Written by M.J. Goff

Assistant to the County Historian

Though Fort Decker is all tucked in for the night by 4 pm during its season, and in off-season is only open sporadically for school groups, something is moving about in the evening, something that turns the motion detectors on at 9pm, and then off at 10pm.  Passersby have seen it, and so has Executive Director, Nancy Conod.  It may be one of the former residents, Sarah Campfield who, according to passed down stories, would walk the length of the first floor, probably with candle in hand, checking that windows and doors were secure.  Though it's the only indication of a spirit in the house, this nightly ritual has been going on for some time, which was until the motion sensors were updated and turned on and off when necessary. 

Homes like these are ripe for tales of ghostly spirits.  Fort Decker has stood for centuries, with little changed and still houses age-old tools, artifacts, and lots and lots of history. The term "fort" in its name does not mean it was a military post, but rather was used as a "fortified structure," a place of refuge in the event of an Indian attack.  Sometime before 1760 by a German immigrant, Frederick Haynes, the home was also used as a trading post and, though he and his family left to live in New Jersey, the structure continued as a safe haven. 

All was quiet until July 20, 1779 when a Mohawk Indian and English loyalist, Joseph Brandt, attacked the Fort, and set it ablaze.  This was the springboard for the the Battle of Minisink, fought two days later on July 22. The Fort's self-guided brings guests past exhibits, stories on panels, drawings of 18th century life, early maps of the Port Jervis area, and the history of the raid by Brandt. One particular drawing shows Brandt approaching a group of school girls. The girls are pictured holding up their aprons to the approaching Mohawk, while nearby lay the body of an adult, probably their teacher, Jeremiah Van Auken, who was reported killed during the attack.  This contradicts the reputation of Brandt as a brutal "monster" since the story goes that Brandt drew the symbol of the Masons on the girls' aprons, with the girls taking it upon themselves to press the drawing onto the boys' shirts; this symbol on their clothing, it's believed, is what spared their young lives.

After the Revolutionary War, Fort Decker enjoyed new life as a hotel during the construction of the Delaware & Hudson Canal, probably housing the workers who came to build the canal.  The tour, that spans three floors, includes spinning wheels, mortar and pestles, artifacts and documents from Colonial and Revolutionary times to when it was used as a hotel.

Fort Decker is a great experience for school groups as the children can "pledge" an oath to the "colonies," see and learn how yarn is woven into clothing, and how the families cooked and lived during these early days of Orange County.  Not only is the site itself a historic gem, but there's also outdoor touring nearby, like the Minisink Battleground, and walking trails that parallel the Delaware River, meander through Port Jervis, and bring one to the spot where New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania meet. 

Executive Director, Nancy Conod, has been at the helm of the Fort since 2009, it's an unpaid position, and she relies on her volunteers to keep the building up and operating.  Her biggest challenge?  Raising funds for a water damaged stone wall, and acquiring more volunteers. Nothing new in the not profit world, but places like Fort Decker are crucial to keep healthy and vital to a community.Says Nancy, "It's a challenge to raise the funding and the volunteers to preserve these historic sites and keep them open to the public. But what better way to show people what life was like in the early years of our nation. In today's world of frozen food, microwave ovens, computers and smart phones, it's difficult to understand what life was like. These buildings are amazing in their construction and durability... how can we not help to preserve them." 

"  I think that the most under-utilized historical resource in Orange County is the collective system of local historical and genealogy societies.  There is a great potential for these groups to help our county's residents strengthen their sense of connection to their local communities.  Schools and youth serving programs would benefit greatly by reaching out to these societies to enhance the learning experience of the youth they serve.  Such a partnership can get youth excited by helping them see that history is always being added to.  Teach the youth about the foundations laid in the past of the communities they live in and help them realize the role they are playing now to be part of the future's "history". "

         Rachel R. Wilson

Director, Orange County Youth Bureau