HISTORIC HOMES.
The Colden house, on the Montgomery and Newburgh State road, at Coldenham, was built in 1765 by Cadwallader Colden, Jr. His father, Dr. Cadwallader Colden settled in Coldenham in 1728 on his patent of 3,000 acres of land—he was the surveyor general of the province for eleven years, lieutenant governor for thirteen years and acting governor in 1761, 1763, 1769 and 1774. He gave to Cadwallader, Jr., on his marriage, five hundred acres of land, including the site on which this house stands. The land was all in woods, and Cadwallader, Jr., began at once to clear part of it for farming purposes; with his own hands he felled the first tree, and up-rooted the first stub. After a few years the first dwelling he erected gave place to this permanent stone structure, then, one of the finest dwellings of the period. In it he lived a useful life, esteemed by all who knew him, and in it he died mourned as a public benefactor. Some years ago an addition to the house was built in the rear, and more recently a mansard roof and other improvements were added. The date of the erection of the building, and the names of its builders, are cut on a stone in the upper front center. Its historical associations, past and present, cover a period of one hundred and seventy-five years.
The Thomas Colden mansion was built by Cadwallader Colden, Jr., for one of his sons. It is situated about a mile north of Coldenham, at Colden Hill, near what was the Newburgh and Ellenville plank road. It is a frame building with hipped-roof and is kept in excellent condition. After the death of Thomas Colden it was occupied by Cadwallader C. Colden, and more recently by Messrs. John and Joseph Kelly.
The Haines house is situated about a mile east of the Goodwill Church, and a short distance south of the highway known as the Hadden road. It was built by Benjamin Haines who came into the precinct in 1739. The year in which the house was erected is not known, but it is probably the oldest house in the town. During recent years it has been occupied only for short intervals, and the walls are crumbling. This house is known as the Old Hadden house, having been in the possession of successive generations of that family for more than one hundred years.
The Hill Brick house situated about three miles east of Montgomery on the State road was built by Nathaniel Hill in 1774 and occupied by his son, Peter, who was a soldier in the War of the Revolution. At his death the ownership and occupancy of the homestead passed to his son, Nathaniel P. Hill, who was a prominent man—was sheriff, member of congress, and filled other important positions. One of his sons, Nathaniel P., had also attained prominence as U. S. senator from Colorado.
The Van Keuren Stone house, now generally known as the Downs House, about a mile west of Goodwill church, on the road to Montgomery, was built in part by Hendricus Van Keuren in 1768, and in part by a previous owner probably John McNeal. The house is in excellent condition and is, perhaps, the oldest unchanged occupied house in the town.
The Beemer house, situated on the old Stage road from Goshen to Albany, nearly three miles north of Montgomery and about two miles west of Walden, was built by Adam Beemer in 1770. It is a framed building and has been recovered and repaired, but otherwise not materially changed. It is now in fair condition.
The Hans Youngblood house is situated on the road leading from the Searsville road north to the former site of Graham's church on the Pine Bush road. Tradition says it was built before the French and Indian War. It was used for a German school in 1761, and is not occupied at present.
The Kidd house in the extreme southeasterly part of Walden was probably built in part by Alexander Kidd, who settled there in 1736. The year it was built is not known. Alexander Kidd was among the first elders of Goodwill Church. His descendants are numerous.
SCHOOLS.