* A National Historic Site *
* * * * * General George Washington's Headquarters * * * * *
October 23 - 28, 1776
While preparing for the Battle of White Plains, October 28, 1776
- and later -
July 27 - September 16, 1778
General Washington and eighteen key generals of the Continental Army met at the Jacob Purdy House to plan military strategy for a combined attack with the French on British and Hessian forces at Newport, Rhode Island, and for subsequent campaigns.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jacob Purdy House stands also as a tribute to a determined local citizen, Al Cerak. His patriotism, dedication and unselfish commitment to the preservation of this historic house, under threat of demolition during Urban Renewal (1966 - 1973), contributed in numerous and important ways to its ultimate preservation, relocation to this original Purdy Farm site (1973) and listing on the National Register of Historic Places (April 31, 1979). Al Cerak, a natural leader with boundless energy and enthusiasm, was also a major force in establishing the White Plains Battle Monument Committee, the White Plains Historical Society, and the widely recognized Reenactments of the Battle of White Plains. His abiding concern was the preservation and dissemination of knowledge about local history, especially for our children.
* * * * *
White Plains Historical Society
December 14, 1999
Bicentennial of Washington's Death
Comments 0 comments