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Gc 974.701 B78c 1753025
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
3 1833 01150 0060
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofbronxbo00comf 0
History of Bronx Borough CITY OF NEW YORK
-
Compiled for
THE NORTH SIDE NEWS By RANDALL COMFORT, A. B., LL.B. Member of the New York Historical Society with Collaboration of CHARLES D. STEURER CHARLES A. D. MEYERHOFF
North Side News Press If9th Street and Bergen Avenue New York 1906
840
1753025
2
LOUIS F. HAFFEN
PREFACE.
LOATING down the stream of ages have come to us many historical facts, many interesting traditions and many myths irrevocably connected with that part of the American Metropolis known as the Borough of the Bronx. It has been the constan: intention of the author to gather these into a brief and readable form for those into whose hands this history may fall. . In doing this he has been confronted by a serious handicap the every historian must meet-the vast conflict of authority that is to be found everywhere.
Again, the historical portion of this book, it must be understood. dates from the time of the manuscripts having been handed in, as many changes may have occurred afterward. too late for insertion.
Notwithstanding these small perplexities, the collection and classification of these items, imperfect as they are, have been a source of deep gratification to the author, and he sincerely hopes that it may be equally satisfactory to all who read it. Finally, he wishes to express his many thanks to his army of friends who have so kindly guided him to interesting spots, and co those who have so hospitably thrown open their doors at his knock.
THE AUTHOR.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
PACE
The Glacial Age ..
The Glacial Man-Glacial Traces-Noted Boulders-
The Indian Bath-The Indian Cemetery.
CHAPTER II.
The Indians of the Bronx
3 Hendrick Hudson's Experience-Indian Name>-Ir dian Village ~~ Indian Deeds.
CHAPTER III.
The First White Settlers
Jonas Bronck-Aune Hutchinson -- Jolin Throckmor- ton-Thomas Cornell-Dr. Van Der Donck.
CHAPTER IV.
The Settlement of Westchester. II Thomas Pell-His Deed of Westchester-St. Peter's Church-The Old Bowne House and Other Old Houses.
CHAPTER V.
Eastcliester
St. Paul's Church and Churchyard-The Vincent-Hal- sey House-Reid's Mill-Mill Lane."
CHAPTER VI.
Kingsbridge
17
Old King's Bridge-The Free Bridge-The Macomb Mansion -- The "Cowboys" and "Skinners"-The Neu- tral Ground -- The Bloody Well -- The Tippett House- The "Cowboys' Oak."
CHAPTER VII.
Spuyten Duvvil and Riverdale.
Spuyten Duyvil Parkway-Origin of the Name "Spuy- ten Duyvil"-Canal Street Cottage -- Oll Hadley House -The Van Tassel House-Old Dutch House-Anec- dotes.
CHAPTER VIIL.
Van Cortlandt Park. 21 The Van Cortlandt Mansion-The Death of Captain Rowe-The Rhinelander Sugar House Window-The Van Cortlandt Mills-The Old Burying Ground-Van Cortlandt Lake -- The Van Cortlandt Vault-Vault Hill -The Indian Field --- Redoubts Overlooking Kings- bridge.
CHAPTER IX.
General Montgomery
. This Farm at Kingsbridge --- Ilis Will-Lady Ranelagh. Ilis Sister-Rev. John Peter Tetard-The Old Arch- way. .
25
CHAPTER X. PAGE
I The Old Boston Post Road, or Boston Avenue. 27 The "Negro Fort"-The baac Varian Farm House- The Williams Bridge-The Old Williams' House-The Havens' House- The Hustace-Cash House.
CHAPTER XI.
Boston Road
20 Name of Harlaum -- The Ferry and Rates of Ferringe -- The Three Harlem Bridges and Rates of Toll-Boston Road-The Gouverneur Morris Tree-The Old School House-Mill Brook -- Charlotte Temple's Home-Ex- tracts from Washington's Diary-Madam Knight's Ex- periences.
CHLAPTER XII.
Gouverneur Morris and Old Morrisania
33 Richard Morris-Gouverneur Morris-The Gouverneur Morris Mansion-Anecdotes -- The Lewis Morris Man- sion-Morrisania Almost the Capital of America.
CHAPTER XIII.
Morrisania Village
35 The Two Houses that Date from the Period when Morrisania was Bought-The Old Stone Gate Honse and the Jennings' Old Homestead-Anecdotes-The "Huckleberry Road"-The Old Stages-The William H. Morris Mansion-The Morris Farm House-The Georgi House-The Mott House-Other Old Houses -- Robert Bonner's Advertisement-The Old Spy House.
CHAPTER XIV.
Crotona Park
39
The Indian Pond-Old Fordham Avenue-The Bath- gate Homestead-Fairmount-The Old Shingle-Sided House-"The Rush."
CHAPTER XV.
West Farms and the Bronx River.
West Farins-The Bronx River-Anecdotes-The Wal- ker Mansion-The De Lancey Block House-Uncle Daniel Mapes' Temperance House-The Old Ford- The Hassock Meadow-Old Patents.
CHAPTER XVI.
bronx Park
45
De Lancey's Mills -- Lydig's Mills-De Lancey's Pine- Johnson's Tavern-The Zoological Park-Bronxdale- The Lorillard Estate-The Botanical Gardens.
CHAPTER XVII.
The Bronx Above Bronx Park. Source of the Bronx-The "Hermitage"-Washing ton's Gun House-Indian Rock-Valente Farm House -- Woodlawn Cemetery-Adelina Patti's House.
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER XVIII. PAGE
Edenwald
51
Seton Fall+-Indian Hiding Place-Indian Fortifica-
tions-Seton Cave-Seton Mansion.
CHAPTER XIX.
Pelham Ray Park. 53
Anne Hutchinson-Thomas Pell-Haunted Cedar Knoll -Glover's Rock-Battle of Pell's Point-Old Ferris House -- Old Peil Cemetery-Collins' Homestead-Pell Mansions-Howe Chestnut-Twin Islands-Hunter's Island.
CHAPTER XX.
City Island
59
Ancient Horse Cars -- Marshall Mansion-City Island Bridge-General History of the Island-Macedonia Hotel.
CHAPTER XXL.
The Battle at Westchester Creek 53
General Account-Extract from General Heath's Me- moirs -- The Old Westchester Bath -- Old Milestones.
CHAPTER XXII.
The Devil's Stepping Stones. 65 The Satanic Legends-The Old Ferris Houses-The Spy Tree and its Legends-The Paul House-Kelly's Old Homestead-Thwaite's Old Homestead-"The Drovers' Inn"-The Adee Cemetery.
CHAPTER XXIH.
Fort Schuyler and Screven's Point. 67 Fort Schuyler-Hart's Island-Zerega's Point-Screv- en's Point-Castle Hill Mansion -- The Wilkins' House.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Port Morris and "The Hussar" 71
Riker's Island-Two Brother Islands -.- Various Ac - counts of the Lost "Hussar."
CHAPTER XXV.
Leggett's Lane and Westchester Turnpike. 72
Leggett's Lane-The Dater Mansion-The Dennison- White Mansion-The Revolutionary Cave-Oak Point -- The Whitlock-Casanova Mansion-Westchester Turn- pike-Janes & Kirtland Iron Foundry-St. Ann's Church-The Pocahontas Branch Railroad-The "Great Eastern"-Bensonia Cemetery -- The Bension Mansion.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Tremont and Fordham 75
Ancient Bathgate Avenue House-Historical Tremont- Jacob Lorillard Residence-Old Stenton Mansion-Okl Powell Farm House-Rose Hill Farm House -- Fordham Heights Cemetery-Poe Cottage-Dutch Reformed Church-Ancient Manor of Fordham.
CHAPTER XXVII.
The Bridges of the Bronx.
. Bridges Crossing from the Borough of the Bronx to
Manhattan Island-Their Various Histories and Points of Interest.
79
CHAPTER XXVIII. PAGE
Parks of the Bronx. ..
Ilistory and Description of the Parks and Parkways of the Bronx.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Railroads 85
General Description and History of the Railroads of the Bronx from Early Days to the Present.
CHAPTER XXX.
Hunt's Point S- The Vyse Mansion-The Old Hunt Inn-Foxhurst- The Faile Estate-The Spofford Mansion-The Leggett Cemetery-The Baretto Mansion-The Hunt Cemetery -Joseph Rodman Drake-The Hunt Mansion-Lafay- ette Lane.
CHAPTER XXXL.
Jerome Park Reservoir.
Jerome Park-Old Bathgate Houses-Remains of Old Redoubt -- Old Croton Aqueduct-Jerome Park Reser- voir-Polo Club House.
CHAPTER XXXII.
The Black Swantp and Highbridgeville. 05
The Mysterious Black Swamp-The Old Cromwell House -- The Townsend Poole Cottage-Featherbed Lane-The De Voe Residence -- Andrew Corsa.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Places of More Recent Interest. Old Mansions and Families in Bronx Borough-The Stenton Willow-Annexation in 1874-Annexation in 1895 -- The Concourse-White Plains Road Widening- Westchester Avenue Widening-The Bronx as a Sep- arate County-The Portchester Railroad-The Subway. Existing and Planned-Coming Improvements of the Harlem Railroad-A Wonderful Prophesy Fulfilled.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Ecclesiastical Architecture in the Bronx. 109
The Oldest and the Newest Houses of Divine Worship Shown-Commendable Progress in Developing Relig. ious Interests in the Borough-Some of the Pastors of Bronx Churches.
CHAPTER XXXV.
Catholic Educational Institutions 121 New York Catholic Protectory, its Aims, Influence and Work-Ursuline Academy-St. John's University, at Fordham-Academy of Mount St. Vincent -- Sacred Heart Academy-Manhattan College.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Municipal, Medical. Charitable and Benevolent Institutions and Societies in the Borough of the Bronx. .. 135
Some of the Leading Medical Men of the Bronx.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Clubdom in the Bronx. 163
Some of the Principal Social and Political Organiza- tions - Jefferson - Schnorer - Fordham - Brown- son - Chippewa - Longwood -- Bronx - Union Re-
02
viį
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PACE
PAGE
publican-North Side Republican-Mohawk-Wam- panoag -- Mott Haven-Men's Club of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Civic Bodies in the Bronx. 167
North Side Board of Trade-Twenty-third Ward Prop- erty Owners' Association-Taxpayers' Alliance-Im provement League.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
The Association of the Bar in the Borough of the Bronx .. 174
CHAPTER XL.
Representatives of the Bar 177
Some of the Prominent Members of the Legal Fra- ternity of the Bronx.
CHAPTER XLI.
Biographical Sketches 213
The Personal History of Many of Those Who Have Been and Are Prominent in the Life of the Bronx and Have Aided in its Development.
CHAPTER XLII.
In the Public Eye. 272
Some of the Men Who Have Figured in Developing
the Borough, and Have Attained More Prominence Than is Accorded Most Men.
CHAPTER XLIII.
Manufacturing and Industrial Enterprises. 292 The Bronx a Center of Commercial Activity-Marvel- ons Growth Shown in the Leading Channels of Manu- factures.
CHAPTER XLIV.
Prominent Men of Affairs. 331
Who Have Made Their Mark in the Annals of this Progressive Borough.
CHAPTER XLV.
Educational Advantages 391 Colleges -- Seminaries - Public Schools - Commer- cial Schools.
CHAPTER XLVI.
Transportation Facilities of the Bronx. 305 The Portchester Railroad-Union Railway Company- New York City Interborough Railway-College Point Ferry.
CHAPTER XLVII.
About the Steurer Publishing Company. 403 A Great Printing House Occupying Six Floors, Located in the Business Center of the Bronx.
GENERAL ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
A Boat Club Scene on the Harlem. 52
Academy at Mt. St. Vincent. 128
A. Moebus' Funeral and Embalning Establishment. 339
A Scene on the Bronx River near the Hemlock Grove. 6
A Scene on Bronx River. 48
A Scene in Echo Park. (0)
At His Noonday Meal.
At Morris Park Race Track 82 Jacob Doll's Piano Factory
Aquatic Bird House in Broux Park 22
Band Concert in Macomb's Dam Park
Baseball Game in Crotona Park.
Bathgate House 93
Bathgate Homestead 39
Bensonia Cemetery. Formerly Located at the Junction of St. Ann's and Brook Avenues.
Berrian Cemetery. Fordham Heights. 76
Birdseye View of the New York Catholic Protectory.
Boston Road at Spencer's Corner, near Williamsbridge .. 20
Botanical Museum in Bronx Park. 50
Bridge as Proposed on the Portchester Railroad. 396
Bridge Connecting Lorillard Mansion with Hemlock Grove.'. 85
California Sea Lion-A Scene in Bronx Park. 60
Casanova Mansion 73
Catholic Protectory Band. 124
Carnegie Library. Alexander Avenue and 140th Street. . 320
Central Union Gaslight Company's Office Building. 142d Street and Alexander Avenue .. 292
Chapel- and Assembly Hall of the New York Catholic Pro- tectory 122 _
Chapel at Mt. St. Vincent. 13T
Christ Episcopal Church. Riverdale and Alamo Avenues 20
City Island Car. 62
Claremont Park Congregational Church. 112
Clinton Avenue and 170th Street Seventeen Years Ago. 70
College Point Ferry Boat ("Port Morris") 400
Colored Orphan Asylum, Riverdale Avenue 136
C. Rieger's Son Factory. 323
Cromwell Farm House. 95
De Lancey's Pine. 45
Diagram of Pews of Old St. Paul's Church. Eastchester 1.4
Dressel Railway Lamp Works. 315
Establishment of King the Florist 383
Exempt Firemen on Parade. 105
First German M. E. Church, Elton Avenue and 158th Street. 110
"Fonthill Castle," Academy of Mt. St. Vincent 130
"Foxhurst," Residence of William Simpson. 377
Fox Mansion 99
Franz Sigel Park. 82
Free Bridge. Kingsbridge. 18
Harlem River, Looking North from Madison Avenue Bridge. 97
Harlem River, Looking West from Second Avenue Bridge .. Hassock Meadow 4.3
ITenry W. Boettger Silk Finishing Works 385
1ligh Bridge 80
' Home for Incurables, Third Avenue between ISist and 184th Streets 134
Ilome of the Friendless, Woodycrest Avenue 134
Hunt House, Boston Road.
Hunt Mansion
Indian Cemetery
Indian Lake. Crotona Park.
Industrial Building, Male Department, of the New York Catholic Protectory 120
Isaac Varian Homestead. Van Cortlandt Avenue.
Jacob Ruppert's Ice Plant 313
Jennings Old Homestead (Old Stone Jug ) 35
John Lanzer's Planing and Moulding Mill. Unionport. 327
Johnson's Tavern, West Farms. 12
Joseph Rodman Drake's Monument. Junior Hall. Fordham University .. 125
50
Junction of Third Avenue and Boston Road.
162
Last of the Morris Trees
Lebanon Ilospital, Westchester Avenue. Leggett's Lane 72
Lincoln Hospital. 141st Street and Concord Avenue. 13;
Looking South from Junction of 148th Street. Third and Willis Avenues CS
Looking South from Junction of Third and Alexander Ave- nues and 143d Strect.
Lorillard Snuff Mill, Bronx Park.
Lorillard Studio, Bronx Park. 4,
Lydig's Mills
Macedonia Hotel
Macomb Mansion 101
Madison Avenue Bridge. at 138th Street. Over Harlem River. Main Entrance from Westchester Avenue to the New York Catholic Protectory 123
Map of "Bronckxneck." Showing Patents of Lewis Morris, Sr., and Jesup and Richardson. 103
Manhanset Apartment House. Erected by James F. Mechan. 234 Manhattan College, New York 132
Mausoleum of Collis P. Huntington. in Woodlawn Cemetery. Erected by Robert Caterson. 321
Melrose Turn Verein Building 162
Metropolis Theatre. 142d Street and Third Avenue 337
Montgomery Cottage
Morris Farm House 37
Morris High School, Boston Avenue and 160th Street. .
Morris Park Race Track: Club House .. 15:
Mott Hlaven Reformed Church. Known as the Old Stone Church. Third Avenue. Formerly Boston Road, and 146th Street 30
Mutual Milk and Cream Company's Depot. 32%
M. E. Westergren's ( Inc. ) Factory, 323
National Guard in Camp at Van Cortlandt Park
Nazareth Branch of Seton Hospital. Spuyten Duyvil. 140
New Beck Memorial Church. West Farms 5 1
New Third Avenue Bridge.
New York Central Bridge at Park Avenue. Over Harlem River
New York Central Railroad Tracks and Station at 1 ;;; Street ( Tremont Avenue)
PAGE
GENERAL ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
New York State National Guard in Camp on the Parade Ground in Van Cortlandt Park ... 22
North New York Congregational Church. 1:2
North Side Brewing Company 30!
Old Bathgate Avenue Hatte 75
Old Berrian House. Sprayten Dayvil. 19
Old City Island Bridge. 54
Old Hadley House, Mashola 20
Old Hunt In.
Old Kingsbridge 17
Old Lady Washington Engine Company, 160th Street. Near Washington Wende 38
Old Mill at West Farmi. 04
Old Mott Haven Canal, lamking South from 144th Street ...
Old Mont Laven Canal. Looking North from 138th Street. .
Old Map of Original West Farm -. 9:
Olin Methodis Episcopal Church. Williamsbridge. 112
Old Stone Gate House, Morrisama 35
Old Spy House, Near West Farms 4.3
Old Third Avenue. 39
Old Wilkins' Farm Tionse, Sereven's Point.
Old Williams House. Williamsbridge.
One ilundred and Sixty-third Street. East of Third Ave- une-Ta Left. Schnorer Club; to Right, Eagle Avenue School
Oppenhein's Furnishing Goods Store .. 355
Patriotic Celebration at the Gouverneur Morris Mansion on
the Occasion of the Reception of the Liberty Bell from Faneuil Hall 34
Pell Burying Ground. 56
Pell Mansion 57
Perspective View of the Reformed St. Paul's Church, I41st Street, St. Ann's and Trinity Avenues. 114
Philanthropin Hospital. Briggs and Maple Avenues. Wil- liam-bridge 1.3.4
Poe Cherry Tree. 105
Poe Cottage 76
Police Station, Forty-first Precinct. Webster Avenue and Mosholu Parkway 300
Port Morris Market 325.
Powell Farm House.
Princeton Dental Parlors 387
Prong-Horned Antelope 36
Proposed Jefferson Club House. 163
Public School No 2. Third Avenue Near froth Street 304
Public School No. A. Locust Avenue, West Farms .. 334
Public School No. 27. St. Ann's Avenue, Opposite St. Mary's Park 301
Public School No. 33. Jerome and Walton Avennes. 394
Public School No. 30. Longwood Avenue. Kelly and Beck Street: 392
Public School No. De. Elliott Avenue and 200th Street, Wil- liamsbridge 392
Residence of Dr. George A. Strader 151
River Park. St. Vincent's Point. 128
Rocking Stone of Bronx Park. 2
Ruined Chimney in Lord Howe's Headquarters, Clason Point 0
Ruins of Lord Howe's Headquarters, Clason Point. 0
Sacred Heart Academy. 121
Seine on Bronx River in Bronx Park
Scene; at Clason Point Inn. the Favorite Versement Resort. 386 Scenes of the Seasons in the Bronx
Scones in the Parks of the Bronx. 60
Scenes During Construction of the Subway in the Bronx,
at 149th Street and Third Avenue. 100
Scenes on the Bronx Shore Front.
Schiefelin & Company : Laboratory. 319
School Building of the New York Catholic Protectory. 122
Senior Hall. Fordham University .. 120
Send Iron Bridge at Third Avenue Replaced by New Third Avenue Bridge.
Seton Falls Cave.
Seton Hospital. at Spuyten Duyvil. 133
Sham Battle at Van Cortlandt Park IS
Sigmund Ullman & Company's Ink Manufactory 328
Signature of Thomas ;lunt, Jr.
Signatures of Thomas and Elizabeth Hummt. 88
Site of Revolutionary Cave. 73
Some of the Attractive Spots in the Bronx SI
Specimen of the American Bison at the "200" in Bronx Park 107
Specimens of the Animals at the Bronx "Zoo" 36
Spy Tree, Pelham Road. 55
Stenton Mansion 75
Style of Cars for the Portchester Railroad. 395
Sunday School May Walk in Claremont Park. 60 St. Ann's Avenue, Opposite St. Mary's Park. 100
St. John's Hall, Fordham University.
126
St. John's German Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fulton Avenue III
St. Josephi's Hospital. Fast 143d and 144th Streets. Brook and St. Anna Avenues 1 35
st. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Bathgate Avenue Near 177th Street. II2
St. Margaret's Protestant Episcopal Church. 112
St Mary's Lyceum. 15ist Street. West of Melrose Avenue, 164 St Paul's Church. Eastchester 11
St. Peter's Church. Westchester.
St. Raymond's Roman Catholic Church, Westchester. 110
The Black Swamp. 95
The Blue Bridge. Bronx Park. 10
The Bostonian Dry Goods Store. 361
The Bronx Club House. 165
The "Campus" at Fordham University 126
The Fordham Club House .. 166
The Gorge. Bronx River. Bronx Park. 26
The Heine Monument. 161st Street and Mott Avenue.
Temple Hand-in-Hand. 145th Street, East of Willis avenue. 110 The Hemlock Grove. Bronx Park. 4-1
"The Locusts." Hunt's Point Road.
The Original Buliding of the First Presbyterian Church of Tremont 212
The Race Course at Morris Park. 164
The Schnurer Club .. 162
Third Avenue Elevated Road. Opposite the Home for Incur- ables at ISoth Street .. 104
Third and Tremont Avenues -- Borough Ilall to the Right. 101 Thirty-seventh Precinct Police Station. 401
Tremont Avenue Presbyterian Church, Washington Avenue Near 14th Street. TIC
Two-family Houses Erected by the American Real Estate Company on Faile Street.
Town-end Poole Cottage.
Unele Daniel Mapes "Temperance House." West Farms 1-
Union Railway Company's Office, at 128th Street and Third Avenue Ursuline Academy at Bedford Park
GENERAL ILLUSTRATIONS
xi
Van Cortlandt Mills and Lake, Van Cortlandt Park. 21
Van Cortlandt Vanlt. 23
Vicinity of Bathgate Avenue, North of 177th Street. Show-
ing the New Church of St. Joseph Nearing Completion. 108 View of Tremont in the Year 1854. 212
Washington Avenue and 173d Street Before Widening. 101
Washington Gun House
Webb Academy
Webster and Brook Avenues. North of Melrose Viaduct. 102
William 11. Morris' Mansion. Morrisania .. 3
Winter Scene in Crotona Park ... 105
Works of the Van Vest Woodworking Company 322
Vincent-Ilalsey House, Eastchester. 15 York & Swift's Undertaking Establishment. 373 Young Female Woodland Caribou. 30
Washington Bridge .9 /.borowski Mansion
ADDENDA AND ERRATA
Page 9-The buildings on Clason's Point, long known as the Christian Brothers' Academy. now bear the title of the Clason Point Military School.
Page 9-The following interesting inscription is found on the walls of the Clason's Point Inn :
IN THE YEAR 1643
THOMAS CORNELL BOUGHT THIS POINT OF THE by
INDIANS. INIS TITLE Was Confirmed
Dutch Governor
the is "Kieft" and He Settled Here. Part of This Building Hon-C
the
by Constructed by Cornell. It Was Borned Indians the First the
Year He Came.
Page 27-The older wing of the Varian homestead has re- cently been torn down and the other portion modernized. While at work the men discovered some rare coins, most of the English, and bearing the mint marks of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Page 75-On this page the names of the Powell Farm Hou- . and the Stenton Mansion should be interchanged.
Page 79-Inasmuch as Hudson was an English navigas4 and a citizen of London, his name should be Henry Hudson
Page 153-Coroner Schwannecke is the son of the late D ;. Schwannecke, who was one of the most prominent physicist :- of the Bronx.
Page 180 -- Judge Matthew P Breen was born December 2. 1847. and not December 4. 1845, as stated on this page.
Page 261 --. Mrs. William H. Keating is an accomplishe; musician and not her husband as erroneously stated on this pag
CHAPTER I
THE GLACIAL AGE
The Glacial Man-Glacial Traces-Noted Boulders-The Indian Bath -- The Indian Cemetery
Who were the very first dwellers of this borough of ours, where land is rapidly becoming so valuable, and residents pour in so that we shall expect to see sky-scrapers being erected in place of the magnificent apartinents that almost amaze us to look at, to-day? The Indians, perhaps you will say, the "painted brothers of our common race." No, indeed! Go far back of their time, centuries, even ages. Look at the whole country just after the immense layer of ice left it, and perchance you may find an answer to the question.
The very first man that trod on these shores is styled the "glacial man." and he is described as in manners ruder than the rudest savage, and in appearance closely resembling the present Esquimau of the north.
. In the books of science we learn that a mass of ice once moved slowly but surely over this district, leaving the traces that still exist to-day in the form of gigantic boulders and layers of rock that are polished until they fairly shine. "Looking back- ward through the centuries," we read. "the populou- city fades from sight as a dissolving view, and a great sheet of ice appears. It is the glacial epoch, the ice age, and we are looking backward, not through hundreds of years only, but through thousands of years. We are contemplating 'terrestrial map-making.' The Divine Builder is laying the foundations."
Scattered throughout this borough evidences everywhere exist that were left when the immense glacier receded towards the north, leaving the traces that it brought from perhaps thousands of miles away. The principal, the best known of these, has vanished from sight, blasted mito countless fragments and most likely forming part of the foundation of scores of houses m the neighborhood. This was old "Pudding Rock," that was onee such a prominent landmark at the intersection of Boston Road and Cauldwell Avenue.
Many are the tales recounted about this huge mass of rock .. Rising "not unlike a pudding in a bag." it was gracefully orna- mented at the top by an attractive group of cedar trees, its dimen- sions being twenty-five feet high and thirty-five feet in diameter -truly a gigantic boulder in every sense of the word. The Indians of old were not show in discovering that on one side is possessed a natural fire-place, where they cooked their oysters and clams and held their "corn feass."
When that well known artery of travel, Boston Road, was opened. Pudding Rock became the camping place of the Beger. nots, driven from France In the persecutions there. Here they tit . ried for many a day before they selected New Rochelle as the final place to settle and worship according to the dietary di their own consciences. Later on, we are toll, it was the en as the half way point to rest, when they made their weekly jegmay ar
Sunday from their homes at New Rochelle to worship at the shrine of old Trinity Church at Broadway and Wall Street, New York City.
Finally came the scientist. "with his big brain and his little hammer," who announced that Pudding Rock was a glacial wali, left stranded by the mass of ice as it receded to the north, leaving this section "open to the tread of the mastodon."
Another famous glacial stone is the Split Rock of Peli:am Bay Park, on Collins' Lane or "Split Rock Road." Cleit dire:t- ly in the middle, with a good-sized tree growing in the fissure. this great boulder is one of the sights of the neighborhood, and stands a few feet south of this historic roadway, not far from the city line.
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