As another year comes to a conclusion we look back on a year where Yorktown lost a soldier of history. Retired lieutenant colonel of the U. S. Air Force, Cortland Auser, died earlier this year on January 8th.

Mr. Auser dedicated much of his time to preserving Yorktown's past by serving as the town historian from 1966 until 1981. His strong connection to the Westchester County Historical Society, where he, along with his wife, Doris, were the editors of its quarterly publication from 1960-1964, helped establish an important landmark in Yorktown with the dedication of The Davenport House in the 1960s. He would later become a resident of this home.

Cortlandt Auser served on the landmark preservation committee which began designating historic sites in 1968. His influence continued and was clearly felt in the community during the town's celebration of the country's bicentennial activities of 1976.

Yorktown is indebted to Mr. Auser's service and generations to come will appreciate his contributions to our town's rich history. Writing for The Yorktowner in 1968, he stated, "It is only through a deep-rooted sense of community that we might collectively retain for our town its identity."