In a move recognizing local history, the Cornwall Yacht Club has donated a sign to the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson which highlights the Hudson River wreck of the Armistead, a ship built during WWI. The matter was discussed at last week’s Village Board meeting.

The vessel was part of a massive fleet of transatlantic ships required to move U.S. troops and supplies to Europe while facing attacks from German submarines. The Armistead was launched in 1919 and taken out of service in 1955 where it was intentionally grounded three years later.

The wood of the ship has since rotted away, but the exoskeleton sits at the bottom of the Hudson River off the coast of Donahue Memorial Park.

The village’s historian suggested posting the steel-framed sign somewhere near the south side of the dock, before the beach. Trustee Bill Braine suggested putting the sign on Grandview Avenue because the remains of the ship are visible from that vantage point. After further investigation, later in the week, Mayor James Gagliano said it will be mounted as part of the Dock Hill Road Connector Trail that fuses Donahue Memorial Park and Donahue Farm with Hudson St. The area will include an unobstructed view of where the ship wrecked.

Gagliano said the village will need to invest in some sort of covering to protect the sign, or it was suggested it could be a project for a future Eagle Scout.