Around 1755, John G. Brinckerhoff and his bride, Marie Teboss, purchased the land that the Historic Site sits on today. The original structure consisted of one room that included a kitchen with a large fireplace and beehive oven, and a single upper room. When their family grew, the house and farm were conveyed to John G.’s brother George G. Brinckerhoff and his wife Elizabeth Wilcox. In 1775, John G, and George G. were given commissions as Lieutenants in the Dutchess County Militia. Both men were promoted to Captain and were active with the Committee of Safety of the Rombout Precinct. After the war in 1785, George G. built a 4 room addition to the original east wing of the house. This is the largest section of the house and contains a spacious center hall, graced by elegant architectural features. The small paned windows, enclosed staircases, Dutch doors and wrought iron “HL” hinges were characteristics of the 18th century. A small shed was added around the same time.

When Captain George G. Brinckerhoff died in 1812 Captain John G. Brinckerhoff took possession of the farm again, and in 1814 sold it to Thom Pudney who christened it “ARCADIA”. The Pudney family would remain at “ARCADIA” for the next 60 years. In 1830 the family added the western wing of Ihe house featuring a small summer kitchen complete with fireplace, crane, and a brick oven, with an iron door cast at Fishkill Landing. It also contains an indoor stone cistern in the basement to collect rain water for cooking, washing, and drinking.

In 1875, Edward Palen purchased “ARCADIA” from Thom Pudney’s son Jacob and changed the character of the by focusing on dairy production. It was very convenient to ship their milk to market in York City via the rail line 2 miles away at Hopewell Junction. Edward Palen’s son James H. would eventually take over the farm. The Palen farm produced lumber from the trees grown on the farm. As James Palen’s health began to fail, the farm was sold to Banton Moore in 1926, who rented it to Gene Satterlee. Gene continued dairy farming for many years until a fire burned the cow barn in 1970.

The house and were sold one last time in 1974 to local developer Gustav Fink, who after many unsuccessful attempts to sell the property, gave the house and 3 acres to the East Fishkill Historical Society. At this time the old farmhouse was in a poor state of repair. Through the continuing efforts of the East Fishkill Historical Society’s members and many years of fundraising and restoration, the Brinckerhoff-Pudney-Palen House has once again been resurrected to its original condition and stands as a fine example of an original Hudson Valley Dutch farmhouse.