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Friends of Belden House
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EVENTS Art Exhibit at Mahopac Public Library April 15 to June 1, 2008
Historic Belden House subject of Paint-Fest 2006 Putnam County Courier August 17, 2006\
We, the residents of Putnam County, support and encourage all efforts, including those of New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Putnam County officials, community organizations and interested individuals, to preserve and restore the 1760 Gothic Revival Belden House as a unique reminder for present and future generations of Putnam's historical, cultural and architectural past.
The Family of Linda Birrell-Meunier inhabited Belden House from 1973 to 1990. Her Father was employed by the DEP and she has fond memories of her stay there.
DEP ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR 2.9 MILLION REHABILITATION OF BELDEN HOUSE IN PUTNAM COUNTY Links
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ARCHIVES
Dear Friends of Belden House.
Dear Putnam County Residents: Yes, PHASE II has begun. PHASE I ended with the press release by the NYC-DEP announcing their intention to restore Belden House. We are deeply indebted to the many who contributed their time, their energy and/or their support to help bring about this recent monumental decision. Commissioner Lloyd made public that the DEP has budgeted $2.9 million for the complete restoration of the exterior of Belden House and for the interior restoration of as much as is practical. It was the right thing to do. PHASE I began last September when our group first organized. At that time we stated that we were not really concerned about who carried out the restoration as long as it was done and that it was done properly. We did, however, envision that we would likely have to be the catalyst for some not-for-profit organization to gain title to the property, the mechanism to raise sufficient funds and, a lobbyist to obtain necessary charitable contributions of supplies and labor. For now, anyway, we have been relieved of these burdens. The DEP, as owner of the property, has decided to effect restoration. It was the right thing to do. We joined a cause at a time when its supporters were giving up hope. It was doubtful that the building could survive another year of the ravages of weather. If a decision to save Belden House was ever to be made, it had to be made then. The DEP knew it, the County Administration knew it and the past supporters for restoration knew it. Partially, with our actions and your help reinvigorating the process, the DEP decided to fully restore the structure. It was the right thing to for you do. A number of individuals should be cited for their contributions to our common cause. First, and foremost, the ultimate responsibility fell upon the shoulders of the aforementioned Commissioner Emily Lloyd. It took political courage to agree to underwrite this expensive restoration of an old house in a small upstate community far from New York City. It took vision on the part of Jim Caggiano, an infrastructure engineer in the Bureau of Water Supply of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to see the merits of restoring Belden House rather than simply making it useful. It took the expertise of an architectural firm hired by the DEP to accurately assess the full potential for restoration. It was the right thing for all of them to do. We also want to acknowledge that, on the New York City level, Ms. Peg Breen, President of the New York Landmark Conservancy, after having been alerted to the existence of Belden House by local Carmel historical activist Kathleen Delamere, took an immediate interest in the house. Ms. Breen took on the cause and, in turn, advised Mr. Robert Tierney, the New York City Commissioner of Landmarks of the status of Belden House. He, then, discussed the matter with Commissioner Lloyd. Such are the ways of the world. And, who among us can say that these were not the right things to do! On the local level, Mr. Robert Bondi and Mr. Frank DelCampo, our County Executive and Deputy County Executive actively supported the campaign for restoration. One does not want to ponder the consequences if they had not. Frank DelCampo, in particular, made a point of including us in almost every step of the many that were taken. From our point of view, it was, indeed, the right thing for him to do. Dr. Sallie Sypher, Deputy County Historian, a very long-time advocate for the restoration of Belden House and the progenitor of Friends of Belden House, allowed us free reign. She continuously provided us with insight, information and entre´. It is good to see her long-time efforts about to be rewarded. It is the right thing to happen to her. Along the way The Putnam County Coalition for the Preservation of Open Space, under the leadership of Ann Fanizzi, joined hands with the Friends of Belden House. This combined effort produced this website that you are now viewing. It also resulted in the online and off-line petitions that many of you signed. Because we believe the petitions were a significant factor in the DEP decision to restore Belden House rather than to simply “fix-it-up”, we sincerely want to express our deep gratitude to each of the more than 600 of you who did sign these petitions.. The efforts of “The Coalition” also helped produce the road signs that, hopefully, you have seen. These were the right things for all of us to have done. But, all that was nothing more than PHASE I. The ultimate goal of PHASE II is to witness that last stroke of paint brushed on the walls, that last nail hammered into board, that last seed of grass cast onto the lawn that completes the restoration of this beautiful home that we often refer to as “The Grand Old Lady of Putnam County” or, simply, “Lady Belden”. Our major task over the next two to three years will be to maintain a presence so that subtle nudging will keep the restoration of the house on track and our inclusion in its use an established fact. This will be the right thing for us to do. Hopefully, when a fully restored Belden Houses catches your attention someday as you begin to pass it by and it induces you to stop, get out and savor your contribution, you, too, will be seduced by that warm soft voice of Lady Belden caressing your ear with the words, “Thank you, thank you, thank you, you have saved this old Lady from a certain demise. Because of you, I will be able to pass some of your heritage on to future generations. You have answered my plaint. What you all have done was certainly THE RIGHT THING TO DO!! Thank you, thank you.” On to PHASE II!
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