Zohra KapoorHi, I'm Zohra! I grew up here in Cold Spring and I attend the University of Utah as a second year History, and Early Childhood Education Major. I’m back here over the summer interning with Hudson River Expeditions. With their help, I get to investigate the history written into the place I call home. I am excited to learn more about Hudson, and even more excited to share it with all of you! Constitution Island The Warner House, Circa 1908 Image courtesy of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), Library of Congress. Like most of my understanding of Hudson Valley history, my previous knowledge of Constitution Island was based solely on what I've heard in passing. Through my research, I get to fill in the gaps, which is always rewarding. Constitution Island was particularly fulfilling because there was so much I didn’t know. A lot of action occurred on that tiny plot of land, especially in the past 300 years. The topography of Constitution Island creates the sheltered waters of Constitution Marsh and the Foundry Cove which many paddlers take advantage of – Hudson River Expedition’s paddler boundaries are mostly made up of this area. When paddling along the island, it is not uncommon to see an Eagle mama, other birds of prey, or a Great Blue Heron. It is no shock that the island’s beauty, setting and resources have attracted humans for more than 6,000 years. The Nochpeem (part of the Wappinger) were the Indigenous people who first resided on this land -and much of the land that is now Putnam County-in around 4,000 B.C. The Nochpeem gravitated to waterways for resources, and for orienteering purposes. Constitution Island is perfect for this reason. The Island was once covered in archaeological evidence of the Indigenous presence, ranging from hunting tools, shells, and even bannerstones. Bannerstones are indigenous artifacts commonly found in the Northeastern region of North America. Their exact purpose is unknown, however it is believed the polished carved stones were placed atop a stick for ceremonial purposes. Constitution Island was first named Martelaer’s Island, by Henry Hudson’s English-Dutch expeditionary crew. I expected the island to be renamed to “Constitution” as a Patriot effort amidst the Revolutionary War. However the renaming of the island is assumed to be because of colonial acceptance of British occupation and the “British Constitution”. Funnily enough, Constitution Island played a key role in defeating the British. The British had occupied the island for around a year in 1777, but the Patriots recaptured the island shortly after. This move was paramount for the Patriots, as the island’s proximity to West Point and location along the Hudson is prime, we couldn't let the British have that upper hand. After reoccupation, the military began developing the island for war purposes. One of the big projects carried out on the island was the “Great Chain”. There were many chains strung across the river at different points in effort to block British ships sailing up the river. Many collapsed or broke during the war, but the one strung from Constitution Island to West Point–known as the Great Chain–was left unscathed. The Great Chain prevented raids of West Point and the lower Hudson Valley, playing a role in securing American independence. After the war, the chains were removed from the Hudson and the metal was repurposed into other military equipment. Although there is no record of the metal being repurposed at the West Point Foundry (besides an uncited Wikipedia blurb), it would have been convenient for the metal to be transported there. If so, that would certainly be a full circle moment.  Sketch of the Great Chain Image via Edward C. Boynton’s "History of West Point" (1863) and W.S. Barnard. The Nochpeem were led by the great Daniel Nimham, the Wappinger Patriot. Nimham worked tirelessly to save the Wappinger people’s land from the wealthy Adolphus Philipse, but to no avail. Despite his struggles with colonial interference, Nimham gave up his life for the Patriot cause, along with a few dozen other Wappinger. Even after the sacrifices made by the Nochpeem, and after they had ruled the land here centuries before us, they were not offered citizenship. Following the war, the Wappinger and Nochpeem slowly dispersed. It is said some of the Wappinger headed north to join the Oneida. Their legacy lives on with preservation of the Island's natural beauty and the preservation of Constitution Marsh.
Constitution Island’s military significance doesn’t end there. The island was once home to two sisters, Anna and Susan Warner. They lived in an estate on the property, purchased by their father Henry Warner in 1836. After financial troubles, the family moved up to the estate permanently. The Warner sisters were both talented writers and began writing stories and hymns in order to increase the family revenue. Both the sisters had successful novels published, such as Susan’s novel The Wide, Wide World–making her the first American author to sell one million copies. Anna’s most popular novel was entitled Dollars and Cents, which discussed her family's financial troubles. Anna also invented the children’s game Robinson Crusoe’s Farmyard which was played with cards designed by the sisters. The hymn “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know” which is still popular today, was written by Anna Warner on Constitution Island. The Warner Sister’s entrepreneurship and talent is inspiring. Their writings have always been impactful, but especially for their neighbors across the way; the West Point Cadets. In their later life, the sisters began teaching Bible Study to West Point Cadets. In the beginning, Susan taught while Anna took to writing hymns. The Cadets would row across the Hudson for their classes. Susan was said to be a very passionate teacher, who truly made a difference with her preachings. When Susan passed, Anna took over. The Island has been under ownership of West Point since 1909, at the wishes of Anna Warner. Constitution Island has been preserved by the Constitution Island Association and West Point ever since.
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Zohra KapoorHi, I'm Zohra! I grew up here in Cold Spring and I attend the University of Utah as a second year History and Early Childhood Education Major. I’m back here over the summer interning with Hudson River Expeditions. With their help, I get to investigate the history written into the place I call home. I am excited to learn more about Hudson, and even more excited to share it with all of you! Foundry Dock Park Foundry Dock Loading System, from the collection of the Putnam History Museum. I grew up picnicking at Foundry Dock Park with my parents and friends. Although it’s a public destination which all of Cold Spring can enjoy, the shaded areas and river views provide you with a secluded getaway. Over the years, the Foundry Dock Park has remained central to my life here in Cold Spring. Working with Hudson River Expeditions, I spend my weekends sharing this spot with tourists. On weekdays working with Foundry Montessori, I share the park with Cold Spring littles. But the Foundry Dock Park is more than just a place to eat a sandwich or launch a kayak from. There is rich American history embedded into this tiny plot of land. After the War of 1812, there was a nationalistic surge across the country. This prompted the United States to advance their military. Congress authorized to increase the amount of active soldiers during peacetime, and advance the military’s machinery. The West Point Foundry is a direct result of these measures, and it served the Union well amidst the Civil War. The West Point Foundry is the center of Cold Spring, as the town was established to support the foundry workers. Around 200 years ago, the Foundry Dock Park was used to transport materials and weaponry in and out of the Foundry. Its location along the Hudson is sheltered yet accessible, and strategically relevant due to its proximity to West Point. In 1848, the New York Central Railroad blocked the other Foundry docks from the river, leaving the Foundry Dock Park as the main point of access. Especially during war time, the dock was filled with workers, busily transporting weaponry such as the Parrot Gun. While the Dock has since been removed, you can see replicas and restorations of the rail system that was utilized. Adjacent to the Foundry Dock Park, you can see the Chapel Restoration, formerly known as the Chapel of Our Lady. The Roman Catholic church was built for the Foundry workers, and funded by the West Point Foundry’s owner, Gouverneur Kemble. In 1835, Captain Robert P. Parrot (like the gun) assumed responsibility for the Foundry. When a series of weaponry tests resulted in the destruction of the Chapel, Parrot ensured repairs were made. The Chapel was abandoned from 1906 to 1971, when it was restored. After all these years, the Foundry Dock Park’s importance to this town has never faltered. I am grateful to live and work in a place with such great historical importance. Launching paddlers in and out of the Hudson is quite reminiscent of those Dock workers who worked the Foundry all those years ago.  The Hudson Near Coldspring: Chapel of Our Lady, hand-colored lithograph by Currier & Ives. Image courtesy of Chapel Restoration. |
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Main office:
14 Market Street Cold Spring, NY 10516 |
23 Long Dock Road
Beacon, NY 12508 |
GPS: Norrie Point Marina
Enter Mills Norrie State Park and follow the signs for the Marina Staatsburg, NY 12580 |
845.809.5935 (voicemail is not accessible during the off-season)
[email protected] (please specify location when emailing or calling)
[email protected] (please specify location when emailing or calling)