NEW DATE. From Schoolhouse to Service: The History of the Drake School Building
Sun, Mar 29
|Wappinger VFW Post 5913
From 1866 schoolhouse to a proud VFW home, discover the rich history of this landmark building. Celebrate VFW Post 5913’s 80th anniversary with a special presentation by the Wappinger Historical Society and the Post.
Time & Location
Mar 29, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Wappinger VFW Post 5913, 8 School Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Guests
About the event
Built in 1866, a two-story brick schoolhouse once stood at the corner of School Street and Roy Avenue in the village of Wappingers Falls. Originally District School No. 1, it later became known the Drake School. Today, the historic building is home to Wappinger VFW Post 5913. As part of the Post’s 80th anniversary celebration, the Wappinger Historical Society and VFW Post 5913 present a program and discussion exploring the building’s rich history—from its origins as a schoolhouse to its present-day role as VFW Post Home. Discover the local history behind this landmark building.
Guest speakers are WHS VP and VFW Post 5913 Auxiliary member Dani Masterson, Town of Wappinger Supervisor, Town Historian and WHS Trustee Joseph Cavaccini, and WHS member and lifetime village resident Christina Contelmo. Her mother attended the Drake School, and Christina grew up in the Village during WWII. She remembers the rationing, the neighborhood routines, and…