The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-05-26
HOHrS With Men and Women Of
the Revolution.
TWIN SISTERS.

lCopyrighte6, 1888, bV Funk & IFdenolls.
On pleasant day in early March, 1861,
l crossed the Hudson River in small! boat
with an expert oarsman, from the ives ern
shore of Tapaan Bay to the mouth of the
Croton River. | was then on the quest
for materials for my Hudson from the
Wilderness to the Sea-" first published in
the London Art Journal. We passed
| little squadrons of thin floating ice on the
way, and tariied awhile at Croton former
ly Teller's) Point, visiting the pretty Italian
villa and the vineyards OF DIR. Underhill,
where hundreds of tons OF lucious grapes
were raised every year. We then rowed
up Croton Bay and passed under the draw
bridge Of the Hudson Riycr Railway into
the mouth OF the Croton River. We found
the current OF the stream very rapid, for
! the tide In the Hudson was ebbing.
When nearly abreast the Van Cortlandt
Manor House, the oarsman found IL impos-
sible to stem the current any longer, and as
the water was too shallow to bear the boat
to the right bank as desired, was landed
on the rugged left bank. | clambered up
the activity along the margin of little
brook. cheered by the notes of ito mel the
first bluebird OF the season, perched on a
spray overhead Following the post-road
that skirted the elevated shore Of the
stream, | reached the ricketty high
bildge"-the famous 'Croton Bridge" OF
Revolutionary limes-at near sunset. 1t
was a picturesque structure, spanning a
rocky gorge, through which the Croton
river was running rapidly. Near the
bridge obtained charming view of the
mouth of the Croton, with Dover Kill Is
land near, the broad Tappaan Bay and the
blue hills in the distance beyond.
| After making sketch of The old bridge
l strolled down the road OH the right bank
OF the Croton, as 1t sloped toward the Hud
son, and reached the Van Cortlandt Manor
House at twilight. At its entrance gate
met Colonel Pierre Van Cortlandt, the pro
prietor of the estate, and accepted his cor
dial invitation to pass the night under bis
| a
Cortlandt, daughter of the eminent Pro
fessor It. Romeyn Beck of Albany. Tn,
house, yet preserved in Its ancient aspect
is near the shore of what was once the up
which vessels of considerable size ofteI
anchored, and which was the resort of vas
! docks of wild ducks and shoals of shad
Early IN 1s4l heavy rains and melting
SHOWS caused the sweeping away of th'
great Croton Dam, and an immense volume
Of water released rushed riverward, carry
ing with 1t loosened earth sufficient TO hal
fill Croton Bay and convert much of It int,
a shallow stream.
The Van Cortlandt Manor House wa,
erected at the beginning OF the last centur!
by John Van Cortlandt, son of Stepher
Van Cortlandt, the first proprietor of th'
great domain, whose father, Oloff Steyeni
Van COrtlandt, was lineal descendant o
the Dukes of Courland, in Russia. Hi
ancestors, when deprived of their duchy
emigrated to Holland, whence Orloff cam,
to New Netherlands in 1880. in the service
of the Dutch West India Company. Th'
family name was Stevens or Stevenson
that OF Van Corlandt being only titulsr
The family became allied by marriage. II
time with the Van Rensselaers, the Schuy
lers, the Bayards, the Deleysters, til,
Llylngstons, and other leading families il
the province and State.
The Manor House WAS built OF heav,
stone, and the thick walls of the basemen
story we're pierced with loopholes for tn,
use of musketry, In defence. These still
remain. The mansion commands, from ID
broad piazza in front, an extensive view L
the southwest of Tappaan Bay and thu
rugged hills beyond. Il is sheltered on thu
north by high bill covered with sturd,
forest trees.
Al the lime of my visit there WAS
broad lawn at the front, aud path lie,
through the old garden to the ancien
ferry house, building occupied during tn
Revolution as a guard-house. The BaroI
de Kalb was stationed there In 1913, ant
In the winter of 1852 detachment of New
York levies, having just returned ther
from scout to Norrissnta, were surprise,
at a barn near the ferry house by some o
the enemys cAYalry. One of the Cont
nenlals" was killed: the remainder escape,
on the Ice. The broad entrance hall of th
mansion was adorned by the horns OF state
ly stegs, killed on the manor when will
deer roamed over the doman. The room
we're enriched with many family portraits
ancient and modern, and other works 0
art ;and the library displayed many preclou
mementoes Of ths colonial and Reyolu
tionary period, sufficient to hold the al
tentlon of the curious antiquary for days.
On the morning after my arrival At III
Manor House Mrs. Van Cortlandt invite
me TO visit aged twin sisters living n tn
CIoton. about two miles up the river. Sh
kindly accompanied me 70 Introduce me .
the onasenATians--thsT were oTsr ninet
years OF age On ths way We drove INF