Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-22
MANY ATTRACTIVE HOMES
"Idlewild," the Seat of the Poet
Willis.
A FINE NEW ROAD TO ALBANY
Most Expensive in State, Costing
From Ten to Fifteen Thou
sand a Mile.
RN WILLIAM r cJ-RTlS

Chicago Record Herald.
L-ON-THE-HUDSON.
July o. 1900.
There is a most delightful drive from
Newburs to Cornwall the former home
of n. p. Willis. the poet and author,
and the haunt OF many famous literary
people who were originally drawn there
by his attractions. The roadway reminds
you Of the midlands of England, for
it IS hemmed in by stone fences and
shaSCw-. h. c..e5:7.y oaks and elms sim
liar to those that border the estates
there.
There are several beautiful homes. One
of the Harpers of the publishing firm
has a fine old mansion in the center OF
velvet lawn. and his neighbors, whose
names the driver did not know, are
equally fortunate In their surroundings.
The road passes through the village
of New Windsor, named in honor OF the
royal seat in England, which was the
birthplace Of De Witt Clinton and other
famous men, and is identified with many
important events of the revolution. But
1t is sad to see several abandoned houses
going to wreck for want OF attention.
and some of them are relics OF colonial
times. There are five estates belonging
to different branches Of the Verplank
family. and a sixth, which burned down
many wears ago. has not been rebuilt:
Cedar Lawn, residence of the late Joel
7. Headley, the historian. an imposing
mansion. is occupied by brick manufac-
turer. who has painted 1t pink. and an
other beautiful old colonial home now be-
longs to an Italian foreman of the gang
that is building the new aqueduct.
Part Of Boulevard.
This road is part of the boulevard which
is now being constructed on the west
bank of the Hudson from Englewood.
n. j., as far as Albany, and when it is
finished it will be one of the grandest
drives in the world, equal in many re-
| spects to the famous Corniche road along
the Mediterranean, except that is chiseled
out of cliff overlooking the Mediter-
ranean, while this overlooks the Hudson.
For nearly seventeen miles In New Jersey,
and thirty miles in New York state, the
road clings to the rugged mountain side,
and is guarded by a strong baSustrade to
keep fractions horses and automobiles
from jumping down 150-foot precipice
into the water. When it is finished the
road will be 100 miles long, and it is being
built rapidly on both sides of West Point
as far south as Cornwall. from the north
and rs far north as Fort Montgomery,
the line of Orange county. seven miles
south Of West Point, but is there blocked
by Gro Nest and Storm King mountains.
1t was planned to pierce a tunnel through
them about half mile long. but a stone
company. which has a quarry that will he
interfered with. claimed $4,000 damages
which caused work to be suspended
There are two alternatives: One is to bore
a longer tunnel, 400 feet. which will
cost too much for the county, and the
other is to take a wide sweep westward
behind the mountains. leaving West Point
at the side. The question is now under
consideration.
Under New Law.
This road is being built under a new
law and a constitutional amendment
which authorizes the state 10 issue bonds
to $JO,O0o,OcO, and counties to borrow a
corresponding amount, to repair and con-
struct permanent hard roads, the state at
large to pay one-half and the counties
the other half the cost. This road is the
most expensive in the state and is cost
ing from $4,000 to $4,000 a mile.
South of West Point few miles on
the west shore Of the Hudson. and that
Is the questionable side Of the river, is
the country home OF Mr.. j. Pierpont Nor
CANA modest but comfortable and beau
tiful place. with all kinds Of greenhouses
for winter vegetables and fruit, mag
nificent groves of trees and far-reachling
lawns. Mr.. Morgan had his famous dog
kennel here until recently, and you will
remember that his coilies have taken
the prizes at the dog shows every year
sold as high as 5000 each, but for some
reason he has gone out OF the dog bust
ness and has given away all but two or
three family pets.
Another famous man who lives on. the
west side just below West Point is the
venerable John BigelOw, editor author,
diplomatist and man of the world, who
has seen and done more during the nine
ty-tWo years that he has lived than any
OF his fellow-men that l know of He
was born in 1877, was a reporter on the
New York Evening Post when he was
tWenty-one years old, was managing ed
itor for many years, became a partner of
William Cullen Bryant in the ownership
minister to France and Germany, sec
rotary of state for New York and has
held several other offices. He wrote the
biographies OF William Cullen Bryant.
BENJAMIN franklin and Samuel J. Tilden.
and was one OF the trustees of Tilden's
will. which left several millions OF dol
lars to found library in New York.
Last winter the New York legislature
| passed an admirable law in imitation OF
| the Roosevelt forestry policy, creating a
forest reserve Of about seventy five
square miles of wild mountain land in
| the highlands of the Hudson on the west
| side OF the river. between Cornwall and
Tompkins Grove, which includes the three
noble moutains, Storm King Gro Nest
and Dunderberg. Hereafter the cutting
| Of all timber within the reservation will
| be done under the direction and control
OF the state forest, game and fish COM
| mission. which will also protect the tim
| Der against fire in the same manner as 1t
| Is already done in the Atlirondacks.
| This is q new departure i'm state legis-
] lation. and similar laws have been pro-
posed in Maine, Pennsylvania and Louisi-
| ana. These forests are private property,
but the owners made no protest and the
most of them assented cheerfully to the
| legislation. 1t Is now proposed to pur-
| chase the greater part Of this land as a
permanent state reserve and establish
a nursery similar to that already main
tanned in the Adirondacks for the pur-
| pose of furnishing Seeding trees, both
| for the state and for private owners
areas. This reserve begins within twenty
miles of the northern boundary of the
| city of New York. and extends nearly as
| far northNard as Newburg Most of
| the trees are hard wood-chestnut and
| oak, and many are at least two hundred
| years old.
"Idlewild," Home Of Willis.
| Idlewld. for several years the home
of N. p. Willis. now belongs to Charles
! Curie. a New York lawyer, who makes
| 1t his summer residence, and keeps the
| house open all winter SO that he can
| spend his Sundays and holidays here.
| He bought the place about twenty wears
ago from Charles Courtney who mr.
chased it from the Willis family. Mr..
Courtney was the inventor Of the
whistling buoy