New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26
FIELDSTON A WELL
PLANNED COLONY
In Riverdale Section, Noted
Not Long Ago for Large
Country Places Only.
EIGHTEEN NEW HOUSES
ON THE DEVELOPMENT
Character of Improvement Made
Has Also Resulted In Building Of
Some Private Schools There

Riverdale- on " udson, situated (, g.
upper part Of this city. overlooking N.
Hudson River on the west and Van Corr,
landt Park on the east, in former year.
consisted OF only large country places
A map Of 1853, by NJ. ID. Ripps sho,..
such familiar names as Schermerborn
Morton. Morris. NeyIn. Forest. Delanelo
Akerman and Van Cortlandt shortly
after this date a number OF prominent
residents Of tho city. notably the Bah.
cock, Pyne, Hartman, Appleton ana
Morris families. built their own residences
near the new Riverdale railway station
which took the place Of the old station
at Fieldston. These families sold a mum.
Der Of smaller plots 70 their friends, and
the value OF the property reached point
where $4,000 an acre was considered rea.
sonable.
Situated on the slope OF the hill facing
Van Cortlsndt Park and Broadway was
what might be called the Van Cortlandt
section Of the property. a few private
houses. such az those that belonged 10
the Hutchins, Dash, Barney and Van
Cortiandt families, were grouped on the
hill IN the southern section. while the
northerly slope near the YOnkers line
stood vacant but for one small, narrow
street with a few country places along il.
DEVELOPMENT stood still for many years
and the Rlverdsie section showed but
little progress Even the construction Of
the subway had but little effect until the
city threatened TO open streets through
the district on thu oid-fashioned method
OF square blocks. The Delahed family
and others, knowing the sacrifice Of
nroperty that would be entailcd by this
method. through their own engineers and
with the aid OF city engineers remapped
the district, and nave built many streets
nv private contract Within the las'
tbrae wears this work has PROGRESSED
rapldlv. and some eighteen new ouliuihss
have been constructed by purchasers o.
rlots at Fieldston for their own use
and we'll known architects have MADE
them country homes OF artistic quaiity.
Encouraged By this. the Barnard Scnool
baq erected a fine modern oulidins iOl
bovs The Horace Mann schooi anu
-reacbers College are constructing
playground and large school BUILDING sp
tho Riverdale Country Schooi LOT DYE
o,c,,r,,es two OF the old country places OF
Tho Fast Riverdale road and Is caI'sns
-, = most successful educational serene
,,,,,o demand for property in this sec''OA
;e very great, and educauon@i So
,,ons are creating much OF inns ue"A-.-
-, roason Of the fact that the prop'l
hr,,e,nq I'D Of a boy requires eouHs'
'i,a Ind country sports, together WIN '''
onportunity to live at nome .,,.,
n-o.r-e has endowed this hill secNOn
.,a citv. reaching 10 a height OF -
feet with a wonderful naturai iA"D' -
arcbitecture. The ground Is Oh a iO"A
otaracter. covered with trees tne iV'H
- u,hich the hill is formed snoNn'7
.r,o,,gh much Of the land. II u'
,,.I,ost noint in any part OF the srea'sl
c,tv Of New York. The streets &c
,ade to conform with the topoe'@P"'
and wind around the hills ana roCA~
rha highest body Of water WITHIN Wv.
citv limits lies in the midst OF W. :,
rr;o1dston On account of the oeau'!
49, aogwoods and other trees III wv
.nr,nQ this spot has been In great u
r,ond for entertainments for chal',''
COMO ~ which have attracted large sa'"'
erings. ..-. ....r,s 10
A. % the future, the district seems -
he ideal for residences. For not ONE a.
,t.re restrictions upon the various p'O's
49, tba character of the land lnlPos-s
restrictions OF its own. Inc ap~' - -.
house builder is at disadNah'aSe
ro,sor Of the height Of the land ara ~
aieic,I,v Of rock excavation, SO tha' ~
onnsoach must. at all events be 'e''
distant , "a
Many forms Of recreation are open
.h, residents The Fieldston Tennis 0'uO
&c on the property; golf is to be nau
tho links of Van Cortlandt' direcu'
rosite Fieldston. also at Dun"oodie' As
slev and 81. Andrews, half an hour wv
hv motor or train. Horseback rdns %"
ne enjoyed on the bride pains u
mark which are always kept In gooo ~,
d,tion. Attractive motor trips raulS'e
every direction on the best OF rosos' ~
torboating and yachting on 'he -,
arc fostered by good anchorage NC"
Fieldston. and polo, baseball ana 80"
on tho great field at Van Cortlahu'
co,,nIate the cycle OF summer spo.
Skating and coasting are popular
sports here.