Celebrating July 4 In Mount Vernon

Do you know your Independence Day facts and Mount Vernon's role from 245 years ago?

Let's begin with the name. The City of Mount Vernon was named after George Washington's Mount Vernon home. The city once was part of Eastchester. The original Eastchester geography included the current community of that name along with Bronxville, Tuckahoe, Mount Vernon and the northeast area of the Bronx.

Encampments and troop movements during the war were located on and near East Sanford Boulevard and the Hutchinson River Parkway. St. Paul's Church National Historic Site on Route 22 contains a mass grave of Hessian mercenaries hired by the British and who died after the battle along Split Rock Road. Abraham "Brom" Dykeman, a Patriot scout, received a mortal wound during a skirmish at what is today West First Street and South 11th Avenue East.

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Constance Kehoe, the president of Revolutionary Westchester 250, will offer the keynote address for Independence Day at St. Paul's Church National Historic Site. RW250 is a public charity to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. RW250 cooperates with local partners to plan programs in Westchester County to highlight the county's Revolutionary Era history.

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Not far from these sites one of the world’s most infamous acts of treason took center stage in Westchester County during September 1780. The series of events could have ended the war abruptly and crushed the democracy.

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 attempt to surrender the American fortification at West Point, RW250 is launching an aptly named initiative – This Man’s A Spy – that will create community awareness, understanding and enthusiasm for the historical significance of this critical event in U.S. history.

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See This Man's A Spy announcement here. See RW250's video about the plot here.

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This Man’s A Spy, through a variety of public outreach programs, will feature the stories of the Patriots of Westchester County who primarily were responsible for the capture of British Major John André that exposed Arnold’s treasonous plot. If Arnold’s plan had been successful, the loss of West Point could have led to an American defeat.

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.

This Man’s A Spy welcomes the involvement of all Westchester County organizations and individuals interested in the county’s history to assist in the planning and oversight of programs, and to share local and family stories related to the people, places and events associated with this significant historical event. Anyone who wishes to contribute to the preservation and interpretation of this critical period of local history should email ThisMansASpy@yahoo.com .