Putnam Historian

10/12/2026

10/12/2026

We appreciate all categories and time periods of local history, and this one is awesome! Here's the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, circa 1950.

Front row: Sheriff Frank Lyden (left) and Undersheriff Robert Buck.

Back row, left to right: William Morgenthaler, Ted Murphy, Bob Steele, Homer Furness, Ralph Crookston, and Kurt Rydel. (One deputy is missing from the photograph: Terrance Donelan.)

A little bit of Sheriff Department history...

Frank W. Lyden, a Patterson resident and Republican, was elected Putnam County Sheriff in 1948 and took office in January 1949. When making his appointments, he continued with the tradition of an honorary appointment for Deputy George S. Turner of Ludingtonville, NY (not pictured here!), who had served continuously as a deputy for more than 60 years. Turner was likely about 94 years old when he received this honorary appointment by Lyden!

Lyden devoted more than 25 years to public service. In addition to serving as sheriff for 18 years, he spent seven years as a Justice of the Peace in the Town of Patterson. He was also a member of the Patterson Fire Department, Patterson Grange, and Elks Lodge.
He retired in 1966 for health reasons and died in August 1967.

Lyden also made local political history after his retirement when he threw his support behind Ray Weizenecker, who ran to succeed him as sheriff on the Democratic line. Weizenecker also secured the endorsement of the Independent and Liberal parties.

A note on the photograph’s history: This photograph was submitted to the Putnam Courier-Trader in 1996 by Homer Furness (pictured here!), when Managing Editor Barbara Gallo Farrel ran the weekly “Glimpse of the Past” feature. Please consider this credit when sharing.

Putnam County Government

10/12/2026

The schoolhouse looks great! Can’t wait to see it next time.

Bravo Kent Historical Society, Putnam County, NY!

10/10/2026

A little fall magic at Canopus Lake in Fahnestock State Park this evening!

On the way home from the amazing Rev250 Hudson Highlands History Festival at Putnam History Museum, we got to witness the trees showing off their beautiful autumn colors, the sun setting over the lake, and a tiny rainbow that made a surprise appearance in the sky.


I LOVE NEW YORK Putnam County Tourism

10/10/2026

Join us today at Putnam History Museum!

SAVE THE DATE!! The REV250 Hudson Highlands History Festival will be held on the grounds of the Putnam History Museum from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Saturday, October 10th. It will be a celebration of the contribution our area made to the founding of our country - right in our backyard! A full range of family activities will include revolutionary reenactors, colonial toys and games, historical storytelling, food and drinks, and live bagpipes. 🇺🇸

10/09/2026

👻 What happens when history refuses to stay buried?

More than 250 years after the American Revolution, the battles may be over—but some of the stories have never quite gone away.

Join paranormal investigator and author Barry Pirro for Ghosts of the Revolutionary War, exploring eerie legends and unexplained encounters connected to the people and places that shaped our country.

George Washington. Alexander Hamilton. Thomas Jefferson. West Point. Trinity Church. The John Jay Homestead.

We know their history.

But there are some stories that didn’t make it into the textbooks. 👀

👻 Ghosts of the Revolutionary War
📅 Tuesday, October 27
⏰ 5:00 p.m.

Registration is required at: carmellibrary.org/calendar

10/08/2026

More from the peak season of accessions at the Historian’s Office!

This wonderful hand-painted road sign, recently donated by Nan Greenwood, once pointed travelers toward Drew Seminary in Carmel. Nan and her late husband, David, were avid collectors of local history, and we are thrilled to add this piece to our collection.

The story of Drew Seminary began in 1848, when Carmel residents organized an effort to establish a school “in or near the village of Carmel.” After James Raymond stepped in with the funds needed to complete the building, it opened as the Raymond Collegiate Institute, accommodating 40 students.

In 1866, Daniel Drew purchased the school, remodeled it, and renamed it Drew Seminary and Female College. Fire struck twice: the building burned in 1872 and was rebuilt, only to suffer an even more devastating fire in 1904 that destroyed both the main building and Smith Hall. A new building rose that same year, and the school continued until closing in 1953.

To mark the arrival of this sign, we pulled a wonderful 1926 view from the Drew Seminary yearbook showing the spot where travelers would have arrived, overlooking Lake Gleneida.

10/08/2026

10/07/2026

This says it all.

You Are Not Forgotten. 🇺🇸

Veterans Memorial Park, Carmel, NY

Putnam County Government Putnam County Tourism

10/05/2026

Another beautiful day at Veterans Memorial Park, 201 Gipsy Trail, Carmel, NY.

The Historian’s Office is starting up a research project for historic markers at this special place. Stay tuned for more details!

Putnam County Government Putnam County Tourism Putnam County Joint Veterans Council