PepsiCo Headquarters, 700 Anderson Hill Rd
PepsiCo transformed Purchase into a desirable hub for corporations and their executives when they transformed 112 acres into their new home in 1967. The controversial move now includes one of Harrison’s treasures, and a must see according to Westchester County’s visitor bureau. The PepsiCo headquarters located in the Purchase section includes the Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens. Exhibiting 43 sculptures surrounded by 11 distinct gardens, this magnificent garden was created in 1980 by Russell Page. The entire project itself is an art form. Conceived by Kendall, former chairman of PepsiCo, his vision of the gardens was “an atmosphere of stability, creativity and experimentation that would reflect his vision of the company.” [1][1] “Sculpture Gardens.” PepsiCo. Accessed June 8, 2024. https://www.pepsico.com/sculpture-gardens.Garden rules and regulations: https://www.pepsico.com/docs/default-source/sculpture-gardens/campus-rules-and-requirements.pdf?sfvrsn=f2c61133_4
The Neuberger Art Museum at Purchase College. 735 Anderson Hill Rd
Founded in 1969, this museum of art is situated on the grounds of SUNY Purchase. You don’t need to go to Manhattan to get a taste of modern and contemporary art. Roy R. Neuberger gifted 300 works upon its inception. Neiberger was a private collector, a philanthropist and a great advocate of twentieth century art. “…the Museum’s collection has grown to over 6,000 objects by artists including Milton Avery, Romare Bearden, Willem de Kooning, Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Jackson Pollock.” [1] The museum is open to visitors and is celebrating 50 years throughout 2024.[1] “Neuberger Museum of Art.” • Neuberger Museum of Art • Purchase College. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.purchase.edu/neuberger-museum-of-art/.A brochure can be found here:
Thomas Cemetery, SUNY Purchase College. 735 Anderson Hill Rd
This small but significant family cemetery is situated in the heart of the SUNY Purchase College campus. Revolutionary war hero, Major General Thomas Thomas is buried here. John Thomas, his father, was a judge who is remembered for reading the Declaration of Independence outside the County Court House in White Plains on July 11th, 1776. Judge Thomas was taken prisoner and died in prison on May 2, 1777.The Thomas family were in a militia formed with Harrison residents. In 1775, Thomas Thomas was commissioned Colonel of a regiment that served Patriots. Col. Thomas was captured, but later paroled. In 1779, an attempt was made to capture him after he returned to the Patriots. He was exchanged during his parole but was able to avoid the enemy. After the Revolution, he was called to military duty again, this time as Major General of the Westchester County Militia. Thomas and his men were assembled as part of the defense in the War of 1812. [1]After his military service, he continued by serving the Town of Harrison. Thomas Thomas was Harrison’s first Supervisor. “Preservation Society was deeded the cemetery in exchange for the sum of $1. The Society pledged its “perpetual care and preservation of the Burying Ground Monument and the Grave of Major General Thomas Thomas” and shortly afterwards held a rededication ceremony.” [2]You can learn more about the Chisolm family who owned a 500 acre farm estate called Strathglass Farm, before it became SUNY Purchase, here.[1] Kelly, Jean. Town of Harrison Tricentennial, 1696-1996, 1996, p.100.[2] Purchase College Development 1964-72. Accessed January 28, 2024. https://www.purchase.edu/purchase-history/purchase-college-development-1964-72/.
Purchase Friends Meeting House and Cemetery, 4455 Purchase Street
There are those that say, this is where it all began. It only makes sense to start the tour here. Quakers settled here in 1724, one of them being Samuel Haight, one of the original five on the patent for Harrison. [1] This meeting house, established in 1727, was used to house wounded soldiers after the Battle of White Plains. The original house was destroyed by a fire in 1918 but rebuilt the same. Haight and John Harrison came from Flushing, New York. It is Haight, Harrison and three others who successfully received the 1696 patent for Harrison. More about the controversy surrounding this patent can be learned later.The Quakers were the majority of Harrison for a long period of time and influenced much of history. They were the first leaders and lawmakers. Quakers were slaveowners but freed them all by 1781. [2] They remained part of their community, and often received religious or educational aid, even receiving donated land “Slavery also existed in early Harrison. An old New York newspaper advertisement dated 6th August, 1772 (sic) reads: ‘Runaway from Nathan Field of Harrison's Purchase in the Township of Rye, a negro called "Plato." Twenty shillings reward.’ The slaves were freed by the Quakers between 1773 and 1783 and were given land to farm in the Stony Hill area in West Harrison by one of the friends, Frederick Stephens. An old church and a cemetery existed there.” [3] Their commitment to promoting human rights is still evident today.The cemetery holds 503 people with the earliest being 1714. Buried here is former Town Councilman, Mort Heineman. Also buried here is Cornelius Oakley, who served during the Battle of White Plains under General George Washington. [4][1] Kelly, Jean. Town of Harrison Tricentennial, 1696-1996, 1996, p.6.[2] Kelly, Jean. Town of Harrison Tricentennial, 1696-1996, 1996, p.6.[3] “Silver Lake.” Accessed June 14, 2024. https://www.harrison-ny.gov/historian/pages/silver-lake[4] Baird, Charles Washington. Chronicle of a Border Town: History of Rye, Westchester County, New York, 1660-1870,... including Harrison and the White Plains till 1788. HARBOR HILL BOOKS, 1974.
Purchase Community House, 3095 Purchase St
A staple in the Purchase community is the aptly named Purchase Community House. "Mr. William A. Read first recognized the need for club rooms where the people of Purchase could come together for social and for civic purposes. On October 7, 1915 he informed the Purchase Property Owners Association of Harrison Township, Inc. that he had bought a saloon on Purchase Street, and that he intended to buy additional land which he would present to the Community for the above purposes. He planned to build on this property a Community House which would contain an auditorium, living quarters for a neighborhood nurse and for school teachers, and a gymnasium for men and boys." [1]Unfortunately, Read never got to see this through, but his widow did. Upon completion, it was leased to the Purchase Property Owners' Association, then eventually an organization called the Purchase Community was formed and incorporated in 1926.[1] “About the PCH.” About the Purchase House - Purchase, NY. Accessed November 9, 2024. https://purchasehouse.com/about.html.
Beechwood Estate, 3073 Purchase St
Beechwood Estate was one of Purchase’s grand colonial revival mansions. Unfortunately, it was demolished in 2017 after failed attempts by investors to save it, it is now replaced by a modern eco-friendly private home. This was once the home to the President of SUNY Purchase. Fortunately, the visual grandness of this estate is forever captured online through photographs taken before its demise. [1] Visit lohud.com's article to see pictures of the original estate.Please note, 3073 Purchase Street is a private residence. [1] Matsuda, Akiko. “Purchase Mansion Turned into Rubble.” The Journal News, August 9, 2017. https://www.lohud.com/story/news/2017/08/09/purchase-mansion-rubble/548495001/.
Holladay Stone Chapel (Ophir Chapel) 2900 Purchase St
This magnificent chapel is located on the grounds of Manhattanville College, but originally built by Ben Holladay for his wife, Ann. This Norman Gothic-style architecture is the oldest of three chapels in the county. Holladay was known as the Stagecoach King, as much of his financial success was related to the Pony Express and the Overland Express Stage Coaches. [1] After years of neglect, and now in the hands of Manhattanville College, their Director Michaela Walsh led a team to restore the chapel. It now serves as a learning space and environmental park educating students, faculty, staff and also the community focusing on ways to ecologically preserve the past, present and future. [2][1] Ophir Farm and Manhattanville College. Accessed May 30, 2024. http://pepapurchaseny.com/pdfs/ophir-farm-history-book.pdf.[2] “Historic Purchase Holladay Stone Chapel.” Purchase Environmental Protective Association (PEPA), New York. Accessed May 30, 2024. http://www.pepapurchaseny.com/holladay-stone-chapel.php.Learn more from a Manhatnnville College vistor guide: http://www.pepapurchaseny.com/pdfs/ophir-farm-history-book.pdfLearn more from the Purchase Environmental Protective Association (PEPA) here: http://www.pepapurchaseny.com/pdfs/ophir-farm-walking-tour.pdf
Sacred Heart Cemetery, 2900 Purchase St
According to Findagrave.com, there are 131 people buried in this cemetery. Originally located in Harlem, president Mother Eleanor O'Byrne, RSCJ relocated the Academy of Sacred Heart to Purchase, to the former Whitehall Reid estate which later became Manhattanville College. “The Cemetery at the College was established in 1952 and the remains of the nuns buried in the old Manhattanville were transferred to the Purchase location in the summer of 1952. Religious of the Sacred Heart were buried in the Cemetery until 1980.” [1]Mother Sarah Brownson, RSJC (September 13, 1870-October 24, 1952) who oversaw the transition from an academy to a college, is buried here. Brownso was the Dean of Manhattanville from 1917-1926 and Manhattanville's Brownson Hall is named for her.[1] Manhattanville College Cemetery in Purchase, New York. Accessed May 30, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2437721/manhattanville-college-cemetery.
Reid Castle, Manhattanville College, 2900 Purchase St
Reid Hall was once considered one of the most revered estates in Westchester County, even boasting the first to have electricity and a telephone. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 [1], it is Harrison’s most documented property. It has housed some interesting owners and notable guests including the King of Thailand. Built 1864, stagecoach king Benjamin Holladay bought it for him and his wife and called it Ophir Farm. His opulence and extravagance disintegrated during a financial crash in 1873, and its next owner never took residence, and it was eventually auctioned it off after his death. Its next owner, Whitelaw Reid, was the owner of The New York Tribune. It was The Reid’s who transformed this estate with a major renovation to include a telephone and electricity. A devastating fire destroyed their mansion in 1888. The Reid’s acquired four architects to rebuild the castle, and re-named it Ophir Hall when it was completed. It was at this time that Whitelaaw Reid was a named Benjamin Harrison’s vice-presidential nominee, as it was announced during a speech on this property. They were unsuccessful in their bid.The Reid’s transformed the home with bright colors, yellow marble from Africa and pink marble from Georgia. Stained glass illuminated the central staircase and reception rooms included elements from France’s Chateau de Villennes. A wing was later added and this time English influences were seen. Bookcases and paneling were incorporated that were salvaged from the Tudorstyle Great Library and windows from the Salisbury Church. Reid unfortunately died before he could see it finished.It is now a popular wedding venue.[1] “United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. National Register of Historic Places. Reid Hall.” National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75323191Learn more from the Purchase Environmental Protective Association (PEPA).Learn more from the Manhattannville College visitor guide and AmericanAristocracy.com
Anderson Hill Burial
There are 36 people buried in this cemetery. One is a former U.S. Congressman Joseph Halstead Anderson, 8/25/1800-6/23/1870[1]. On the findagrave.com listing, there are some photos contributed by the public, some as recent as February of 2024.[1] Anderson Family Cemetery. Accessed January 28, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/1870771/anderson-family-cemetery.
Renaissance Mansion
Originally a summer home to John M. Carrere, this 1905 mansion stands today on the former site of the Renaissance Hotel. Carrere also designed the New York Public Library. Know to most as ‘the mansion’, a developer is currently working on a 28-acre community that has more than 700 apartments, villas, pools both indoors and outdoors, tennis courts and an outdoor amphitheater. They intend on preserving and renovating the Normandy-style mansion.[1] The Renaissance Mansion sits on the ground of what used to tbe Stouffer's Inn. On December 4, 1980 a fire killed 26 people. [2] This fire took place in a conference area, and is considered the biggest disaster in Westchester County. The NFPA report can be found here. [3] Four months later, a 25 year old bus boy was indicted for arson and 26 counts of murder and found guilty nearly one year later. Another year alter, Judge Lawrence Martin overturned the decision. A scrapbook of newspaper articles can be found in Town Hall in the Town Clerk's Office. Families of victims received a $48.5 million settlement becasue of civil suits. [4][1] Morris, Sebastian. “Rose Equities and Garden Communities Reveal Renaissance Harrison in Westchester.” New York YIMBY, September 22, 2022. https://newyorkyimby.com/2022/09/rose-equities-and-garden-communities-reveal-renaissance-harrison-in-westchester.html.[2] “1980 Stouffer’s Inn Fire Memorial.” 1980 Stouffer’s Inn fire memorial. Accessed November 13, 2024. https://stouffersinnfire.com/.[3] Stouffer’s Inn of Westchester. Accessed November 13, 2024. https://stouffersinnfire.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/stouffers_inn_of_westchester_nfpa_fire_investigators-4.pdf.[4] Whitehouse, Franklin. “Families of Victims in Stouffer Inn Fire Win $48.5 Million.” The New York Times, May 25, 1984. https://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/25/nyregion/families-of-victims-in-stouffer-inn-fire-win-48.5-million.html.
