Hartsdale's Odell House Finally Ready For Preservation

Hartsdale enjoys a unique role in America's fight for independence. During this formative period of the country's history, local farmers and other residents became entwined with the considerable military activity in this part of Westchester County. They likely did not realize, however, that their small corner of the world also contributed significantly to U.S. - French diplomatic relations.

The Odell House on Ridge Road is a local beacon of America's liberty and the country's friendship with France. This simple farmhouse has survived nearly 300 years and has become a critical component of preservation and interpretation efforts associated with local, national and international history. Within a few years, the public will have the opportunity to embrace this witness to history.

After a 12-day march from Newport, Rhode Island, Marshal Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur (comte de Rochambeau) and approximately 6,000 soldiers in the French expeditionary forces under his command camped among the hills of the Town of Greenburgh. About 4,000 Continental troops sheltered alongside America’s new ally in what became known as the Philipsburg Encampment. The American camp was located on the west side of Sprain Brook and it extended almost to the Hudson River.

Rochambeau established his headquarters at the farmhouse, occupying the property from July 6 to August 18, 1781. Critical meetings and military strategy sessions were held at the house between the French commander and his officers and General George Washington and his staff. The leaders of the American and French armies agreed that their combined forces would march south of New York City to meet opposing forces. Following a three-week siege of Yorktown, Virginia, the British Army under General Lord Charles Cornwallis surrendered as the British colonies in America furthered the cause for independence.

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The Town of Greenburgh and the Friends of Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters are planning an Odell House Colonial Day at Ridge Road Park on Saturday, June 14, to showcase and experience life in 18th century Greenburgh. The park is located at 287 Ridge Rd, Hartsdale, NY 10530.

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Preserving American-French History

The generals discussed their plans in the 1732 and 1760 portions of the farmhouse. The 1732 construction (middle section) was built the same year as Washington’s birth. The 1760 addition is located on the east side of the original farmhouse. The house did not feature a second floor at this time. That expansion was added during 1785. The 1732 and 1760 sections of the Odell House consist of a wood-frame construction with cedar wood shingles on a fieldstone foundation. The two-story stone structure on the west side of the home was added between 1853 and 1855.

The dwelling has deteriorated considerably since 1965, when the last Odell family member deeded the house to the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). Recent saviors of the farmhouse are the Friends of Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters and the Town of Greenburgh. The nonprofit Friends group was founded by Susan Seal, a retired real estate specialist and former president of the Westchester County Historical Society. The town, during July 2019, agreed to accept the deed to the property for one dollar when Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner and SAR chapter president Bob Stackpole signed the transfer agreement. The contents of the house, for the moment, remain the property of SAR.

The Town of Greenburgh received a $600,000 matching grant from the state that has been allocated to the architect’s estimate to stabilize and restore the house. The state grant must be matched by the town and the Friends organization.

Odell House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places during 1973. Restoration and preservation will be aided by the lack of modern conveniences in the building. Pipes for heat and water never were added to the house. Electricity was limited to one wall outlet. The house features the original floors and the mantle that witnessed the meetings between the American and French generals.

Volunteers And Donations

Several hundred people have expressed interest to save the house, and Seal indicated more volunteers are welcome to share their expertise. Event planning, publicity and grant-writing committees are among the initial activities already in various stages of development by the organization. Donations and volunteer inquiries can be made through the Friends website, the Friends Facebook page, email to odellrochambeau@gmail.com or by writing to Friends of OHRH, 14 Rochambeau Drive, Hartsdale, NY 10530.

Cooperation and publicity for the Odell House preservation effort already has arrived from the volunteers and officers of Revolutionary Westchester 250, the local nonprofit organization working alongside the national, state and regional project that will commemorate the United States Semiquincentennial (or Quarter Millennial) of the American Revolution during 2026.

RW250 President Constance Kehoe said the organization has been building awareness and appreciation for Westchester County’s revolutionary era history and publicizing news about local events and presentations on its website and Facebook page since 2018.

French Support

Seal also is seeking support from French resources. The French Consul General visited the Odell House last summer and she expressed interest to assist with preservation. Seal will apply for a grant from the French government.

Following the French Revolution, according to Seal, “a lot of the heritage from France in the 18th century was destroyed, so many historical artifacts are missing. Now, they realize that documentation does exist, but not in their country. The history is in Rochambeau’s letters and several journals written by French soldiers when they were here in Harstdale, and we have this written documentation here in Westchester.”

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Mike Virgintino is the author of Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History, the story about America's theme park located in The Bronx. Published by Theme Park Press, it can be found on Amazon, eBay, Goodreads and other online retailers.