USA > New York > Orange County > The history of Orange County, New York > Part 35
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Some portion of this boom and chain are now to be seen at Washing- ton's Headquarters at Newburgh. A Scotchman by the name of Mc- Evers, also located here, built a log cabin or tenement long prior to the Revolution ; the excavation for the cellar, as well as the embankment. are still plainly visible.
The point is approached by a natural causeway from the river road. upon the opposite side of which stands the old-fashioned homestead of Dr. Nicoll, who purchased 500 acres of Peter Post and settled here in 1730.
On the bluff just south of the village of New Windsor stood the stone house erected and occupied by William Ellison and also by Wash- ington as his headquarters from 1779 to 1782. This is now replaced by a
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TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
modern Queen Anne building, the residence of his grandson. Thomas Ellison.
Martha Washington is said to have visited the General while here. Ilis entrangement from Hamilton also occurred here in 1781.
The Brewster House, known as Lafayette's headquarters, is situated just across the Moodna at the foot of Forge Hill.
The steep hill which ascends from this point to Vail's Gate derives its name from this circumstance. The iron used in its construction was transported on the backs of mules or horses from the forests of Dean Mines in Monroe. As you ascend Forge Hill just at its top you come to the most noted Revolutionary building now in existence in the town. known as General Knox's headquarters. It was built for Mr. John Elli- son in 1735, and was in the possession of the Morton family for a number of years, who endeavored to change the name of the place to Mortonville. and for a time the post-office was known by this name. But on the death of the major it reverted back to the old name of Vail's Gate, from the toll gate stationed here, kept by the Vail family, father and son. for many years ; this gate was still in existence in 1872.
Generals Knox and Greene, Colonels Riddle and Wadsworth were quar- tered here in 1779 to 1781 and General Rochambeau was also a visitor Here to Washington.
The Edmonston building near the short cut crossing on the Eric at Vail's Gate, was built by James Edmonston in 1755. During the encamp- ment of the Continental Army in this vicinity, it was made the head- quarters of Generals Gates and St. Claire, and some of the other officers : also the hospital and military stores were kept here. When Washing- ton arrived here with his army, he consulted with Edmonston as to the best place to locate his camp and was conducted over a bridle path by his son William to the Square which became their camp.
At the Square. so-called from being surrounded by four roads. is the Falls' House. occupied by the Widow Falls in 1777. when it was the rallying point for the scattered militia by General Clinten after the fall of the Highland forts. It is a wooden structure just opposite the Silver Stream school-house, now occupied by Mr. Charles Merritt. It was while General Clinton was here that the incident of the silver ball oc- cured. Major Daniel Taylor had been sent with despatches concealed ! in a small silver ball by Sir Henry Clinton for Burgoyne. He was
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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
captured October 10th, 1777. After he had been conducted to the pres- ence of General George Clinton, instead of Sir Henry, as he supposed, he swallowed the ball. Dr. Moses Higby, who was in the neighborhood, administered an emetic and it was soon disgorged. It contained the following on very thin paper :
"Fort Montgomery, Oct. 8th, 1777.
"Nous y, voici, and nothing now between us but Gates. I sincerely hope this little success of ours will facilitate your operations. In answer to your letter of September 28th by C. C., I shall only say, I cannot presume to order or even advise, for obvious reasons. I heartily wish you success.
"Faithfully, yours, "H. CLINTON."
Taylor was tried, condemned and executed as a spy.
THE TEMPLE.
It was upon what was then known as the Dusenberry farm, formerly a portion of the General Haskins' estate, an English officer who settled 4,000 acres, during the old French War, that this building was erected under the supervision of General Heath, for the use of the army and for Masonic meetings.
It was here that General Lafayette was made a Mason by the American Union League, which accompanied the army. It was built of hewn logs, 80 x 40 ft., with a barrack roof, first known as the Temple of Virtues, but on account of a carousal of the officers after the departure of Waslı- ington, on the night of its dedication, it was afterwards known simply as the temple.
It was also used for public services on the Sabbath. At the close of the war, a proclamation by Congress of the cessation of hostilities was read from its door and a celebration on a grand scale was held. Here also was held the meeting to consider the Newburgh letters, written by a Major Armstrong, to determine, "whether the army should rise superior to the grievances under which it had long suffered, and precipi- tate a separation betwen the military and civil powers." It was a vital crisis in the history of the republic, and a tragic ending prevented by an
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TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
address of Washington to the officers at this time, which is a lasting monu- ment to his unselfish patriotism, profound wisdom, superior ability and marked discretion. The Society of the Cincinnati was founded here in 1783, "To perpetuate among the officers of the army and their descend- ants, the memory of their toils, trials, friendships and triumphs, for suc- ceeding ages." The following were among the signers: Lieutenant Robert Burnett, Brigadier James Clinton, Lieutenant Alexander Clinton, Lieu- tenant Daniel Denniston, Lieutenant George J. Denniston, Captain James Gregg, Captain Jonathan Lawrence, Major Samuel Logan, Ensign Jo- seph Morrell, Lieutenant William Stranahan, Lieutenant William Seud- der, many of whose descendants are residents of the county.
On the northern side of the monument spoken of as marking the site of the temple. is the following inscription: "Erected by the Newburg Revolutionary Monument Association, 1891. E. M. Ruttenber. president ; James M. Dickey, vice-president : A. A. McLean, treasurer ; Russell Head- ley, secretary."
On the western face is the following: "Omnia reliquit servere rem- publicam. On this site the Society of the Cincinnati was born May 10th, 1783, at the last cantonment occupied by the American Army, and it still lives to perpetuate the memories of the Revolution. Committee of the New York State Society of the Cincinnati, Fourth of July, 1892. T. M. L. Christy, chairman, William Simm Keese. John Shayler."
On the southern face : "On this ground was erected the temple or public building by the army of the Revolution, 1782-1783-the birthplace of the republic. This tablet is inscribed by the Masonic Fraternity of New- burgh. and its Masonic confrères under whose direction and plans the temple was constructed, and in which communications of the fraternity were held. 1783."
The Clinton homestead was situated about two miles north of Wash- ingtonville, on the road to Little Britain.
VILLAGES.
New Windsor, in its early history, was the scene of great commercial activity and the outlet by the river for the produce of the country for miles around and promised to be the site of a flourishing town, but the limited extent of land between the river and the high bluff, of about 120 feet in height, but a short distance from the river, precluded the possibility
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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
of building any large towns between. This high bluff is composed of clay which is utilized in the manufacture of a fine quality of brick. Mr. William Lahey, who has two brickyards. is the leading manufacturer. Mr. Hugh Davidson and the late Mr. Walsh each owned one. The re- mains of several docks on the river front are still in evidence of its former business activity. A ferry to Fishkill was maintained for a num- ber of years and until Newburgh sprang up and superseded it in commer- cial life it was a flourishing town. At the present time there are some thirty houses, stores and saloons, scattered along the river bank, occupied by about two hundred inhabitants. The first glass factory in this country was also built here.
Moodna, formerly called Orangeville, situated at the mouth of the Moodna Creck, is a small hamlet of perhaps thirty houses. There are also two factories at this place, a paper mill, formerly that of Townsend, now owned by the Hemmingway Paper Co., and a cotton mill owned by Mr. John Broadhead, of Firthcliffe, which is now closed. Plum Point, of Revolutionary fame, juts out into the river just north of the village and is frequently visited by tourists.
Vail's Gate, four and a half miles from Newburgh, contains about thirty-five houses, a Methodist Episcopal church, three hotels, and a gen- eral store, where Mr. Thomas Cushing has a new building.
The General Knox headquarters, the Edmonston house, and the old hotel buildings of stone are the most noted Revolutionary relics. The population is probably about four hundred.
Little Britain, made famous as the home of the Clintons, extends from the Square to the Little Britain creamery. At the Square are a dozen houses, most prominent among which is the Alexander Falls house. Here General Washington was a frequent visitor during the encampment of the army just south.
Rocklet, a small hamlet in the extreme western part of town, has a store and post-office, kept by Mr. Frank Mulliner.
The Ontario and Western railroad intersects the township for a dis- tance of seven miles and is taxed for $85,000 ; Erie, six miles, assessed for $42,000 : West Shore, five miles, assessed for $22,000.
The schools are-District No. I, New Windsor ; No. 2. Moodna ; No. 3, Vail's Gate ; No. 4. Mount Arie; No. 5, Silver Stream; No. 6, Little Britain ; No. 7, Alexander Neighborhood ; No. 8. Rocklet.
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TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
CHURCHES,
St. Thomas .- By the will of Thomas Einson, Jr., fifty-six acres of lan l and the sum of six thousand pounds, English money, was bequeathed to his brother. William, and nephew Thomas, to be held in trust for the maintenance of a glebe and minister under the jurisdiction of the Protes- tant Episcopal Church at New Windsor, the interest of said lan Is an 1 sum to be paid yearly to the minister when in active service ; when there was no service the interest therefrom was to be added to the principal. When a religious organization should be effectedl, the said lan Is an 1 sim were to be conveyed to it. Such an organization was established1. April 18, ISIS, under the title of St. Thomas's Church, and the Rev. John Brown. then a resident of New Windsor, also serving St. George's Church at Newburgh, became its rector and continued so up to 1847.
In 1844, the old church having been destroyed by fire, a new one was started in 1847. and the present church completed in 1849. The old rectory having been burned, a new one was built in 1904. The value of the church property is estimated at $13,000. Among the prominent mem- bers who have been here for a good many years are. Messrs. Aymar Van Buren. J. Abner Harper. John Harper, F. W. Senff. R. D. Jeffreys. W. C. Gregg. the Misses Morton. Mrs. Leonard F. Nicol an l other -.
New Windsor Presbyterian .- This church was organized in 1704 It was associated with Newburgh or Bethlehem churches. From 1828 to 1834 the Rev. J. H. Thomas, of the Canterbury Presbyterian Church. served also this church, and from 1834 to 1835 he served this church ex- clusively. The first building was used by the Continentals as a hospital. This was subsequently destroyed by fire and the present structure was erected in 1807.
M. E. Church at L'ail's Gate .- This church celebrated the centennial of its existence in the fall of 1806, the present building having been erected in 1706, and is the oldest church edifice. Its society originate i from a union class started by John Ellison in 1789, and was con lucted in one of his tenements for a quarter of a century.
Little Britain M. E. Church was erected in 1853 an locenpied in 1854. and has been associated with other churches mostly during its exist- ence. Services were held here up to 1885, since which it has remain i closed.
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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
Little Britain Presbyterian Church was organized in 1760 as Associated Reformed by Scotch and Irish emigrants. The first edifice was erected in 1765, and rebuilt in 1826. Its first pastor, Robert Annan, was in- stalled in 1768, and served until 1783. Rev. Thomas J. Smith was his successor in 1791, who served until 1812, when Rev. James Schringeour, a Scotchman, was installed, and served until his death in 1825.
CEMETERIES.
The two principal cemeteries in this town are "Calvary," at the junc- tion of Quassaic avenne and the Walsh road, established within the last decade by the Catholics, and "Woodlawn," a half mile further west, which contains about thirty acres and has been in existence about twenty- five years.
In the ancient burying ground connected with the Presbyterian church at the village of New Windsor, are the graves of James Williams and wife. Abigal Brewster; John Yelverton, one of the original settlers. who died in 1767 at the age of 74; Joseph Morrell, one of the heroes of the Revolution. Other early settlers whose names are recorded on tombstones are the Moores, Walshes, Logans, Brewsters and others. In connection with the M. E. Church at Vail's Gate is also another old burial ground. Here are the Mortons, the Stills, the Vails and many others of the fore- fathers of the hamlet who "rest from their labors and their works do fol- low them."
James Clinton, the father of De Witt Clinton, was buried in the family burying ground on the Clinton estate. When the patriotic citizens of Newburgh thought to remove his remains to Woodlawn and erect a monu- ment to his memory, all that could be found was the coffin plate. The fol- lowing epitaph to the memory of his father was written by his son, De- Witt: "He had filled with fidelity and honor several distinguished civil offices, was an officer of the Revolutionary War, and the war preceding. and at the close of the former was a major general in the army of the United States. He was a good man and a sincere patriot, performing in a most exemplary manner all the duties of life, and he died as he lived, without fear and without reproach."
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TOWN OF TUXEDO.
CHAPTER XXVIL.
TOWN OF TUXEDO.
T F HIS triangular township is in the southeast corner of Orange County. It is bounded on the north by the towns of Monroe and Woodbury, on the east and south by Rockland County and on the west by the town of Warwick. Its area as given in the latest super- visors' report is 27,839 acres, and the assessed valuation of real estate is placed at $2,510,500. The title to the soil is derived from the Chese- cock patent.
The general topographical features are invested with peculiar charm. The towering mountain crags and scattered bits of valley, the wildwool and forests primeval, are dimpled with beautiful lakes and threaded with purling streams. The Ramapo, which is made up wholly by the surplus waters of these lakes, has its head in Round Island Pond and flows thence sontherly, through the valley which bears its name. into Rockland County.
The name Tuxedo is, undoubtedly, the corruption of one or more Indian words. In the language of the Algonquins, who occupied this region. it is found that to or tough mean "a place." A frequent habit of the Indians was to name a place after the chief whose tribe occupied it, and there was a sachem named P'tank-eet, "the bear," who, in the seventeenth century, ruled over a tract of country including the present town of Tuxedo. U'niting his name with tough, the AAlgonquin for place. we should infer the original spelling to have been P'tank-seet-tough, and its meaning "Place of Bears." The earliest mention of the name occurs in Sargeant's survey of 1754 where reference is made to Tuxedo Pond. In Chesecock's patent of 1769 it is written Potnickett. Erskine, in his survey of 1778-1779. writes it Tuxedo and Toxedo. In Eager's and Ruttenber's histories written respectively in 1847 an1 1875 the name is corrupted to Duck Cedar, with the explanation that its margin is over- grown with cedars and that it is a favorite haunt of wild ducks.
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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
The first description of this region is written by the Marquis de Chas- tellux, a French officer who came to America with Lafayette, and who, on December 19, 1780, following the Continental road through the gorge south of the lake, then called "The Clove," presently came in view of Tuxedo. He mentions that at Ringwood he stopped to ask his way, and that at Erskine's house they gave him full information about the roads and wood-paths, and also "a glass of Madeira, in accordance with a custom of the country, which will not allow you to leave a house without taking something." Having been thus refreshed, he says : "I got on horse- back and penetrated afresh into the woods, mounting and descending precipitous hills until I found myself at the edge of a lake so secluded that it is hardly visible from the surrounding thicket. Its banks are so steep that if a deer made a false step on the top he would infallibly roll into the lake. This lake, which is not marked upon the charts, and is called Duck Sider, is about three miles long and two miles wide (sic!). anil is in the wildest and most deserted country I have yet passed through. My poetic imagination was enjoying the solitude, when, at a distance. I perceived in an open spot, a quadruped, which a nearer observation showed to be not the elk or caribou, for which I at first mistook him, but a horse grazing peaceably in a field belonging to a new settlement."
SETTLEMENT.
Following the grant of the Chesecock patent in 1702 there was no settlement in this territory for many years. The families who came were mostly of English ancestry and moved from Long Island and the Eastern States. The Smiths are supposed to have explored this region as early as 1727. The first settlement in the vicinity of Tuxedo Lake was made at the northern extremity of this body of water. Prior to 1765, a wood- cutter named Hasenclever inclosed a ten-acre tract lying equally on both sides of the outlet. On a survey made in 1778 is shown his enclosure and the dam built by him, and also the position of the house, situated fifty yards northeasterly from the dam, and built by a man named How- ard, who was probably "the original settler." During the Revolution, when the iron works on the Ramapo were liable to interruption by the British, Hasenclever's dam' was raised several feet, and the overflow turned southwest to supply the Ringwood furnaces in New Jersey. Dur-
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TOWN OF TUXEDO.
ing this period, Tuxedo Lake was the resort of a band of cowboys who at times found shelter among some rocks which they named after their leader, "Claudius Smith's Cave." ( See general history. )
Vicent Helms was chosen constable in 1775. Phineas an ! Brewster Helms are also mentioned in the records of the old town of Cornwall of which this locality was then a part. The hamlet Helmsburgh indicates the place where the families of that name lived before the Revolution. Moses Cunningham was a member of the first board of assessors of the town of Monroe erected in 1799. He livel at Greenwood Iron Works. Richard. Wilkes, school commissioner in 1799, also lived here. Adam Belcher, school commissioner in 1800, lived at Southfields.
The survey and construction of the Continental road was performe I by the military engineers of the Continental Army in 1778. It entered the park at the present south gate and followed the east lake shore at a somewhat lower level than the present road. From the Hoffman corner it continued up to the east slope of the Alexander place to the top of Tower Hill, where it crossed to the Coster place, thence to the Griswoldl place, which it crossed to the end of what is now the Wee Wah Lake and left the park near the present north gate where it joinel the main turnpike road of the Ramapo Valley. There was also a wood road from the present east gate to the Continental road at the Hoffman corner.
CHANGING CONDITIONS.
Up to 1864 the territory now embraced in the town of Luxelo be- longed to the town of Monroe. In the fall of 1863, a petition was sent to the board of supervisors requesting that the town be divi led into three towns. The request was granted and the new town- were named respectively Monroe, Southfield and Highland. Monroe held its town meeting March 22. 1864, electing Chauncey B. Knight, super- visor. Southfield did likewise, electing Josiah Patterson, supervisor, while Highland chose its old favorite Morgan Smith. This piece of poli- tical surgery did not prove satisfactory, and in 1865 the Legislature over- muled the action of the board of supervisors and restored to its citizen- the old town of Monroe.
Again in December of 1880 the board of supervisors were provaile ? upon to effect a triple division of the town. The reason advance l for
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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
this redivision was that the town was too large and its interests too diverse for harmonious government. It was resolved that the division should be made on the old lines, but that the names Tuxedo and Woodbury should be substituted for Southfield and Highland. This was duly passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. The lines were run so as to give Monroe 12,101 acres, Tuxedo 27,839 acres and Woodbury 23.839 acres. However, the boundary line between Monroe and Tuxedo had not been clearly determined or marked by monuments. When the Heine Club desired to build a road from Mombasha to Southfield, it became a practical question how much of this road must be paid for by each town. Hence the question as to the dividing line. The men who were with the 1863 surveyor said: "It crossed Mombasha Pond, but they did not know where." A survey was then made by F. J. Knight, who established a true line, demonstrating that the line of 1863 had been a trial or ran- dom line. This decision placed Mombasha in the territory of Monroe.
In January 1890, J. Spencer Ford represented the town of Tuxedo in the board of supervisors; in 1894, Paul Tuckerman was elected super- visor ; Mahlon J. Brooks filled the office in 1896 and 1897, and Charles S. Patterson, the present incumbent, has served continuously since 1898. Daniel F. Clark, the veteran bookkeeper, has held the office of town clerk since 1890. Gillmore O. Bush, the present postmaster and captain of the park police, held the office of town collector in 1890 and from 1894 to 1899. The assessors for 1907 are M. J. Brooks, Joseph W. Conklin and Benjamin Moffatt. The highway commissioners are George Gris- wold, Benjamin Moffatt and William Viner. District schools are located at Arden, Southfields, Eagle Valley, Scott Mines, and in Tuxedo Village are the primary and union free schools. Of the latter institutions, Mr. James Cronon has been the efficient clerk of the board since 1891. A private preparatory school is conducted within the limits of the park.
Episcopal churches are located at Arden and Tuxedo, Methodist Epis- copal churches at Southfields, Tuxedo and Scott Mines. The Roman Catholic church is in Tuxedo village.
The main line of the Erie Railroad parallels the Ramapo river through the entire length of the town, and was opened in September, 1841. In this valley are the hamlets that took part in the iron industry of a century ago. Augusta was the seat of the "Augusta Works" founded at the close of the Revolution, 1783-1784. by Solomon Townsend of New York,
1
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TOWN OF TUXEDO.
to make bar iron and anchors. It was an important enterprise but not permanently successful. In later years the works came into the owner- ship of P. Lorillard, who allowed them to remain idle. Thirteen thou- sand acres of land were attached to the works, Southfield was the name of the locality of the "Southfield" and "Monroe" works. These enter- prises were established about 1805 to make pig iron. The early proprie- tors were William and Peter Townsend. Stirling Furnace, of which the Southfield plant became an important branch, was in operation a century and a half ago. (See Warwick ). The sterling Iron & Railway Company filed their annual report with the county clerk January 17, 1865. They purchased mines, manufactories and other property in southern Orange. Greenwood Iron Works was established in 1811 by the Messrs. Cunningham to make pig-iron. Mr. P. P. Parrott became the subsequent owner. The Parrott Iron Company was formed by a certificate verified June 23, 1880. It engaged in mining and selling of iron ore and the manufacture of pig iron and steel. The capital stock was stated as $500,000. The trustees named were Peter P., Edward M., and R. D. A. Parrott. The locality is now known as Arden, and is the headquarters of the Arden Dairy Farms, of which Mr. William A. Mcclellan is mana- ger. A short distance northeast, bordering Echo Lake, is the home of Mr. E. H. Harriman, who owns vast tracts of land throughout this re- gion. Helmsburgh is a rural mountain locality west of Southfields. Eagle Valley is a station on the Erie Railroad, in the extreme southern angle of the town, near the New Jersey line.
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