HoehmTown Happenings

Clarkstown Offers “Trails and Tales of Traphagen” Tour

As part of our ongoing celebration of the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution, the Town Of Clarkstown is proud to offer the “Trails and Tales of Traphagen,” a walking tour and lunch at some of our most historic properties. This fun and educational outing should appeal to residents of all ages looking to learn more about the history of the Trapahagen Estate, the Historic Clarkstown Reformed Church, and the colonial inn now known as the 1840 Tavern. Participants can attend any or all of these individual tours, which will take place on September 13, 2025. The official itinerary is as follows:

Trails & Tales of Traphagen: And other historic sites of West Nyack

September 13, 2025

Rain date: September 20, 2025

131 Germonds Road, West Nyack, NY, 10994

9:00am – Check In at the Traphagen Estate House

9:30am – 10:30am Join our Town Planner and Historian for a walking tour of the Traphagen property.

Walking Difficulty Level: Easy –  Hiking boots or sneakers are appropriate. Please note the trail is not stroller or handicap accessible. 

Trail Length: approximately 1 mile

10:30am – Tour of the 1791 Tallman-Budke House and the 1820 Vanderbilt – Budke – Traphagen House with Town Historian Larry Kigler; both of which are registered on the New York State and National Register of Historic Places.

Attendees may continue the tour of other historic sites in West Nyack as follows.

Historic Clarkstown Reformed Church

11:30am – Drive 1.5 miles to the Historic Clarkstown Reformed Church, 107 Strawtown Road, West Nyack, NY 10994

The steeple of the Historic Clarkstown Reform Church is visible to the adjacent New York State Thruway and has operated as an assembled parsonage since 1750. The current church building dates to 1871. During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington made his headquarters on four separate occasions in Rockland County in nearby Tappan and corresponded with the first Pastor of the church. Washington’s troops camped in the area and marched through on their way to victory at Yorktown. Stop by for a tour of this wonderful historic church led by the current Pastor, Reverend Richard Hasselbach, and view copies of the correspondence between Washington and the first Pastor.   

1840 Tavern

12:30pm – Drive .5 miles to 1840 Tavern, 1 Strawtown Road, West Nyack, NY 10994

Since its opening as an inn in 1840, this social hub has welcomed cross-county travelers, hosted extravagant balls, and been a local gathering place here in Clarkstown. Originally opening under the name Knapp Hotel, the inn served as a stopping place for stage coaches and tired travelers and became the central spot at the Clarksville Corners, which also included stores, wheelwrights, blacksmiths, a butcher and a harness shop. In the winter months, the inn attracted people traveling by horse drawn sleigh and served as a warming center for people and as a rest stop for the horses. Among the visitors was President Martin Van Buren, who purportedly stopped here as his carriage was repaired in the adjacent blacksmith shop. 

After the heyday of extravagant balls ended, the building began to deteriorate, but was eventually restored in 1957. Shortly after, it became the Clarksville Inn. Following an unfortunate kitchen fire on New Year’s Eve in 2018, the Clarksville Inn shut its doors. Kieran O’Gorman then bought the property and re-opened the pub now named 1840 Tavern. 

Each one of these tours offers a momentary step back in time to our town’s historic past, and is featured as part of Clarkstown’s celebration of the start of the Revolutionary War.  As the year progresses, we will continue to offer events for all generations to engage with our nation’s past. From educational programs and reenactments to community gatherings, this celebration will be both a tribute to our history and a bridge to our future. I encourage each of you to take part in the activities that best speak to your interests and help our younger generations gain a deeper appreciation of the remarkable efforts our forefathers undertook to secure our independence.

The American Revolution was more than just a war; it was the birth of the noble idea that a nation could stand where all people were created equal and had the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This anniversary is not only a chance to honor our history but also an opportunity to reflect on how we, as a community, can continue to uphold and advance these principles.