
196 Blaisdell Road
Orangeburg, NY 10962
(845) 398-1302
Probably constructed around the time of the Revolutionary War by Isaac DePew, the house is a sandstone and frame homestead that was maintained by the original family until 1881. After this time it was owned by the Blauvelt and Morrell families and by 1929 the homestead and farm was purchased by the State of New York as part of the Rockland Psychiatric Hospital’s 638 acre facility. It was acquired by the Town of Orangetown and by 2004 the museum began renovation. It is a typical Dutch sandstone house with a gambrel roof, the structure was given a modern addition in the 1930’s that will serve the museum with additional exhibition space. A wheelchair access ramp has been constructed with a side porch, new windows and a new roof have been added. The electrical and plumbing systems have been upgraded, the exterior painted and some professional landscaping has been done. Some of the museum’s collections that had been housed in the Salyer House are now located at the DePew House. This includes art, artifacts, photographs, books and works on paper. The DePew House opened in the Fall of 2007 with an exhibition specifically designed for the South Orangetown School District called Who Was Here? an historic journey into the lives of four individuals from Orangetown's past. Student artwork based on this exhibition was displayed at the Tappan Library in February of 2008. Upcoming exhibitions at the DePew House are: Spring 2009, The Hudson, A Maritime Memoir, and Spring 2010, Our Lives in Their Hands: Fire, Police & Emergency Services of Orangetown.