for years before George Hunter Brown and his partners finally succeeded in bringing it to the area in 1869, after the Civil War. The new station and village evolving around it were named . . . — — Map (db m140038) HM

11 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 22 — Athletics and Community / Sport e Comunità — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

Athletics and Community Built in 1914 as the local YMCA, the building in front of you was dedicated 6 "the physical and moral improvement of the youth of Millbrook." Designed by the noted New York City architect James Ware, the . . . — — Map (db m140184) HM

12 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 21 — Blown Away / Volatilizzata — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

Blown Away The Millbrook Gas and Electric Company (1894-1920), founded by Charles Dieterich, pioneered the use of acetylene in America and provided street lights at 300 village locations. Unfortunately, the gas proved to be highly . . . — — Map (db m140182) HM

13 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 26 — Founding Families / I Primi Residenti — Millwood, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

Founding Families Considered the oldest residence In the village, this house (1750) was known for generations as the Haight family homestead. Owned by Philip Hart, an early entrepreneur, it was purchased in 1795 by Ebenezer Mott, . . . — — Map (db m140231) HM

14 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 13 — From Primary School to Town Hall / Da Scuola Elementare a Municipio — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

From Primary School to Town Hall Built as a primary school in 1913, this red-brick building housed kindergarten and grades 1-3 in four rooms for more than 50 years. Generations of children learned their ABCs here and fondly recall . . . — — Map (db m140117) HM

15 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 8 — In Stock and For Sale / In Magazzino ed in Vendita — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

In Stock and For Sale Hardware and farm equipment have been sold here since the 1870s. Plows, spring wagons, buggies, garden barrows, and tools are all listed in James Reardon's 1895 newspaper ad. Practical plumbing, steam and . . . — — Map (db m140041) HM

16 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 12 — Irish and Italian Immigrants / Immigranti Irlandesi ed Italiani — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

Irish and Italian Immigrants Alden Place used to be called "Hogan's Alley" after a news- paper comic strip, begun in 1895, about immigrant children using odd slang. The Irish were the first to settle on Alden Place, having moved . . . — — Map (db m140116) HM

17 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 24 — Life's Little Pleasures / I Piccoli Piaceri della Vita — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

Life’s Little Pleasures Nuncia Galuppo Petrone's specialty shop carried a wide assortment of Italian groceries she offered both imported foods and homemade dolci (sweets). Olive oil was featured both for table and medicinal use. The . . . — — Map (db m140229) HM

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18 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — Map — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets —

Welcome to Millbrook In 1697, when this area was thickly forested and unexplored, nine men formed a partnership and were granted a royal charter to a huge tract of land that stretched from the Hudson River to what would become the . . . — — Map (db m139866) HM

19 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 11 — Old Firehouse / I Vigili del Fuoco — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

Old Firehouse A series of fires prompted 30 men to form the Millbrook Fire Company No. 1 in 1908 to protect local property and lives. In 1909, they purchased this corner lot from Oakleigh Thorne and constructed the building a year . . . — — Map (db m140115) HM

20 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 1 — St. Joseph’s Church / La Chiesa di San Giuseppe — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

St. Joseph's Church Before St. Joseph's Church was completed in 1872, local Catholics had been served by priests who rode out either from Poughkeepsie or Amenia to conduct Mass in an inter-denominational hall. St. Joseph's became . . . — — Map (db m139983) HM

21 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 16 — Strike Up the Band! / La Banda Musicale — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

Strike Up the Band! Millbrook has always loved a parade, whether to celebrate a victory or holiday. Shown here in the large photo is the Armistice parade of 1918, marking the end of the "War to End All Wars." Red Cross workers . . . — — Map (db m140173) HM

22 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 20 — Tents and Togas / Tende e Toghe — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

Tents and Togas Latin used to be an integral part of the high-school curriculum so much so that in 1920-21, three of the eleven faculty members taught the language. Summer school (shown here) was voluntary, not remedial, and popular . . . — — Map (db m140178) HM

23 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 14 — The Great Fire of 1916 / Il Grande Incendio del 1916 — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

The Great Fire of 1916 In December 1916, the headline in the local newspaper ran “$100,000 Fire Sweeps Business Section of Village.” An entire block had been destroyed. Despite a well-organized bucket brigade, the fire department, . . . — — Map (db m140118) HM

24 ► New York, Dutchess County, Millbrook — 19 — The School That Launched a Village / La Scuola Chester Creò il Villaggio — Millbrook, New York — The Museum in the Streets® —

The School That Launched a Village Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Thorne Memorial Building (also known as Millbrook Memorial School) was built in 1894 by the four surviving children of Jonathan and Lydia . . . — — Map (db m140177) HM