History of Bronx borough, city of New York : compiled for the North side news, Part 1

Author: Comfort, Randall; Steuter, Charles David, 1839-; Meyerhoff, Charles A. D., 1833-
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: New York : North Side News Press
Number of Pages: 890


USA > New York > Bronx County > History of Bronx borough, city of New York : compiled for the North side news > Part 1


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60



Gc 974.701 B78c 1753025


,


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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