By Mary Hoar
Hero of the American Revolution and our first president, George Washington was seen visiting scenes from his storied past in Yonkers on March 15. Accompanied by Historian Dr. Iris de Rode, Washington visited the beautiful and historic St. John’s Episcopal Church in Getty Square, originally built in 1752 by the Philipse family. No doubt, he was hoping to find his first love Mary Philipse at St. John’s.
Washington and de Rode then headed to Yonkers Brewing Company to sample a bit of Yonkers’ locally made beer, a golden liquid Washington was reported to enjoy. According to his unpublished journal in the New-York Historical Society Quarterly published April 1947, clergyman Joshua Brookes noted Washington habitually “had a silver pint cup or mug of beer, placed by his plant which he drank while dining.”
While there, Washington, portrayed by Mike Grillo, assisted honoring Dr. de Rode, visiting from France and on a tour of Westchester Revolutionary War sites. Dr. de Rode researched the French-American alliance during the American Revolution for her doctoral dissertation, using unpublished documents as her sources, particularly the papers of Francois Jean de Beauvoir, Marquis de Chastellux. A Major General in the French expeditionary forces led by General Rochambeau, Chastellux was the principal liaison between Washington and Rochambeau; their collaboration created a true friendship between our future president and the Major General.
Not only did Yonkers welcome Dr. de Rode, Councilmember John Rubbo presented her a City of Yonkers proclamation officially naming the day as Dr. Iris de Rode Day! County Legislator James Nolan officially welcomed her to Westchester County.
The following day, Dr. de Rode visited the Yonkers Historical Society’s Sherwood House Museum, welcomed by the society’s President Loren Chaidez, Trustee Richard Mangini, President Emerita Mary Hoar and volunteer Jason Medina. Sherwood House is one of the few remaining restored pre-Revolutionary tenant farmhouses in the metropolitan area, and the site of Yonkers first doctor’s office.
The Yonkers Historical Society and Revolutionary Westchester 250 cosponsored this visit to Yonkers. Visit https://rw250.org/ for more information.
