New-York tribune., 1896-11-29
THE SUNNYSTDE LANE CONTEST.
AN OLD DEED IN EXISTENCE WHICH SHOWS THAT
THE HISTORIC PATH SHOULD Re A PUBLIC
HIGHWAY.

HIGHWAY
Among the many valuable old documents relating
TO the early history OF the town OF Greenhurg. West
chester County now In the possession " Benson Fer
ris the president Of the Westminster County Savings
Bank is deed signed In 1902 and cer,ilcat. OF ten
shares in the Highland Turnpike Company. dated isos
Just a; the present time this deed r. extremely
valuable nasmuch as II distinctly shows that Sunny
side Lane. which has been closed by order OF Alex
ander Duer Irving the present Of famou.
sunnyside. a public highway at the ,ime OF its
execution But tradition says that this lane a
public highway two hundred years ago. This
the people OF Trvng:on and Tarrytown say would be
sufficient for them 10 take action TO have the
lane rcopened. but when the deed in Mr.. Terr!ss
possession made public they had ample evidence
prove the case.
The deed. which ls dated March 81. 1902. was given
10 Oliver Ferris. grandfather OF Benson Ferris by
Jacob Van Tassel. OF this property sunnyslds now
forms part.
The following Is the description as given In the
deed "Beglnnng al Hudson River. at low water
mark. adjoining land in the possession OF Glode
Requa; thence running eastcrly BY said land as the
fence stands to the Post Road thence southerly
by said road to land now in possession Of Thomas
Hyndman: thence westerly by land OF said Thomas
Hyndman and Michael Mann. the fence now
stands. TO a small cherry tree marked; thence still
southerly. the fence stands by land OF
Michael Mann and Thomas Hyndman to the corner
Of the orchard OF said Jacob Van Tassel and Thomas
Hyndman; thence southwes,erly as the fence now
stands. by land Of Thomas Hyndman to a birch tres
by the brook adjoining tho road leading from the
Post Road to the Hudson River: thence westerly as
said brook runs. emptying itself. direct course west
into the Iudsop River, thence norihcrly by said low
water mark Of Hudson River to place OF beginning"
Twenty three years later. In Is-J. Benson Ferris
was born In the famous house on this property and
Woiferts koost-for it wasn't known as Sunnysde
at that iiine-to his SON ienson. the father OF the
OF his life there. In 1885 his father sold the
romantic place to Washington Irving. The place
was very much improved by him. and few mon his
were spent in getting 1t ready for him 10 occupy.
which & ne ala sixty years ago on mis- a,h the prop
Duer Irving. of New-Jersey.
took possession and Of the changes was erect
Ing fence across sunnysde Lane This. how
This caused much l-fecling on The part OF the
residents OF irvngton and Tarrytown against Mr..
In speaking OF the affair after showing the re-
the Sn Sss few rSna Hys e Mr. Gs sad
Island called on me and told me that he had just
across it.; was astonshcd and could hardly be-
lieye IT, To make sure. drove down to the lane
The deed which ] have just shown you tho lane is
distinctly mentioned. was born in that house in
Washington Irving Within that time wagon after
wagon passed over 1t to the beach. This is only
a part of the evidence that can be produced to
clent evidence Is at hand TO warrant the authori-
ties to act at once In the matter and remove tho
obstruction" $3.50
When the reporter asked James Bird president
OF the village OF Tarrytown, II any stems had
been taken by the Board of Trustees to remove
the obstruction. he said he not in a position
to answer the question at present.
The certificate mentioned is in an excellent state
OF preservation. and is probably the only one Of
Its kind now in existence. The certificate bears
the names OF Joseph Rowland. president and
The Highland Turnpike Company owned what "a
now Broadway. People who owned property along
the road were taxed to keep II in good condifion
and tolgates erected at intervals of every
few miles. The tolls received also went 10 main
tain the highway At that time II was CUSTOMARY
for those who owned property along the highway
to work out their taxes OH the road and save the
town OF Greenburg to-day who did this and they
arc not ashamed Of It ~ >'~'