"Carnwath Farms"/"Rives Hill"

 residence, country house

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Mr. William Henry Willis built the Carnwath Manor Home in 1850 and called it "Carnwath Farms". The name is derived from a Manor home set in Scotland Property is located on Wheeler Hill Road.

Just after the ending of the Civil War General Barclay purchased the estate from Mr Willis. In 1870 Mr Francis Robert Rives who married the daughter of General Barclay purchased "Carnwath Farms". He added the east wing to the manor house servant's quarters and the large rear kitchen. The formal Georgian appearance was changed to a less formal look which was preferred by late 19th century architects. In 1873, the Carriage House was built modeled after French architecture to hold Mr Rives' horses. Years later his son, Reginald Rives, built the finest stable of harness and saddle horses in the county.

In the early 1900's, the property then known as "Rives Hill" was purchased by a New York attorney named Untermeyer who was famous for defending William Boss Tweed. In 1925. the Order of the Brothers of Hermits purchased the property and built the Chapel in 1950 and the dormitory building in 1958. In 1980, the property was sold to Greystone Programs Inc. The Town of Wappinger purchased the property in 2000 and renamed it to its original name Carnwath Farms in 2003.