Bush Lyon Homestead

The Bush Lyon Homestead is one of a few remaining pre-revolutionary homes located in Westchester and Fairfield counties. The Homestead is located at 479 King Street in Port Chester, New York. The Homestead and the 22-acre public park that surrounds it, were acquired by the Village of Port Chester in 1925. Since that time, the Homestead has been maintained by the Village of Port Chester and the residents who make up its Park Commission.

Prior to the property being acquired by the Village of Port Chester, it was a working farm that at one point consisted of more than 200 acres. Today, Lyon Park is used by Village residents for picnics, concerts, baseball games, and many other activities. The Homestead was used for years as the meeting place of the Port Chester Historical Society. James and Dolores Charles, who worked as caretakers for the property from 1981 until 2009, were the last people to live in the house. When Mr. Charles passed away, the Homestead was closed to the public and ceased to be a focal point for the community.

With the Village celebrating the 150th year since its incorporation, there has been renewed interest in the history of the Village. This website has been created to both educate and motivate others who may be interested in relaunching the Port Chester Historical Society and re-opening the Bush Lyon Homestead to the public.

Since the rapid spread of colonial communities throughout Long Island Sound in the early to mid-1600's, the area currently known as Port Chester has been in constant flux. In the earliest days, the mouth of Byram River was part of Greenwich, Connecticut. The earliest settlers in what would become the Town of Rye and City of Rye were Greenwich colonialists looking for economic opportunities where the Byram River and Blind Brook respectively meet Long Island Sound. The rivers were needed to power mills. Sawpits were built at the mouth of the Byram River. The boards created in these pits were used to build anything made of wood, especially the ships that were used to transport goods throughout the region. These mills were so well-known among local settlers that from the mid-1600s until it was incorporated as a Village in 1868, the area we know as Port Chester was called The Sawpits.

Over time, large farms gave way to estates that around 100 years ago were subdivided into the small properties we see today. Sail boats gave way to steam ships that around 100 years ago yielded to train lines and highways. Small businesses gave way to large big box stores, online shopping, and restaurants.

The Bush Lyon Homestead has survived all of these changes by evolving along with the times. What started as a small outpost for colonialists looking to farm the dry land that is relatively close to the Byram River became a small family home in the early 1700's. As the family expanded, so did the house. By around 1750, the house probably looked a lot like it does today. The early stone fireplaces and the bark on the timbers in attic a test to the quality of the work done by early builders.