History Surrounding Us. .

Most have been introduced to the Federalist Papers during the course of their education. Basically a series of Op-Ed pieces arguing the pros and cons of a strong federal government, states rights, the balance between democracy and republican governance and the like. All of which largely set the tone for the US Constitution enacted in 1787.

But you don't really ponder that the people responsible for such thoughts, articles, political movements, and ultimately the state and the form of government we have today were residing here in Westchester, in Manhattan and etc. We forget that the city of New York was the US Capitol for several years. We forget that Alexander Hamilton had a role in what became the NYSE, the NY Post and what is today Citibank.

Likewise here in Westchester we have John Jay. Granted he was not fighting the English along side Washington, but he was very much engaged in the diplomatic process during that period. He worked with the both the French and the English and for that matter the Spanish court. He went on to become the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and later the Governor of New York.

The man grew up in Rye and after a long career of public service retired to a farm in Katonah, which he lived on for roughly another 28 years. He started at one end of the county and ended at the other.

We drive by both of these properties routinely focused on the road ahead of us, not considering what we have just passed. His farm in Katonah and the property he grew up on in Rye are just two other pieces of property like so many others. They are nicer, larger pieces of property. They are estates, which are fairly common in Westchester. And like so many others, we simply pass by them. In this case we drive by them, ignoring them, and in a sense kill them.

We need to know what is near us. We need to know what we can reach out to and hold on to. To know they are there allows for them to become another option for us for us to hold on to. They offer us different perspectives. The provide alternatives to the road immediately ahead of us, and likewise by recognizing those possibilities, we allow them to live. With that recognition, these properties, the buildings found on them, and those who inhabited them are given life again. We come to share the land, the dwellings, and the road.

To be continued. . .