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Maj. John Andre Monument
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Maj. John Andre Monument, January 2007
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| Location: | 42 Andre Hill, Tappan, New York |
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| Area: | less than one acre |
| Built: | 1780 |
| Architect: | Taseman & Co.; Olmstead, B.S. |
| Governing body: | Local |
| NRHP Reference#: | 06001001[1] |
| Added to NRHP: | November 8, 2006 |
Major John Andre Monument, also known as the Site of Major John Andre's Hanging and Burial, is a historic monument located at Tappan in Rockland County, New York. It is a gray granite monument erected in 1879 and approximately 40 inches square and 58 inches tall. It is located in a circular plot approximately 31 feet in diameter. It commemorates the site of the hanging of Major John André on October 2, 1780.[2]
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.[1]
The monument was constructed in 1879 by millionaire Cyrus W. Field. It was dedicated on October 2, 1879
The monument caused quite a bit of controversy when it was first constructed. It was vandalized, and then had its base blown up twice by persons who felt that a monument to a British spy was an insult to Washington. For this reason a bronze tablet was later added to commemorate the bravery of Washington and his generals during a crisis of the war.
There were three attempts to destroy the monument: On February 22, 1882, the monument was hacked and mutilated by George Hendrix, of New York City. On March 30, 1882 at 11:35 PM, an explosion slightly damaged the monument. On November 3, 1885 at 10:00 PM, an explosion destroyed the iron fence surrounding the monument and toppled the monument.
After Cyrus Field's death, his heirs refused to pay the taxes of $6.38 on the property. Rockland County put the land up for auction in 1903. There were no bidders and Rockland County assumed ownership of the monument and land.