Mike Gillow, as Supervisor Steven Ward, Jack Flannery, as Robert Sneeden, and Towns person Jennie Steinhagen, reenact the first Eastchester meeting after the Revolutionary War, with Supervisor Anthony Colavita and Town Councilmember Sheila Marcotte looking on
As the USA celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2026, the Town of Eastchester commemorated the anniversary of the first Eastchester meeting and election held after the Revolutionary War on December 22, 1783-242 years ago.
Eastchester Supervisor Anthony Colavita held a special Town Board meeting on that same day and appointed several community members to serve on the 250th National Anniversary Committee. Colavita explained that during the Revolutionary War, “Eastchester was considered neutral ground. It was the area between the British troops and the American troops. It was pretty violent here, with the American forces to the north and the British forces to the south. On November 25, 1783 the British moved out of New York and it was a wonderful day,” said Colavita.
Eastchester Town Clerk Joe Dooley explained that the Town uncovered the original records from that meeting in 1783.
Town Board member and Eastchester Historical Society member Sheila Marcotte said, “We thought it would be fun this evening if we could give a snapshot of what happened that evening with three members of the historical society. We have Mike Gillow, who is Supervisor Steven Ward; Jack Flannery, who is Robert Sneeden, the son of Samuel Sneeden; and Jenny Steinhagen, a towns person, at that meeting.
Supervisor Ward (Gillow) said, “The war tore our community apart. My own brother, Edmund Ward, sided with the British. He’s probably up in Nova Scotia with 30,000 other Americans who decided to be loyal to the crown. We call it neutral ground, but truth be known, you wake up any moment, and you don’t know who is controlling this village,” said Ward.
Sneeden presented the actual documents from 1783 to Ward, some of which are on display at Eastchester Town Hall. “They are amazing to look at its amazing we still have them here going back that far,” said Dooley.
Supervisor Colavita named Eastchester Town Board Member Sheila Marcotte as a Co-chair, together with Eastchester Town Clerk Joseph Dooley. Members include Eastchester Town Board Members Councilman Luigi Marcoccia, Councilwoman Theresa Nicholson, and Councilman Anthony Giacobbe. Eastchester Superintendent of Parks & Recreation/Senior Services, Sally Veltidi, will serve ex officio. From the Eastchester Historical Society, Jack Flannery, Lissa Halen, Michael Grillo, and Jennie Steinhagen. From the Village of Bronxville, Mayor Mary Marvin, Ray Geselbracht, the Bronxville Village Historian, Marilyn Hill, Chairman Emeritus, and Peggy Conway, Board Member of the Bronxville Historical Conservancy. And from Friends of the Ward House, Sal Provenzano and Elaine Provenzano, with Eastchester Veterans Robert Foster and Vito Pinto.
After the meeting, Marcotte told us, “The story of Samuel Sneeden protecting the town records for 9 years is amazing. In lower Westchester, we have no homes from the 1700’s becuase they were burned to the ground. Included in those records was the Eastchester covenant, second only to the Mayflower compact. The lower Hudson Valley was a direct route to the NE colonies and to NYC. Controlling it was very important for supplies and information.
The nonprofitRevolutionary Westchester 250 (RW250) is leading the commemoration of the county’s vital role in the War of Independence. Revolutionary Westchester 250 will be organizing programs and events to mark the historic birthday of the USA. Visit https://www.rw250.org for more information.
