Yorktown Grange Breaks Ground for New Building in Memory of Jerry Mulcahy

Members of the Yorktown Grange Fair Association held a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony this week to begin the construction of a new building in memory of long-time member Jeremiah "Jerry" Mulcahy.

"Jerry was a horticulturist – that was his passion," his widow Jean Mulcahy said. "This project is quite an honor and I couldn't think of a better way to honor his memory."

The Jerry Mulcahy Memorial Building, a permanent exhibition building on the fairgrounds, will house the fair's flower competitions and exhibits.

Mulcahy passed away in 2004 from acute myeloid leukemia (AML), also known as acute myelogenous leukemia, which is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells. After his death, the Grange Fair Association announced their plans to build the new building and decided to dedicate it in his name. 

Fundraising efforts over the last eight years have raised more than two-thirds of the needed $35,000. The new structure will be erected in time for this year's Yorktown Grange Fair scheduled for Sept. 6 to Sept. 9.

"He was a very caring person who was willing to help anyone who needed help," his son Ryan Mulcahy said. 

Jerry Mulcahy was a director of 4-H and a member of the Yorktown Grange for more than 40 years and held many leadership positions in both organizations, including chairman of the Crompond 4-H club, chairman and secretary of the Yorktown Grange Fair Association and chairman of the flowers show for the annual Grange Fair.

He graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in horticulture and attended graduate school at Cornell University. He worked as a regional coordinator for the Cornell Cooperative Extension, and upon retirement he founded a local family landscaping and gardening business.

"Jerry was the reason most of us joined 4-H as kids and why we're still involved today," said Nicole Fervan, the current Yorktown Grange president and member of the Yorktown Grange Fair Association. 

His son described him as a "pure-hearted" person.

"The fair was a big part of Jerry's life before we even met," Jean Mulcahy said at the groundbreaking ceremony. "It remained a constant joy to him along with his work. Jerry was a people person. If you knew him, you had to like him and forgetting him is not possible. This building is a great tribute. It will always be a reminder of a great guy who couldn't say no to anyone who needed help."

Celebrating its 88th year, the Grange Fair has been a showcase for homegrown and homemade goods, featuring competitions and exhibits dedicated to produce, flowers, baking, needlework, photography, livestock and poultry. Its theme this year is "hometown pride shared countywide."

For more information, please visit www.yorktowngrangefair.org

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