History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 178

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 1112

USA > New York > Chemung County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 178
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 178
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 178
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 178

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 (link on the Part 1 page).

SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.

Havana Lodge, No. 56, I. O. of O. F. (original No. 211), was instituted Feb. 4, 1846, with the following-named charter members : George Quinn, G. D. Bailey, Daniel Evans, Frecman D. Goodwin, Alvah Nash, Green Bennett,

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AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

and Alonzo Gaylord. The first officers were Freeman D. Goodwin, N. G .; Green Bennett, V. G. ; G. D. Bailey, Sec. ; and Daniel Evans, Trcas. Present number of mem- bers is 127, and the officers are Jesse Lyon, N. G .; Calvin Shelton, V. G .; H. L. Couch, R. Sec. ; F. I. Tracy, P. Sec. ; Geo. T. Hinman, Treas.

Thanandanaga Encampment, No. 38, I. O. of O. F. (original No. 49), was instituted in 1847. The original charter with the records of the encampment were burned in 1859. The Grand Encampment gave a new charter, dated Aug. 19, 1869, to replace the one destroyed, with the following-named Patriarchs as charter members : Gco. T. Hinman, Caleb Hill, Calvin Van Deusen, D. W. Whippy, Calvin Spaulding, G. D. Bailey, H. L. Couch, D. L. Couch, and C. E. Noble. The first officers were Geo. T. Hinman, C. P .; Calvin Spaulding, H. P .; G. D. Bailey, S. W .; Caleb Hill, J. W .; H. L. Couch, Scribe; and D. W. Whippey, Treas. Present number of Patriarchs is 44, and the officers are Calvin Shelton, C. P .; John B. Coryell, S. W .; H. L. Estabrook, Treas .; S. J. Brown, H. P .; G. T. Hinman, J. W .; and H. L. Couch, Scribe.

MASONIC .- Some years prior to the anti-Masonic period Hebron Lodge, No. 400, had been organized at Johnson's Settlement. At the outbreak of the Morgan imbroglio the old lodge ceased to work, but kept up its organization secretly. The jewels and regalia were boxed up and stowed away in the old building still standing at Catharine, the Sil- ver Square having been subsequently purchased by Hull Fanton, Esq., and presented to Myrtle Lodge, in the pos- session of the members of which it now is. Following the above pioneer lodge of the old town of Catharine, Che- mung Lodge was instituted at Havana, in 1848, with eight charter members, and continued about ten years, when the charter was recalled and the lodge ceased to exist.

Myrtle Lodge, No. 131, F. and A. M., was instituted at Havana, March 3, 1860. A meeting having been called for that purpose it was resolved to organize a lodge, and the following officers were chosen : W. M., John E. Mulford ; S. W., A. H. Decker ; J. W., Alphcus Keyser ; Bela P. Beebe, Treas .; Wm. H. Skellenger, Sec .; Mortimer G. Lewis, S. D. ; and Daniel L. Couch, J. D.

A petition was made for a dispensation, which was given May 24, 1860. The charter was granted on June 9 of the same year. At this time the society numbered seven mem- bers. The present membership is 123, and the officers are Alpheus Keyser, W. M .; Herman L. Estabrook, S. W .; Wm. H. Shepherd, J. W .; H. E. Dunham, Trcas. ; Otis Doxtater, Sec .; John C. Stone, S. D .; and Samuel A. Brooks, J. D.

Havana Division, No. 55, Sons of Temperance, was organized Sept. 1, 1873, with thirty-three members. Rev. I. Hendricks was the first W. P .; R. Burchfield, W. A .; P. I. Hendricks, R. S. ; R. Erskine, F. S. ; A. S. Durkee, T. The present chief officers are D. Keach, W. P .; A. E. Durkee, W. A. ; C. Morgan, R. S .; A. S. Durkcc, F. S .; A. B. Blakesley, T. The present number of members is thirty-five.

The Patrons of Temperance Society was instituted Jan. 12, 1877, with twenty members. The first principal offi- cers were A. S. Durkee, W. S .; R. T. Dearborn, W. P .;

Susan Stotenbur, Sce .; G. Thompson, and A. Stotenbur, Treas. The present incumbents in the same offices are Dr. G. M. Post, Wm. Bixby, A. B. Blakesly, A. S. Dur- kee, and William Martin. Membership, twelve.

IIAVANA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

was organized in 1872, and the first officers elected were Elbert P. Cook, Miss Elma A. Gillespie, and Miss Lucy A. Tracy, Trustces ; Miss Mary Hinman, Secretary ; Willis H. Tracy, Treasurer; Mrs. G. W. Carpenter, Librarian ; Miss Frane J. Hinman, Assistant Librarian. The officers elected in 1878 were B. T. Smelzer, M.D., President ; Mrs. B. T. Smelzer, Secretary ; Miss Franc J. Hinman, Libra- rian and Treasurer; Miss Sara L. Tracy, Assistant Libra- rian ; Elbert P. Cook, Miss Florence W. Huntington, T. M. Brown, Trustees ; Miss Franc J. Hinman, Miss Lizzie Prince, Willis II. Tracy, Book Committee. The library contains six hundred and thirty books, in the selection of which considerable literary taste has been displayed.

IIARDING'S CORNET BAND

is an outgrowth of the Havana Brass Band, which organ- ized in 1876, with J. M. Weller as leader, and broke up in June, 1878. The present band consists of sixteen pieces, namely, C. E. Harding (lcader), E-flat cornet ; Le Roy Swartwood, E-flat cornet ; James Williams, B-flat cornet ; Court Williams, B-flat cornet ; T. R. Palmer, B-flat cornet ; J. M. Weller, solo alto ; D. Weaver, 1st alto ; D. W. Weaver, 2d alto; Floyd Grant, solo tenor ; E. Lanning, 1st tenor ; J. Barber, 2d tenor ; A. Roberts, bass; L. Vaughn, bass ; C. Van Narnum, snare-drum; C. Fletcher, bass-drum; F. Overocker, cymbals.

MONTOUR CEMETERY

was instituted August 13, 1860, by the election of the fol- lowing board of trustees, viz. : Peter Traey, Geo. W. Jack- son, Minor T. Brodrick, Adam G. Campbell, Caleb Hill, John F. Phelps, and George T. Hinman. The first officers were Peter Tracy, President ; G. W. Jackson, Vice-Presi- dent ; John F. Phelps, Treasurer and Superintendent ; Geo. T. Hinman, Secretary. The grounds are pleasantly located on an eminence, about one-half mile west of the village of Havana. They command a lovely view of Seneca Lake as far as the eye can reach, also of the picturesque highlands lying east and west of Havana, together with the location of Havana Glen and all of the public buildings of the vil- lage. The grounds are admirably laid out and very neatly kept. They are profusely dotted over with fine monu- ments, and are, altogether, a beautiful resting-place for the dear departed ones. The present board of trustees consists of Myron H. Weaver, President; George T. Hinman, Secretary ; John F. Phelps, Treasurer and Superintendent ; Caleb Hill, Minor T. Brodrick, W. S. Quigley, and A. P. Hallett.

MONTOUR POST, No. 22, G. A. R. (Department of New York), was organized Sept. 14, 1871, and the following officers chosen : Major Hull Fanton, Commander ; Lieuten- ant E. Miller, S. V. ; Captain HI. L. Couch, J. V. ; Dr. A. P. Hallett, Adjutant ; Frank Van Duzer, Quartermaster. Present officers are Henry Dunham, Commander; E. B.

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HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

Lanning, S. V .; Henry Sayler, J. V .; Captain H. L. Couch, Adjutant; E. Weller, Quartermaster. Muster- roll, 20.

HAVANA NATIONAL BANK was organized as the "Second National Bank of Havana," Feb. 29, 1864, with the follow- ing officers : Peter Tracy, President ; Adam G. Campbell, Cashier ; Peter Tracy, Wyatt C. Gillespie, James H. Daily, Joseph M. Wced, and Adam G. Campbell, Direc- tors. The present officers are Hull Fanton, President ; Willis H. Tracy, Cashier ; Hull Fanton, Thomas L. Fan- ton, Henry H. Huntington, Stephen T. Arnot, and Willis H. Tracy, Directors. The financial status of the institu- tion is shown by the subjoined sworn statement as made to the Bank Commissioners in August, 1878. Resources --- Loans and discounts, $791.25; United States bonds, to secure circulation, $50,000 ; other stocks, bonds, and mort- gages, $8000; due from approved reserve agents, $7812; premiums paid, $2195 ; specie on hand, $1959 ; legal ten- der notes, $3727. Liabilities-capital stock paid in, $50,000; surplus, $12,000; undivided profits, $8225; national bank notes outstanding, $45,000; individual de- posits, $42,270.

BANK OF HAVANA .- The old Bank of Havana was es- tablished by Charles Cook, Oct. 1, 1851, and incorporated as an individual banking concern the same year. Charles Cook was its president from the organization until his death, in 1866. He was succeeded by his brother, E. W. Cook, who held the position until the bank went into the hands of a receiver, Jan. 25, 1876. The first cashier of the bank was C. C. Clark, now treasurer of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad; the last to hold that position under the old regime was E. P. Cook. May 1, 1864, the Bank of Havana succeeded and was merged into the " First National Bank of Havana," and continued as such until July 1, 1873, at which time it was incorporated as a State bank, under its old title, the " Bank of Havana." Elbert P. Cook now conducts a banking-office in the Montour Hotel building.

EDUCATIONAL AND GENERAL.

It has been aptly said that "elementary schools bestow and sustain the nation's liberty ;" and no more compre- hensive realization of that truism is necessary than a retro- spective glance at the rise and progress of our excellent common-school system. To this country belongs the proud distinction of inaugurating, for the first time in the history of culture, a people educating itself. For past centuries, and even now, Europe educates certain classes of society rather than the masses, except in such parts of the conti- nent where education is compulsory. Thus the relative educational systems, in conception, tendency, agencies, and execution, in America and Europe, are the most conspic- uous features in the chain of superiorities, and of differ- ences between the new and the old continent and society.

The history of education in Havana is similar to that of any particular locality within the scope of our work. There was first the primitive log house, erected at a time when there were but few to avail themselves of its advan- tages ; but the education even of these few was a subject of great importance in the estimation of their parents. The

old log house gave place to the more pretentious frame structure, and the village schoolmaster assumes a dignity cominensurate with the importance of the increased facility. This last-named building answered the purpose of the old joint District No. 17 of the towns of Catharine and Dix until 1846, when a consolidation of that and parts of other districts in the immediate vicinity of the village occurred, and the more progressive friends of education proposed a departmental school, which was accordingly established, and the present commodious house was erected.

The first trustees of the new school board were William MacDonald, A. G. Campbell, and George T. Hinman. The first principal was Professor Edward S. Lacy. The present trustee is William Dean, M.D. ; Principal, Professor F. D. Andrew ; Assistants, Miss Nettie Reamer and Miss Ella M. Doolittle.

As an evidence of the progress and present flourishing condition of the public schools of Havana, we subjoin the following statistics from data furnished by Dr. Dean :

Number of children of school age, 343; average attend- ance, 150; paid for teachers' wages, $1024; for repairs, $75 ; for fuel, $100; for building fires and sweeping, $35 ; for incidental expenses, trustee's salary, etc., $75.

COOK'S ACADEMY.

This institution was originally incorporated as the " Peo- ple's College, April 12, 1854, and located at Havana, Jan. 8, 1857. The buildings are spacious, the dimensions of the main one being 320 feet long and 52 feet wide, and four stories high. At either end is a wing 206 feet long and 52 feet wide, and four stories high. The structure is of brick. The institution was established through the efforts and pecuniary assistance of Hon. Charles Cook, who se- cured for the institution the land-grant of 990,000 acres of public lands, which subsequently reverted to Cornell University, at Ithaca. As an evidence of the importance of the enterprise we append a list of the trustees of the col- lege, as given in the catalogue for 1860 :

Amos Brown, LL.D., President of the College; Gov- ernor Edwin D. Morgan, Lieutenant-Governor Robert Camp- bell, De Witt C. Littlejohn, Speaker of the Assembly ; Henry H. Van Dyke, Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion ; Daniel S. Dickinson, LL.D., Chairman of Board ; Charles Cook, Secretary ; Washington Hunt, Constant Cook, Horace Greeley, Asa D. Smith, D.D., Erastus Brooks, D. C. McCallum, Edwin B. Morgan, Thomas Hillhouse, A. B. Dickinson, Thurlow Weed, John Magee, E. C. Frost, George J. Pumpelley, T. R. Morgan, A. I. Wyncoop, Roswell Holden, David Rees, S. Robertson, George D. Beers, C. J. Chatfield, W. H. Banks, Joseph Carson, T. L. Minier, Treasurer. An executive committee of seven was chosen from the above Board of Trustees. The professors elected were Rev. Amos Brown, LL.D., President of College; F. G. Hibbard, D.D., Timothy H. Porter, and William W. Folwell. The People's College project fell through before it was fairly established, although the most elaborate prepa- rations were made by Mr. Cook to make it a success. Those who ought to have interested themselves in the col- lege, however, failed to do so. Hence it never became more than the People's College in name.

Photo. by Marsh.

Simon Decker

Perhaps the most interesting task of the historian is to record the most prominent events in the life and services of a self-made man ; to hand down to posterity on the pages of history the principal trans- actions of a useful and busy career, to the intent that the young may emulate and the old follow so good an example. In tracing the ancestry of the Decker family, wo find that it has produced a long line of industrious and enterprising men. They are of the good old German race, and each generation has borne distinctively the chief character- istics of that people-industry, enterprise, and frugality. Away back in the bistory of Sussex Co., N. J., when most of the torritory now embraced within its boundaries was a wilderness, the groat-grand- father of Simon Decker came thero and began a settlement, which has since developed into the flourishing village of Deckertown, and has for a century and a quarter borne the name of its founder. The father of tho subject of this sketch, Simon Decker by name, was born there on tho 22d of October, 1768, and died there June 4, 1813. Hc married Margaret Snook, also a native of that place, who was born March 9, 1770, and died Jan. 31, 1838.

Simon Deckor, of whom we write more particularly, was born at Deckertown, Jan. 2, 1807. His early boyhood and youth was spent at home, although the death of his father when he was but six years old made it incumbent upon him to commence at an carly age to assist his mother in the support of the family. He did his duty iu this connectiou choerfully and well, although it debarred him from somo of the advantages of education and self-culture, which he acquired subsequently through the medium of a remarkably activo business life. In 1833 ho removed to Havana (then in Tioga County), N. Y., having visited tho placo fivo years before. He first settled in the village, and entered the mercantilo business in company with bis brother, Sidney S. Decker, decoased. This copartnership existed for sixteen and a half years, and was only terminated by the death of Sidney. The entire partnership was characterized by the very hest feeling, and it is said hy thoso in a position to know that not tho seratch of a pen in any separate transaction was made during the time the firm did business together. At one timo they owned nearly thirty-five hundred acres of land around about Havana, baving purchased twenty-eight

contracts of Judge Dany. In 1835 they hought the old Bowers Mill property, and proceeded at once to improve it and the surrounding country. Everything that now constitutes and is known by the name of Deckertown was built by the Decker brothers, or by Simon after Sidney's demise, except the old mill and a barn. Every fence was built by them, and every tree planted by their hands.

During the terrible visitation of the cholera in 1849, Simon Decker filled the office of overseer of the poor, and all through the fearful epidemie he stood manfully and heroically at his post, and did more than any one person to alleviate the sufferings and attend to the wants of those stricken with the horrible disease. Many of those who sur- vived the scourge will bear us out in the above assertion.

On the 15th of July, 1832, Simon Decker was united in marriage with Jane Crowell, of Sussex Co., N. J. This union was blessed with three children, of whom the socond son, Hiram, resides at Havana. The others are deceasod. Mrs. Decker died May 26, 1852. On the 12th of August, 1869, he married Miss Hattie E. Badgley, daughter of Mr. John Badgley, a well known and highly respected citizen of Watkins. This marriage has resulted in much happiness and the hirth of one son, Simon, who resides with his parents. Although nevor affiliating with any religious sect, yet Mr. Decker has always liberally supported religious enterprises. He did much toward sus- taining the Presbyterian Church during the days of its poverty. In polities as in religion he is independent, never pledging himself to any party, but always supporting the men he thinks hest fitted for the offices to which they aspire. In briefly summing up the character of Simou Decker, we find that he is and ever has been an eminently useful citizen ; that in his life and character he has acquired a reputa- tion for honesty and integrity that is imperishable ; that he is a man of genial disposition and of generous hospitality. In bis domestic relations he is kind and affectionate, ever consulting the hest interests of his family, and conforming thereto as duty demands. As a small tribute to his sterling worth, and as being a party to the material development of Havana, we insert his portrait in our work, feeling assured that it will grace our pages and give pleasure to a large number of our readers.

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AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

THE COOK ACADEMY

resulted from a desire of E. W. Cook to put to use the Peo- ples' College building. In furtherance of this desire, he offered the Baptist State Convention in 1870 to buy the property, and give it and one-fourth of an endowment of $150,000, provided the convention would pledge the rest of such endowment and firm and adequate support. The offer being accepted, he procured the property in his own name, and he and one other of the heirs of Chas. Cook gave the building and eighteen acres of ground, valued at $125,000, to a board of trustees composed mostly of representative Baptists from all seetions of the State. A charter by the Regents of the University was obtained in August, 1872. Trustees organized in October, same year, by choosing Colonel E. W. Cook, President ; Rev. J. Hendrick (pastor of Baptist Church, Havana), Secretary ; and Elbert P. Cook, Treas- urer,-the same officers holding until now. Grounds and buildings were rapidly put in order for use, and school formally opened in September, 1873,-Charles Fairman, LL.D., late of Shurtliff College, Illinois, Principal. Dr. Fairman's associates were A. C. Winters, A.M., Professor of Mathematics; J. C. Foley, A.B., Professor of Latin and Greek ; Jessie D. Kingsley, Lady Principal, Rhetorie and English Literature; Mrs. M. E. Fairman, Painting ; Mrs. A. C. Winters, French ; Miss C. E. Davis, German ; and Miss H. E. Van Derbeck, Music. This faculty re- mained unchanged till 1875, when Dr. Fairman resigned, and Prof. Winters succeeded him as principal. Some other changes have occurred from time to time, the faculty for school year 1877-78 being A. C. Winters, A.M., Principal, Latin ; T. F. Chapin, A.M., Greek and Sciences ; A. C. Hill, A.B., Mathematics ; Miss H. E. Hersey, A.B., Lady Principal, Rhetorie and English Literature; Mrs. A. C. Winters, German and French ; Miss Lucy B. Stowe, A.B., Painting and Drawing ; Miss E. Caulkins, Music.

The attendance from the first has been good and con- stantly increasing,-the average for the first year being 101 pupils ; for the second, 139; for the third, 154; for the fourth, 163; and for the fifth, 170. It ranks now eighteenth on the records of the Regents of the University of this State among the 240 academies in the State.

A marked religious atmosphere pervades the school,-there having been 120 conversions since its organization,-yet nothing seetarian is permitted in his teachings or govern- ment.

It has a fine library of several hundred volumes, selected with great care, philosophieal and chemical apparatus worth many hundred dollars, and a mineral cabinet of up- wards of 200 specimens.

Its financial condition, though it is somewhat embarrassed by a large debt, is constantly improving, through the aid of friends, to a high academic education, and its patrons among the Baptists of the State.

The present board of trustees consists of the following gentlemen, namely : Colonel E. W. Cook, President ; Rev. Joel Hendrick, Seeretary ; E. P. Cook, Treasurer ; Minor T. Brodrick, Darius R. Ford, D.D., Prof. J. H. Gilmore, Prof. N. Lloyd Andrews, Hon. S. L. Rood, Prof. Truman J. Backus, Rev. Sewall S. Cutting, D.D., Rev. J. B. Smith, D.D., Alanson J. Fox, Hon. Jeremiah McGuire,

Samuel W. Saekett, Rev. C. W. Brooks, William Dean, M.D., S. A. Clauharty, Rev. Addison Parker, Rev. D. Moore, D.D., S. C. Keeler, and Buel S. Sackett. There is also an executive committee of seven members, ehosen from the board of trustees.

THIE POST-OFFICE

was first established as Catharinestown, Oct. 13, 1802. The names of the postmasters, with the dates of their respective appointments and the changes in the name of the office, as furnished by Acting First Assistant Postmaster- General James H. Marr, are as follows : Geo. Mills, Jr., appointed Oct. 13, 1802 ; Thos. Mills, appointed Feb. 13, 1822; name changed to Catharine Landing, July 29, 1824, and David Lce appointed postmaster ; June 9, 1828, name changed to Havana; Aug 31, 1829, Hiram Jackson appointed postmaster ; April 14, 1840, Sylvester Hazen ; June 16, 1841, Jacob Walker; Nov. 22, 1844, James Pine ; May 11, 1849, Geo. V. Hitchcock ; July 27, 1853, Jeremiah McGuire ; Nov. 21, 1856, Henry German ; April 23, 1862, Charles Harris ; Feb. 27, 1871, Alpheus Key- ser ; April 4, 1871, Samuel C. Keeler; March 24, 1873, Alpheus Keyser; March 1, 1875, Alonzo G. Ball, present incumbent.

IIAVANA GLENS AND FALLS .*

But very few, if any, localities in all the glen and lake region of Central New York have been more lavishly favored by nature with summer resort scenery and attrac- tions than the beautiful village of Havana. There are three picturesque and romantic glens, as well as several smaller ravines, all well worthy of visitation and explora- tion.

The Havana Glen is half a mile south of Cook Academy, on the east side of Catharine Valley. It has been open to the public about eight years, and is well known to tourists, having been extensively visited and frequently described by some of the most gifted scenic writers of our country. It is divided into two general sections, the entrance amphi- theatre and the gorges. The former contains some thirty to forty acres of land within the cireuit of its high banks, and belongs to Colonel E. W. Cook, of Havana; and the gorge section, extending east of the amphitheatre about a mile, is owned by M. M. Cass, Esq., of Watkins. This section contains a wonderful succession of gorges, waterfalls, caseades, pools, high and angular cliffs, grottoes, ete., with great variety and richness of foliage, mosses, ferns, lichens, and flowers. Its principal and most interesting scenes to visitors are known as " Portal Caseade," " Eagle Cliff Falls," the "Council Chamber," " Curtain Cascade," " Hermit's Gorge," " Bridal Veil," the " Rock Tunnel," " Indian Oven," " Whispering Fall," " Echo Fall," " Fairies' Cascade," " Summit Fall," ctc."

The " Council Chamber" is the most wonderful natural phenomenon in the glen. It is about one hundred feet in length, and twenty-five in breadth for more than two-thirds of that distance, being less than one-third that width for some twenty-five to thirty feet at the south end. The

# From " Tourist's" articles in Havana Journal, and from Mr. Ells' pamphlet on "The Glens," etc.

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HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

east, west, and south walls are sufficiently high to give the chamber a very impressive effeet to all appreciative minds, and are as square-eut as if hewn out of the roek by human ageney. This startling, mysterious, and incomprehensible feature has no counterpart nor rival in all the glen and gorge scenery of the State. The stream falls from the east into the narrow section near the south end, flows over the rocky floor towards the north, and plunges down a precipice to the depth of sixty feet, forming Eagle Cliff Fall. We refrain from any further description of the scenery, as no pen can do it justice. To be at all appreciated, the marvels of Havana Glen must be seen.

From the very beginning, Havana Glen impresses the visitor as having a character of its own. The stream is larger than that of Watkins Glen. The rock is less shaly, and it has a strongly-marked system of rectangular points dividing the cliffs into square towers and buttresses. When a portion of the cliff falls, it does not leave a jagged face, as in Watkins Glen, but a mural surface, as smooth and even as a fortress-wall, giving the sides of cañons the appearance of great diversity and grand simplicity. The eroding current follows the lines of division, zigzagging at right angles rather than curving after the fashion of ordi- nary streams. At times, as in the " Couneil Chamber," it cuts out perfcet halls, with square corners and perpendicu- lar sides, as unlike anything in Watkins Glen as can be imagined. The walls are lower than in Watkins, but they seem higher, because of their clean-eut faces. In Watkins there is a persistent sameness in diversity,-a monotony of fantastie outlines. IIavana has a statelier, more majestic look. Watkins confuses while it amazes, bewildering by its multitude of details, infinitely various yet constantly similar. Havana has less variety and greater diversity, its plan seeming to be to present no two seenes at all alike. At times the cliff gives place to wooded escarpments ; vege- tation creeps down into tlic gorge, and throws a net-work of beauty and grace-truly glen-like-between two spaces of precipitous rock. The falls are fewer, but in the main more massive, and the pools are squarc-cornered instead of oval. In short, the two glens are not rivals, but comple- ments, and the sight of one heightens rather than lessens the enjoyment of the other .- From "Seribner" for June, 1872.

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History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 178

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign Number of Pages: 1112

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 1112