[as Transcribed by Ginny - and posted here with Permission]

Poughkeepsie Beat
May 21, 2004

TOWN SAVES
250 - YR - OLD
LANDMARK
By Steve Densmore

A nearly 250-year-old Dutch farm house that was days away from demolition
appeared saved this week after the Poughkeepsie Town Board voted to schedule a public hearing aimed at granting the stone structure historic status.

Town Councilman Stephan Krakower (R-Ward 5) said the building known as the
Abraham Fort house, was spared thanks to an alert town employee and quick
action by the town historian and the Town of Poughkeepsie Historical
Committee.  After the town building department issued a demolition permit
for the gabled farm house at 2228 South Ave. on April 19, Krakower said,
Chris Moss of the assessing department alerted Town Historian Jean Murphy,
who in turn notified the Historical Committee.

After some fast-footed research, the historians determined that the building
might be one of the oldest remaining structures in the town, hailing back to
the Fort family who were active in the Revolutionary War.  Krakower said the
Historical Committee subsequently met on May 11 and voted to apply for
historic designation for the building, which is located on a portion of the
former IBM Country Club.  On May 12, Town Building Inspector Timothy Sickles
posted a "stop work order" on the building, much of which is shielded from
passersby on Route 9 by a tall, stockade fence.

"It was saved in the nick of time," said Krakower, whose ward includes the
property.  "Sometimes you only appreciate things when they're gone and, in
this situation, we have a chance to save it.  It's an important piece of
local history in the town and this county."

Krakower said the building's demolition was being sought by Ginsburg
Development - - who are planning to build a large residential development on
the sprawling former IBM Country Club.  Unaware of the property's historic
significance at first, Krakower said, the development company is now
cooperating with efforts to preserve the ancient farm house.  "They seem to
be very reasonable and willing to work with the town," he said of the
developers, who could not be reached for comment prior to press time.

At its meeting Wednesday night, the Town Board voted to hold a June 16 [postponed - NEW DATE -July 7, 2004] public hearing on the proposed historic designation for the Fort House.