As part of our ongoing celebration of the 250th anniversary of the start of the American
Revolution, the Town Of Clarkstown is proud to offer the “Trails and Tales of
Traphagen,” a walking tour and lunch at some of our most historic properties. This fun
and educational outing should appeal to residents of all ages looking to learn more
about the history of the Trapahagen Estate, the Historic Clarkstown Reformed Church,
and the colonial inn now known as the 1840 Tavern. Participants can attend any or all of
these individual tours, which will take place on September 13, 2025. The official itinerary
is as follows:
Trails & Tales of Traphagen: And other historic sites of West Nyack
September 13, 2025
Rain date: September 20, 2025
131 Germonds Road, West Nyack, NY, 10994
9:00am – Check In at the Traphagen Estate House
9:30am -10:30am Join our Town Planner and Historian for a walking tour of the
Traphagen property.
Walking Difficulty Level: Easy- Hiking boots or sneakers are appropriate. Please
note the trail is not stroller or handicap accessible.
Trail Length: approximately 1 mile
10:30am – Tour of the 1791 Tallman-Budke House and the 1820 Vanderbilt –
Budke – Traphagen House with Town Historian Larry Kigler; both of which are
registered on the New York State and National Register of Historic Places.
Attendees may continue the tour of other historic sites in West Nyack as follows.
Historic Clarkstown Reformed Church
11:30am – Drive 1.5 miles to the Historic Clarkstown Reformed Church, 107
Strawtown Road, West Nyack, NY 10994
The steeple of the Historic Clarkstown Reform Church is visible to the adjacent
New York State Thruway and has operated as an assembled parsonage since
1750. The current church building dates to 1871. During the Revolutionary War,
General George Washington made his headquarters on four separate occasions
in Rockland County in nearby Tappan and corresponded with the first Pastor of
the church. Washington’s troops camped in the area and marched through on
their way to victory at Yorktown. Stop by for a tour of this wonderful historic
church led by the current Pastor, Reverend Richard Hasselbach, and view copies
of the correspondence between Washington and the first Pastor.
1840 Tavern
12:30pm – Drive .5 miles to 1840 Tavern, 1 Strawtown Road, West Nyack, NY
10994
Since its opening as an inn in 1840, this social hub has welcomed cross-county
travelers, hosted extravagant balls, and been a local gathering place here in
Clarkstown. Originally opening under the name Knapp Hotel, the inn served as a
stopping place for stage coaches and tired travelers and became the central spot
at the Clarksville Corners, which also included stores, wheelwrights, blacksmiths,
a butcher and a harness shop. In the winter months, the inn attracted people
traveling by horse drawn sleigh and served as a warming center for people and
as a rest stop for the horses. Among the visitors was President Martin Van
Buren, who purportedly stopped here as his carriage was repaired in the
adjacent blacksmith shop.
After the heyday of extravagant balls ended, the building began to deteriorate,
but was eventually restored in 1957. Shortly after, it became the Clarksville Inn.
Following an unfortunate kitchen fire on New Year’s Eve in 2018, the Clarksville
Inn shut its doors. Kieran O’Gorman then bought the property and re-opened the
pub now named 1840 Tavern.
Each one of these tours offers a momentary step back in time to our town’s historic
past, and is featured as part of Clarkstown’s celebration of the start of the Revolutionary
War. As the year progresses, we will continue to offer events for all generations to
engage with our nation’s past. From educational programs and reenactments to
community gatherings, this celebration will be both a tribute to our history and a bridge
to our future. I encourage each of you to take part in the activities that best speak to
your interests and help our younger generations gain a deeper appreciation of the
remarkable efforts our forefathers undertook to secure our independence.
The American Revolution was more than just a war; it was the birth of the noble idea
that a nation could stand where all people were created equal and had the right to life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This anniversary is not only a chance to honor our
history but also an opportunity to reflect on how we, as a community, can continue to
uphold and advance these principles.
I hope you will join us for these tours, and stay tuned and watch for further
announcements for more opportunities to have some fun in the present while
celebrating our revolutionary past.
