Stony Kill Farm
Encyclopedia
Stony Kill Farm is located on NY 9D
in the Town of Fishkill
, New York
, USA. It is a 1,000+ acre (3 km²) working farm owned and operated by the state Department of Environmental Conservation
(DEC) as an environmental education
center.
In 1683, settlers Gulian Verplanck and Francis Rombout bought the 85,000-acre (430 km²) tract, including the farm, from the Wappinger Indians
for goods worth approximately $1,250. In 1708 the Great Partition of this land put the area around the farm in the Verplanck family's hands. Instead of working it themselves, they took in tenant farmer
s to keep the land worked and productive. They built the stone
tenant farmhouse near the property's main entrance in four sections between the late 17th and early 19th centuries.
An 1836 subdivision of the property gave a thousand acres (4 km²), including the current farm, to descendant James DeLancy Verplanck of nearby Beacon
. He had a Greek Revival
home, now known as the Manor House, built and moved into it in 1842.
A century later, his descendants gave the farm to the state Education Department
(SED) for use as a teaching farm. It was used for this purpose by SUNY Farmingdale
until the late 1960s, when the college decided it no longer needed the property. In 1973 DEC took it over and converted it to its present use. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1980.
Today, DEC uses the property to help visitors learn about basic ecological
issues. They can either do this on their own, by walking the property and hiking several trail
s or perusing the library
at the Manor House, or by taking part in the many programs DEC offers or sponsors with other groups on the site.
New York State Route 9D
New York State Route 9D , also known as the Bear Mountain – Beacon Highway, is a north–south state highway that runs along the eastern shore of the Hudson River in New York in the United States. It starts at the eastern end of the Bear Mountain Bridge at U.S...
in the Town of Fishkill
Fishkill (town), New York
Fishkill is an affluent suburban town in the southwest part of Dutchess County, New York, USA. The population was 20,258 at the 2000 census, however, current estimates put the town's population at over 22,100. Fishkill partly surrounds the city of Beacon....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA. It is a 1,000+ acre (3 km²) working farm owned and operated by the state Department of Environmental Conservation
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for the conservation, improvement, and protection of natural resources within the U.S. state of New York. It was founded in 1970, replacing the previous Conservation Department...
(DEC) as an environmental education
Environmental education
Environmental education refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often used to imply education within the school system, from primary to...
center.
In 1683, settlers Gulian Verplanck and Francis Rombout bought the 85,000-acre (430 km²) tract, including the farm, from the Wappinger Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
for goods worth approximately $1,250. In 1708 the Great Partition of this land put the area around the farm in the Verplanck family's hands. Instead of working it themselves, they took in tenant farmer
Tenant farmer
A tenant farmer is one who resides on and farms land owned by a landlord. Tenant farming is an agricultural production system in which landowners contribute their land and often a measure of operating capital and management; while tenant farmers contribute their labor along with at times varying...
s to keep the land worked and productive. They built the stone
Stonemasonry
The craft of stonemasonry has existed since the dawn of civilization - creating buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone from the earth. These materials have been used to construct many of the long-lasting, ancient monuments, artifacts, cathedrals, and cities in a wide variety of cultures...
tenant farmhouse near the property's main entrance in four sections between the late 17th and early 19th centuries.
An 1836 subdivision of the property gave a thousand acres (4 km²), including the current farm, to descendant James DeLancy Verplanck of nearby Beacon
Beacon, New York
Beacon is a city located in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The 2010 census placed the city total population at 15,541. Beacon is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
. He had a Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
home, now known as the Manor House, built and moved into it in 1842.
A century later, his descendants gave the farm to the state Education Department
New York State Education Department
The New York State Education Department is the state education department in New York. It is part of the University of the State of New York , one of the most complete, interconnected systems of educational services in the United States...
(SED) for use as a teaching farm. It was used for this purpose by SUNY Farmingdale
State University of New York at Farmingdale
Farmingdale State College, formerly the State University of New York at Farmingdale or SUNY Farmingdale, is a college of the State University of New York that is located on Long Island in East Farmingdale, New York, with a small section in Old Bethpage.The college dates from 1912 as a school of...
until the late 1960s, when the college decided it no longer needed the property. In 1973 DEC took it over and converted it to its present use. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1980.
Today, DEC uses the property to help visitors learn about basic ecological
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
issues. They can either do this on their own, by walking the property and hiking several trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
s or perusing the library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
at the Manor House, or by taking part in the many programs DEC offers or sponsors with other groups on the site.