The house is maintained as a chapter house where the business of the chapter takes place. The chapter operated a free public library for the city of Hudson, Hudson’s only library, at the house until 1959, when the Hudson Area Library Association was formed. The chapter donated 10,000 of its volumes to the city’s new library and since then it has maintained an historical and genealogical library at the house. The chapter library is operated by member volunteers, and it is open to the public during summer hours and by appointment, and always free of charge. The house is known locally as “Hudson's museum” because it is there that artifacts, documents, fine art, textiles, and an eclectic array of local lore are maintained and exhibited as the chapter’s treasured collections. 

 

The chapter house has been the epicenter of Hudson’s educational programs and events that for many years were offered in the DAR theater there. When the theater was removed, late in the 1960s, chapter programs continued to be offered in the house and backyard. Most chapter programs are free of charge and open to the public. 

 

This year, in September 2021, the chapter was thrilled to learn it was awarded the Department of the Interior (DOI), National Park Service (NPS), Save America's Treasures (SAT) Grant. The award, one of twenty-five nationwide, one of only three in the State of New York, is an historic preservation initiative of the DOI to identify and preserve America’s Treasures. The award was made to help with costs of replacing the slate roof, repair and restoration of the upper masonry, parapets, and interior masonry structures, and most of the ancient infrastructure of the house that have yielded to time. Members of the Hendrick Hudson Chapter are engaged in the most comprehensive capital campaign in its one hundred twenty-five-year history. 

 

Since the award, and appointment of the Historic 1811 Robert Jenkins House Campaign Committee, the chapter is more invested than ever in exciting the community and beyond about the treasure that is the historic Robert Jenkins House, and the status of the project to repair and restore it, not envisioned since Frances Chester White Hartley, granddaughter of Robert Jenkins and benefactor of the chapter, bought the house for a chapter house. The beautiful house, that she had renovated and updated in 1900, was her enduring gift to the Hendrick Hudson Chapter, NSDAR, for the people of the community to benefit from, for generations to come. 

 

Historical Designations: 

 

Funding:

• Private member support
• Hartley Trust
• Private and Public funding sources

Physical Condition: 

• Property: In Danger

Tourism: 

• Open to the Public - Yes
• Family Friendly - Yes
• Hours/Days - Saturdays or Sundays 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Summer and Fall, and by Appointment
• Admission Fees - None

Promotional Materials Available: 

• Brochures - Yes
• Calendar of Events - Yes

The house is maintained as a chapter house where routine business of the chapter takes place. The house is the site of the city's first and only free public library that was managed by DAR members until the new city library was established in 1959. The DAR chapter continues to maintain an historical and genealogical library at the house, open to the public and free of charge. The house is known as Hudson's Museum where the historic collections including artifacts, documents and fine art are exhibited. The DAR chapter hosts events and activities at the house open to the public and usually free of charge. The DAR chapter was awarded the Department of the Interior, National Park Service Save America's Treasures award September 2021 for the repair and restoration of the slate roof, upper masonry and aging infrastructure of the house. Chapter members are engaged in the most comprehensive historic preservation campaign to raise funds to meet or exceed Award requirements since the house was purchased as a chapter house more than a century ago.