MAHOPAC – A 165-pound section of the Great Chain that defended America during the American Revolution brought history to life for Mahopac school children recently when representatives of Boscobel in Cold Spring and Friends of Sterling Forest visited the Austin Road Elementary School.
Thanks to the efforts of 5th grade teacher Mary Jean Cerbini, children learned that George Washington was appointed in 1775 by the Continental Congress to fortify the Hudson River especially around West Point against possible British attacks.
Historians tell us that Washington undertook the mission to defend the area by arranging for the construction of Redoubts 5, 6 and 7 at Constitution Island with the most impressive defense mechanism being the Great Chain.
Constructed in 1778 and created from forged iron links supported by floating logs, the chain weighing 65 tons was stretched across the Hudson’s narrow and winding point in April of 1778 and anchored on the west side of the Hudson at West Point and to Constitution Island in Philipstown on the eastern side.
The Great Chain kept West Point safe and prevented the British from making their way further north up the Hudson.
The chain remained in place until 1782 when portions were melted down at the West Point Foundry for other uses.
Cerbini thanked the district’s administration in addition to Boscobel for allowing her to help bring American history to life.
Lisa DiMarzo, Boscobel’s Museum educator and Doc Bayne, environmental educator at Sterling Forest State Park and president of the Friends of Sterling Forest, accompanied the chain to Mahopac.
DiMarzo said she was thrilled to be in Mahopac “allowing our future generation to experience the Great Chain first hand. We are bringing history to life for these boys and girls. The children may have read about the Great Chain in history books but today’s lesson is something they will always remember by seeing and touching the chain that is part of our country’s proud history.”
Bayne called it “critical that we teach history to our kids. This chain cut the Revolutionary War in half.”
Two 10-year-old fifth graders were in awe when viewing the chain firsthand.
Emily Cleary called the chain “cool. This is so amazing being able to touch a piece of history that shaped the American Revolution.”
Mike Paolicelli agreed. “The Great Chain is a history lesson that I will never forget because the chain visited our school.”
