New-York tribune., 1918-08-25
Over Armenia Mountain Leads
A Pleasant 150-Mile Tour
Hudson and Harlem
Valleys Offer Fine
Scenic Route

The scenic attractions Of West
chester, Putnam and Dutchess counties
are so we'll known to most New York
motorists that allusion to the subject
in touring article may seem unncces-
sary. Each summer, however. sees new
car owners who use their automobiles
for touring, and some suggestions of
trips within a reasonable mileage of
the city may not be out of place. Then.
too, the scenery presented by the
verdure clad hills and dales of the
Hudson and Harlem valleys and the
thousands of enthusiastic tourists.
never fails to disclose new and un-
expected beauties on each return visit.
To the motorist passing through for
the first time its appeal is instan-
taneous.
For a thoroughly enjoyable run Of
about $50 miles the Bureau of Tours
of the Automobile Club of America
recommends the following route: On
leaving the clubhouse on Fifty-fourth
Street proceed north by Broadway or
Harlem Valley, and by the Albany Post
Road route through Yonkers and Hast
ings- gs-on-Hudson TO Dobbs Ferry, where
it is necessary to follow the Sawmil
sRiver Road through Elmsford and East
View to Briarclitf. then on across to
Ossinng, connecting the main route.
as there is road construction at larry
town and rather mean detour pro-
vided between Irvington. and Tarry-
ntprv {iy,ro !,
through Harmon, Peekskil and Fish
kill to Wappingers Falls and straight
on to Poughkeepsie, seventy four miles
from New York.
This handsome old city, founded by
the Dutch in 1898, is finely located
on bluff 200 feet above the river, COM
manding extensive views across the
Hudson. 1t is notable as the seat of
Eassar, whose stately college buildings
occupy a spacious site a mile or two
east of the city. 1t is interesting to
know that Poughkeepsie received it's
peculiar name from a corruption of
the Indian words apo-keep- -sinck, "safe
harbor."
Leaving the Hudson at Poughkeep-
sic, an exceptionally picturesque road
leads through Arlington and along Lit
tie Wappngers Greek by way of aptly
named Pleasant Valley to Millbrook,
and summer resort of charm located
900 feet above sea level amid some of
the finest scenery of fair Duchess
County. Millbrook rs sixteen miles
from Poughkeepsie and ninety miles
from the start of the trip.
On the homeward portion of the
route through Mabbettsville to Lithgow
the road gradually continues to rise
till short distance further on the
motorist finds himself gazing down the
wonderfully engineered grades and
perfect surface of the road on Della
vergne Hill that leads down across the
Wassaic Creek to Armenia. The view
from the top of Delavergne Hill (some
times called Armenia Mountain) gives
a remarkable impression of wooded
valley and fertile plain. with rolling
highlands rising range beyond range
till hidden from view in the purple
haze near the horizon.
With a southerly turn in Armenia
the road traverses a pleasant stretch
of valley land narallel with the Con-
necticut state line through Wassaic.
Dover Plains. South Dover and Wing
dale to Pawling. run of twenty-four
miles over very fair surface for the
most of the way.
At Patterson, south Of Pawling, the
route turns right and pursues wind
ing course among the hills to Carmel,
on Lake Glenida, where it enters the
watershed district
Skirting the eastern shore Of West
Branch Reservoir, the road drops south
to Lake Mahopac, a picturesque sheet
of water amid scenery Of the most ro-
mantle character. Round the south
ern shore of the lake the route pro-
ceeds through Amawalk Station. York
town Heights and Croton Lake Station
Just beyond long iron bridge is
crossed at Pines Bridge and the main
road followed to Briarcliff, returning
to New York over the Saw Mill River
Road and Broadway