The Purdy Homestead on Quaker Ridge Road

The article highlights the Purdy homestead on Quaker Ridge Road in Cortlandt, featured during the 18th Annual Croton Arboretum Garden Tour. The 23-acre estate showcases the deep historical roots of the Purdy family, who settled in the region in 1735.

The Purdy family has significant connections to local and regional history. Jacob Purdy served in the Westchester Militia from 1775 through the Revolutionary War. His White Plains residence reportedly served as "General George Washington's headquarters in 1778 (and possibly in 1776, during the Battle of White Plains)."

In Cortlandt, Quaker preacher William Purdy purchased land south of the Croton River from the Van Cortlandts in 1800. Family tradition suggests a single-story red farmhouse on Cliffdale Farm was built by a Purdy relative as early as 1735. William Purdy rebuilt a covered wooden bridge over the Croton River in 1830 at personal expense, providing access to the Quaker meeting house. The current Quaker Bridge, described as "one of the oldest bridges in Westchester," stands as a tribute to his civic contributions.

The home featured on the garden tour was constructed in 1895 by Frederick Purdy.