CARMEL – The historic Belden House, owned by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, stands on watershed land along Belden Road in Carmel near the West Branch Reservoir and continues to deteriorate.
Efforts to restore the landmark suffered a setback two years ago when State Supreme Court Justice Victor Grossman denied a preliminary injunction that would have prevented the city from demolishing the building.
Historians and friends of the Belden House have new hope that the building may be saved from the wrecking ball now that the Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors voted to authorize continued discussions with the Department of Environmental Protection, Friends of Belden House, and other potential partners regarding the future preservation, rehabilitation, and stewardship of the property.
Ann Fannizzi, who has championed the Belden House restoration for decades, described the old building as “more than a historic structure. It is one of the last surviving complete historic farmsteads in the West Branch watershed and a rare connection to the agricultural landscape that existed before construction of the New York City reservoir system transformed the region.”
She said, “The property reflects the history of farming, rural life, land stewardship, and the communities that once lived in the watershed. Today, it remains one of the few places where those stories can be experienced and interpreted in their original setting.”
Conservation District chairwoman Cassandra Roth said Belden House stands for a “rare opportunity to advance multiple conservation, educational, agricultural, and historic preservation objectives at once. Our vision is to preserve and rehabilitate the historic farmstead as a permanent headquarters for the Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District, while also serving as a Friends of Belden House historical and interpretive center, a hub for agricultural and conservation demonstration projects, educational programming, and community gathering space. The vision also contemplates opportunities to partner with DEP on an East of Hudson watershed public education and interpretive center highlighting the region’s watershed stewardship efforts and vital role in protecting New York City’s drinking water supply.”
District officials believe Belden House presents a once in a generation opportunity to preserve an important piece of local history while creating a lasting public asset focused on conservation, education, agriculture, and watershed stewardship.
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