The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-30
Our Lakeside Correspondence.
LAKE MAHorAo, Putnam County, n. r.
May 20, 1856.

May 20, 1866.
Lake Aahopdc-B aldscin's Hotel.
Within the past few years. have often reached
the metropolis relative to the exceeding beauty of the
lake and mountain scenery in Putnam county, in THU
State, and more particularly specifying Lake Mahopac
Carmel In certain circles 1t had been stated that
for beautiful scenery pure air and general prerequisites
for health and pleasure this region IA exceeded New
port Saratoga Sharon Springs Cape May, any of the
fashionable summer resorts.
In order to obtain ocular evidence as to the
truth Of these statements, Saturday last / took
tickets at the Harlem railway station for Croton
Falls about fifty miles from New York. They charge
one dollar and twenty five cents for the ride and
it Is, without exception, considering the quality OF
the road the dearest that ever suffered Indeed,
doubt whether not 1t is railroad ut ALL II ID sort
corduroy road and all the brokers who have been sps
cuatng its ought to be called corduroy brokers'
Without single exception, it is the most abominable
nd most dsmnable specimen OF railroad on the face OF
he earth.
Well after two hours joltpg such might have
suffered thirty years ago in travelling over tho worst
Dads the western part OF ths State reached Croton
Falls which branches the Croton DAM and part Of
the from which New York derives the pure and
bountiful supply OF Croton water.
We found several carriages public and private, wait
rg AZ the station for the Of residents travellers,
driven by bright faced negro who takes very good
care Of his horses We had before us a ride of Ave
miles to Lake Mahopac Of the objects of
search. After two hours journey, during which
we passed through defes, up nll and down dale now
climbing hill, descending another, crossing
branch Of the Croton RIVER and passing under the
shadow of dark mountain, we reached Ba!dwin's
Hotel, the Lake, where behed one OF the mos.
beautiful scenes that have looked upon.
Lake Mahopac is most beautiful sheet rather irregu.
lar in Its formation and three islands sur
rounded with undulatng Shores covered with vsrdure,
huge granite rocks fine farms ana nariy psopl,.
water is pure and clear crystal. | have seen
nothing superior TO II in point of pataral beauty OF
merry, not excepting the famous lakes of Switzerland
the poetic Lake OF Como in italy, this beautiful Lochs
Of Scotland in praise of which the harp Of the North
joined its sweetest strains.
BaldNin's Hotel is comfortable country house,
situated the lake shore. 1t wen conducted, and
during the IL Is well patronzed. 1t ap.
pears that this place is great resort for Wall
men--6nanciers, BROKERS' sa powners and other bust
ness men, who meet here enjoy re spite from the
tolls OF trade and snuositiss OF stock specuatioas But
At would seem thst these genlemea have kept their
place of resort secret Tor there Is noe delightful
region IN the worlo.
The country around Lake Aahopac is full of pic
uresque LAKES, and 1t from these that the
CITY OF New York Indebted Tor her splendid Croton
Aqueduct. The fshins the lake is very fins, and
during the evening str5ea DO the shore Twenty
or thif,y BOYS residing IN the vicinity were
net filled with The lake Ash In each haul they
At least htty, while haul netted
dred, nclodirg picEsrel, hake perch and nearly all
klnos vi fresh water hsn, except trout We ut.
terly shocked by the barOariy of thus proceeding
ensnsring hsh by the hundred 1t is bad Showing
cemccrats by the thousand in the OF
N oIoer 10 establish an empire Now, il party Of two
or three, or halt a eozen with rods tackle,
take beat and, alter Pleasant SAL, drop line AMI
catch the hsi one at Time, II Is gentiemanly and
Chrlsuabl,he sport A minister OF tue Gospel might
inculse N 1t without the slightest mpropriety but
this prsctie oil hauling them IN by the hundred and
thus robbpg vsiters sport durns the season. should
De VISITED by the severesf penalties
One Aftei noon took horse ana wagon and went to
Car mel by the usual roaa, and returned by noun
TAIN sround which skirts the shore OF Lake Gilead
su aNer sheet of water than M.hooac Carmel ia The
county town Of Putnam, may take
important place In this region of
lakes and mountains, IN consequences. About
be foupd almost every day Wall street. ana who
tepose from the bulls bears in the heights OF Car
uti. Putnam county is worth attention.
1t has great crops produces pure water without
STINT, ire butter excellent cream, plenty Of granite
bouloers Iumber of smart inance lots Of fat cat
tie and plentiful growth OF young boys, all fit 10 be
educated Tor Presidents Some OF the rc-est in the
State have resided here. Roy mona, who .
great Snowman Of wild animals, and y much
and modest than 5srn1m, has here striking
memorials OF his iiberalty. He died since,
having first donated IN. nry to establish frat class se.
miDaIy tor youth, anu some If connections
living a spendil palace the shores OF the lake,
joyg be prohs OF h,s iurtGhe, amassed By pokius up
the hons and making tae tigers growl.
The crive from Carmel to BAL WINS by the Lake Gi
,eac road affords the most picturesque scenery nave
met witD. Inoeec, It is much ike the mountain
road 10 Chamouny fron Msrtgpy py the Iete Noire
that Geneva OF the branches of the Rnole
TO Mont Blanc. well ID formed young fellow who was
in the wagon with me, who had been educated in S~i
zerisnd and had travelled foot over all the roads
leading to Mont Blanc noticed the similarity OF scenery
at Indeed scenery IN the country compare
with that around lake Aanopac
This region EVIDENTLY healthy There is at all
seasons . delicious, pure breeze from the lake. fet
viyipg the ehesL the atmos alter
bad been swelteripg the no. streets OF York
the morning after arrived after breakfast took
Walk Of ten twelve miles Mills through tncsets,
penir las, without feeling the slightest fatigue,
hrarng was the anG 20 envenng was the beauti-
tul scenery which surrounded CAS-
TLete are five houses near Lake Mahopac which
take bosroers ana Mr. Briggs IS buiieng new hotel IL
to De large euuoing, bus II has the most vlanous
location imaginable. rery have stuck new hotel on
little bit OF land, as II there was not room enough
and land enough the vicinity to put IL upon
site where there would be room, and plenty Of it,
to transact the muisiiarious business of such an
establishment. The house is To DE close TO the
lake. that all the dirt and filth will fall from
into the lake and destroy the purity beauty and ut
~ of the water understand that q company OF gen
tenen have purchased what called the Peninsula
the purpose OF building hotel upon it, 1t is NECK OF
pecuisr shape at the lover end the lake. uttng out
recently one OF the Wall papers advertise
ment sgned H. 0. g. O. T., advor raising for sale site
slcO0co and set good hotel ners he would find the
investment a paying one and Lake Hahopac might
easily be mace far attra tive than Newport Sara
toes or any other watering place on this size Of the
Atlantic
Bsldwin's Hotel is open. Baldwin has most re-
marsable les house. in which he is able to keep his
meats vegetables and poultry very much longer than
usual There great told about this Ice hou
but testify that his roast oee and beef steaks are
tender juicy and more agreeable palate than
the greatest In cuisine OF the splendid
thee dollars day hotels in New ork. Then mis- cream
is real cIeam-theres sham about it-no Barnum in
Baldwin. cup Of his cofes with mis- cream is the most
capital breakfast and would make Frenchman for
swear Pars.
In this mountainous region as have said before, we
find the springs and sources from which the Croton is
supplied; but If you want to taste the Crotoa in ITS
purity you must go up TO the Switzerland OF Amerca-
Putnsm county-and drink 1t from the springs about
Lake Mshopac IL seems remarkable that region with
such fine facilities for hekthful njoymsnt, should
be 10 little known until within the last few years In
New York city are tormented with intensely hot
weather season, and bitterly cold easteriy winds
L. hAra iuUn nd