research dossier

FRIENDS OF ODELL HOUSE ROCHAMBEAU HEADQUARTERS INC

HARTSDALE, NY · EIN 842517086 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · NTEE A80 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Micro (<$100K) · odellrochambeau.org

revenue

$84K

expenses

$30K

net assets

$156K

employees

—

mission · from form 990

ODELL HOUSE ROCHAMBEAU HEADQUARTERS (OHRH) IS AN ORGANIZATION WHICH WAS FORMED TO WORK WITH THE TOWN OF GREENBURGH, NY, WHICH OWNS THE BUILDING. THE HOUSE IS A NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC HOUSE THAT WAS BUILT IN 1732 WHICH WAS THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMTE DE ROCHAMBEAU, COMMANDER OF THE FRENCH FORCES WHO CAME TO AMERICA TO ASSIST GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON AND THE CONTINENTAL ARMY DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. IT WAS AT THIS SITE THAT THE TWO GENERALS MET FOR SIX WEEKS, SCOUTED THE BRITISH FORCES IN MANHATTAN AND MADE THE DECISION TO MARCH TO YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA. THAT DECISION RESULTED IN THE DECISIVE VICTORY THAT ENDED THE WAR.

profile · synthesized from sources

Friends of Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters is a historical preservation organization dedicated to maintaining and interpreting the Odell House in Hartsdale, NY, a National Register site that served as General Rochambeau’s headquarters during the Revolutionary War. The organization conducts and promotes research into the history of the site, including the lives of the enslaved people who lived and worked there, and seeks to educate the public about its complex colonial and early American past.

named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

Enslaved People at the Odell House Research Project

Research initiative documenting the lives of enslaved individuals on the Odell estate, based on census records, archival research, and regional historical context, with the goal of restoring their stories to public memory.

Historical Interpretation and Education

Programs and publications focused on the Revolutionary War history of the Odell House, including its role as Rochambeau’s headquarters and its significance in the Yorktown campaign.

activities · 5 groups

What they do

Local History Preservation and Education 2 activities
- Develops museum exhibits and educational content on Revolutionary War history
  
  Develops museum exhibits at the Odell House focused on Westchester County’s role in the Revolutionary War, including the planning of the Yorktown campaign by Generals Washington and Rochambeau, and produces films and visual materials to share this history with the public.
- Preserves and provides access to historical artifacts and documents
  
  Facilitates the transfer and preservation of historical materials, including placing over 22 boxes of Odell family documents at the Westchester County Historical Society and coordinating the professional moving and photographic documentation of 18th-century artifacts such as furniture and Native American objects.
Historical and Genealogical Research 1 activity
- Conducts historical research on enslaved people and marginalized communities
  
  Conducts and publishes research on the lives of enslaved people associated with the Odell family and supports broader study of Native Americans, African Americans, women, and children in Westchester County from the Colonial era through the 20th century.
Art Museum Funding and Support 1 activity
- Provides organizational and fundraising support for museum development
  
  Provides fundraising assistance and supports research and exhibit development for the Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters museum in partnership with the Town of Greenburgh.
Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
- Restores and prepares the Odell House for public museum use
  
  Leads the restoration of the Odell House, a National Register Historic House built in 1732, with work nearly complete as of 2025, and plans to open the site as a museum by 2026 in anticipation of the U.S. Semiquincentennial. The first floor is being made ADA-accessible, and eight rooms are being prepared for public access with flexible space for exhibits and events.
Archaeological and Cultural Conservation 1 activity
- Supports preservation and museum development through research and planning
  
  Commissions and conducts research to support preservation and interpretation, including funding an archaeological study and cultural landscape plan, commissioning a structural history report, and cataloging artifacts for themed exhibits.

financials · form 990EZ · fy2024

revenue

Total revenue$84K

Contributions & grants$84K100%

Program service revenue——

Investment income——

Other revenue—

expenses

Total expenses$30K

Program expenses—

Admin / overhead—

Fundraising—

Salaries & benefits—

Grants paid out—

balance sheet

Total assets$156K

Cash—

Investments—

Liabilities—

Net assets$156K

5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +130.1%

leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 6

BOB HERMANN — BOARD MEMBER
CHAR WEIGEL — BOARD MEMBER
DAN WEINFELD — BOARD MEMBER
DONALD ODELL — BOARD MEMBER
PETER MARCUS — BOARD MEMBER
SANDY MORRISSEY — BOARD MEMBER

relationships · 25

Who they work with

Amaze Design Partner — Contracted design firm that completed the first phase of museum planning, including final layout and space usage design.
Amaze Design Partner — Firm working with the Board and Academic Advisory Committee to develop a schematic plan for the museum exhibits.
American Red Cross Partner — Collaborated with the American Red Cross for nursing service during World War I in France.
Cochran Training School of Nursing Partner — Partnered with the Cochran Training School of Nursing for professional training and education.
Consul General of France to New York Government — Represented by Cedrik Fouriscot, who conferred the Order of Merit Knighthood on President Susan Seal.
Greenburgh Access Television Partner — Cooperated in the production of a video about the Philipsburg Encampment and Rochambeau's headquarters.
Greenburgh Public Library Partner — Cosponsored a public event on the Philipsburg Encampment and Rochambeau's headquarters.
Hartgen Associates Partner — Conducted archaeological studies at the Odell Farm in collaboration with the organization.
Milkbox Studios Partner — Cooperated in the production of a short film about the Philipsburg Encampment.
Mount Vernon Ladies Association Partner — Collaborated on the production of a short film about the Philipsburg Encampment.
New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Government — Provided over $2 million in funding for the restoration of the Odell House.
North Castle Historical Society Partner — Collaborated on the production of a short film about the Philipsburg Encampment.
Philipse Manor Hall Partner — Hosted the Friends of OHRH at the Harvest Festival on September 28th.
Revolutionary Westchester 250 Partner — Cosponsored a public event on the Philipsburg Encampment and Rochambeau's headquarters.
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins Government — Secured a $250,000 state grant for museum exhibits and previously provided a $500,000 grant to support restoration of the Odell House.
St. John’s Riverside Hospital Partner — Trained at a nursing school affiliated with St. John’s Riverside Hospital in Yonkers.
Steve Tilly Architects Partner — Architectural firm responsible for incorporating the museum layout into final restoration drawings.
Town of Greenburgh Government — Partner in the preservation of artifacts from Odell House; now owns the artifacts previously stored in shipping containers.
Town of Greenburgh Government — Took ownership of the Odell House in 2020, enabling the museum transformation project.
Town of Greenburgh Partner — Collaborates with the Town of Greenburgh on preservation, research, and public education efforts at the Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters.
Town of Greenburgh Partner — Collaborates with the Town of Greenburgh, which owns the property and contributes funding for restoration.
Town of Greenburgh Partner — Collaborates with the organization to preserve and operate the Odell House historic site, with the town owning the building.
Town of Greenburgh Partner — Partners with the Town of Greenburgh to restore the Odell House and create a museum.
Westchester County Historical Society Partner — Now owns the documents and photographs from the Odell House collection and will collaborate with the Friends to make them available for research.
Westchester County Historical Society Partner — Repository where Odell family papers are deposited and made available to researchers.

strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

Collaborative Stewardship Through Public-Private Partnerships

methodology: public-private_partnership
By partnering with municipal owners and institutional collaborators, we ensure sustainable preservation and research access to the Odell House, because shared governance and resource pooling increase institutional capacity and community accountability.
Community-Engaged Preservation Model

methodology: community-engaged_preservation
By engaging volunteers, donors, and community stakeholders in restoration and archival work, we build public ownership of the site, because participatory involvement strengthens long-term support and increases the authenticity and reach of preservation efforts.
Immersive Historical Education for Public Engagement

methodology: immersive_historical_education
By creating room-by-room, immersive exhibits within the historic Odell House, we educate visitors about its pivotal role in the American Revolution, because experiential learning increases public connection to history and drives sustained engagement with preservation efforts.
Inclusive Historical Storytelling for Community Cohesion

methodology: inclusive_history
By centering inclusive narratives—such as commemorating the lives of enslaved individuals and integrating diverse perspectives—we foster shared community pride and social cohesion, because representation in historical storytelling strengthens collective identity and broadens public investment in preservation.