My goals and our plans at Mill House, and our projects for the past several years reflect the mission to "preserve" this historic house, to "educate" our children and the general public, and to make many more people aware of this unique historic site.

Goals for 2004:

1. Preservation

For the past four years, our efforts in preserving the manor house and the outbuildings has been very successful. The old cloth wiring was a problem and a threat to the security and safety of the house. In 2003, we rewired the Mill House (at a cost of $30,000), and removed the electric box from the front of the house. Inside the building, the old wiring was replaced and new circuits installed. The new electric lighting allowed us to dramatically highlight the displays. Someone hit the pole in front of the house this past winter and this led to conversations with Central Hudson and the removal of the pole and then placing the power lines under ground. What seems like such a simple project involves much digging not only across the yard but includes going under two walls and opening the street.   

Another big expense this past winter was the replacement of the septic tank located in the front yard. With the increased number of visitors each year, toilet facilities need to be working and in constant repair. Our volunteers for Mitzvah Day helped plant new grass over the septic tank. Isn't that suppose to make the grass greener!

2. Education

Here they come! Starting the last week of April, we expect to host some four classes of third graders a day for the rest of the school year. This does not count the Sunday School classes, the Yeshivas and the many groups of home schoolers who visit. A reward for our staff is when the children who visited during the week, bring their parents and siblings on the weekend. We want the children to enjoy their visit. We have a child friendly historic site!

Programs: We can certainly take pride in our lecture series this year. Working with the New York Council for the Humanities, we have invited several speakers. With funding provided by The Jewish Federation of Orange County, we have invited three more speakers. New books are coming out about our area and we have included some authors to share their interests and enthusiasm with our visitors. The focuses of all our programs are on the "heritage" and the "house history." Our regular programs of Archaeology, Fishing Derby, Revolutionary War reenactments, papermaking, etc. will also be included. These are "hands on" programs. With each successful event, more people learn about our house, our traditions and our efforts.

The Jewish Federations of Orange and Dutchess Counties have included Gomez Mill House in their "mitzvah" programs. These great volunteers did a spring clean up, helped in turning over gardens, planting grass and pulling weeds and a general sprucing up of the property. Thank you!

Research: During the winter months of 2003-2004, Ellen and I engage in the three "R's" — "Restoration, Repairs and Research." You will find some of the research on other pages of this website. Mrs. Healy has learned quite a bit of the life and works of Ms. Martha Gruening, the owner of the house after Dard Hunter.   She'll share this in a talk during the summer.

3.   Development: I am always available to be of assistance and to visit foundations or donors and share our unique historic site with them. I realize that the plans the Board/Council have for Gomez Mill House and plans that I offer, most always carry a price tag. This site is important to American history, Jewish history and Hudson Valley history. Our owner/occupants played an exciting part in the story of each. As Director of the Gomez Mill House, it is always my pleasure to share this history, and my enthusiasm, by telling others about this historic American treasure.

4.   The recently acquired property east of Mill House is being studied and consultants consulted to plan the best use of the property for both Mill House and the public. A great deal of our planning time is going into this exciting area. Soon we hope to have a Museum building complete with not only exhibits but also all the public amenities. Then there are the 26 acres to plan …

Help in the mission of Gomez Mill House. Join the excitement of preserving this important site and educating future generations.