New-York tribune., 1880-01-18
OLD C0CKLOFTHALL.
THE BIRTHPLACE OF "sALMAGUYDI.


Fton ne Nc,rrrk 4d,ecth0
Doubtless many readers of HE Jdrrti'er are aware
OF the fact that the venerable mansion standing
on the northeast corner OF Mount Ileasant-aye. ana
Gouyerneur-sf. was at ono time Intimately aSsOc-
atcd with Washington Irving. Inc house was
buiit by Nicholas GOuyerncuT during the middle OF
the last century, and at ms death the property
passed into the hands Of his brother, Isaac GOuFeI-
ncur. IN 1898 G0Ncrucur hciHbc inherited the
estate from his uncle, the alovcInamed. During
this early period the place was known as M"u"t
Pleasant. bUt II was chnSteucd Cockiolt iiall, BY
Washington Irving, during Gouve intur hcmDir :
timr. tine irlicitOus writer also dubbed the bachc-
lnr urouricfnr The Patron" The mansion, III It's
orlgnli condition., wasa PLAIN two-'oiy auair win
wings to the hrst floor. porch, over when clam
lcrcd creeping h0ueysucklc', en!lNencd the lr0hi,
between wnicn and the highway was a Some"h3'
prctcntious garden. On the opposite side, extend
iug from the mansion 10 the rlVcr' was siopihe
lawn studded with fruit trees.
What was known the eastern door admitted
into the ChILe-c Saloon while i.on oach slCc
doors opcued To the wings. tie whole forming q
snite of rooms some sixty feet IN lengt!. In the
siory above were several odd chnmbeE, known a.
the Green Morcen.' the Red Sik.' tho fink
ChIntzn and the " Blue thintz.' all of them being
set If with furniture ol rare antique pattern
There wdS an apartment oH the inst iOur devoted 20
family portm.ts-thc dignined ancestors OF The
bachelor proprietor. bOuternrur hemDle S14d Tue
property 80 SIS. and since them ircm year 10 year.
tine estate ha4 undergone radical transformation.
strange 90 .ay very little interest has been mani
ie.teo in prescrving the identity Of those haun!s
wh ch arc cmbancd ~ the immortal pages oi sal
magundi'
lle Oiu ltdll NJ present IdN ll' dlI"'il VI IL
moloTn dwelling; ~ has an additional story, has
dcgcncratcd INTO 4 French rooi and, IN fact looks
nothing more nor less t'an ccnntTy-s at 81 to-day.
There are Thousands, I'm all probability. who nave
read "SllnaptuoI" who have au idea CucklOit Hail
Is but a Imaginary haunt. and thit the characters
me- toned ia cunncc ION with the aucirni seal are
bur tie fauCu! creations cDJurcd t.rth ~ the p3-
t.nt wand ui the riftcd folnanccI The frame work
of the OIL Hal -tIli stands something hr an an
tque dame bcdZrned ~ the prevailing iurhelows of
TODAY. old trccS wave over TIE stored haunt rs
they dld when Irving mOranzrd and pmiosODn.led
on tuc eaa mutations incosut To huuah me- ana IL
a humorous NciE mat cHIZrN ihc loliet ol society,
In a northern direction rom the Han. IN former
wears. there was "A valley, which began near the
highway NOW known as Brilcylcayc, and pursued
a selpentine course to tHe bank bordering oh The
Passaic Traces Of this pictures que and romantic
ynle still remain. though terribly cut up 10y t1e
varou, avenues which rua tircu ,h IT." Mount
Pleasant estate. Ii was IN tbs valley Christ =
phcr" used to have "A i,l-pDnd. AMI when asked
why he put himself 10 80 much trouble replied
" There is nothing like having things T. onea,it'