Along the eastern shore of the Hudson River, atop of the Van Wyck Ridge is the "estates region of the Town of Wappinger".

It encompasses the estates of Obercreek, Elmhurst, Edge Hill, Henry Suydam, William Crosby, and Carnwath that were developed between 1740 and 1940.

Also included are two 18th century riverfront commercial structures, the Lent / Waldron Store and Stone House at Farmer's Landing.

Henry Suydam started a successful tea business before retiring some time in his 40s to turn to his private interests of writing and art.

He sold the Carnwath Manor and the rest of the 200 acre estate after the Civil War to General George Barclay and then built Obercreek.

The Frances Reese Cultural Center and the Carnwath Chapel at this time are the only buildings on site that are open to the public, with the sports museum, a gift shop, small video viewing room, and snack bar.

Since the Willis' were related to the Mesiers the estate was passed down to them and finally to the Reese family who presented plans for development of the property to the Town in 2007.

[7] Today a portion of the estate is open to the public every weekend with an organic market and for events associated with the newly restored Obercreek CSA.

According to several residents whose houses are located on the former Crosby Estate, a disgruntled servant was left in charge of the mansion while the family was away in Europe.

By 1750, his descendant, William Verplanck, was given a portion of the patent and constructed a stone homestead and mill in Fishkill Plains on the Sprout Creek.

Today it is a private residence on Old Troy Road and can be seen from the MTA Hudson Line railroad A few rods below the house are the remains of an old dock...Before the waterfront at New Hamburgh was improved it was the landing place for passengers and freight consigned to Wappingers Falls.

…The advent of the Hudson River Railroad and larger and more commodious steamboats made it unprofitable to continue the business and it was abandoned as a freighting place.