Dutchess County Historical Society Fundraising Auction Ending 11/15

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

Have you ever seen cucumber straighteners, daisy grubbers or mistle toe cutters? They are among the more than 25,000 items in the remarkable (and delightfully offbeat) Morrison Gallery of Vintage Gardening Tools. Tour this fascinating collection with Landscape Architect Mark Morrison, who has collected, curated and thoughtfully displayed this extremely rare assemblage of gardening tools and related ephemera from the 1600s to present day. Located in Wassaic, N.Y., the collection showcases the diverse pieces that Mr. Morrison has salvaged and restored. These hand-wrought gardening tools are truly works of art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art showcased a small part of his 19thC French gardening tools and watering cans for their Public Parks Private Gardens: From Parks to Provence Exhibit in 2018. Please note there are stairs to the Gallery. VALUE $500 If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

Enjoy a guided tour for four of "The Old Drovers Inn" in the town of Dover. After your private tour, enjoy some light refreshments and discuss your impressions of the stately hotel. Standing on the old State Road for over 250 years, this time capsule from the colonial era still exudes the same charm and dignified class. In 1750, John and Ebenezer Preston opened the doors of The Old Drovers Inn, which was then called the Clear Water Tavern. This watering hole catered to the desires of the cattle drovers – a group of professional middle men who purchased herds of cattle and swine from New England farmers. They would drive animals down post roads to the New York City markets, and sell them "for as good a price as they could get." These New England "cowboys" were a sporty lot who liked their rum and always seemed to have an abundance of ready cash gleaned from their lucrative trade. They supplemented from time to time with the rewards of a midnight gathering at the card table. As their financial prominence became even greater, they hired others to handle the tedious business of keeping the herds moving while the drovers themselves galloped from Inn to Inn along the route. One of the six bedrooms of the Inn is called the Meeting Room because it was used for public meetings. It was in this room that the Town of Dover separated from the Town of Pawling in 1807. The Inn remained in the Preston Family until it was sold to the Potter family in 1910. In 1962, the Inn served as a romantic hideaway for Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton after the filming of "Cleopatra." Taylor was still married to Eddie Fisher at the time, so the couple needed a romantic hideaway. They rented all the rooms at the Old Drovers Inn. It offered an idyllic and secret haven for the duo, who later married. In 1988, the Inn was sold to Kemper Peacock and Alice Pitcher. Together they brought the Inn to a new level and made Old Drovers a designation retreat for many Manhattanites and people worldwide. It became a favorite stop for the Berkshire-bound, and the tap room was noted for its generous martini. Value $200. https://www.olddroversinn.com/

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

Since 2001, Rock Hill Farm has grown from 'Mike and Milt' a 5800 lb team of oxen to a 20 animal enclave including giant Belgian and Percheron draft horses, riding horses, mini-donkeys, Nigerian dwarf goats and Penelope the pig. Come join John and Danny Blumberg for an amazing half day of family fun learning to groom, harness and drive a 5000 lb team of draft horses. We will customize your visit based on your interest, and we can teach you everything you ever wanted to know about harnessing and driving these "gentle giants." Or, if you prefer, just grab a hot cocoa, relax, and enjoy a peaceful ride on one of our wagons or sleighs. 10 adults maximum. VALUE $750 If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

The City of Poughkeepsie is full of fascinating history and characters, and it's Shannon Butler's job to tell their stories. Choose from one of three tours lasting 2 hours each: 1. Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery Tour - Take a guided walking tour through the historic center of the cemetery where we visit some of Poughkeepsie's most interesting dead. 2. Historic Union Street and Beyond - A guided walking tour down one of the city's oldest streets and neighborhoods. 3. Academy Street Historic District - A guided walking tour covering the Victorian architecture and residents of Academy Street. Tours are for all ages. There is a tour maximum of 20 people allowed. The cemetery tour does have some hills, and the Union street tour is uphill. Winning bidder to choose one tour which will be scheduled on a mutually agreeable date and time between the months of May and October of 2026. VALUE $250 If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

Created in the Hudson Valley from the 1930s to the 1990’s, Innisfree Garden merges the essence of Modernist and Romantic ideas with traditional Chinese and Japanese garden design principles. Yet it is a distinctly American stroll garden—a sublime composition of rock, water, plants and sky achieved with remarkable economy and grace. Encompassing 185-acres of designed and natural landscapes around the serene Tyrrel Lake, this landmark is listed on the National Register of Historic Places with exceptional significance. The garden’s remarkable choreography invites exploration, contemplation, and renewal. Each visit is a unique experience of vibrant cultural and natural heritage. The tour will be led by Landscape Curator Kate Kerin, noted Garden Historian, writer and lecturer. Admission to the garden is included. The tour is 90 minutes, is offered monthly May through November in 2026, and requires advance registration. https://www.innisfreegarden.org VALUE $300 If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

With the Hudson River and lovely gardens setting the scene, you and your group of up to 6 adults will enjoy an exclusive tour of Farmer's Landing in the spring of 2026 followed by refreshments. Farmers' Landing is a small two-story stone house circa 1750 in the Town of Wappinger where a wharf complex once existed at the mouth of the Wappinger Creek. It was once owned by the Verplanck family who operated a mill at Fishkill Plains from the late 1730s. Their mill was so successful, they opened a road between the mill and the Hudson River, establishing a Landing called Farmers' Landing. The house served as an agent's home/office who managed the docks and shipping of produce from local farms. After you view the first and second floors of this historic house enjoy afternoon refreshments in the gardens overlooking the Hudson River. VALUE $300 If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

This unique experience for your group of up to eight people, will feature a tour of the museum with Curator Joey Cavaccini. Light refreshment will be available. You and your group will benefit by getting to see and understand this fantastic sports museum under the leadership of the young man, now Wappinger Town Supervisor, who was one of the original founders and was instrumental in the complete makeover/renovation of the museum in 2019. Open May through the end of October, a tour through the Sports Museum of Dutchess County will show you why "legends are born in Dutchess." Exhibits within Legends of Dutchess include highlights of over a dozen athletes who made it to the professional level in sports from Dutchess County as well as artifacts on almost 20 different sports with impacts on Dutchess County history. What you will see: Ty Cobb's Bat, 1920's Ice Yacht, Arnold Palmer's Autograph, and so much more! Learn about the lives and larger than life athletic careers of some of Dutchess County's greatest. A walk through the exhibition presents to you the history of each sport and their significance in the county along with the biographies and artifacts pertaining to that sport's famous athlete(s). The Sports Museum keeps with its original hometown feel with exhibits on local Little League and Pop Warner teams as well as recreational and high school sports. https://www.sportsmuseumofdutchesscounty.org/ https://www.dutchess.org/museums/sports_museum_of_dutchess_county VALUE $300 If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

Enjoy a private, behind the scenes tour for up to four people of the Madam Brett Homestead in Beacon NY. Known as the oldest standing building in southern Dutchess County, the Madam Brett Homestead is a time capsule of colonial life. The home and museum are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and are part of the NYS Independence Trail. The homestead, which during the 19th century was referred to as the "Teller House", is now named for Catheryna Rombout Brett. After the death of Catheryna's mother, the couple mortgaged their manor house in New York and moved to the wilderness of southern Dutchess County. The home was built around 1709 or shortly thereafter. The tour will be led by a member of the Melzingah chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, who maintain the historic site. Madam Brett, herself, will also make a special appearance. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madam_Brett_Homestead https://www.dar.org/national-society/historic-sites-and-properties/madam-brett-homestead VALUE $200 If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

Experience beautiful Hudson River Views on a three-hour tour for up to 6 people. Bring your friends, snacks and camera and depart from White's Marina in New Hamburg. Head north to Poughkeepsie, or south to Newburgh Bay, your choice, for an enjoyable time on the "River of Destiny" with Captain Rob Doyle on his 24' 2022 Monterey M4 boat. Coordinate your excursion and choose the time and date. You can go out in the morning, afternoon or for a sunset cruise. Guaranteed nice weather or reschedule at no charge! Tour to be scheduled for between May and September of 2026. https://whitesmarinaonthehudson.com/ VALUE $600 If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

This lifetime collection numbers 65 framed paintings of Hudson River Views arranged as "A Trip Up The River" from New York Harbor, passing the Palisades, across the "Tappan Sea," through the Hudson Highlands all the way to the Catskill Mountains. Each painting is numbered and described. 19thC American School "Nature Painters" include: Frank Anderson (1844-91), Julie Hart Beers (1835-1913), Alfred Thompson Bricher (1837-1908), Norton Bush (1834-1894), Johann Hermann Carmiencke (1810-67), George Lafayette Clough (1824-1901), Edmund C. Coates (1816-1871), Jasper Francis Cropsey (1823-1900), Johann Mongels Culverhouse (1820-1891), Victor DeGrailly (1804-1889), Asher Brown Durand (1796-1886), plus the rest of the alphabet of 19thC Hudson River landscapes artists. You and your guests will get to view, learn, and have ample opportunity to ask questions about paintings of particular interest. Plan for visiting for up to three hours. Date and time to be determined by you and the Doyles any time before December 31, 2026. Learn about the Hudson River School of Artists at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_River_School VALUE $400 If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

Enjoy an exclusive guided tour of the Wethersfield House and its renowned Italian Renaissance Garden for up to eight guests. Set on 1,000 bucolic acres in northeast Dutchess County, Wethersfield Estate & Garden is the highest point in the region, offering sweeping views of the Berkshires, Catskills, and Taconic Hills. Founded in 1938 by philanthropist Chauncey Stillman and now a nonprofit, Wethersfield is celebrated for its Georgian-style mansion with a unique collection of original artwork and antique furniture, classical Arts & Crafts and Italian Renaissance gardens, and twenty miles of scenic trails for hiking and equestrian sport. Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and honored with the 2021 New York State Historic Preservation Award, Wethersfield is widely considered one of the finest examples of Italian Renaissance gardens in the United States. Your private visit promises a memorable journey through art, history, and landscape design in one of the Hudson Valley's most enchanting settings. Tour to be scheduled on a mutually agreed upon date between June and October of 2027. https://www.wethersfield.org/ VALUE $450 If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to view the interior and grounds of this unique, private home. Enjoy light refreshments while touring this 1840 three-story homestead built by 60 workmen who lived on the property for 3 years until completion. Learn the history from illustrated historical storyboards. Bring your camera to save memories of your group visit. George Collins, a Quaker, built the Greek Revival home over three years from 1837 with an encampment of 60 men living onsite. Through marriage over generations, the house became home to other dynastic county families like Campbell and Adriance. The family’s constant and perpetual vigilance in protecting letters, photographs, and oral traditions, allow you to get a personal insight into the home’s occupants that is rarely available. Meet the owners while enjoying up to two hours at this historic homestead. Successful bidder will be connected with the property owner to schedule the date and time of your visit. VALUE $400 If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

Experience of a lifetime for all ages! One of the best things to do along the Hudson River is visit Pollepel Island, a tiny jewel in the setting of the Hudson Highlands. The rich history of Bannerman Castle and the beautiful scenery of this place will provide a wonderfully enriching day for the whole family. The whole experience is 2.5 hours. The Bannerman Castle Trust Inc., in cooperation with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, provides a public tour of Bannerman Castle and Pollepel Island. All proceeds will benefit the Pollepel Island and Bannerman Castle preservation efforts, to ensure many can experience this beautiful place for generations to come. Complete 2.5 Hour Tour Includes: Boat ride to Bannerman Island aboard the Estuary Steward; Guided walking tour of the island in which you will visit the famous Bannerman Castle ruins and gardens; Visit to the Bannerman Garden and Bannerman Residence, where you’ll learn about all things Bannerman; Return boat trip back on the Estuary Steward to Beacon where it all began. https://bannermancastle.org VALUE $300 If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a Member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

Do you own a historic home or building in Dutchess County? Have you wondered what happened there in the past? Dutchess County Historian William P. Tatum III, PhD, will delve through the layers of county history to create a personalized history of your home or building, detailing the owners and any stories that can be documented to the structure. The report will be completed within one year of the auction. VALUE $2,500 If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

"We are Farm to Table Bistro located in Fishkill, NY. We source most of our ingredients from local farmers and creameries and use as many local Hudson valley purveyors as possible. The promise we make to our customers is to provide them with the freshest ingredients that are seasonably available and do so by purchasing locally whenever possible. The word "local" gets thrown out there very often without any concept of what it really means. For instance, we shake hands every Tuesday with the man who makes our fresh hot dogs (Peter's Meat Market), we drink espresso corretto with one of the local farmers we use for produce (Taliaferro's Farm) and we are only a hop-skip away from one of the best cheese makers in the area with whom we are proud to purchase many of our cheeses from (Sprout Creek Farm)." https://www.ftbistro.com/ VALUE $200 If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

It began in 1994 with a dream. Ira Gutner packed his bags, left a successful career in New York City's Garment District and moved upstate to open Samuel's of Rhinebeck, a boutique candy and coffee shop in the heart of bucolic Dutchess County. Ira named his shop after his late Uncle Sam who introduced him as a boy to penny candy. Today they are known as Samuel's Sweet Shop, and while their name has changed a little, their commitment to providing customers the very best in candy, chocolate, coffee & tea, baked goods and other delicious treats hasn't changed one bit. https://samuelssweetshop.com/ VALUE $100 If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

The Blue Door is an Italian-American restaurant in Salt Point, New York, on Route 44 between Pleasant Valley and Millbrook, in the heart of the Hudson Valley. We serve dry-aged steaks and chops, Italian classics, and fresh seafood in a warm, welcoming dining room — the neighborhood restaurant Dutchess County keeps coming back to. Their mission is to create a place where locals gather, connect, and enjoy a night out — serving honest food, thoughtful drinks, and an atmosphere that feels as comfortable as it is elevated. VALUE $100 If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

Deer Hill Farm at 1225 Route 9G, Hyde Park, is the only needlework store between New York City and Albany (and beyond!). It sells everything for doing cross stitching, including a wide variety of threads, fabric, needlework charts and kits, frames, beads, charms, buttons, and more. Pat Athanas, the owner, is glad to offer help with selecting fabrics and colors, and getting started on a piece. https://www.facebook.com/DeerHillFarmCrossStitching/ VALUE $100 If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

The reproduction print of The Schooner ‘Juliet’ One Hundred and ninety-five feet, 17 August 1923 is a fine example of an anonymous historic art piece for the sailing enthusiast.. The text layout and flat perspective, align this print with early 20th century maritime folk art. The original draftsmanship is by an unknown maritime illustrator or shipbuilder of the early 20th century. By August 1923, the golden age of commercial wooden sailing ships was drawing to a close, yielding to steam and diesel power. Large vessels of this size built in the 19th or early 20th centuries were frequently mapped or drawn by enthusiasts to commemorate their history, dimensions and retirement from sailing. A vessel of 195 feet would make the Juliet an exceptionally large commercial cargo or lumber-carrying schooner for that era. In 1852 the schooner Juliet went ashore two miles south of Yaquina Head. The mouth of the Yaquina River is 110 miles from the Columbus River and about 500 miles north of San Francisco. Mariners approached the Oregon coast with caution. The Yaquina River drains into a 250 square mile watershed. In the 1850s a bar and reef stood off the entrance and in bad weather deterred ships from crossing into the natural harbor. Ship losses were frequent. Little is know of the Juliet’s sailing history after 1852 but she likely sailed until her retirement in 1923.Value: $100 Frame measures: 29” X 25-1/4” If this item isn't for you, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to DCHS at https://dchsny.org/secure-pay/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.

More Info / Bid Track Item Register

DIA Art Foundation's collection of art from the 1960s to the present is located at Dia Beacon. Dia Beacon opened in 2003, is situated on the banks of the Hudson River in Beacon, New York. The museum is in the former Nabisco box-printing facility that was renovated by Dia and is positioned on thirty-one acres near the shoreline of the Hudson River. It is adjacent to ninety acres of riverfront parkland, a five-minute walk from the Metro-North train station in Beacon and 60 miles (80 minutes by train) north of New York City. Dia Beacon seizes the world of contemporary art with its collection of monumental art engaging the visitor from viewer to participant. Your membership will support the large-scale installations, paintings, and sculptures of Dia Beacon. VALUE $160 If this auction item is not for you, please consider making a donation to DCHS here: https://dchsny.org/short/ All lots have a 1-year expiration date unless otherwise noted.