Just north of I-84 and just east of the Hudson lie the two largest watersheds in Dutchess County, those of Fishkill Creek and Wappinger Creek. Like other Hudson Valley locations, IBM brought thousands of living-wage jobs to Wappingers Falls, Fishkill, and Hopewell. Unbeknownst to most, these areas boast interesting attractions and a thriving cultural scene.
Having no city to play in, East Fishkill’s IBMers and their neighbors poured their love into enhancing village and suburban life.
The mill in Wappingers Falls was the largest printworks in the country in the latter half of the 19th century, while Hopewell Junction was the place where three major railroads came together.
Today, neighbors romp and listen to band concerts in the pretty parks, come together around everything from cheering for the kids and helping the burdened to community yard sales, festivals, and parades. They avidly support top-notch community theater in Wappingers Falls; sustainable agriculture at Fishkill Farms, where you can purchase local eats year-round at the farm store; and a triple handful of varied fine cuisines.
Route 9 between Fishkill and Wappingers Falls is a shopping mecca; big-box places alternate with indie offerings that survive here because they do their unique things well. Flea market fans will find happy hunting at the Dutchess Marketplace, a repurposed mall with 100,000 square feet of indoor vendor space and an outdoor market every weekend through December.
There’s Bowdoin Park on the banks of the Hudson, with its award-winning, handicapped-accessible playground. There’s the Dutchess Rail Trail, a paved and tree-lined 13 miles with Hopewell Junction’s restored depot on one end and the Walkway Over the Hudson at the other; trail fans rave about its thoughtful construction and pleasant views.
Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers has long been the home of the Hudson Valley Renegades baseball team. Collegiate talent from NFL pre-season camps also gives it their best, on the state-of-the-art turf.
The Grinnell Library in Wappingers Falls is the sixth oldest in the US, and within it you’ll find special collections including a unique display of bird taxidermy (ever see an actual passenger pigeon?) and the John R. Ferris Civil War collection, all in a funky 1887 building that’s a quirky mix of British and Swiss architecture.
The Van Wyck Homestead in Fishkill, used as officers’ quarters during the Revolution, has been lovingly renovated, as has Hopewell Junction’s historic train depot, now a railway museum featuring a diorama of the depot in its glory days with working lights that visitors can operate.
In Wappingers Falls, Ground Hog Coffee is known for blueberry pancakes, French toast, and peanut butter muffins paired nicely with their ambrosial cuppa.
In Fishkill, check out Leo’s, a Hudson Valley-based chain offering top-notch classic Old World Italian, or Il Barilotto Enoteca for an updated take in a casual-chic atmosphere.
It’s still a great place for high-tech industry. IBM stuck around into the third millennium, and sold their East Fishkill semiconductor plant to GlobalFoundries, retaining most of those living-wage jobs for smart folks.
This article appears in Fall/Winter 2016.
