The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-16
FOR HUDSON MEMORIAL BRIDGE
HEARING on THAT AND THE
PARK PROJECT TO-DAY.
Scenic Preservation Society Wants Work
Begun soon. So That II May he Fin
ished in Five Years for the Tri-Cen-
tennIal OF the Rivers Discovery.


Begun soon. So That II May he Fin.
| ished In Five Years for the Tri-Cen-
| tennIal OF the Rivers Discovery.
The tri-centennial OF the discovery OF the
| Hudson River by Henry Hudson comes In
| five years, and arrangements are already
| being made by the American Scenic and
Historic Preservation Society, the Hudson
Tri-Centennial Association, the Municipal
/ Art Society, the Highway Alliance and
other bodies, to celebrate the anniversary.
A hearing will be given by the Board Of
Estimate and Apportionment at the City
Hall at 1880 this morning on the subject
OF the proposed Hudson Memorial Bridge
which, 1t has been suggested, should be
= erected across the Spuyten Duyyil Creek,
| and ON the project for park to be located
at the northern end Of Inwood Hill.
The Scenic and Historic Preservation
Society has taken an active interest in the
bridge idea. 1t is planned that the bridge
shall form connecting link between the
Riverside Drive system of Manhattan Island
and it's complement on the mainland.
With this idea, they argue, Ave years Ia
none too long time in which to get the
work.
The 2Ooth anniversary OF this discovery
was celebrated on Sept. 4. 1909. in the then
uncompleted City Hall under the auspices
Of the New York Historical Society. The
Hudson Tri-Centennial Association is
making arrangements for the next ceiepra-
ton on a very elaborate scale.
At a meeting of the Scenic and Historic
Preservation Society held on Feb. 4, this
year, the trustees considered the propo,,
sition to build a park at the northern end
of mile south Of Spuyten Duyvil Creek
the ridge which helps to form the upper
half of Manhattan Island along the Hudson
River is broken by low pass through
which Dyckman street runs to the river
at Tubby Hook. From Dyckman street to
the creek comprises about $50 acres, and 1t
goes by the general name OF Inwood.
At the northern end is a famous spring
and the local name Of that part Is Cold
Spring. Near the spring the bluffs reach
Cold Spring end viewed from the south is
symmetrical and rounded.
On this summit in the Revolution stood
fertilization known as the Cook Hill Fort.
There are already many residents at the
southern part Of this section, but the north
ern end 10 little changed. 1t is interesting
not only on account Of its beauty. but also
on account Of the fact that there may yet
be seen there traces and at least one habl-
taton Of it's aboriginal owners. The Indian
was situated in full view Of the spring
which spouts from the hillside in a pro-
tected nook. Near by the spring is very
handsome tulip tree, the trunk OF which
ia eighteen feet in circumference three
feet from the ground. 1t has been asserted
that this is the largest tree on Manhattan
Island Its roots strike down through
large bed Of oyster shells, thought to be
the remains Of Indian feasts.
1t is part OF a bed Of great extent, reach
ing from Cold Spring to the higher ground.
In these deposits many interesting Indian
relics have been found. One of the first
to explore this field was Alexander Craw-
ford Chenoweth, who was attached to the
engineering staff Of the Croton Aquednct
in 1881 He found many relics In the knoll,
Cold Spring and the rock shelters. These
shelters were used as habitations by the
Indians. All the specimens found by Mr..
Chenoweth are now in the American MI
scum of Natural History.
The shell heaps at Cold Spring continue
to yield Fragments Of broken pottery, arrow
heads, flint chips. bones and other evidences
that the place had been, an Indian camp.
1t was probably from this settlement and
from the village across the creek that the
Indians came out in their canoes and at
tackled Henry Hudson upon his return voy-
age down the river in 1909. This site 10
the last one at the upper end OF the island
that remains in anything like it's original
state, and the societies interested In it
hope that everything possible will be done
to preserve the only remaining trace OF New
York's first inhabitants.
In has been proposed that an extensive
pleasure resort be put on the hill, but this,
an eyesore Of what may be kept as beauty