Historical Society
Leslie Rose, Historian
Neil Crouse, President

About Our Department
e have just launched our own website! Please go to www.woodburyhistoricalsociety.com to learn all about our Town's history, the Historical Society's many Special Events and Special Projects.

The Woodbury Historical Society (WHS) is a nonprofit organization, chartered by the NYS Board of Regents in 1984. The purpose of the Historical Society is to collect and preserve the heritage of the Town of Woodbury. The Society serves as a source of information for those who are interested in our local history.

Frequently Asked Questions
Where are you located?
The Society is located in the historic branch of the Rushmore Memorial Library, located at the corner of Weygant and Route 32, in Highland Mills, NY.  The Rushmore Memorial Library building was built in 1923 by the Charles E. Rushmore family so that the Town could have a public library.  Mr. Rushmore was a prominent and wealthy attorney who worked in NYC and lived in Woodbury — he was one of our first commuters.  He lived from1856 to 1930.  Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota was named for him which is an interesting story in itself, but you will have to contact or visit us to find out more.

Do you have information to help people prepare a family tree?
Even though all vital records (birth and death records) are in the Town Clerk's office, the Historical Society has a complete set of burial records from the Cemetery of the Highlands which is available to the public, subject to statutory restrictions.

Do you accept donations? What can be donated?
Yes, donations are accepted, subject to the approval of the Trustees and based on the Deed of Gift Policy. Generally, documents and memorabilia relating to the Town of Woodbury are gratefully accepted.

Do you have regularly scheduled meetings?
Yes. Meetings are scheduled for the first Saturday of each month and begin at 10:00AM. Information of interest is posted on Channel 22.

Do you have material to help school children with local history reports?
Yes. The local fourth grade Social Studies curriculum includes a section on local history. WHS has developed a program to assist the students compile the information they need for their report.

What is the Proctor Gatehouse and the Gatehouse Committee?
To appreciate the importance of the Gatehouse Committee, a brief history of the building is needed. In the early 1900's, many wealthy people saw Woodbury as a desirable location to build a vacation estate. Among the rich and famous who settled here was F.F. Proctor who earned the title of the “Dean of Vaudeville” and who devoted more than 50 years to the theatrical world. At the height of his career, Proctor owned more than 35 theatres along the east coast. In 1912, Proctor built his estate, Proctoria, on 1142 acres of land in Central Valley. He constructed five large homes, various barns, and “The Gatehouse” which marked the impressive entrance to the estate. Following Proctor's death in 1929, the estate was put up for sale, finally being acquired by the United States Military Academy (West Point). All the buildings, except the Gatehouse and small Carriage House directly behind, were destroyed so the lands could be used for military and parachute maneuvers.

In 1973, the U.S. Government deeded the Gatehouse to the Town of Woodbury to be used for youth activities. Until the 1990's, the Parks Commission used the Gatehouse for small group activities and the Boy Scouts used The Carriage House. However, budget restraints made it impossible for the Parks Commission to make major renovations to the building and the fate of The Gatehouse was unclear.

In 1996, the Woodbury Town Board crafted an agreement by which the complex would be renovated by using only private funds. The Woodbury Historical Society, which was in need of additional space, and the Boy Scouts, who needed meeting rooms, are jointly working to achieve this goal. WHS will use The Gatehouse for a museum and for special children's projects. The Boy Scouts will use The Carriage House for their troop meetings.

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