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For a very long time, since 1809 to be precise, the best-known Knickerbockers have been the fictional characters depicted by the author Washington Irving in a satirical history of New York. His work spawned the use of the iconic name to mean a “real” New Yorker, the Dutch focus reflecting the fact that the first European settlers in New York were Dutch. The popularity of Irving’s work led to the popular depiction of the “Father Knickerbocker ” character, with a three pointed hat and knickerbockers, the pants that go just below the knee and socks take care of the rest. The name lives on popularly today in the basketball team, the New York Knicks, among others. Bryan Knickerbocker lives outside of Philadelphia, and has been studying his family history for decades. DCHS is pleased to be publishing Bryan’s findings in a less traditional way, through the serial publication of chapters that will illuminate points along a trail in northern and central Dutchess County. That evolving trail can be found at www.dchsny.org/knickerbocker-trail. Among the most extraordinary findings, 90% of the Knickerbocker’s in the United States are descendants of these northern Dutchess Knickerbockeers. Subsequent chapters will be told and assigned their place on the Knicerkbocker trail!  Bill Jeffway To best view the trail, align your mouse over the trail window (middle) and scroll up and down. To adjust the position of the window, align your mouse to the left or right edges and scroll up or down.

Above: early assembly of men volunteering for service in Poughkeepsie in 1861 when the war commenced. The Civil War is a topic that holds a great deal of interest among many people. Although, with the exception of the battle at Gettysburg, much of the fighting took place in the U.S. south, two percent of the US population died from combat or disease or war-related injuries, that is the equivalent of seven million people today. The Civil War had a profound and lasting impact locally. Men fought in different regiments, but the 150th NY Volunteers was known as the Dutchess County Regiment, and the 128th Regiment has a large composition of county men. Women organized aid societies and served at the battlefied as nurses and aids. Programs: DCHS Trustee, Dr. Michael Boden is an expert on the Civil War and his series of programs supported by CR Properties is popular. Collections: the highlight has to be the draft wheel used in Poughkeepsie in the 1863 draft. The Titus Papers and Dean Thomas Collection highlight the 150th and 128th respectively. Two consecutive DCHS Yearbooks were dedicated to the topic.

Highlights People 1941 VOICES Interviews of Manet Fowler Places AME Zion Church The Walter M. Patrice Collection Things Freedom For Sale Man purchases own freedom Words from the past Newer Perspectives Other Starting Points The Walter M. Patrice Collection focuses largely on the history of the Smith AME Zion Church in Poughkeepsie, which through Mr. Patrice’s efforts was listed on the national historic register. Although unable to part with the photo album, Mr. Patrice allowed DCHS to take photographs and use the images from his mother’s family’s photo album. In most cases, his mother was not able to identify specific individuals (aside from her father, Jasper Jackson) but she confirmed that it is the family album of Henry and Alma Jackson of the Town of Milan. Below right are some striking images by Reuben Van Vlack of men preparing to serve in World War One in 1918.

DCHS Trustee and Dutchess Community College professor Dr. Michael Boden, himself a long-serving veteran is just back from the Shenandoah battlefield. As is his style, he takes moments of national importance and allows us to see and experience them through the eyes of the men, in this case, who would have been our friends and neighbors had we lived in Dutchess County over a century and a half ago. After you click on the video, for best viewing click on the Full screen icon at the bottom right of the video screen.

DCHS Yearbook Encore Edition: Articles Related to Black History Click bottom right full screen icon for best viewing: Lessons from Rhinebeck Post Office Murals Click bottom right full screen icon for best viewing: A Revision of Black History: Enslaved Burial Ground Click bottom right full screen icon for best viewing: Fact, Fiction or Folklore? Click bottom right full screen icon for best viewing: