The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-06-20

family fortune, and a fondness that he
| developed for country life led him to
spend much time on large farm, near
Red Hook. He came gradually to take
entire charge of this property, part of
which was let out to John Dinehart, a
fairly good farmer, but man of no
property. Dinehart had five sons and
| two daughters, and until he moved to
| Red Hook lived in Columbia County, at
"a place known as Copake Iron Works.
On what is known as Cook q Hill. over
looking the station of Copake Iron
Works, which is on the Harlem branch Of
the New York Central, Dinehart's
children were born. The farmer 3 child
rem were not particularly different from
any other people in that neighborhood,
except that they enjoyed the advantage
Of having mother who was educated
beyond the ordinary farmers wife. The
children were given the benefit of this.
SO that, besides the learning which they
absorbed IN the country schools, they
We're polished I'D at home, and taught
to read books that ordinarily do not find
ant farmer.
The youngest daugher. Malvina, was
the beauty of the family, and, for that
matter, of the neigbborhood. Even to-
day the older men who gather in the
| village stores of that section of Column
bia County will tell tales of her good
looks. Henry Astor sucoum bed almost
at once to Malvina's attractions. He
fell honestly in love with her, and asked
her to marry him. She consented. Then
came tho storm at home. Henry was
then in the 30's. and while he lacked the
keen business qualities of his family, he
had all the traits of determination, even
to the point of stubborness. His father
and his brothers stormed at him. He
was threatened with disinheritanoe and
ostraoism. But he remained firm. He
would marry Malvina at any cost, and
he did. Then came the formal family
recommendations accommodation
that has endured all these years.
| Young Astor settled down with his
wife and the Dineharts on a Red Hook
farm until the arrangements that settled
his comparatively modest fortune upon
him were completed. Then he looked
about for permanent location, and set
tied on the spot that Is now variously
known as West Copake Astorville. and
Anderson's Corners. Here he bought
700 or 800 acres of land. At point very
nearly in the center he erected the house
in which he now lives. From the cupola
which surmounts the house, can be seen
the hillside farm on which Mrs. Astor
was born. The nearest railway is the
Philadelphia, Reading and New Eng
land, which runs from Hartford to
Poughkeepsie, and which has a st ton
at Copake, some four or five miles dis
tant from West Copake. The H rem
railway station is two or three miles
further away, at the iron works, and is
the nearest point of embarkation for New
York. The Berkshire hills just across
the State line OF Massachusetts can be
seen here nd there through gaps in the
| Taghkanio mountains which lie on the
New York side.
When Mr.. Aston came into the locality,
the land, which is now cultivated on all
sides, was for the most part unbroken,
and of West Copake there was nothing.
Now it presents the appearance of a
model village, with prosperity apparent
ly Astounding on every hand. The land
which he bought was divided into farms
among his five brothers-in-law, the
Dinehart boys Three of them, at least,
made use of their opportunities. William
Dinehart developed into breeder of cele-
DRAFTED trotting horses. He died recently,
leaving comfortable fortune. John
and Dell Dinehart live in large substan-
tial houses across the road from the resi-
dence of MIR. Aston. Their grounds are
as we'll kept as those of city park
But the interest of all visitors in that
section. of course, centers in the Astor
residence itself. 1t is by no means q
handsome structure from an architecture
al point of view. Tt looks not unlike @
square box surmounted by French roof
and topped off by q cupola in the center
of the front. 1t stands perhaps $50 feet
back from road that is as well kept as
|
fully fifteen feet in height, screens the
lower part of the house entirely. Only
the second and third story windows with
the cupola, can be seen from the road
A carriage path leading under fine trees
cuts the ground in two parts. The lawns
ara in excellent condition at all times,
and two or three pieces of crude statuary
give park-like appearance to the
grounds. This appearance is further
heightened by largo ornamental green
house that lies to the left of the resi-
dence, and by numerous benches that
are scattered throughout the grounds
| A close inspection of the house destroys
much of the pleasant impression that is
formed when it is seen at some distance
between the trees. 1t is painted a bright
yellow, and the construction is cheap and
cramped. The front porch is not over
four feet wide. The doors and windows
all show need of the painters brush.
They are cracked and weather stained.