Tappan - the Hamlet That Keeps On Giving

This article is not a scholarly effort, just a casual conversation to remind us of our history from the time of the American Revolution to today.

Most Rocklanders know about Tappan's role in our Revolution and the ever presence of General George Washington. Think about the DeWint House and Carriage House Museum, the 76 House, the Tappan Reformed Church.

Most Rocklanders know about the German Masonics Home and Park. The Home built for widows and orphans ended a long time ago, but the Park was and is the home of many festivals. The most recent being the fantastic Sons of Italy Italian festival.

Most Rocklanders know about Camp Shanks, the largest Port of Embarkation for our GIs going to Europe to fight the nazi army in WW II and later America's largest Housing for veterans.

But most do not know about what is happening right now.

As the more than 2,300 acres of Camp Shanks was declared surplus, much of which was in Tappan, the Camp became history with the exception of 15 acres, which were used as the Headquarters for the NIKE Missile Program created in the Cold War, followed by the Special Forces Unit Company B of 845 Engineering Battalion of the 411 Engineering Brigade of the US Army.

Time pasted and the 15 acres were finally declared surplus by the Federal Government for any one of the purposes of housing the homeless, animal shelter and medical purposes.

Since I was an unsalaried volunteer for Loeb House already creating and operating housing for homeless veterans, I and a few partners created the "Rockland Homes For Heroes, Inc." a not-for-profit NYS 501[c]3 charity to specifically build and operate housing for homeless veterans inasmuch as the "Last Stop USA" for our martyred GIs deserved a living tribute. We got the lease for 15 acres and built 8 homes on Western Highway, not far from where George Washington's Troops camped on more than one occasion.

When Orangetown, under the leadership of Orangetown's mystical Highway Commissioner Jim Dean decided to resolve the flooding and pollution problems of the iconic Sparkill Creek [and marsh] that ran through the town to the Hudson River, we happily turned over 7 of the acres in support of Jim's vision. He did it ! The flooding and pollution problems are gone !And it was done with an incredibly serene enchanting environment oasis of a pond surrounded with thousands of vegetation to purify the water all surrounded by a foot path open to the public. History has been made ! By the way, we are building another 14 homes on the other 8 acres.

Jim is inviting everyone to join him on Friday October 21 at 11:00 AM on Bogart Place just off Western Highway to officially name this oasis "Rockland Home for Heroes" and much less important name the footpath after me by Resolution of the ORANGETOWN TOWN BOARD

Theresa Kenny, Jerry Bottari, Thomas Diviny, Brian Donohue, Paul Valentine, all of whom made this history come true.

WHEREAS, John Allen Murphy served as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps active/reserve for 14 years from 1961 until 1975, and;

WHEREAS, John Allen Murphy served 44 years as a Rockland County Legislator where he was elected 12 times, and;

WHEREAS, John Allen Murphy served on the Boards of Camp Venture (President & Chairman of the Board) — 44 years in one of Rockland County’s most respected and long-serving social services agencies serving our intellectually & developmentally disabled; and Joseph’s Home (Co-Founder & President) — serving the residential needs of our homeless; and the Loeb House (Co-Founder & President) — over 30 years serving the residential needs of our mentally ill; and the NYS Rockland Psychiatric Center (President of the Board of Visitors); and the Orangetown Narcotic Guidance Council; and the Rockland County Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation & Alcoholism, and;

WHEREAS, John Allen Murphy is one of the Founders of Rockland Homes for Heroes and serves as the President & Chairman of the Board of Directors, and;

WHEREAS, John Allen Murphy was instrumental in the transfer of 7 of 14 acres of Rockland Homes for Heroes land to the Town of Orangetown to build a surface stormwater bio-retention basin to prevent the flooding of the iconic Sparkill Creek, and;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that in honor of the John Allen Murphy, the pathway around the Homes for Heroes Green Infrastructure Project is hereby designated as “Captain John Allen Murphy Pathway” with the intention of installing nearby memorial street signs to signify the dedication.

And DESIGNATE / INSTALL MEMORIAL SIGN / PATHWAY / ROCKLAND COUNTY HOMES FOR HEROES / HOMES FOR HOMES