Yorktown Historical Society Annual Meeting

“THE WEST POINT FOUNDRY” By Trudie Grace, Curator, Putnam History Museum, & Mark Forlow, Historian in Cold Spring. The Foundry was established in Cold Springs in 1817 as a cannon factory and became of critical importance during the Civil War. This was one of the first major industrial sites in the U.S. The foundry's story from its early years is traced through to the period of the Civil War and to its eventual status as a site of archaeological excavations. Production ceased in 1909, excavations started in 1989 and 87 acres purchased in 1996. In 2013 the site was opened as West Point Foundry Preserve. A great story and the wonderful effort has resulted in a fantastic living history. WHERE: Peter Pratts Inn, Croton Hts. Road, Yorktown Hts. (because of a bridge closing one may have to follow a short detour.) Free & Open to the Public.

Charles Radke, Yorktown Historical Society, Program Coordinator, 914-962-4370

c.radke@computer.rg, website: www.yorktownhistory.org