For the first time since 1907 the Fort Decker Museum of History is having a new cedar shingle roof installed on it. After two years of fundraising, planning, design and a competitive bidding process, Duraframe of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania is now tearing off the 1974 asphalt shingle roof and replacing it with a more historically correct cedar roof. In addition, new flashings will be installed around the chimneys. In the spring, masonry repair work will be done along the roof line and the base of the building. The masonry contract, also the result of a competitive bidding process, will be completed by John Anderson of Cresco, Pennsylvania.

The project is being funded by several grants including a major award from the Society of Colonial Wars of the State of New Jersey, a grant from New York State obtained through the offices of Senator John Bonacic, the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway (through the efforts of the City of Port Jervis, New York) and donations by members of the Society and the public at large. Other partners on the project include Luhr's Tru-Value Hardware of Milford, Pennsylvania, Fellenzer Engineering of Middletown, New York and Grey Towers National Historic Landmark in Milford, Pennsylvania.

Fort Decker is the oldest building within the city limits of Port Jervis. It has a long and colorful history including its partial destruction in July 1779, by British Tories and Mohawk Indians during a raid in the American War for Independence. It was also used as a hotel by the Delaware and Hudson Canal's engineers and laborers when the waterway was under construction in the 1820s. The building was acquired by the Society in 1970 and has been used for a wide range of educational purposes since then. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For further information regarding the project and its progress please go to the Society's web page at minisink.org/roof_project.html

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Photograph Courtesy Minisink Valley Historical Society Employees of Duraframe of Stroudsburg install new cedar shingles on the roof of the Fort Decker Museum of History in Port Jervis, New York. (high resolution file size - 888 kb)

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