North Castle Historian Doris Finch Watson Passes Away
North Castle Historian and lifelong Banksville resident Doris Finch Watson died at her home on Tuesday at the age of 91.
Watson, who was once the personal secretary to actor Henry Fonda during the early 1950s, helped form the North Castle Historical Society at her dining room table in 1971. She served as its president and had been on the board of directors since its inception.
Along with her late husband, William J. Watson, Sr., she ran Finch’s Country Store in Banksville, the fourth generation in her family to operate the market opened by her great-grandfather in 1860. The store is still in business today on Bedford-Banksville Road and run by her children.
“Her zest for life and her civic commitment are lessons for us all,” North Castle Supervisor Michael Schiliro said Wednesday in a message to the community. “In her memory, we can be inspired and guided by her core values: personal responsibility, duty, honor and faith. She was a woman of The Greatest Generation and an honorable ambassador of North Castle. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.”
During World War II, Watson worked in a Thompson submachine gun factory. She also graduated from secretarial school, attended Columbia University and worked in the advertising industry.
She and her husband, William, were married on Dec. 9, 1947.
Watson, known by many as Dorrie, had a passion for antiques and for history. Appointed town historian in 1993 by then-supervisor Jack Lombardi, she was instrumental in having the East Middle Patent Schoolhouse, the Brundage Blacksmith shop and the Quaker Meeting House moved to the Historical Society’s home in Armonk.
She was also involved in the establishment of the Bedford Road Historic District in Armonk, and helped to lead the efforts to include Washington’s Headquarters/Elijah Miller House and Smith’s Tavern in the National Register of Historic Places.
Watson served in many other positions in the community, including as chairwoman of the Armonk Antiques Show and program director for the Banksville Community House. She was an honorary member of the Banksville Fire Company and helped to fundraise and secure a section of land for the firehouse expansion.
In 2008, Watson was honored with the Historic Preservation Medal and Certificate by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
She worked as burial director for the Middle Patent Rural Cemetery – a position she held for nearly 50 years –until her death.
Watson is survived by her three children, Phoebe and her partner, Drew, of Stamford, Conn., Walter and his wife, Mary Jane, of Banksville, and Bill, Jr. and his wife, Carmel, of Cape Cod, Mass., and her five grandchildren, Tucker, Casey, Kiley, Samuel and Kimberly.
The wake will be at Ballard-Durand Funeral Home, located on 2 Maple Ave. in White Plains, this Sunday, Jan. 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. The funeral service will be held at the Bedford-Presbyterian Church, at 44 Village Green, in Bedford on Monday, Jan. 5 at 10 a.m. Burial services will follow the funeral at the Middle Patent Rural Cemetery on Middle Patent Road.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Banksville Community House, 12 Banksville Rd., Greenwich, Conn. 06831.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
