Cunnett House on Hackett Hill

REMINISCENCES OF

CUNNETT HOUSE ON HACKETT HILL

AND THE HACKETT FAMILY

1868-1969

Charlotte Cunneen Hacket

The house was built by my husband's father John Hackett, whom I have never known. There are encircling trees planted by him, now fully grown, which give restful, needed shade on this sultry June day when not a leaf stirs. Sitting on the veranda, looking out over the broad fields, I wonder, "Where were you when you dreamed a dream fulfilled in this well-planned home to which you and your mother came a hundred years ago, a friendly tall white house upon a man-made rock constructed hill?"

Hackett Hill is located on the north side of the East Park road a mile east of the Village of Hyde Park. Crossing Crum Elbow Creek bridge, glancing to the right, you see the white house with green blinds smiling down at you over the heart shaped lawn, encircled by a drive leading to the road. John Hackett, the builder of Curmett House, was born June 8, 1845, and came to America with his parents in 1852, settling at Hyde Park. Frank Hasbrouck who was a close friend and associate of Mr. Hackett, wrote in his The County of Dutchess, published in 1909, the following paragraphs:

"His early education was such as he could obtain in the district schools of his town, and he also attended Eastman Business College from which he graduated in 1863. He then read law in the office of Charles Brundage at Poughkeepsie and was admitted to the bar in 1866, and at once began the practice of his profession. He served as Assistant District Attorney in 1873 under the late James L. Williams; in 1884 he was elected District Attorney of Dutchess County and was re-elected to that office in 1887. In 1876 the firm of Hackett and Williams was formed and was continued until the death of Mr. Williams in 1908.

"The career of John Hackett offers to young lawyers an example worthy of their emulation. With absolutely no advantages of birth, position, wealth or education to start with, he is a self-made, better still a self-educated man, and is living example of the opportunities presented in this country to all youths possessed of character and intelligence, who are willing to work, to study and to persevere.

"As District Attorney, Mr. Hackett was an unrelenting prosecutor of crime and did his full duty always, conscientiously, without regard to any consideration of policy or of popularity. He lives in the summer time at his home in Hyde Park; he passes his winters at his residence in Poughkeepsie."

If only the old house could speak, what tales it could tell me, the last of the eight who have lived here and called the place home. Today, John Hackett, I place a blossom on your grave and thanked you for the happiness you have brought to us down through the years.

Now to the story of those years: In 1866 John Hackett walked along the East Park Road, and looked over the level fields surrounded by woods. As a little boy tagging at his father's heels, he had followed this path. His father had been employed by the "River People", as Hyde Parkers called the owners of the estates along the river. Now as a man he walked alone and dreamed of a home for his mother and himself. The "River People" were kind to him, little dreaming that he and his sons would handle their law business in their law office at 226 Union Street, Poughkeepsie.

John Hackett's mother died in 1879, and on April 10th 1880 he married Harriet Vanderbilt Mulford, daughter of Hon. David Mulford and Cynthia Van Benschoten. 'Their sons, John Mulford Hackett was born in 1881, Henry Heckett in 1885. Upon the death of her husband David Mulford, Mrs. Hackett's mother, Cynthia Mulford joined the family circle. Also a brother who was in the Immigration Bureau in New York City was a frequent visitor.

John Mulford Hackett graduated from Riverview Military Academy in Poughkeepsie, attended Columbia University and received a diploma from Albany Law School. He wished to be a linguist but necessity made him a lawyer. He was an excellent attorney but teaching languages in some college should have been his life work. His desk across from me is still covered with books, grammers, bibles in all languages and many dialects. John Hackett enjoyed a large Law practice, but he found time to represent his community as an Assemblyman in Albany for many years. The construction of the Mid-Hudson Bridge was authorized by the Legislature in 1923, the bill having been introduced in the Senate by J. Griswold Webb and in the Assembly by John M. Hackett. His vacations were spent in the north woods where we had a camp. His life there, his friends, reading were a joy to John, and charm brought him a host of friends. His living made the world a happier place to be. Henry Hackett was a: quiet, retiring person. He was an efficient lawyer, and loved his work. He attended Riverview Academy and prepared for Harvard at Exter. He was a vestryman of St. James Church, Hyde Park and served as vice-president of the Dutchess County Historical Society, representing the Town of Hyde Park for several terms. He spent his life happily with a few close friends, his books, loving to tramp the woods with his dogs at his heels, to visit historical spots, or to return to Harvard for a game or a class reunion. I have never had a brother, but no brother could have been kinder or closer to me than Henry Hackett.

No other family has lived at Cunnett House since it was built.

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A word about the house, — a few memories.

If it could talk, the house would tell you that it cost fifteen hundred dollars to build, and it would be surprised to know that I now pay eighteen hundred dollars just to give it a coat of paint. Originally it had eight rooms, was heated by wood stoves, lighted by oil lamps and candles; the water came from a pump on the back porch. Of course, there was no inside water or plumbing. Later bathrooms, fireplaces, more bedrooms, and two kitchens were added, still later gaslight and finally electricity.

Evenings as the family talked, listened to the tooting of the horns on the tugboats in the river, heard the tinkle of sleigh bells in the winter or the hum of the little people of the night in summer, or smelled the scent of clover, they must have mentioned the passing of the first bridge bill. How surprised they would have been to know that young John, playing with his toys before being sent to bed, would pass the Mid-Hudson Bridge bill.

I remember a huge fire engine drawn by four white horses brought by Uncle Thomas to Henry and John one Christmas. It was the most fascinating toy that two boys could own. I gave it to the Newburgh Museum some ten years ago.

The family circle, like all such joys, was broken. Harriet Mulford Hackett died in 1926; her mother preceded her in 1901; her husband ten years earlier in 1916. Henry Hackett died in 1951.

John and I moved here then, though down through the years since our marriage in 1919, we had been more often here than in our home in Poughkeepsie. Three years later, my husband died in 1954.

Looking back, it seems to me that we have been a tiny League of Nations composed of Irish, Dutch, French, English. On my side, we reach Cornwall, England, and the landing of Priscilla and John Alden, whose daughter Ruth married a Bass. Both my father and John's came from Ireland. (My father had been told that the streets in America were paved with gold.)

That there was a Dutch branch is shown by a portrait of the wife of Dominie Vas which hangs in our parlor. A brass plate on the frame says, "Groorje Vas"

We were also as a group a study in religious tolerance and understanding, as we attended Presbyterian, Episcopal, Dutch Reformed and Catholic churches. Never in any diaries have I found anything indicating friction. Apparantly all went to church where they desired and agreed to differ, resolved to love, and united to serve their God, community and country.

Service, I believe, is the rent we pay for the space we occupy upon earth — according to Dr. Grenfell. We have made mistakes, of course. All human beings do, but in deep humility, may I say that I believe that we have tried to make the world abetter place because we have lived.

I hope that the house has never heard anything to confute what I have written.

As I sit here writing, I can see out the window the ancient dinner hell swinging from a limb on the tall elm, half smothered by a, trumpet vine now in bloom. The bell rope is still dangling, and I seem to hear the bell ringing to call the seven men who worked the farm to their noonday meal. These men worked the fields, cared for the cattle, horses and grazing sheep, fed the chickens, ducks and geese.

I look toward the bay window on the other side of the room, envision the fields banked high with snow when the Blizzard of 1888 raged. My husband then seven watched his father, astride a huge, powerful horse — probably a draft horse hired at a Poughkeepsie livery — struggle through those fields. The snow was over the fence tops. Saddlebags filled with food and necessities swayed as the horse lunged forward. At last, horse and rider reached the house and John rushed to the door to greet his father. How relieved the latter must have been to find his family safe and well.

I dream as I sit here alone of John and Henry playing with that huge fire engine and other toys, running up and down the long flight of stairs, their gay laughter echoeing through the high-ceilinged rooms. The family was hospitable. At twilight I can hear sleighbells jangling as the teams come up the drive, happy voices as friends and relatives were welcomed at the door. In summer, as the moon arched the sky above the treetops, there would be visiting on the verandas as the smell of clover and new-cut hay drifted up from the fields, and the little people of the night sang their songs. Usually the guests spent the night. A twelve mile drive was enough for a team, and none desired to drive back to Poughkeepsie, LaGrangeville, Pleasant Valley, Freedom Plains or other nearby towns that we reach today so quickly by car.

During the years there have been trips to New York City for shopping and the theatre, first by boat, then by train, now by automobile in two and a half hours. The years have been gracious here at Hyde Park without tensions, unrest, turmoil, uncertainties, confusion, that mark 1969.

My interest in Girl Scouting and scouting in general have led me to will the house and to give now the other forty-four acres to Scouts. There have been two dedicatory programs, one on May 4, 1969, arranged by the Council, chairmanned by Warren A. Davis at the request of John Aldeborgh, president. On this occasion the house was christened Cunnett House corn-

bining my father's name Cunneen, with Hackett. A placque was placed by the front door reading: In memory of John Cunneen 1848-1907, John Hackett 1845-1916, John Mulford Hackett 1881-1954, Henry Thomas Hackett 1885-1951. Also flagpoles were erected on the grounds to carry the American flag, the Scout flag and Hackett Hill's own flag. These were in memory of Cynthia Van Benschoten (1859-1926), Charlotte Stenson Bass (1837-1906), and Elizabeth Bass Cunneen (1853-1917). Many dignitaries invited by the Boy Scouts and also Scout officials were here. They asked me to welcome the guests.

On September 7th 1969 I was hostess to my friends and both the Boy Scouts the Girl Scouts assisted me along with some twenty friends to commemorate the 100th birthday of Hackett Hill. A large number of friends, neighbors, especially those interested in Scouting gathered on the front lawn to participate in this important birthday. The Reverand Gordon S. Kidd, Rector of St. James Church Hyde Park from 1949 to 1966 presented the invocation and the Reverand Vincent P. Scanlon, Pastor of Regina Coeli R. C. Church of Hyde Park offered a prayer for the youth of today. Led by Robert Hinz, a teacher in the Elementary School of Hyde Park, the audience sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and "America the Beautiful." The Reverand Emmett B. Waite, minister for sixteen years of the Hyde Park Dutch Reformed Church which was built in 1789 offered a prayer for oncoming youth. Mrs. Gary Giedd brought greetings from the Girl Scouts, John E. Aldeborgh brought all good wishes from the Council and the Boy Scouts. Karen Costello, a Girl Scout, Patricia C. Ready, Director of Girl Scouts of Dutchess County also spoke briefly.

During -the program I saw Congressman Hamilton Fish in the audiance and I asked him to come forward so I could greet him officially. As I requested, Mr. Fish who is on the Boy Scout Council, very graciously spoke to us. George A. Darlington, retired Executive of the local Boy Scouts of America told what his fifty-two years of scouting had meant to him arid what he had seen scouting do for boys, and Randolf Kohl, Deputy Regent Scout Executive brought greetings from the National organization. Deborah Lee Foster one of our eager and active girl scouts was introduced, and Paul G. Bucklin, Director of Boy Scouts in the County, made a splendid statement of his reasons for entering scouting as a life work. In closing the meeting, I thanked everyone for coming and spoke of yesterday, today and tomorrow in the Scout World, and something of what I had learned in my fifty-five years in scouting. I called upon the Reverand Paul H. Rutgers, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Poughkeepsie who made a heart-warming and impressive prayer for Cunnett House and Hackett Hill, closing with the Benediction.

There will be a room in Cunnett House when I no longer live here used as a small museum, and, if you visit the Scouts here, do glance at the albums, old dauguerreotypes, portraits, samplers; two old scrapbooks cover-

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ing around a hundred years made by Harriet Mulford Hackett. I think you will be interested in them.

May God bless this very small spot in a large world and may the young people who are trained here go down through the years able to face life's problems, competent to carry responsibilities, desirous of doing tasks well, having in their hearts a love of freedom, of country and a faith in God. If they have learned these lessons, our America will be a worthwhile land, worthy of all those who have lived and died for her, a land able to take a stand in the World for righteousness and peace.

Editor's Note: Charlotte Cunneen Hacket, author of the article about Cunnett House on Hackett Hill is an active member of Dutchess County Historical Society and serves as Vice-President representing the Town of Hyde Park. A graduate of Buffalo University, she did post graduate work at the University of Arizona, and was admitted to the Bar in 1914. Mrs. Hackett's many interests and activities in the community include the Presbyterian Church in Poughkeepsie, the American Red Cross, the Children's Horne, the D. A. R. Chapter of Rhinebeck, the Poughkeepsie Garden Club. In 1968 the Dutchess County Professional and Business Women's Club named her "Citizen of the Year". She has been very important in Scouting in Dutchess County since 1914 and has received many honors and citations for her work of promotion of both Boy and Girl Scouting. Mrs. Hackett's generous gift of land and her provision for the future use of Cunneen House on Hackett for Dutchess County Scouts is another mark of her continuing good deeds in our neighborhood.

The Common Council of the City of Poughkeepsie do ordain as follows:

The owner or owners of any goose or geese shall forfit for the use of said city, for every goose that shall be at large in any of the streets or highways of said city, the sum of ten cents, to be sued for in the name of the city of Poughkeepsie, and the marshall is hereby authorized to impound in the city pound, any and all .%-uch geese so found at large. Passed May 25, 1874.