Historical Bedford Village
The town of Bedford, where I live, encompasses the small hamlets of Katonah, Bedford Hills, and Bedford Village. Bedford was founded in 1680 when a group of New England Puritans purchased the parcel of land from Chief Katonah and other Native Americans with fur coats, blankets, and cloth. I recently gave you a little tour of Katonah and some of my favorite shops there and I thought it would be fun to give you a peek of Bedford Village, dating back to 1681. This historical little village was very important during the Colonial period and served as the wartime Westchester County seat during the Revolutionary War. In 1779, the British burned the village down and it was rebuilt. Today, Bedford Village is listed on both the New York State and the National Register of Historic Places.
Beautiful homes and photos Martha. I hope the town stays this way and time & changes don't wreck the gentle quietness/quaintness of the scenic town.
Did you pass this history lesson by Richard Gere by chance LOL????
It would be neat to go back in time for a few days to see what life was like and places we once lived were like hundreds of years ago, that would be a fantastic wish wouldn't it?
I always love to see our flag flying outside a home or building it is such a beautiful flag and always makes me feel so proud & content to see it blowing in a slight breeze on a sunny day just makes me feel happy.
Pam from California
Posted by: Pam From California | April 30th, 2009 at 12:52 am
I love this post! I grew up in Mount Kisco, NY and went to high school at The Harvey School in Katonah, NY. I love Westchester! This is a wonderful post, thanks for all the great facts!
Posted by: Nichole Sayler @ ScrappyTime | April 30th, 2009 at 12:58 am
Hi Martha, Thank you so much for taking us on this fantastic tour of Bedford Village. Oh, what a beautiful place it is and it sure would be fun to live there. Everything is so well maintained and so very pristine looking. Are all of the houses and buildings white? Each house really stands out with the dark colored shutters. The Post Office, the Fire Station, etc. are absolutely beautiful. How large is the village? Martha, you certainly do live in a beautiful, well maintained place and your farm surely would qualify as another historical place. Thanks so much for sharing. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | April 30th, 2009 at 1:57 am
I enjoy your posts of "small town America" and all of the details that you capture in these towns. I especially enjoyed the photo of the window shutters on the fire department building.
Thank you for this post!
~Gloria
Posted by: Gloria Brown, Winterport | April 30th, 2009 at 6:30 am
I love old towns, and in fact, I was president of my local historical society. My area of Boston -- called Jamaica Plain -- was partly laid out in the 1600s. Our main street was part of the route from Boston to Providence in those days. Thanks for the great shots of your wonderful town.
Posted by: Rhea | April 30th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Hi Martha!
Love the architecture of New England. There is so much historic value and it must be something to be able to live among it.
Posted by: Raediva | April 30th, 2009 at 9:30 am
oops try again!
This is facinating to me, I love Genealogy and places with much History, being from Germany and finding that my grandmother was a direct decendend from the clockmakers L.C.Ives, there is so much history including their homes and buildings for civilwar widows etc. I have always wanted to go back to the East Coast to see these states like Connecticut,NY and all that part of the world..before my maker calls me, I want to make a trip there, including the sites you have shown...also see my name on the Wall at Ellis Island http://www.ellisisland.org/STORY/story_detail.asp?id=1046
Posted by: delia | April 30th, 2009 at 9:52 am
I love historical villages! Thanks for the excellent tour Martha and it must be a dream to live in that area. A few of the houses remind me of your Turkey Hill house and I bet they are as beautiful inside. I too would have liked to see the village before it was burned down by the British just to see some of the original structures. It is nice that they have all those bronze plaques on display with names of the men and women who served in the wars. That little stone school house is really special. I can’t help but think about my mother when I see it since the one she attended in Canada was similar. You didn’t say whether a lot of tourists visit but I imagine they do. I know I would like to see a place that is listed on the New York and National Register of historic places! Thanks again. Trish
Posted by: Trish | April 30th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Martha,
I'm doing some family research and discovered a post card for the Bedford Green Inn that I think was owned/operated by my relatives. My grandmother from Portsmouth, VA had to stay with her relatives at this Inn during the depression and I have found some old photos.
Have you ever heard of such Inn and do you know where I may get information about it?
I watch your show everyday and one of your biggest fans.
Thanks,
Suzanne
Posted by: Suzanne Spence | April 30th, 2009 at 11:29 am
I love to feel the flavor of places back East!
Posted by: Dana Fallentine | April 30th, 2009 at 11:59 am
What a charmingcharming little village...I mean it! All of these photos bring warmth and comfort to my soul. I love all things colonial - I'm not a modern girl at all! Everything actually reminds me more of 'New England' than New York... You are so blessed, Martha, to have such beauty around you - in town AND there at your home.
Tell me this...did YOU choose Bedford, or did Bedford choose you?!! Did you happen to stumble across your home being available and for sale, or did you purposely seek property in/near this charming hamlet?! I'll bet many-a-folk choose to live there just so they can 'catch their breath'. That's why I like living in my hometown and am happy with my little life. I could not thrive in blacktop and concrete and no green!
I really don't ask for much... [giggle]
=^..^=
"Every man should have a fair-sized cemetery to bury the faults of his friends."--Henry Ward Beecher
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | April 30th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Hi Martha,
We live about 40 minutes from Bedford and have visited a couple times. It is such a quaint friendly village. Thanks for sharing your photos. Love your blog!
Posted by: Susan Raisch | April 30th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Gorgeous, I love the classic East coast feel to it...
Posted by: Jill | April 30th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
don't forget The Bedford Oak!
Posted by: michael natiello | April 30th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Bedford is a great village- my husband I often go to the movie theater near the green followed by a snack at the Meetinghouse next door. But, I have to say that Katonah is home to some of my favorite places in Westchester - Caramoor (beautiful out door concerts in summer), the John Jay Homestead as well as the Pizza restaurant with the biggest slices in all of New York- Portofinos! Not to mention the great firemans parade they do every year! I look forwad to you touring some of the other great towns in the area - it is a lot of fun to watch.
See you at this year's Bedford Turkey Trot!
Elizabeth
Greenwich, CT
Posted by: Elizabeth | April 30th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Hi Michael Natiello - I haven't forgotten the Bedford Oak - check out this coming Monday's blog.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | April 30th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
To Delia,
It was exciting to read your story - thanks so much for the link! I hope you do get to visit Ellis Island again. I have always wanted to visit the New England area and New York again. I haven't been there since high school. I have to say whenever I buy a box of Sun Maid raisins, I will surely think of you. That was definitely interesting to learn. We just never know who we're going to meet on Martha's blog! Thanks for sharing. Trish
Posted by: Trish | April 30th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Hi Jan Erickson - The reason the buildings in Bedford Village are white is because they have always been that way. It is very typical of New England, because Bedford was originally a part of Connecticut until 1700, when it became a part of New York by Royal Decree. Also, because it is an historic district, they really strive to maintain the original integrity.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | April 30th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Dear Martha,
Thank you for sharing information on the history of Bedford! I grew up in Bedford and my family still lives there.
Many people do not know much about Bedford and its wonderful history - you have really helped to put it in the spotlight! It truly is a very special place.
If you haven't done so already - are you considering a piece on The Reservation. (I only just started reading your blog after your piece on Table- which is an amazing place with fantastic food!) Nevertheless, I look forward to more posts on the area!
Lastly, I have to tell you I love your farm - I enjoy watching it evolve.
warm regards,
Bernadette NYC/Bedford
Posted by: Bernadette | April 30th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
.
ANOTHER HOMESTEAD STORY FOR SHARING...
About 3 hours north of Bedford is another settlement town whose streets I walk daily.
In 1765 a farm was built by my ancestors in Norton, Massachusetts. Today I'm there digging arrowheads and watching blue herons from a
hammock.
The main 'Homestead House' building was once the wagon painting shed for the horses and buggies that would pull in to the blacksmith shop which stood just beside it. Into what is now my company's counseling and family visiting room would come the wagons! They would roll right through what is now my chimney and fireplace. For that long ago afternoon it would be 'paint your wagon' time on Crane Street !
My grandmother Esther Crane, invited Brown University for an archaeological dig in the '70s. We now have fine tomahawks and arrowheads mounted on walnut in our administrative arrival room. The Wampanoag Indian tribe had lived with us along our 3 mile river. There is still an underground sheep pass that they built at the foot of the hill.
ODDLY. . .
Strangely, these Cranes and the Wampanoags became neighbors at the hand of the Queen of England! She somehow got in cahoots with the sailing scallywags coming to discover my back yard and granted them 150 acres, and a bag of money to do so! Then helped by some Spencers with a bigger bag of money and desire to leave the Queen on a whaling adventure, they polished rifles together in Plymouth and placed their spoils from world travel together in marriage.
----------------------
Good thing those Cranes and Spencers set sail from Queenie, met and married, or I'd have nothing to dig for or dust!
Anyway, herein is Norton for you along the trail to Bedford. Stop in sometime for a walk along the stonewalls latticed to historic fields.
A and the W's
.
Posted by: andrea and the weimaraners & unleashed mouth | May 1st, 2009 at 1:42 am
My mother watches all your updates and she loves your bed spread designs hope all success with your ventures
Posted by: John Jeffrey | May 1st, 2009 at 8:48 am
Thank you, Martha. It is overcast here today and a day that makes us reflect on our past and or history. White buildings and Old Glory give me spark of faith to my thoughts.
I appreciate your tours.
Posted by: Margie | May 1st, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Thanks Martha for sharing those pix! You have inspired me to take some of my hometown of Hamtramck, Michigan and record the Polish immegrants who lived there!
Posted by: Lori Lemanski | May 2nd, 2009 at 9:29 am
Many thanks for the great photographic and historical blog on Bedford Village, a special place carefully maintained through the combined efforts of the Town of Bedford, the Bedford Historical Society and the Historic District Review Commission. You are a great neighbor.
Richard Farrell, Chair, Historic District Review Commission.
Posted by: Richard Farrell | May 3rd, 2009 at 2:50 pm
great pics. never been to Bedford but now i've had a glimpse. what camera do you use? hope it's light weight and auto focus.
Posted by: JK | May 4th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
This is great, and reminds me somewhat of my current hometown of Allentown NJ. The main difference is that Bedford seems to have adopted a consistent black and white theme to their buildings! But its very cute. I am especially impressed by the large amount of Greek Revival buildings in the town. So very New England in many ways.
Posted by: Penny Otte | May 17th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
I grew up in Bedford in the '60s. As close to Norman Rockwell as you can get. Very lucky indeed
Posted by: Ted | February 27th, 2010 at 6:33 pm