Wappingers Historical Society
Mesier Park and Homestead
P.O. Box 174
Wappingers Falls, New York 12590
edu@wappingershistoricalsociety.org
845-838-1498

The Wappingers Historical Society presents Travel Through Time... The History of the Mesier Family at the Mesier Park and Homestead in the Village of Wappingers Falls.

All local area school 4th Graders are invited to participate in the premier of this local educational program.

Peter Mesier was the son of Pierre Mesier, who was born in Normandy, France. Like other Huguenots, the family left France for Holland during the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and eventually made their home in New Amsterdam. Peter Mesier became a trader and his political sympathies were with the Crown. In 1777, he made a peaceful escape from New York City and bought a large farm with a modest home, and flour mill in the Village of Wappingers, along the creek. Peter Mesier opened a store in a section of his home. Because of his Tory sympathies, some of the people of the Village staged what is now known as the Wappingers Falls Tea Party. On three successive days in May of 1777, mobs of Villagers appeared at his store demanding tea, and refusing to pay the price that he was charging. The crowd grew abusive, and beat he and his wife, along with their slaves, and destroyed the property. In 1795 he purchased a blacksmith shop, and ran it until his death in 1806. Peter's son Matthew took over the home. The family continued to live in the house until it was sold to the Village of Wappingers in 1891 by the heirs of Matthew Mesier.

As the story of the Mesier family unfolds, students will be afforded an opportunity to re-enact, see, touch and hear about local history as it relates to the Revolutionary War, Slavery and Colonial Industry. The presentation includes a tour of the Homestead, and the youngsters will be able to handle artifacts and reproductions. At the end of the presentation, everyone will participate in a hands-on activity.

The presentation is 1 1/2 hours long and the cost is $5.00 per student. Teachers and chaperones are admitted free. The Homestead has a gift shop with reasonably priced items available for sale. Arrangements can be made for the students to eat their lunch at the site. Email edu@wappingershistoricalsociety.org to make a reservation or call 845-838-1498. After a reservation is made, you will receive a confirmation letter, activity sheet and invoice. Payment can be made the day of the presentation. Checks should be made to the Wappingers Historical Society.