USA > New York > Bronx County > History of Bronx borough, city of New York : compiled for the North side news > Part 13
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After passing the bridge of the Putnam Division of the New York Central Railroad, erected about 1877, we come to the handsome new Macomb's, or as it is now styled. "Central" Bridge. In 1800 the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty ceded to Alexander Macomb "all that certain piece or parcell of land covered with water . . . beginning at the west side of Kings- bridge . . . on the north side of the creek of water called Spuyten Duyvil." Here he built the tidal grist mill west of the bridge, a landmark that in 1855 was still standing. Macomb, however, failed to carry ont his agreement to keep a passage- way open along the course of the creek.
a mile north of Highbridge (thus giving rise to the name Morris Dock, recently changed to Morris lleights) and had chartered this vessel, the "Nonpareil," carrying a load of coal for de- livery at Morris Dock. One evening about the year 1839. the "Nonpareil" reached the dam at full tide and Mr. Morris de- manded that the passageway be opened. As this request was not granted, a number of small boats appeared with about 100 men on board, and with their assistance Mr. Morris was not long in forcibly tearing out a portion of the dam, thus admitting the vessel to float across. This taught a much needed lesson. for from that time a draw was always maintained in the dam rendering the Harlem free to navigation.
In the words of Chancellor Walworth we find: "The Har- lem River is an arm of the sea and a public navigable river : it was a public nui-auce to obstruct the navigation thereof, with- out authority of law."
In 1858 authority was given for New York City and West- chester County to erect the first regular bridge, which bore the name of Macomb's Dam Bridge, while others called it the Cen-
HISTORY OF BRONX BOROUGH
81
tral Bridge. The Commissioners were directed to tear down the old Macomb's dam, and see that the river was widened to its full capacity. About 1891, Macomb's Dam Bridge was moved a short distance up the river to make room for the erection of public about 1895.
the splendid new steel structure which was thrown open to the' " Avenue Bridge, there is yet another one, connecting Willis Ave-
Next in order is the 145th Street Bridge, while below this comes the Madison Avenue Bridge, completed in 1884, and now sadly inadequate for the large body of traffic that daily crosses it. A short distance below is the immense Park Avenue Bridge. with its four tracks crossed by innumerable trains, a wonderful improvement over the old railroad bridges that stood in its stead.
Mention has already been made of the two previous struc- tures crossing the Harlem River at Third Avenue. The present gigantic erection. with its two sidewalks, two roadways and two spaces for trolley cars, almost equals the railroad bridge in im- portance. The early bridge was known as Cole's Bridge, while
the title of Harlem Bridge has also clung to it. Of great im- portance to Bronxites is the Second Avenue Bridge, crossed by a steady stream of electric trains and a few pedestrians.
To relieve the pressure of traffic over the Harlem or Third " nue on the Bronx side, with First Avenue, on Manhattan Island. the most southerly in the series of links "extending over to the main."
Teams, foot-passengers, trolley cars and trains are con- stantly passing over these, always on the alert for the signal to open the draw. A number of tugs have adopted the excellent plan of having their funnels hinged, to be swung back when passing along the Har'em River. May the time soon come when all shall have adopted this device, and we can view the splendid trains of the New York Central Railroad, that have come from Chicago on time to a dot, enter the Grand Central Station on schedule time, without being "held up" by a few mud scows. towed by some diminutive tug with a tall smoke stack!
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Some of the Attractive Spots th the Bronx
At Morris Park Race Track
Aquatic Birds' House, Bronx Park
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Indian Lake, Crotona Park
Franz Siget Park
CHAPTER XXVIII
PARKS OF THE BRONX
History and Description of the Parks and Parkways of the Bronx
Although we have spoken of some of the largest and most important parks of this borough, there are many smaller, yet in themselves complete, which it would be a mistake to omit.
Take the beautiful Claremont Park, for example, among
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Zborowski Mansion
whose grassy lawns and tall trees arises that grand white strue- ture, the Zborowski Mansion, the General Headquarters of the Bronx Department of Parks. Ereeted in 1859. as the large raised figures declare, it is one of our handsomest buildings. On an- other side are the figures, "1676," evidently the date of a previous building on or near the same spot. One ornamental feature is very conspieuons-the raised sculptures, in the white marble. underneath the piazza roof, representing different classical groups
A strange tradition was current among the Zborowskis that beeanse of a curse, no male member of the family would die in his bed. We find that Martin Zborowski died in his chair, stricken with paralysis; Elliott Zborowski was killed by a New Haven train; Francis Zborowski was drowned near Williams- bridge; Max Zborowski was killed by a fall from his horse, and lastly Elliott Zborowski, nephew of the other Elliott and last of his line, was killed on April 1, 1903, at Nice, by being thrown from his auto ear.
As a resume, showing how many other parks the Bronx can boast of, we may mention the following :
Franz Sigel Park, along the line of the old Buena Vista Ridge Road, now Mott Avenue, extends as far north as 158th Street. A little to the north, on 162d Street, near Mott Avenue, can be seen one of the glacial curiosities of the Bronx, a huge boulder. extending out into the sidewalk and covered with a mass of vines. Closer to this park, formerly known as Cedar Park, is the lx autiful Heine Fountain.
Washington Bridge Park is another charming bit of green. under and adjoining the Bronx approach to this noble bridge.
On the steep slopes of the hill, at what was and should still be called Fordham Heights, is the slanting University Park. close to the University grounds, and extending down to Cedar Avenue. Just above this, to the north of Fordham Road (a's? styled Fordham Landing Road, Berrian Landing Road and erroneously High Bridge Road) is the tiny Fordham Park, while to the eastward lie the shaded St. James Park (just north of the beautiful St. James' Church ) and Poe Park, opposite Poe's former home, to which it was proposed to move the picturesque little Poe Cottage.
At Fordham Station is a beautifully kept spot of ground close to Webster Avenue, named Rose Hill Park, so called in hopp- of the Rose Hill Manor or Farm House that stood on the S :. John's College grounds. A charming bit of land, with immense ledges of rock that give a striking echo, on Mount Hope Fili. is appropriately christened "Echo Park."
There are three to be considered yet, and the list of im- proved parks in the Bronx that possess names will be complete
Gen. Franz Siget
These are Melrose Park, close to Melrose Station, which, at & time ago, was a most barren waste, and Macoulis [ ... . underneath the northern approach of Central Bridge It is is that the old name "Macomb's Dam" is in some mamier portes nated for time to come.
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HISTORY OF BRONX BOROUGH
The last in this series is St. Mary's Park, to the east of St. Ann's Avenue at 149th Street. There was once a fine lake here for skaters, while on the hills are still left many of the splendid mansions of olden time, which have long been a pride to the neighborhood.
With the larger parks described in the earlier part of this
work, we find that the grand summary of named and existing parks amounts to 3,850 acres, while those without names count up to fifteen acres, and including the four parkways of 211 acres. the total area of parkland in the Bronx includes over 4,000 acres-truly a good showing!
The Heine Monument, 16 1st Street and Mott Avenue
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CHAPTER XXIX
RAILROADS
General Description and History of the Railroads of the Bronx from Early Days to the Present
"The New York and Harlem Railroad," says an old Gazet- teer, "commences near the City Hall in New York and extends north . . . to the Harlem River, a distance of eight miles; thence across the river into Westchester County. This company was first chartered in 1831, while in 1840 it was authorized to extend its road from the Harlem River through the County of West- chester. The track is now finished to William's Bridge, where it erosses Bronx River, a distance of 141/2 miles from the City Hall."
In 1855 the New York and Harlem Railroad issued its fourth time table, quite a notable contrast to the documents of to-day. The stations were City Hall. Thirty-second Street, Yorkville, Harlem, Mott Haven, Melrose, Morrisania, Fordham, William's Bridge, etc. The longest distance was between Morrisania and Fordham, but there were "flag stations" at Central Morrisania (Claremont Park) and Upper Morrisania (Tremont).
The old Morrisania station was, I believe, destroyed after the depression of the tracks; the old Central Morrisania station stands on the easterly side of Park Avenue, just north of 172d Street, while the former Tremont station was used as a hall for the Suburban Club, at the southwestern corner of Park Avenue and 176th Street. The old Fordham station was merely an engine house transformed into a station. While being pulled down, the large door where the locomotives used to enter was plainly visible.
The fuel used for feeding the engines and heating the cars was wood, and this caused the engine's pipes to freeze in cold weather, so that the reason given for the frequent delays was : "We had to thaw out !"
Above William's Bridge there was but a single track for the Harlem trains, alongside of which was another for the New Haven trains. Great was the excitement when races between the two lines took place, and it is recorded that the Harlem road used to have an engine with a single driving wheel that was never 'beaten by any of the New Haven locomotives !
What a change does this present to the famous "Harlem Branch" of the New York Central Railroad, with its four tracks to Woodlawn, and the fast trains of, not only the Harlem Branch but the New York Central proper, and the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroads flying over the partly de- pressed and partly elevated sections !
Another division of the New York Central-the Putnam Branch-connects with the Elevated Road at 155th Street, and, crossing the Harlem River, runs parallel with the New York Central to Kingsbridge, where it extends due north to Van Cortlandt. Here the Yonkers branch climbs the rocky hills of Van Cortlandt Park, while the main line continues due north.
Great improvements are promised by the New York Central. as it proposes to make a shorter line between Kingsbridge and Spuyten Duyvil, eliminating about seven dangerous grade cross- ings.
The Suburban service of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Road connects with the Elevated Railway at Harlem, extending through the eastern portion of our borough. It is the best route for reaching Westchester and Bartow ( Pelham Bay Park and City Island). Its terminus is New Rochelle, where it joins the main line. The immense volume of freigh: that is daily hauled over these tracks, to say nothing of the fast Federal and Colonial Express passenger trains that run be- tween Boston and Washington, have led the company to dis cuss plans of making this Harlem River Branch a six-track road, and doing away with all grade crossings and steep grades that are such a trial to the freight engineer.
The famous "Huckleberry Road," was one of the character- istics of the olden time, its horse cars running so slowly that it was an easy task to alight and pick huckleberries without so much as waking the slumbering driver or the plodding horses. To-day the brilliantly lighted cars of its successor, the Union Railway Company, are striving to keep pace with the fast ad- vancing tide of population. Compare a tiny bob-tail car of the old Huckleberry Road with one of the glittering new monsters of the Union Railway, and one would seem to be placing side by side a pigmy and a giant. Some of the old cars are said to have found their way to the City Island line, and this fact seems quite probable.
With the advent of the Suburban Elevated Road, a great impetus was given to the growth of this section. Once upon a time the road ran one-car trains. Now the long string of seven cars rumbles over the structure, up to Bronx Park, the present terminal. The branch of the Subway Extension has at the present writing been opened to West Farms and Bronx Park. with a tunnel under 149th Street and the Harlem River to Lenox Avenue, Manhattan.
BRIDGE CONNECTING LORILLARD MANSION WITH HEMLOCK GROVE
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CHAPTER XXX
HUNT'S POINT
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-Lafayette Lane
In earlier days, the old West Farms Road, after passing the residence of that veteran practitioner, Dr. Freeman, climbed the hill towards the south, passing on its right one of this borough's most picturesque mansions. The whole surrounding district is known as the "Vyse Estate" in honor of the owner of the tract whose earlier proprietor was Thomas Richardson. Countless houses now stand where, a few years ago, clustered a perfect Lower of trees with a stately colonnaded mansion in their midst. The once extensive grounds were a model of rural beauty. Grottos, aviaries, statues, conservatories abounded everywhere, thus giving rise to the appropriate name "Rocklands." Where the broad Intervale Avenue now extends was once a deer park, with its wire enclosure, while five miles of beautifully graveled-
Old Hunt Inn
road, wound in and out through the estate-just the thing for bicycles-only there were none at that time!
Last to disappear was the Vyse Mansion itself, exemplify- ing in its graceful Corinthian columns the true Southern style vi architecture. An old gentleman once told me that on the ground floor was the dining hall, underneath that the kitchen, a cellar still below, while further down yet, three stories under- ground, was a dark and gloomy sub-cellar, no doubt a storage place for the choicest of wines.
What boasted to be the very oldest building in the Borough of the Bronx was the "Oll Hunt Inn," otherwise known as the "Fox Farm House." It stood on the west side of the West Turis Road, the old thoroughfare down to Hunt's Point, a Port distance below llome Street, near where 167th Street now
crosses. Through the negligence of some trainp or other irre- sponsible person, it was destroyed by fire on Easter Day, 1892. The main portion was built of old-fashioned split shingles, filled in with brick, while a low sloping roof and a wing of stone added to the picturesque effect. Close by was a smaller build. ing which an old resident told me was used as a smoke house.
1660 is given as the date of erection, the land on which it stood forming part of the thousand acres granted in 1660 by Governor Nicholls on behalf of the Duke of York to Edward Jessup and John Richardson, who had bought it from the Indians. Both of these men died soon afterwards without male issue, Jessup's daughter marrying a Mr. Hunt and Richardson's daughter a Mr. Leggett. Both of these Hunt and Legge :: families were among the earliest residents in this section. The large tract of land was divided between the Hunts and Leggetts, and the land lying to the west of the West Farms Road went to the Hunts, the Leggetts having other property, including land on the east side of the road.
According to carly accounts the Hunts built the place for a residence, soon afterwards turning it into an inn. On an old document we see that in 1661 John Hunt was licensed to sel: beer there at threepence a pint. In a short time the inn became well known, and within its walls Colonel Oliver De Lancey, com- mander of the Loyalist forces in Westchester County, together with a number of cther gentlemen, made it their rendezvous to meet the officers of the British troops in Queens County and g: fox hunting. The Colonel himself was Master of the Hounds, the fox being started at the junction of West Farms Road and Westchester Turnpike.
For this reason the point became known as "Fox Corners." I always thought that this name was derived from the Fox family but it seems that the fox hunts were in vogue long before this family came into possession. On the stylish coaches that ra: from New York through this region, the name "Fox Corners" was always conspicuously displayed.
History tells us that the old house was no longer used as an inn after 1700, although the Hunts still lived there. In 1816 the Leggetts purchased it from the flunts, and it was afterwards used as a farm house. During the last two years of its exist- ence it was not used at all. Towards the middle of the las: century the old house in some way caught fire, and when the big chinmey was pulled down in order to rebuild it, several mos: interesting relies were discovered, hidden in the chimney wad. Among these was a musket, so decayed as to fall to pieces .. the touch; also a slipper of the style worn in the time of Ka's
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HISTORY OF BRONX BOROUGH
Edward VI, having a chain from the toe to be attached to the knee of the wearer. These are all preserved as treasures in the Tiffany family, who are descendants of the original Leggetts There is also a packet of letters addressed to the Leggetts and bearing the date 1750.
In the angle between West Farms Road and Westchester Turnpike stands one of our very finest old-time mansions, the squarely built, stately "Foxhurst." Those now living in this
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The Locusts, Hunt's Point Road
grand old residence are the descendants of nine generations who have been born and spent their lives on this early patent, which was granted to their ancestors as far back as 1681 "Foxhurst" itself was built sixty-six years ago by William W. Fox for his country residence. Indeed at that time New York City did not extend much beyond Fourteenth Street. What would the peo- ple of those days say if they could hear us talking about 2421 Street? At the time when Mr. Fox built his house, 167th Street. which passes just to the rear of the mansion, was nothing but a country lane leading through green fields to Boston Road. At about the centre of the present Fox Estate stood the old stone "Fox Barn," at the present intersection of 167th and 169th Streets. When I saw it not long ago, scarcely more than two dozen stones remained to mark the spot. These stones used in its construction, came from the old "House of Refuge," in Madison Square, New York City.
Almost directly in front of the Fox Mansion can be seen the old line of the Hunt's Point Road, where it turned eastward crossing the grounds of the late Richard M. Hoe, towards Hunt's Point. To passers by it would appear that this "Foxhurst" is located in a specially selected site; facing the sharp point of the former triangle where Westchester Turnpike and West Farms Road now meet. Yet I have been told that when Mr. Fox sought a place for his residence, the owner said to him: "Thee can have the old orchard between the roads!"
To Mr. W. W. Fox, New Yorkers owe far more than is generally known. He was largely instrumental in introducing Ka, and water into the city, being president of the first gas company in America as well as one of the original Croton Water Commissioners. No better man could Governor Marcy pos- sbly have appointed on this Commission. His name may be found carved in the solid granite of the graceful High. Bridge, and long may it remain there!
Right here it may be noted that at a meeting of the Board : Vermen, held over a year ago, a resolution was unanimously I feed. bestowing the name of "Fox Square" on the little park in front of the Fox Mansion, in recognition of the many services Mr. W. W. Fox.
A single visit to this grand old "Foxhurst" is enough to convince one that it is as splendid within as it is massive with- out. Indeed a whole modern apartment might easily be placed in the spacious hallway! Near the front door is an antique carved chest brought over by the Puritans in 1630, while the re- ception- room contains, among the many other curiosities, a strangely shaped Algerian sword, that probably has seen service on the plains of far distant Africa.
Close to the winding and shaded Hunt's Point Road are many majestic mansions, probably soon to disappear from sight for evermore. After crossing the railroad bridge, one comes to an ancient house, erected before the Revolution, and styled "The Locusts." It is on the extensive Faile estate, where the late E. G. Faile, an importer of tea and sugar, erected about 1832 the stately mansion still standing on the high bluff, with its im- posing row of Doric columns, which has always been a land- mark to those passing up and down the Sound. Later on Mr Faile increased his holdings to one hundred acres. "Woodside" was the appropriate name given to the "Faile Manor," and it is said that among the chief attractions on the velvety lawn was a flock of peacocks, while still to be seen near the "Manor House" is a cedar of Lebanon, now dead two years, a gift from a United States Consul. When Mr. Faile made his first pur- chase here, in 1832, the old house known as "The Locusts," was of course there, and he turned it into a sort of a private school. the tutor. Walter Chisholm, formerly a teacher in Sir Walter Scott's family, having been summoned from Scotland by Mr. Faile to take charge here.
A great lover of horses, Mr. Faile used to import them from Porto Rico in sailing vessels, each horse costing about $1,000 to
This thomas Hunts anno working Ussale
Thomashoof Elviabeth E Hunt
Sial
Sign atures of Thomas and L lizabeth Hunt
bring to Woodside. He kept three especially fast horses to use in driving to Chambers Street every morning, returning thence at night. Leaving Woodside at seven, he would drive down the old Boston Road, across the Harlem Flats, never failing to reach his Chambers Street warehouse punctnally at nine.
We learn that Mr. Faile was born and brought up at his father's estate near Eastchester, almost opposite the Fifteenth Mile-Stone, the estate consisting of 200 acres on both sides of Boston Road, even extending as far east as the Old Mill Lane. On the old maps may yet be seen the outline of a part of the "G. Faile Estate." bordering on the road that led to the old town dock of Eastchester.
By following the winding and beautifully shaded Hunt's Point Road, to a spot just in front of the Colonial looking Spofford Mansion-also built by the Fox family, and near the site of an old Leggett house-we come to a spot where, a num
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HISTORY OF BRONX BOROUGH
ber of years ago, was discovered the tiny Leggett burying ground. Among the remains of ten bodies that were exhumed and re- interred in St. Peter's Church yard, Westchester, was that of Mayor Leggett of Westchester. Several old coffin nails were discovered, also William Leggett's sleeve buttons, various pieces of homespun linen and tufts of women's hair. Most curious of all was a set of brass coffin nails, once the inscription of the lidl, clinging to a few pieces of rotting wood. Although six feet below the surface they were as bright as when placed in the ground, and read :
WILLIAM LEGGETT, AGED 73 YEARS.
A short distance further down Hunt's Point Road, close to the old gates of the Barretto estate, we come to a stone wall that marked the old division between the "Planting Neck," called by the Indians "Quinnahung," and Hunt's Point proper. To-day all is merged in the name "Hunt's Point," but formerly the dis- tinctions were clearly drawn.
Beyond the stone wall, on the right hand side of the road, is a spring, near which stood the two houses of Edward Jessup and John Richardson, the first settlers in this region. Just above this, branching to the west may be traced the ancient "Cherry Lane," formerly leading to the old Leggett Dock, with a branch towards the location of an old Leggett house. These were pointed out to me a short time ago by one of the oldest residents of the vicinity.
Seal
Signature of Thomas Hunt, Ir.
On a slight elevation back from Hunt's Point Road, used to stand the old Barretto Mansion, one of the famous landmarks of the region. A friend who had resided there, once showed me through it, dwelling especially upon the thick and solid inside blinds, which when closed made the old house a veritable fort- ress, claiming that it was proof both against the bullets of the foe and the flaming darts of the Indians.
One who lived in West Farms speaks thus of Mr. Baretto: "Here comes Francis J. Barretto, tall, majestic, dignified, yet ur- bane, a gentleman of the old school, his snow-white hair stand- ing above his dark brow. Lovely as is his 'demeure' by the waters of the Sound, scarce a day passes but he must visit the village over which he exercises a sort of fatherly care."
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