User talk:Ann Fanizzi

HISTORY OF THE TILLY FOSTER FARM
The present day "Tilly Foster Farm" has a long history, acquiring this name but only recently. The land and one of the buildings, "The Homestead", was originally the property of Rundle Bloomer, a local dairy farmer. The Bloomers owned the land from 1901 until 1943 when Edward Benedict purchased it. Together with his wife, Elena Duke (nee Amaducci) and six daughters, the Benedicts became a fixture of Brewster, although they divided their time between Westchester and Putnam Counties.

Upon the advice of Dr. Herman Kohl, a close family friend and confidante, Edward Benedict not only purchased what first became known as The Benedict Farm on Rte 312 in the Town of Southeast, but more than 1,000 acres of surrounding countryside and established other farms on Root Avenue and the surrounding area. The original Tilly Foster Farm was located on John Simpson Road which is presently occupied by Centennial Golf Course. The small houses along the road were for the workmen on the farm and can be seen to this present day.

The Benedicts also owned the property which is now Brewster Highlands and along Pugsley Road, adjacent to the Farm. For a period of time until the late 1960's, Edward Benedict was engaged in the lucrative dairy business. In 1943, soon after purchasing what became known as Benedict Dairy Farms, Mr. Benedict hired S. Arvid Swenson, a builder and former horse breeder in his native Sweden, as his farm manager.

Barns and sheds on either side of Rte 312 were constructed to house the herds and the lower level of what is now "The Lodge" housed the cow stalls. Mr. Swenson supervised the building of two 100-capacity dairy barns and creamery, the white barns, as well as acquiring the prize pure bred dairy herd. Restoring and modernizing the existing buildings was on-going as well as building The Cottage in 1947, which then became Arvid Swenson's family home until his retirement in 1962.

Milk from the Benedict's prize dairy herd was shipped by tanker truck to the Mitchell Dairy in Bridgeport, Ct. Later a local milk bottling plant was constructed by Dellwood Milk Company located in Yonkers which purchased its milk from the Benedict Dairy Farms. This plant can be seen at the juncture of Rte 6 and Rte 312, housing Enviro Waste, Inc.

However, as milk production in New York State diminished and the financial returns no longer sufficient, Mr. Benedict then embarked on breeding thoroughbred horses. Soon the Benedict Farm and the horses became the talk of the town and of thoroughbred enthusiasts in Kentucky. Mr. Benedict hired Tony DeNoia, who still lives on the Farm, to manage the birthing of these pedigree foals. One of the Benedict horses, starting fast from the gate, however placed fifth in The Kentucky Derby. (Diane, one of the Benedict daughters, continues her father's legacy of managing horses through an organization that provides sanctuary for abused and ill horses out West). Sonny Werblin, purchased one of the Benedict horses in Saratoga Springs but later became better known as the owner of Madison Square Garden and of the Jets, signing Joe Namath to the team.

In 1962, when Arvid Swenson retired, Nevo "John" Gaudelli, a master Italian craftsman, became the new manager of the Benedict Farm and also had overall supervision of the other farms in the area. He and Mr. Benedict went about constructing and renovating the structures that can be seen at the present Tilly Foster Farm. Mr. Benedict became President of the New York State Thoroughbred Horses Association. As benefiting his position, The Lodge was designed and constructed by John Gaudelli, as an event space for hosting Association members, public officials, conferences, dinners and glittering receptions. Responding to Mr. Benedict's query as to the nature of the Gaudelli's construction efforts, he replied, "No Rhyme or Reason," And so it remained until recently, when it was renamed, "The Lodge."

Housing was also provided. The Cottage at the end of the road, surrounded by fields, a pond and trees, was enlarged and renovated. And across from "The Lodge", The Cantina originally a horse stable and farm office, was similarly renovated, providing friends of the Benedict children and guests with incomparable great rooms replete with fireplace, bar, bedrooms on the second floor, commodious bathrooms and even a jacuzzi and sauna on the first floor.

But times changed. And with the death of Edward Benedict, the fortunes of the family and its endeavors declined. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the entire Benedict land holdings were sold; including the last parcel, which with a change of a shingle from Benedict Farm became known as Tilly Foster Farm. This 199-acre tract of land and the potential for claims on its future by developers became the catalyst for galvanizing residents toward a campaign to preserve the Farm. It galvanized retired educator and resident of Southeast, Ann Fanizzi, who upon reading a real estate advisement by a Cold Spring Real Estate agent, Robert McCaffrey in the New York Times Real Estate Section one Sunday afternoon, determined that this last Benedict holding would not meet the same fate as that on John Simpson Road. She notified Legislator Vinnie Tamagna from Cold Spring who immediately set out to inform open space preservation organizations, Open Space Institute and Trust for Public Land of the impending sale and thus commenced the approximately two year campaign to preserve Tilly Foster Farm. Led by the Putnam County Coalition to Preserve Open Space which Fanizzi founded and hundreds of supporters, the "Save Tilly Foster Farm" campaign fired the imagination of resident and spurred political will of public officials. Green and white signs depicting a horse and rider designed by Maria Brecht, sprouted along country roads, on lawns and residents besieged officials with telephone calls, letters and signed petitions.

Riding the wave of open space enthusiasm, then County Executive Robert J. Bondi negotiated an agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection, employing water quality East of Hudson Funds. Providentially, Tilly Foster Farm bordered the waters of the Middle Branch Reservoir and thus not only did the funds protect an iconic agricultural and historic area but also protected the waters of New York City. In 2002, after tedious months of negotiation, County Executive Bondi affixed his signature to the purchase of the 199 acres for $3.9 million and thus Tilly Foster Farm became Putnam County's first open space acquisition.

After numerous fits and starts and after laborious work by the Tilly Foster Advisory Committee and failed efforts at Requests for Proposals to manage the Farm, it continues to be owned by the County. However, in 2008, County Executive Bondi proposed a lease arrangement buttressed by the promise by an anonymous donor. Together with a support letter by the Tilly Foster Advisory Committee and the assurance of the donation, the Putnam County legislature agreed to a short-term trial with the Society for the Preservation of Putnam County Antiquities and Greenways and George Whipple, to manage the property and provide a collection of rare and endangered early American farm animals; educational programs and public events, with the goal of financial sustainability within three years and most importantly, that the Farm would be open and free to the public. Satisfied with his stewardship of 150 days, in 2009, the County entered into a 40-year lease agreement with the Society, with a five-year mutual withdrawal clause.

The Farm continues to be a work in flux with the Society determining to relinquish the lease and divest itself of the animals at the five-year point, January 31, 2014. As of this date, County Execuitve Odell has convened meetings encouraging public input to fashion the future from that which has been bequeath to us. However, the mission remains: appreciation for our agricultural, cultural and historical past inculcating in present and future generations those values that made the Farm the icon that it is today.

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO: Dagmar Swanson, daughter of Farm Manager, Arvid Swenson, who provided much of the material about the Benedict's early efforts at dairy farming; Sherri Gaudelli, wife of Farm Manager, John Gaudelli; who shared her memories of her husband's work and relationship with Edward Benedict and Ann Fanizzi, Chair, Putnam County Coalition to Preserve Open Space who throughout the years has remained committed to Tilly Foster Farm. I would appreciate any additional information or amendment to this article. Numerous articles appearing in the New York Journal News and Putnam Courier on Tilly Foster Farm, its past and present history are available online.