New-York tribune., 1900-01-07
HISTORIC STONY POINT.
THE EFFORT TO HAVE THE STATE IN.
PROVE ITS RESERVATION OK THE
WEST BANK OF THE HUDSON.

Tor the purchase Of the thirty-three and seven
tenth acres of land on the west shore of the
Hudson River. known as Stony Point battle
ground and the society was made the trustee
Of the reservation. The purchase was made for
S2l,3o leaving unexpended balance Of
$500 in the States treasury. and the society
now wishes TO obtain the unexpended amount
Tor the purpose Of making improvements on the
historic land A bill has been prepared for in
PRODUCTION in the Legislature by the passage
OF which the amount will become available.
a committee, consisting of Samuel Parsons.
Jrr George F. Kunz H X. Bush-Brown and
! Edward Hagaman Hall, was appointed by the
society 10 take the Necessary steps. and in its
report TO the society said:
1t seems to your committee no more than lust
mat II this society assumes the responsibility
Tor the care of this reservation and gives its
@ auvlce and supervision as a public trustee with
ouI compensation. the State should supply the
means for making the physical Improvements
To this end the committee suggested that a
committee of three be appointed TO secure the
necessary legislation. and the president Of the
society appointed such committee Colonel
Henry W Sackett Charles 5 Francis and
Hugh Hastings
The property in question is the greater part of
| the Stony Point Peninsula jutuing into the Hud-
son River from its western shore. about thirty
eight miles north of New-York City. and about
WE'VE NiIitS south OF West Point.
THE LIGHTHOUSE RESERVATION.
The location is one Of such commanding I'M
portance that the United States Lighthouse SER
vice has acquired jurisdiction over about nine
acres at the extremity of the promontory. and
has erected there. exactly in the middle IF The
oLd Revolutionary fort and upon the site IF
its magazine, Government beacon for the
guidance Of passing vessels. part Of the
lighthouse reservation is cleared. and upon it
may be seen. in an excellent state IF preserva-
uon' some Of the ravelns which protected The
old fort from the river side
Ihe West Shore Railroad runs through = 5e-D
/ cut IN the western part of the peninsula and
/ lHe state reservation lies between the railroad
I cut ana the lighthouse property The ground is
almost Inaccessible there being no footpathe.
and the intervals between the trees are filed
50 JhIchly with low shrubbery and briers as 10
De almost impassable. except To the enternrfsfra
explorer or the man who gathers hrewood 5r
Christmas trees al the expense of the state
In its report the committee says:
The river between stony Point and Yer
plancks FONT on the opposite eastern shore is
but haI mile wide. To the south the stream
EXPANDS into the majestic Haverscraw Bay. i've
miles wide. the broadest part Of the river on
the western shore Of the bay the High Tom
Mountain. so feet high. foresha60v-s the sub
IIIlIty u the scenery which the traveller from
the south is approaching. while on The eastern
Snort spreads out a smiling LANDSCAPE Of beau
uful hills. peaceful intervaIes and thriving VIII
lagos. To the north Of Stony Point is PeekslzfU
Bay, above which. on either side OF the river
tower the giant sentinels Of the Highland pas
sage-th= Donderbcrg. 1.G9S feet high on the
western bank. and AnthOnys Nose ! 20 feet
high, on the eastern shore.
WhlcheVer way one looks his eve rests On
ground made classic by the history and tradi-
tons Of the country. and upon scenes abouniin-
/ IN reminders Of the truthful chronicles Of the
historian and th= legendary fancies Of the poet
and the romancer Mad Anth0ny's Uze1ure=lIe
and daring exploit. ArnoId's treason. Andres
Dutch goblin" the fearful apparitiCns Of the
phantom "stoTmship'' and a hundred other his
tories and hctions invest the region with a
fascinating interest second to that Of no other
on the Hudson.
The improvements suggested by the commit
tee include.
The clearing out oS the underground.
The judicious opening Of a few vis-as through
the densest growths Of trees, 50 that adequate
river views can be obtained.
The construction Of a carriage way into the
heart Of the reservation and few simple foot
paths
The erection of pavilion or shelter for picnic
parties similar 10 that IN Van Cortlandt Park.
and the Identification and relocation Of the Revo-
luuonary fortidcations
OLD KINGS FERRY.
In the days of the Revolution stony Point was
famous as the western terminus Of the old
Kings Ferry. The ferry was guarded on the