The Gatehouse

The Gatehouse The Gatehouse Museum & Learning Center preserves the legacy of the F.F. Proctor Gatehouse in Highland Mills, NY. In 1973, the U.S.

During the turn of the twentieth century, many wealthy people saw Woodbury as a desirable location to build pastoral estates. Among the factors that made it an attractive location included its scenic placement in the Hudson Highlands, its proximity to New York City, and convenient transportation via the Erie Railroad. Among the rich and famous who settled here was Frederick Freeman Proctor who ear

ned the title of the “Dean of Vaudeville”– devoting more than 50 years to the theatrical world. Owning more than fifty theaters along the East Coast, Proctor pioneered the technique of “continuous vaudeville” which involved bracketing silent film screenings with live entertainment from the form’s heyday. In 1912, Proctor built his estate, Proctoria, on 1142 acres of land in Central Valley. He constructed five large homes, various barns, and “The Gatehouse” which marked the impressive entrance to the estate. Following Proctor's death in 1929, the estate was put up for sale. It was acquired by the United States Military Academy (West Point) shortly after WWII. All the buildings, except the Gatehouse and small Carriage House directly behind, were destroyed so the lands could be used for military and parachute maneuvers. Government deeded the Gatehouse to the Town of Woodbury to be used for youth activities. Until the 1990s, the Parks Commission used the Gatehouse for small group activities and the Boy Scouts used The Carriage House. However, budget restraints made it impossible for the Parks Commission to make major renovations to the building and the fate of The Gatehouse was unclear. In 1996, the Woodbury Town Board crafted an agreement by which the complex would be renovated. The Woodbury Historical Society, which needed additional space, and the Boy Scouts, who needed meeting rooms, worked jointly to achieve this goal. WHS currently uses The Gatehouse for additional exhibit space along with the Woodbury Community Association. Likewise, the Boy Scouts use The Carriage House for their troop meetings. In 2005, renovations of the building’s structure and interior were completed and the Gatehouse was officially opened to the public. Seven years later, the last restoration items were completed with the repainting of the Iron Gates and mounting of the restored early 20th-century lantern which went missing from the structure long ago. The Gatehouse Museum and Learning Center activities began in 2005 as a committee of the Woodbury Historical Society. This committee documented the building’s renovation for historical preservation and visitor information in an inaugural Gatehouse photo album. Part of the renovations included the installation of the Remembrance Garden, an outdoor patio of commemorative inscribed bricks that have greatly enhanced the landscape of this historic location in Woodbury. Today, The Gatehouse Museum & Learning Center maintains summer exhibits and public events partnering with organizations such as the Woodbury Public Library.

Summer may be in its final few weeks, but the Gatehouse Committee is still busy showcasing our displays. We will be open...
08/13/2026

Summer may be in its final few weeks, but the Gatehouse Committee is still busy showcasing our displays. We will be open this Sunday August 16th from 2-4. Come stop by we would love to see you.

The Wild Water field day event through the Woodbury Public Library hosted at the Gatehouse was a success! The weather wa...
07/26/2026

The Wild Water field day event through the Woodbury Public Library hosted at the Gatehouse was a success! The weather was perfect for an afternoon of sun and fun! The water balloons were flying, the water blaster wars were in full effect and the bouncy houses kept the kids busy. It was exactly what childhood looks like. The laughter and happiness was evident on the faces of the kids and parents alike.
Thank you to the Town of Woodbury PD for the traffic control. You are appreciated!

What a pleasure it was to once again host the Woodbury Public Library for the summer reading kickoff foam blast party! W...
06/30/2026

What a pleasure it was to once again host the Woodbury Public Library for the summer reading kickoff foam blast party! We asked the community to come out and they did in full force!
Thank you to cub scout pack 248 for all your help and support! We had DJ Vernick cranking tunes- thank you! Special thanks to the Woodbury PD for the assist with the traffic control and B&G for making the grounds ready to party! The kids knew the assignment- they came ready and did not disappoint!

06/30/2026
The Gatehouse is so excited to be again pairing with the library for it's summer reading activities! We have a several a...
06/25/2026

The Gatehouse is so excited to be again pairing with the library for it's summer reading activities! We have a several activities planned this summer. We can't wait to see you all!

☀️📚 Summer Reading Kickoff Party! 📚☀️

The countdown is on! Join us on Monday, July 29 at 6:00 PM at the Gate House as we celebrate the start of our Summer Reading Program with an evening of fun, laughter, and community.

Planning to join in the excitement? Be sure to dress for the occasion! Some of our activities may get a little splashy, so we recommend wearing clothes that can get wet or bringing a bathing suit. For your comfort, you're also welcome to bring your own lawn chair and settle in for a relaxing evening with friends and neighbors.

Haven't registered for Summer Reading 2026 yet? Don't worry! We'll have registration available at the kickoff party, making it easy to sign up and start your summer reading adventure.

Whether you're a longtime participant or joining us for the first time, we can't wait to celebrate with you and kick off a season filled with great books, exciting programs, and endless opportunities to discover something new.

See you at the Gate House on July 29! 🎉📖

Register here: https://woodburypubliclibrary.libcal.com/event/16971416

So many wonderful community events this weekend including the community yard sale/car show at the MW middle school spons...
06/12/2026

So many wonderful community events this weekend including the community yard sale/car show at the MW middle school sponsored by the Lions club and the Summer kickoff/ Library summer reading registration event at the Rez! While you are out, don't forget to stop by and see the current exhibit of vintage kitchen items at The Gatehouse! It's our monthy open house and we'd love to see you. Saturday 6/13 12-3.

The Gatehouse will have it's monthly open house on Saturday June 13th from 12-3. While you are out enjoy the day and the...
06/05/2026

The Gatehouse will have it's monthly open house on Saturday June 13th from 12-3. While you are out enjoy the day and the local community events being held please stop by and see us too! We are excited to share the antique kitchenware exhibit we have on display. We look forward to see you next Saturday.

The Gatehouse Committee wanted to again thank everyone who came out yesterday. It was a lovely season opening. We will b...
05/04/2026

The Gatehouse Committee wanted to again thank everyone who came out yesterday. It was a lovely season opening.
We will be posting dates of when the The Gatehouse will be open to the public to come and browse our current exhibit featuring kitchenware from the early 1900s.
We look forward to seeing you.

Thank you to everyone who joined us on this beautiful (and windy) day! We are excited to welcome the Town of Woodbury’s ...
05/03/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us on this beautiful (and windy) day! We are excited to welcome the Town of Woodbury’s first historic marker in more than ten years. A huge thank you to Cub Scout Pack 148 - Monroe-Woodbury Area for an amazing flag raising ceremony as well as the honor of having Dorothy Morris attend. Most of all, a huge thank you to the William G. Pomeroy Foundation for donating the grant to make this historic sign a reality!

A final reminder to join us for our newest historic marker dedication tomorrow, May 3rd at 1:00 PM!
05/02/2026

A final reminder to join us for our newest historic marker dedication tomorrow, May 3rd at 1:00 PM!

Address

224 Smith Clove Road
Highland Mills, NY
10930

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