Mahwenawasigh Chapter NSDAR First Endeavors

During the winter of 1894, a Poughkeepsie, New York Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was organized and called Mahwenawasigh, the original name given by the Indians to the Wappingers Creek:

Mah-we-na-wa-sigh signifying in the Indian tongue 'great body of foaming water'.

On April 30, 1897 - the 3^rd anniversary of the Mahwenawasigh Chapter - Regent Mrs. Atwater had signed papers for the 93^rd member. During the first few years, chapter meetings were held in members' homes, and as attendance grew, in the Armory, or in the Chapel of the Poughkeepsie Reformed Church. About this time, Mrs. Atwater, discovered a valuable historic building standing empty on Main Street in the City of Poughkeepsie. Mrs. Atwater found, by looking up old records, that this building was the official residence of Governor Clinton at one time. The Clinton House was built in 1767. This 1767 time period has since been disputed.

Click Here to read the famous letter that started the DAR 



Click Here to read about New York State's First Governor Return to Mahwenawasigh Chapter NSDAR Home Page