Joel Campbell (1735-1828): His Life and Times: A Visit to Continental Village (New York)

If you want to visit the revolutionary sites in Continental Village, this may be of some help. I am hardly an expert on this small patch of real estate. When I find an expert, I will update the information below.

Village sign on Gallows Hill Road

I started with the map and key created by Ginny Gilbert. You can find it here on page 9: http://philipstown.com/cvinfoguide.pdf

I have created a google map from which you can get GPS coordinates of the various sites. You can access it here: http://goo.gl/xK5oOD

Let me step you through it.

Entering the village from the south on Gallows Hill road (coming from Peekskill) you will cross the Peekskill River, curve to the right, and start climbing Gallows Hill. On the northwest corner of the first intersection (Kingston Ave.) on the left is a marker explaining the origin of the name of the hill. It is easy to miss.

Gallows Hill marker on left at Kingston Ave.

Gallows Hill marker looking at private driveway.


Gallows Hill marker

[Need story on who and when executed. Or is it unknown? See Lossing's Pictorial Field-book on this. He says only that it was a British spy and that the hangman was a "Peterson" who was haunted to his grave.]

If you continue further up Gallows Hill Road there is a mile-marker on the left (west) side just past the driveway of house number 115. Once again, it is easy to miss.


Mile marker number 51 in stone enclosure.

Mile marker number 51.

Mile markers along the Albany Post Road were erected as early as 1763 when Benjamin Franklin was named as postmaster. The markers that stand today were probably erected in about 1790 (and later protected with the stone enclosures). The diversion of the highway to the west happened in 1806 leaving the route through Continental Village thinly traveled in the 19th and 20th centuries.

If you turn around and go back to Kingston Ave and take a right, you will climb to the level area on top of Gallows Hill that was likely the site of the Headquarters and Parade ground of Continental Village. Now it is filled with homes, but if you drive down Buena Vista Ave to the south edge of the hill, you might be able envision why this high level spot with a view of Peekskill (when the trees had been removed for shelters, heating, and cooking) might have been chosen as the center of a fortification.

Exit the Parade grounds area on Lakeview Rd and follow Sprout Brook Road back out to Gallows Hill Road. Take a right (south) and turn in the Cul-de-sac called Poe Ct. Despite all of the "Private Property" signs I have parked near house number 149 and talked with the very friendly owner. Directly behind #149 are what is described by Ginny Gilbert as "Seven crude foundations and the remains of red brick ovens." I have no clue as to whether these date to the revolution. If so, it would make for some very interesting archeological work.

Remains of stone wall or foundation near Poe Ct

Fallen trees over ruins of foundation by Poe Ct

Depression and foundation walls near Poe Ct

Pit and foundation near Poe Ct.

Turn left (north) back onto Gallows Hill Road and proceed to the crossing over Canopus Brook. This was the location of Robinson's Bridge. Ginny Gilbert's "key" states that "the 1732 House on the corner of Winston Lane is said to have been the site of the Revolutionary Supply Depot. Other accounts place the depot, headquarters, and ovens on Gallows Hill..."

Looking northwest from the bridge you will see a sizable hill. From its crest or even on the lower outcroppings is a great view up and down the Canopus Brook valley. Additionally there is a direct view of the Post Road from Peekskill. This would have been a great place for a redoubt. [Need to look at the Erskine maps.] You can park in the Deli parking lot and venture up the hill. Ginny talks of a cannon placement here, but I could not find it.

View through trees of Post Road from hill above Deli. In 1777 the trees would have been removed. This is about one third of the way up the hill.

From the Deli you can also walk north along the Post Road to the next mile marker, number 52. It is on the left side (west) of the road.

Mile marker # 52

Mile Marker # 52 on Old Albany Post Road

Continue walking to the fork in the road. Here is the Monument to the Mothers of the Revolution. It was placed on the 144th anniversary of its burning by the British, October 9, 1921.

Monument to Mothers of the Revolution at Continental Village

Inscription on Monument to Mothers of the Revolution

The monument was donated by Stuyvesant Fish. He was the son of Hamilton Fish, a New York Governor, Senator, and Secretary of State. Stuyvesant was a successful railroad executive. He was 70 at the dedication and would die about one year later. His home (designed by Stanford White) in New York City at 25 East 78th St at Madison Avenue still stands.

When it was dedicated the New York Times ran an article on it. You can see it from their 1921 archives here: http://goo.gl/uyCT7E

Looking north you can see another good hill for a redoubt. Ginny Gilberts map says there was a redoubt on this hill, but it is not marked, and the area has seen some grading over the years. The Catskill Aquaduct passes through this hill and was obviously the site of a lot of construction at one time. If you walk up Old Albany Post Rd to house number 11 and get permission to walk up their driveway and onto the hill, you may find something that looks like a redoubt.

Man made rock and dirt wall on hill above house # 11. Redoubt?

View south from "redoubt" on hill above house # 11.

After walking back to your car at the Deli, take a short drive up Sprout Brook Road (also called Canopus Brook Rd?). On the right hand side of the road you can see flats along the river that were undoubtedly good for farming and a logical place for barracks. The site is close to water and forests for wood. The Gilbert "key" says "Barracks for 1500 to 2000 men - described as being 1/4 mile up Canopus Brook Road from the Old Albany Post Road split."

Turn around and head back to the bridge. This next section is the site of the several revolutionary era mills along Canopus Brook. It is probably best to walk this section also as it is short and there is no good place to park a car. I suggest parking at the Deli again and walking down Winston Lane. I have not done this yet, so you are forewarned.