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YORKTOWN, N.Y. – A Yorktown historian is making a last-minute effort to save what he believes is a historic house and an integral part of Yorktown’s roots.
The house across from the Staples Plaza at 3372 Old Crompond was constructed by the Knapp family before the Revolutionary War. It has stood there for more than two centuries, said J-F de Laperouse, member of the Yorktown Historical Society and town Landmark Committee.
“It is not an exaggeration to say that the Knapp family of Yorktown built and sustained our community since its earliest days,” he said. “They served in the Revolutionary and Civil wars, farmed the land, became notable figures in the industrialization of New York and were active members of the First Presbyterian Church, where they are buried.”
Time is of the essence for de Laperouse in his effort to save the house, as construction has already started on Crompond Crossing, the 26-unit affordable housing building that will be built on the property. The Knapp House will be torn down as part of the project.
Crompond Crossing developer Neil De Luca has agreed to a temporary “stay of execution” while de Laperouse and others figure out how to save the framing of the house. Town board member Dave Paganelli said De Luca may be a gentleman, but he also a businessman and cannot afford put the construction on hold forever.
“You can only go to the well so many times,” Paganelli said.
It would take around $10,000 to $15,000 and three to seven days to de-construct and preserve the framing, de Laperouse estimated. Even if the town is unable to provide the funds, de Laperouse said it is still the town’s due diligence to record the contents and structure of the house. Supervisor Michael Grace said the town will see what it can save and record, but said the effort might be too little, too late.
“I think I speak for the entire board that we’d like to see historic preservation,” Grace said. “I just don’t know what the solution is for this particular house at this particular time.”
Comments (3)
Why do these things only come up at the last minute? There have been plans to develop that area for years. Why wasn't something done about getting stuff from the house before this? And the tree should have been offered to Rockefeller Center this year since I assume it will be taken down.
It would be a shame to destroy another historic Yorktown home. The his house a rich historic past in several ways. It is over 250 years old, it was reputed to have been the country home of Ziegfield Follie star and wife of Flo Ziegfield, Anna Held and the super large evergreen in front would have been the Xmas tree at Rockefeller Center had the owners consented to the offer back in the 70's. Save this house.
Sad to see another piece of history disappear in Yorktown. As a family relation to the Knapps and a family that fought along side them in the Revolution, it is particularly disappointing to know that my home town cares so little about its history and the people who built the town. If we could not even save the old STrang farm at the high school, how can we expect to save this place. I am sure a new parking lot and shopping center will be a major improvement to the 202 corridor -- and that the new development will not impact the Hunter Brook stream that flows directly behind this beautiful property.