IBM Buys South Road Tract for Park
123-Acre Farm of Millers Taken for Recreation Site

Plans for the development of a recreational center to be made available to employes of the South road munitions plant of the International Business Machines corporation were made public today by Fred M. Farwell, resident manager of the local industrial organization.

The IBM has taken title to the 123-acre farm property of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore H. Miller, south of Kingwood park, and east of the present 215-acre holdings of the company.

To Build Clubhouse

Speaking on behalf of Thomas J. Watson, president of the Business Machine corporation, Mr. Farwell said that the munitions firm plans eventually to construct a clubhouse on the new property, and proved a golf course; tennis courts and other facilities for recreation. Intimating that war conditions would not permit full development of the property for the time being, Mr. Farwell said, however, that it may be possible to establish picnic grounds on the premises and arrange outings during the summer.

"It is Mr. Watson's plan," said Mr. Farwell, "to do everything possible to provide and maintain recreational facilities for IBM employes. With a war on, it may not be possible for him to do as much as he would like for the present."

Mr. Farwell said that during periods of normal operation - under the 40-hour-a-week schedule, as at Endicott, N.Y. organization - the IBM has laid great stress on developing recreational programs for its employes.

Ernest I. Hatfield, was the broker who handled the sale of the Miller property to the IBM. The consideration was not mentioned although stamps on the papers of transfer at the county clerk's office indicated a possible price in the neighborhood of $30,000. Mr. Miller, who is works manager of the DeLaval Separator company, was represented in the transaction by John B. Grubb and Thomas F. Purcell, while the IBM was represented by John E. McHugh Jr. of the New York office of the company, and John B. Van De Water of this city.

The Millers have owned the property for 30 years. Their home is in Kingwood park, north of the farm property. The new IBM tract has been known as Cedar Hill farm, a large part of it now being used for agricultural purposes.

The eight-room house on the property, at one time occupied by the Millers, has been rented by tenant farmers from time to time. Present occupants were said to have received notice to vacate the premises by July 1. The Casperkill creek runs through the property at its easternmost end, and the tract, with frontage on South road, directly south of Kingwood park, has a depth toward the east of about one mile. There are some magnificent high points on the property, from which a view as far as Newburgh may be had.

In connection with development of the IBM industrial acreage, entirely west of the South road, the Common Council last night deliberated upon the company's request for extension of the city water service to the employes' houses which are to be constructed on the property.

While contracts were proposed by the Board of Public Works for construction of a water line and supplying water on a basis where there would be no capital outlay on the part of the city, the council decided that it would review all the contracts before granting permission for the extension of the water main service.

Alderman Kirchner raised the chief question over the advisability of the city's giving its consent for the extension of the water service to the housing project until the council reviewed the contracts.

On behalf of the company, Mr. Farwell presented a new plan for a deal with the city on the use of its water. Under the original plan, the city was eventually to pay for 60 percent of the cost of installation, the municipality to accept is share of the cost through water rentals, although the company is to supply all the capital for the project. The company turned down the 60-40 proposition because the municipality did not agree to extend services to each of the new houses, but only to the South road property. Under the new plan, the company assumes the original outlay for complete service to all houses, but asks that it be reimbursed 80 percent of the capital expenditures in the form of water rentals.

The city is to receive revenue at double rates inasmuch as the property is outside the city limits. The obligation is to become fully paid in 15 years.

IBM Buys 300-acre Dickerson Tract;
Housing, Club Extension Projected Land Holdings Now 638 Acres
$40,000 Price Indicated in Deal

Extension of its Country club holdings and Post-war housing for its employes are planned by the International Business Machines corporation with its acquisition yesterday of the 300-acre Dickerson property in the South road, it was learned today.

A deed conveying the additional recreational and housing tract to the IBM from Frank S. and Madeline Dickerson was filed in the County Clerk's office yesterday afternoon. Stamps on the papers [transferring the property to the IBM indicated that the purchase price was in the neighborhood of $40,000.

Ronald F. Bogle represented the Dickersons in the transactions. John B. Van De Water was attorney to the IBM; and Ernest I. Hatfield local real estate dealer handled the [deal.]

The [extensive] rear portion of the property is contiguous to the former Miller Farm of 123 acres, which was acquired by the IBM in 1942. This tract which was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Theodore H. Miller, and adjoins Kingwood Park property, was acquired for recreational purposes. A nine-hole golf course on this tract will be opened for the use of IBM employes next month.

Plans Outlined

From Charles A. Kirk, vice president in charge of manufacturing, it was learned today that the additional 300-acre tract was acquired by the firm "for extension of the Country club and Post-war housing for IBM employes."

Mr. Kirk also made known that the plans are being advanced for the enlargement of the nine-hole golf course to an 18 hole course, all within the 123-acres tract acquired from the Millers.

With regard to housing for the IBM employes, Mr. Kirk confined his report at this time to the fact that IBM does contemplate the post-war construction of dwellings for its employes on the acreage which was acquired yesterday.

By the purchase of the Dickerson property, the IBM has increased its total holdings in the Poughkeepsie area to 638 acres. The original purchase was that of the former 215-acre Rudco property, bordering along the South road and Rudco road, and containing the corporation's Plant No. 4. With the purchase of the 123-acre Miller farm to the southeast of the Rudco tract, and yesterday's acquisition of the Dickerson place, the total holdings have been increased to 638 acres.

All of the recreational and post-war housing property of the IBM is east of the Post road, the Plant No. 4 site being entirely on the west side of the main highway and extending to the river.

While the greater p art of the north line of the Dickerson property adjoins the former Miller farm, the South road frontage of the additional IBM parcel is not contiguous to the former Miller property. Smaller South road frontage properties in between the former Miller property and the Dickerson property are those of the VanScoy's, the Daley's and the Mullaly property, the last-named in an unimproved lot.

Tract of Historical Interest

Held by the Dickerson's since 1911, the new IBM tract reflects local historic interest. The 12-room Dickerson home is of Dutch Colonial design and was believed built in the early part of the 18th century. An early occupant, if not the original owner of the home, was Abraham Fort, who with his wife, Jane, was know to have occupied the premises in 1778.

The Casperkill, originally known as Jan Casper's Kill, flows through the property.

The stone house contains two Dutch colonial fireplaces.

The transferring papers indicate that the larger portion of the Dickerson property was that of the former Fort farm, and that the smaller portion was held in the Westervelt family. Excepted in yesterday's transfer was a 25-acre strip of property on the east end of the premises which was acquired by the LeRoy family.

Much of the acreage acquired by the IBM in wooded.

Under the terms of the deal, the Dickersons are allowed to retain possession of the house for six months with no rental charged them.

Mr. Dickerson said that he is looking for a new home. Mr. and Mrs. Dickerson have two children. Their son, Captain Frank S. Jr., is stationed with a field artillery unit in Kansas. Their daughter, Virginia, a graduate of Vassar college, is director of laboratories at the Peter Brent Brigham hospital at Boston.

Earlier plans for the development of the IBM recreational holdings called for the construction of tennis courts and a baseball diamond as well as a clubhouse.

Robert Trent Jones, New York architect who specializes in preparing plans for and developing golf courses, was engaged to direct and supervise the construction of the nine-hole course.

Thomas J. Watson, president of the IBM, [ - - - - - - -personal interest] in the development of the recreational facilities.

The acquisition of the additional recreational and housing tract by the IBM reinforced Mr. Watson's previous public statements indicating the permanency of the plans for Plant No. 4 of the corporation. Last February, Mr. Watson, in a general statement concerning all IBM plants, said that "we have begun to train our Poughkeepsie people for the manufacture of peacetime products."

Then in general comment with regard to IBM's plans, he added:

"New things will be coming out of laboratories which we are planning on to keep our people employed after the Allied victory."

Joseph P. Foley, president of the board of governors of the IBM Country club, confirmed reports that the official opening of the nine-hole golf course is planned for next month. "We are not sure of the opening date," he said. Foley is an employe of the production control division of the plant.

This Indenture made the 31st Day of May Nineteen Hundred and forty-four between FRANK SECOR DICKERSON and MADELEINE L. H. DICKERSON, his WIFE, both of South Road, Town of Poughkeepsie, New York parties of the first part,

-- and --

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, a domestic corporation having its place of business at 590 Madison Avenue, New York City, New York Party of the second part . . . . . . . .

All that TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND with the buildings thereon situate in the TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE, County of Dutchess and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: -

Beginning at a point in the center of CASPER'S KILL or CREEK adjoining lands formerly of Edward T. HULST said point being forty three feet distant . . . . . . . . . . . . . east along the north line of land now or formerly of the estate of Elizabeth KNEVALS and Gullan VerPLANK [sic]. . . . . thence north 52 degrees 45 minutes west to a stone monument set in the ground in the easterly boundary line of lands formerly of Joseph M. BURROUGHS. . . . . . . . . . . containing 222 187/1000 acres more or less

And in addition to all the lands included in the foregoing description all the right, title and interest of the parties of the first part in and to all other adjoining pieces of land, if any, which were conveyed to and vested in Robert Fulton CUTTING by virtue of a certain deed from Frances M. DAVIES to Robert Fulton CUTTING dated 14, 1902 AND recorded in Book 321 of Deeds at Page 51. Together will all the right of way as the same has been laid out and fenced for the benefit of all the land hereby conveyed and each and every parth thereof from the said land westerly over the said CASPAR'S KILL or CREEK and over said adjoining land formerly of Edward T. HULST to the ALBANY Post [sic-Road?], said right of way being over a road or lane about 18 feet wide.

Also all that tract of or parcel of land beginning at a point in the center of CASPER'S KILL or CREEK on the southeasterly side of the herein described premises . . . . . . . . . . . being the same premises convey to Horatio NELSON by Abraham BRINCKERHOFF. . . . . . . .

Excepting and reserving parcel of land conveyed by Frank S. DICKERSON and wife to John J. LeROY. . . . . . beginning . . . . . . . .lands of W. N WETTERAU. . . . . .

CONTAINING 25 Acres of LAND.

The sellers reserving the right to occupy the main house and other outbuildings now used by them for a period of six months from the date of the delivery of this deed, rent free.

Being the same premises conveyed to Frank Secor DICKERSON by May Cecelia NELSON by deed dated March 1, 1911.