"This Man's A Spy" -- September 1780 In Westchester County

Whenever Scarsdale residents celebrate the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a witness house to the Revolutionary War reminds them about their community's involvement in the struggle.

Continental and British armies clashed briefly at what is the present-day junction of Garden Road and Mamaroneck Road. The British commander, Sir William Howe, who marched his troops from Throgs Neck toward White Plains, used a farmhouse on Garden Road as his headquarters. That farmhouse is marked with a plaque. Years later, Scarsdale's wartime history formed the basis for author James Fenimore Cooper's novel, The Spy: A Tale of the Neutral Ground, that was written when the author lived at the Angevine Farm in the present-day Heathcote section of town.

The fighting in the neutral ground pitted families against each other, and the area also produced spies for both sides. Not far from Scarsdale, British Major John André was captured as a spy in Tarrytown. He carried with him the plans to the garrison at West Point that he received from American General Benedict Arnold. The plot could have ended the American Revolution.

Recognizing the people, events and sites related to what General George Washington described as “treason of the blackest dye,” Revolutionary Westchester 250 (RW250) is launching an aptly named initiative – This Man’s A Spy. The initiative 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.

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See the This Man's A Spy announcement here. All Westchester County organizations and individuals interested in the county’s history are invited 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. Contact: ThisMansASpy@yahoo.com .

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“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.”

A video about the André-Arnold Affair created by RW250 can be found here.

RW250 Collaboration

Under the leadership of President Constance Kehoe, 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 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 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.”