Scarsdale Historical Society Awards Grant to Friends of Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters

Odell House, circa 1905.The Scarsdale Historical Society (SHS) has awarded a $7,500 grant to the Friends of the Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters in Hartsdale. The grant is part of Scarsdale Historical Society’s mission to discover, preserve and disseminate the rich history of Scarsdale and its neighboring communities in Central Westchester.

In 1781, Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters served as the headquarters for the Comte de Rochambeau and his French Forces during the French American Encampment in Greenburgh, NY. It was here that Rochambeau and George Washington made the important decision to march their troops to Yorktown, VA where they jointly defeated the British army and won America’s Independence. Not only is Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters one of the most important sites of revolutionary history in Westchester County, but it is also a rare example of an 18th-century farmhouse, with its original details intact, that was occupied by one family from 1785 to 1990.

“Friends of OHRH are grateful for the continued support of the Scarsdale Historical Society,” stated Susan Seal, President of the Friends of Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters. This grant will help defray the cost of storing the vast contents of the house representing over 230 years of the life of the house. These antiques and artifacts have been safely removed from the house by the Friends to allow the restoration work to progress. The grant also continues to provide us with an expert to assist us in maintaining our website.”

“With this grant, we are pleased to play a role in making sure the history and legacy of OHRH lives on,” stated Randy Guggenheimer, President of the Scarsdale Historical Society. “OHRH is a community treasure that will educate and inspire the public for generations to come.”
For more information on the Scarsdale Historical Society, visit www.scarsdalehistoricalsociety.org.

About the Friends of Odell House Rochambeau HeadquartersOdell House now with windows secured and shoring almost completed.

The Friends of Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters (OHRH) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to provide assistance to the Town of Greenburgh in its efforts to preserve and restore the National Register Property, Odell House, located at 425 Ridge Road, Hartsdale, New York. Learn more at www.odellrochambeau.org.

About the Scarsdale Historical Society

The Scarsdale Historical Society exists to discover, preserve and disseminate historical information, as well as inspire others to learn about and contribute to the history of Scarsdale and the Central Mid-Westchester Region. The Scarsdale Historical Society accepts grant applications for projects that meet its mission, particularly those that will inspire others to learn about the history of Scarsdale and the surrounding communities. Learn more at www.scarsdalehistoricalsociety.org.

Steps to the basement built in 1760, shown with metal runners from a horse drawn sleigh. Credit: Friends of Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters