New-York tribune., 1903-04-06
TO LOSE THEIR HOMES.
Westchester Landmarks to Make
Uay for W0terzCOrhcs.

Hundreds of people in Northern westchester
are in deep gloom the news received by them
last week that their farms and homesteads were
practically be wiped out by a big condemnation
proceeding which had just been begun by a com
mission appointed by the Supreme Court for the
purpose of maintaining and preserving that part of
the New York City water supply which flows into
the Kensico reservoir
The condemned territory of from
four five square miles. and has an estimated
population OF nearly a thousand people. all of
whom are now receiving notice that they will soon
have to vacate their homes and fee to higher
ground. II is estimated that the property confis-
Gated Will than million dollars. Most
of the land which is to be taken is in the town
of North Castle where scores of homesteads, barns
and orchards bordering on the Wampus River and
its tributaries will be completely oblterated. The
commission. which is composed Of Maurice Dillon.
of Port Chester; NJ. ]. Tierney. Of New-Rochelle.
and Howard Townsend, Of Manhattan. began its
sessions last week at the rooms of the Aqueduct
Commission No 66 Broadway
The commissioners have found that the pictur-
esote village of Armonk, because 1T lies directly
in The valley of the Wampus River. will suffer the
greatest destruction About one-haf Of the village
including a church, a graveyard containing three
hundred bodies; hotel saWmlil grlst mill
and barber shop will ne destroyed ~ o.
The most costly structure TO be razed is St Ste
Pe h7,ndred Years the old eice has stood in the
1i V eV and its bell has called the people for miles
around 10 worship. 1t was built in 1913, and is said
10 be the third Oldest church building IN West est
tanning the graves Of many Of the heroes OF, OF the
ReV
exhumed and buried in Kensico and other GENE
-.
,-iI1aeers is tie old barn the Halleck estate.
II was here in l77S that Major TaTnage, a RevoIu-
tionarv officer. had his headquarters. and that
Andre the British spy, was detained over night
after his capture near North Tarrytown. The barn
stands near the Wampus River, and is still in a
aood state Of preservation as II is built out OF
hand hewn oak shingles which are almost as dura-
bic iron "a ..,,o,,o
erist mill which has been in operation since li5f
The mill is owned by l. F. Knowlton, and IS known
to the farmers for many miles around me I. chil.
skating place, WamDus Pond. a BODY OF wafer
which covers forty-lVe acres in the village; MI
Knowlton the owner of the grist mill has ALREADY
appeared before the commission He was second IN
command to Admiral Farragut on the frgate hart
ford when that vessel down and captured the
Confederate war vessel Atlanta -,,,
Another old resident who has appeared is VIII
lam Searles. who owns thirty acres or Iaho IN
North Castle. His farm originally belonged 10 m nus
great grandfather. who fought in the teVou
arv War. II descended TO his grandfather, 70 ms
father and then him. The old Homestead. . nulIt
one hundred and fifty years ago. is stu stanolns;;
died nearly fifty members OF the Searles faInIily.
Mr Searles who is sixty years old ana mas
long and flowing white beard. has ralseq liliTte
of his own children in the old homestead 49,.
There are in all about hundred ahu tIi4it
who will appear TO give testimony rars III ar
gard to the value of their property. me Iaianss
dislike lose their hOmesteads ana lsnuhIXaII, Ie'
hut they learning how to make the New horh-
pay for them. they say.