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Gatehouse Historic Site in Central Valley opens May 20

| 15 May 2012 | 02:17
    Gatehouse Historic Site in Central Valley opens May 20
    F.F. Procter, a well-known theater owner and vaudeville impressario of the early 20th century, built a grand estate in Central Valley in 1912 which he called, ìProctoria - Land of the Skies.î He lived there until his death in 1929. All that is left of the dozens of residences and outbuildings that originally comprised his country home are the Gatehouse and Carriage House on Smith Clove Road. Come to the Gatehouse Open House on Sunday, May 20, to learn about Procter and the story of Proctoria in a bygone era. Photo provided by teh Woodbury Histrocial Society.
    F.F. Procter, a well-known theater owner and vaudeville impressario of the early 20th century, built a grand estate in Central Valley in 1912 which he called, ìProctoria - Land of the Skies.î He lived there until his death in 1929. All that is left of the dozens of residences and outbuildings that originally comprised his country home are the Gatehouse and Carriage House on Smith Clove Road. Come to the Gatehouse Open House on Sunday, May 20, to learn about Procter and the story of Proctoria in a bygone era. Photo provided by teh Woodbury Histrocial Society.

CENTRAL VALLEY — The year-long centennial celebration of the Gatehouse Historic Site and Learning Center in Central Valley will continue with an open house on Sunday, May 20, from 2 to 4 p.m.

In addition to a variety of exhibits about the history of Woodbury, there will be a special presentation at 3 p.m. by Dorothy Helbing Morris, chair of the Gatehouse Committee, on the history of “Proctoria,” and the life of F.F. Proctor, a vaudeville impresario, who built the estate which bore that name.

Numerous exhibits about Proctor and Proctoria will be on display, along with a video presentation created by Bob Sandstrom of Central Valley showing the many buildings which comprised Proctoria after it was built in 1912. All but two were razed more than 50 years ago when the U.S. Military Academy at West Point seized the land, so these visuals are the only modern reference available of this once beautiful 1,142-acre estate.

The public is invited to the open house; there is no charge. Refreshments will be served.

The Gatehouse is located at 224 Smith Clove Road (at Pine Hill Road) in Central Valley. For more information, e-mail dorothymorris0@gmail.com or go to www.woodburyhistoricalsociety.org.