About "Friends of Belden House"

About us

The “Friends of the Belden House” began as an advocacy group for rescuing the 18thcentury homestead of the Belden family in Carmel, NY, to be recognized as a building with historic importance as well as significant architectural qualities and aesthetic value. In 2006, we were successful when NYC-DEP, which controls the property where the Belden house is located, agreed to spend $2.9 million restoring the building to its original exterior. Unfortunately, this never occurred. 

Now in 2023, “The Friends of Belden House” has entered a new phase in the efforts to preserve and restore the 263-year-old “Grand Lady” of Putnam County. Our reason for urgency is NYC-DEP 2023 plan is to tear down this building. Our 4-step plan to stop this tragedy is:

1) Preservation: The Belden House has been identified by NYS Parks Recreation & Historic Preservation as a historic building and qualifies this structure and its associated farm buildings as eligible to be on the State and National Historic registries. “Friends”, with the support of both Carmel Town and Putnam County officials, will file with both NYS and the National registry to have the Belden House placed on both registries. 

2) Restoration: Our group is determined to have NYC-DEP keep its commitment of restoring the Belden House to its original exterior. We will continue to secure ongoing community support through petitions, letters to newspapers, attending town and county board meetings speaking out on this travesty. Most importantly, we will continue meeting with town and county officials requesting their support in restoring this magnificent historic gem. 

3) Education: The environmental and cultural history of the Belden family and their home will be made available to the public in various forms. This will be accomplished through the support of both the Carmel and Putnam County historians with printed literature, online and onsite exhibits as well as project kits for K-12 students.

4) Exhibit: The Belden House should become an onsite exhibit, where all the public can view the inside and outside of this gothic mansion. Everyone should have the opportunity to step back in time and appreciate this property that in its time was one of the four most valuable pieces of land in the town of Carmel.