Revolutionary Westchester 250's Spy Initiative

Revolutionary Westchester 250 (RW250) is Westchester County’s commitment to remembering the local events and people associated with the American Revolution in accordance with the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016. With the upcoming observation of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America during 1776, many local events preceding, during and after the Revolutionary War will be recognized by RW250.

“RW250 is collaborating with local and regional groups to promote heritage tourism and to enhance the experience of the war for independence for Westchester residents,” said President Constance Kehoe, a resident of Irvington. “We are working with heritage and historic, art and cultural, and educational organizations along with libraries, veterans’ organizations, municipalities, private businesses and others to commemorate Westchester County’s contribution to the 250th anniversary of the founding of this great country. Treason and a spy – and, thankfully, quick-thinking Patriots – in our midst are part of our story.

“With the legislation recently passed in Albany creating a 250th Commission, the State of New York will join other states in the national plans for the 250th commemoration,” added Kehoe. “As the legislation points out, New York played a leading role in the struggles in the ensuing nearly 250 years to more fully realize - for all groups - the ideals of the revolution. Those ongoing movements will be an important part of the commemoration as well.”

This Man’s A Spy

Recognizing the people, events and sites related to what General George Washington described as “treason of the blackest dye,” referring to traitor American General Benedict Arnold’s September 1780 attempt to surrender the American fortification at West Point, RW250 is launching an aptly named initiative – This Man’s A Spy. Co-chaired by county residents, this effort will create community awareness, understanding and enthusiasm for the historical significance of this critical event in U.S. history through a variety of public outreach programs. See the announcement here.

“We will cooperate with local volunteer groups at the events in Westchester and important sites in the other counties,” said Lynn Briggs, co-chair of This Man’s A Spy and a member of the Yorktown Heritage Preservation Commission. “We will collaborate with volunteers to design, plan and execute projects that acknowledge and interpret the plot through a variety of colonial era demonstrations, mobile applications, art, music, presentations, re-enactments, theatrical plays, driving, walking and biking tours, and videos.”

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See the RW25o video about the West Point plot here. The plot has connections to more than 30 locations across Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Orange counties.

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This Man’s A Spy will feature the stories about the Patriots of Westchester County who primarily were responsible for the capture of British Major John André as a spy and foiled Arnold’s treasonous plot. If Arnold’s plan had been successful, the loss of West Point could have led to an American defeat.

In Westchester, the plot involved critical actions by soldiers, their officers, members of the local militia and civilians who were Patriots, Loyalists, Native Americans, African-Americans, women and children. Among the more than 15 Westchester communities that witnessed events related to the plot are Armonk, Croton Point Park (Teller’s Point), Dobbs Ferry, South Salem, Ossining, Peekskill, Pleasantville, Tarrytown, Verplanck’s Point (King’s Ferry) and Yorktown.

Community Involvement Underway

“We are working with people who reside in the communities where the André-Arnold Affair occurred,” added Bob Fetonti, co-chair of This Man’s A Spy and a volunteer for the Westchester County Historical Society.

Historians, teachers, authors, municipal leaders and preservationists who are passionate about American history and wish to make people aware of the historic events which occurred in their community and the importance of Westchester County in the American effort to win the Revolution, should contact ThisMansASpy@yahoo.com . Programs will continue during the 250th nationally planned commemorative year of 2026 and then through 2033 to mark the full eight years of the American Revolution (1775-1783) that includes the anniversary of the betrayal.