The Gatehouse

The Gatehouse The Gatehouse Museum & Learning Center preserves the legacy of the F.F. Proctor Gatehouse in Highland Mills, NY. In 1973, the U.S.

During the turn of the twentieth century, many wealthy people saw Woodbury as a desirable location to build pastoral estates. Among the factors that made it an attractive location included its scenic placement in the Hudson Highlands, its proximity to New York City, and convenient transportation via the Erie Railroad. Among the rich and famous who settled here was Frederick Freeman Proctor who ear

ned the title of the “Dean of Vaudeville”– devoting more than 50 years to the theatrical world. Owning more than fifty theaters along the East Coast, Proctor pioneered the technique of “continuous vaudeville” which involved bracketing silent film screenings with live entertainment from the form’s heyday. In 1912, Proctor built his estate, Proctoria, on 1142 acres of land in Central Valley. He constructed five large homes, various barns, and “The Gatehouse” which marked the impressive entrance to the estate. Following Proctor's death in 1929, the estate was put up for sale. It was acquired by the United States Military Academy (West Point) shortly after WWII. All the buildings, except the Gatehouse and small Carriage House directly behind, were destroyed so the lands could be used for military and parachute maneuvers. Government deeded the Gatehouse to the Town of Woodbury to be used for youth activities. Until the 1990s, the Parks Commission used the Gatehouse for small group activities and the Boy Scouts used The Carriage House. However, budget restraints made it impossible for the Parks Commission to make major renovations to the building and the fate of The Gatehouse was unclear. In 1996, the Woodbury Town Board crafted an agreement by which the complex would be renovated. The Woodbury Historical Society, which needed additional space, and the Boy Scouts, who needed meeting rooms, worked jointly to achieve this goal. WHS currently uses The Gatehouse for additional exhibit space along with the Woodbury Community Association. Likewise, the Boy Scouts use The Carriage House for their troop meetings. In 2005, renovations of the building’s structure and interior were completed and the Gatehouse was officially opened to the public. Seven years later, the last restoration items were completed with the repainting of the Iron Gates and mounting of the restored early 20th-century lantern which went missing from the structure long ago. The Gatehouse Museum and Learning Center activities began in 2005 as a committee of the Woodbury Historical Society. This committee documented the building’s renovation for historical preservation and visitor information in an inaugural Gatehouse photo album. Part of the renovations included the installation of the Remembrance Garden, an outdoor patio of commemorative inscribed bricks that have greatly enhanced the landscape of this historic location in Woodbury. Today, The Gatehouse Museum & Learning Center maintains summer exhibits and public events partnering with organizations such as the Woodbury Public Library.

The Gatehouse Committee wanted to again thank everyone who came out yesterday. It was a lovely season opening. We will b...
05/04/2026

The Gatehouse Committee wanted to again thank everyone who came out yesterday. It was a lovely season opening.
We will be posting dates of when the The Gatehouse will be open to the public to come and browse our current exhibit featuring kitchenware from the early 1900s.
We look forward to seeing you.

Thank you to everyone who joined us on this beautiful (and windy) day! We are excited to welcome the Town of Woodbury’s ...
05/03/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us on this beautiful (and windy) day! We are excited to welcome the Town of Woodbury’s first historic marker in more than ten years. A huge thank you to Cub Scout Pack 148 - Monroe-Woodbury Area for an amazing flag raising ceremony as well as the honor of having Dorothy Morris attend. Most of all, a huge thank you to the William G. Pomeroy Foundation for donating the grant to make this historic sign a reality!

A final reminder to join us for our newest historic marker dedication tomorrow, May 3rd at 1:00 PM!
05/02/2026

A final reminder to join us for our newest historic marker dedication tomorrow, May 3rd at 1:00 PM!

The time is almost upon us! Don’t forget to join us for our special dedication this coming Sunday, May 3rd at 1:00 PM!
04/30/2026

The time is almost upon us! Don’t forget to join us for our special dedication this coming Sunday, May 3rd at 1:00 PM!

Due to predicted rain on Saturday, we have made a decision to postpone our F.F. Proctor marker dedication one week to Su...
04/23/2026

Due to predicted rain on Saturday, we have made a decision to postpone our F.F. Proctor marker dedication one week to Sunday, May 3rd at 1:00 PM. We apologize for this inconvenience, and hope that the weather holds out next weekend for all of you to still join us! Thank you for your understanding.

We are one week away from the unveiling of Woodbury’s first historic marker in more than ten years! Join us in this cele...
04/18/2026

We are one week away from the unveiling of Woodbury’s first historic marker in more than ten years! Join us in this celebration on Saturday, April 25th at 1:00 PM!

Thank you Photo News! We look forward to seeing you on the 25th.
04/17/2026

Thank you Photo News! We look forward to seeing you on the 25th.

On Saturday, April 25, at 1:00 p.m., the Woodbury Historical Society and Gatehouse Historic Site and Learning Center invite the community to join them in a publ...

02/14/2026

WOODBURY HISTORICAL SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIPS NOW AVAILABLE FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

Applications for the Kirk Memorial Scholarship and the Galberd Memorial Scholarship for Nursing/other health related fields are now available, sponsored by the Woodbury Historical Society of Highland Mills, NY. The Kirk Memorial Scholarship is an annual award for a graduating senior attending Monroe-Woodbury, Cornwall, Burke High Schools, or who is home-schooled. It honors Margaret S . and Adam Kirk, educators and community leaders well known in the Woodbury area for over fifty years. Margaret was a founding member of the Woodbury Historical Society and served for decades prior within the leadership of the Rushmore Memorial Library as an advocate of education and promoting local history. Both Margaret and Adam had wide-ranging talents and interests and were lifelong "learners" to the truest sense. Applicants must be a Woodbury resident planning to attend a college or technical school to pursue a career in the sciences, history, or the arts. One to two letters of recommendation, a one-page essay describing the student's interests, and details about school/community volunteer involvements demonstrating leadership, compassion, and altruism are required. Applications and supporting documentation can be found at woodburyhistoricalsociety.org. Hard copies are available at both Woodbury Public Library branches in Central Valley and Highland Mills, as well at the Cornwall Library and Historical Society building located at 543 Route 32 in Highland Mills. Completed applications can be submitted no later than March 28, 2026 to school's guidance office or Woodbury Historical Society, PO Box 30, Highland Mills, NY, 10930.

The Galberd Memorial Scholarship honors Constance and Herman Galberd, long-time residents of Central Valley both dedicated to serving the community. They were members of the Woodbury Historical
Society for many years and served as officers/trustees. Herman served on the Monroe-Woodbury Central School District Board at the time of its early expansion and Constance was a Registered Nurse at Cornwall Hospital. They both were long-time members of the Woodbury Ambulance Corps. This scholarship will be awarded to a current or former graduating senior who lives in the Town of Woodbury and plans to attend a college, technical school, or nursing school to pursue a career in nursing and/or health related fields. Students interested in applying should contact their school Guidance Department, or the Woodbury Historical Society at 845-928-6770, 845-928-6740, or email at [email protected]. Applications are also available at both Woodbury Public Library branches in Central Valley and Highland Mills. The application should include a detailed resume, a short summary of the student's intended use of the scholarship, recommendation letters, and a transcript accompanied by the form on the reverse, signed by parent or guardian releasing information to the scholarship committee. The applicant should also include a brief statement showing evidence of strong commitment in:

1. Achievement in the sciences and/or health care

2. Service to school and/or community demonstrating compassion and altruism, as well as integrity, excellence, and/or leadership

3. Intellectual curiosity and creativity.

Interviews will be held before determining the award recipient. The amount of the scholarship is determined by the scholarship committee and may vary from year to year. All applicants will be notified of the results, and the scholarship will be awarded at the high school academic award ceremony (if applicable). A completed application for the Galberd Scholarship must be submitted to the school guidance office by the date specified by the school (or, if necessary, to the Woodbury Historical Society no later than March 28, 2026).

12/15/2025
What an amazing final open house of 2025 at the Gatehouse.  So many people came out to sample an array of delicious home...
11/15/2025

What an amazing final open house of 2025 at the Gatehouse. So many people came out to sample an array of delicious homemade treats, sip some hot apple cider and enjoy the festivities of Callahan Christmas.
It wouldn't be a true Callahan gathering without some actual Callahans and they did not disappoint us. It was such a pleasure to meet the Callahan crew and show them where their family grew up. We loved hearing the stories from Sherry as well.
Dottie was also in attendance and was so happy to see the Gatehouse fully decorated and bustling for the holidays.
Thank you to everyone who came out and who donated to our pantry. We filled the stairs and items are safely at the pantry.
A special thank you to the Gatehouse Committee and everyone who made this season a success. We look forward to seeing you all in 2026.

Address

224 Smith Clove Road
Highland Mills, NY
10930

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