Gilded Age Love Stories: Chauncey Depew's Second Chance at Love

There were many sensational love stories and romances during the Gilded Age, and there is no need to look further than the Mills family and Staatsburgh’s guests to find some of the people who were part of them. As we research all of the approximately 150 individuals who signed Staatsburgh’s guestbook between 1899 and 1908, many interesting personalities and stories have emerged.  One of them involves Hudson Valley native and US Senator Chauncey Depew who found love in both his first and second marriages.  Many of Staatsburgh’s guests were involved in politics, but it is noteworthy to mention that Depew was the only sitting US Senator to sign Staatsburgh's guestbook when he visited in September 1900. Chauncey Depew was elected as a Senator from New York in 1899 and then re-elected in 1905.

Chauncey Depew (1834-1928), circa 1901
Image: Library of Congress

How Frank Became Francis: The Rediscovery of a Free Black Community in Staatsburg

Staatsburgh’s former Historic Site Assistant, Zachary Veith, published an essay in the Dutchess County History Society's 2025 Annual Yearbook, which is a compilation of work he did while at Staatsburgh, researching the African American residents of Staatsburg, Hyde Park and Rhinebeck.  His entire essay can be found HERE, but this blog essay includes excerpts from the article that are most closely related to the hamlet of Staatsburg.

The Dutchess County Historic Society is located in Rhinebeck, NY and the organization is committed to serving as archival repository, providing interpretation, and presenting the history of Dutchess County to the public. Image: Dutchess County Historical Society

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