ANNUAL DINNER AND THS AWARDS 2008
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| Tappantown Historical Society |
It was an invitation to dinner that read "The Tappantown Historical Society begs leave to inform
you that on Friday, February 22, 2008 commencing at six-thirty sharp in the evening there will be
good fellowship and victuals at The Old '76 House" . The approximately 75 attendees were not
disappointed. The evening began with everyone mingling and chatting near the bar or surrounding
areas, while enjoying the “Butler-passed hors d’oeuvres.” The open bar was but a wonderful side
offering. The majority of the ensemble, being of not so younger age, was ready on cue for dinner
and seated themselves without much prodding. With colonial gusto the dinner was served and
mostly devoured by all. The latter part of the evening was then devoted to the presentation of the
achievement awards.
***
Tappantown Historical Society Awards 2008
Our first Achievement Award goes to Joe and Pam Printz for their meticulous and imaginative
renovation and restoration of their 1890 Victorian house on Andre Hill. Their challenge was to add
much needed space yet retain the proportions of the original house. With their architect, Jerry Vis,
they added 1400 sq. ft, enhanced significant details of the original house and maintained a scale
harmonious with the other houses in the neighborhood, several of which are also from the
Victorian period.
To this end, Vis concentrated on maintaining the rhythm of line across the facade of the house by
setting the addition back of the house’s most distinctive feature, its turret. He also extended the
porch across the front, keeping the same roof line and aligning the eccentrically placed windows.
To unify the new and the old elements of the house, details such as the porch trim and railing and
the cedar siding were kept when possible or were matched and copied. French doors, popular in
the Victorian period, were added to open onto the front and back porches. On the back porch, a
pergola, also used often in the Victorian period, links the inside with the outside to create an
outdoor room, which will eventually be covered by wisteria.
The turret roof received special attention. The six shingled segments of the roof are accentuated by
aluminum ribs and topped by its charming tin finial, which was repaired and restored by Matt Delia
at the Tappan Body Shop. (He speculates that the finial may have been originally fashioned there
when it was a blacksmith’s shop in the 19th century.)
When the Printzes bought 16 Andre Hill in 1994, they were looking for an old house with character.
In its new coat of Tyler Taupe and Brilliant white, trimmed and decked out in warm Brazilian
mahogany, this old house has retained its character and acquired a simple elegance that
enhances the entire neighborhood.
The second Achievement Award is presented to Alan and Heidi Boucher. They, too, have given
new life to an old beauty, 34 Oak Tree Rd., the Greek Revival house that abuts Tappan Memorial
Park and faces the DeWint House across the road. It has been known as the Campbell House
and The House by the Tar Barrel Tree (which came down in the 1950s ). There is some evidence
that the original house, the current west wing, dates from the 18th century, and the larger, main
section of the house was added around 1830. The Bouchers purchased it in 2006 from Paul
Melone, and began a prodigious restoration.
Aided by a friend, David Hills, the Bouchers replaced a rear door, rotted beams, sills, and soffits,
and worked some complicated magic on gutters. Damaged siding was replaced, insulation
installed, and the old paint painstakingly scraped off. Marvin six-over-six divided light windows
replaced some windows not specific to the time period so that all windows are six-over-six with the
exception of the eyebrow windows and older ones at the top of the house.
Particular attention went into the repair of the bay window and the front door surround. A gleaming
copper roof replaced the tin roof of the bay window, and the surround was taken apart, flashed with
copper, and 85% new wood replaced the damaged sections.
Much of the Bouchers’ work is unseen, especially the restoration and repair to the interior; the
most apparent feature to passersby is the inspired use of subtle but dramatic color to bring out the
architectural details. Authentic historic colors from California Paints were used: Pitch Pine for the
siding and Jewett White for the trim. A Benjamin Moore Colonial Cranberry on the front door was
chosen to match the red metal roof which Paul Melone had commissioned (and which was
installed by Joel Tozer) several years ago.
It is a delight to round the bend on Oak Tree Rd. and see this beautiful homage to the history of
Tappan. Thank you, Alan and Heidi.
Our final award this evening is the Fellowship Award, given to acknowledge a group or an
individual’s extraordinary service and significant achievements, which have affected the Tappan
historic community. Catherine Dodge is such a person. Tappan’s historic community is not
preserved under glass and does not exist in a vacuum; in its historic heritage and its present
struggles with the pressures of growth and development, it is inextricably linked to the larger town,
the county, the state, and, of course, the nation. We are fortunate to have Catherine working for the
Tappan community in ways that connect us to those larger spheres. Here are just a few of her
activities: Catherine served as Deputy Supervisor under Jack Cassidy; she has been the
Orangetown Director of the Rockland County Conservation Association, and a member of the
Tappan Zee Bridge Task Force. Currently, she is the chair of the Friends of Orangetown Museum
and Archives and the Chair of the Orangetown Parks Development Advisory Committee.
Specifically in Tappan, Catherine helped with Dan Toan’s mapping of historic houses, and has
worked with Superintendent of Parks Richard Rose on developing the Oak Tree Playground and
the Joseph B. Clarke trail. Most recently, Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef thanked
Catherine for her role in having Rockland County placed on a list of historic communities by
Preserve America, a federal program which provides grants for history-related projects.
Catherine’s vitality, common sense, hard work, good humor, and commitment to her community
make her essential to us in our efforts to communicate and achieve our goals.
Thank you, Catherine.
you that on Friday, February 22, 2008 commencing at six-thirty sharp in the evening there will be
good fellowship and victuals at The Old '76 House" . The approximately 75 attendees were not
disappointed. The evening began with everyone mingling and chatting near the bar or surrounding
areas, while enjoying the “Butler-passed hors d’oeuvres.” The open bar was but a wonderful side
offering. The majority of the ensemble, being of not so younger age, was ready on cue for dinner
and seated themselves without much prodding. With colonial gusto the dinner was served and
mostly devoured by all. The latter part of the evening was then devoted to the presentation of the
achievement awards.
***
Tappantown Historical Society Awards 2008
Our first Achievement Award goes to Joe and Pam Printz for their meticulous and imaginative
renovation and restoration of their 1890 Victorian house on Andre Hill. Their challenge was to add
much needed space yet retain the proportions of the original house. With their architect, Jerry Vis,
they added 1400 sq. ft, enhanced significant details of the original house and maintained a scale
harmonious with the other houses in the neighborhood, several of which are also from the
Victorian period.
To this end, Vis concentrated on maintaining the rhythm of line across the facade of the house by
setting the addition back of the house’s most distinctive feature, its turret. He also extended the
porch across the front, keeping the same roof line and aligning the eccentrically placed windows.
To unify the new and the old elements of the house, details such as the porch trim and railing and
the cedar siding were kept when possible or were matched and copied. French doors, popular in
the Victorian period, were added to open onto the front and back porches. On the back porch, a
pergola, also used often in the Victorian period, links the inside with the outside to create an
outdoor room, which will eventually be covered by wisteria.
The turret roof received special attention. The six shingled segments of the roof are accentuated by
aluminum ribs and topped by its charming tin finial, which was repaired and restored by Matt Delia
at the Tappan Body Shop. (He speculates that the finial may have been originally fashioned there
when it was a blacksmith’s shop in the 19th century.)
When the Printzes bought 16 Andre Hill in 1994, they were looking for an old house with character.
In its new coat of Tyler Taupe and Brilliant white, trimmed and decked out in warm Brazilian
mahogany, this old house has retained its character and acquired a simple elegance that
enhances the entire neighborhood.
The second Achievement Award is presented to Alan and Heidi Boucher. They, too, have given
new life to an old beauty, 34 Oak Tree Rd., the Greek Revival house that abuts Tappan Memorial
Park and faces the DeWint House across the road. It has been known as the Campbell House
and The House by the Tar Barrel Tree (which came down in the 1950s ). There is some evidence
that the original house, the current west wing, dates from the 18th century, and the larger, main
section of the house was added around 1830. The Bouchers purchased it in 2006 from Paul
Melone, and began a prodigious restoration.
Aided by a friend, David Hills, the Bouchers replaced a rear door, rotted beams, sills, and soffits,
and worked some complicated magic on gutters. Damaged siding was replaced, insulation
installed, and the old paint painstakingly scraped off. Marvin six-over-six divided light windows
replaced some windows not specific to the time period so that all windows are six-over-six with the
exception of the eyebrow windows and older ones at the top of the house.
Particular attention went into the repair of the bay window and the front door surround. A gleaming
copper roof replaced the tin roof of the bay window, and the surround was taken apart, flashed with
copper, and 85% new wood replaced the damaged sections.
Much of the Bouchers’ work is unseen, especially the restoration and repair to the interior; the
most apparent feature to passersby is the inspired use of subtle but dramatic color to bring out the
architectural details. Authentic historic colors from California Paints were used: Pitch Pine for the
siding and Jewett White for the trim. A Benjamin Moore Colonial Cranberry on the front door was
chosen to match the red metal roof which Paul Melone had commissioned (and which was
installed by Joel Tozer) several years ago.
It is a delight to round the bend on Oak Tree Rd. and see this beautiful homage to the history of
Tappan. Thank you, Alan and Heidi.
Our final award this evening is the Fellowship Award, given to acknowledge a group or an
individual’s extraordinary service and significant achievements, which have affected the Tappan
historic community. Catherine Dodge is such a person. Tappan’s historic community is not
preserved under glass and does not exist in a vacuum; in its historic heritage and its present
struggles with the pressures of growth and development, it is inextricably linked to the larger town,
the county, the state, and, of course, the nation. We are fortunate to have Catherine working for the
Tappan community in ways that connect us to those larger spheres. Here are just a few of her
activities: Catherine served as Deputy Supervisor under Jack Cassidy; she has been the
Orangetown Director of the Rockland County Conservation Association, and a member of the
Tappan Zee Bridge Task Force. Currently, she is the chair of the Friends of Orangetown Museum
and Archives and the Chair of the Orangetown Parks Development Advisory Committee.
Specifically in Tappan, Catherine helped with Dan Toan’s mapping of historic houses, and has
worked with Superintendent of Parks Richard Rose on developing the Oak Tree Playground and
the Joseph B. Clarke trail. Most recently, Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef thanked
Catherine for her role in having Rockland County placed on a list of historic communities by
Preserve America, a federal program which provides grants for history-related projects.
Catherine’s vitality, common sense, hard work, good humor, and commitment to her community
make her essential to us in our efforts to communicate and achieve our goals.
Thank you, Catherine.
