Croton-on-Hudson, NY · Sunday, October 18, 2026· Oct 18, 2026Independent, AI-assisted local reporting from public recordsSource-linked·Corrections welcomed
Historical maps, engravings, photographs, and illustrations from primary source books and archives.
859 images from local collections and national archives
One gallery entry per reviewed image. The best available copy is shown; alternate copies and their catalog records remain accessible. Distinct views, pages, and print variants are kept.
Showing 859 images
Valeria Home4 images
The earlier summer camp and planned cottage landscape, published in 1921
Valeria Home: Keg Mountain landscape, published 1921
Landscape captioned as a northward view of Keg Mountain from a suggested cottage site. The suggested site is not a completed cottage or an established camera coordinate. Complete published page from Carl E. McCombs’s February 1921 article, not an isolated photograph. Photographers and exposure dates unidentified; publication does not date construction. No image is assigned to a Salt Hill tower, well, dam or ruin.
Contemporary account describes a farmhouse adapted before a 1918 offer to the Government,1919 Vacation Association use and May 1920 camp opening. The inset visibly shows a porch/veranda although its printed caption calls it the road to the village; that mismatch is retained. No building identification is inferred. Complete published page from Carl E. McCombs’s February 1921 article, not an isolated photograph. Photographers and exposure dates unidentified; publication does not date construction. No image is assigned to a Salt Hill tower, well, dam or ruin.
Photograph captioned as a westward view of the Westchester hills from a suggested cottage site. The six-cottage colony and service buildings in the text were tentative plans, not documented completed construction. Complete published page from Carl E. McCombs’s February 1921 article, not an isolated photograph. Photographers and exposure dates unidentified; publication does not date construction. No image is assigned to a Salt Hill tower, well, dam or ruin.
Two photographs retain their original captions: the camp garden and maple trees in front of the then-present building. The text says architects Delano and Aldrich and Charles H. Higgins had been chosen and construction would follow plan approval; expected 1922 occupancy was a forecast, not an opening record. Complete published page from Carl E. McCombs’s February 1921 article, not an isolated photograph. Photographers and exposure dates unidentified; publication does not date construction. No image is assigned to a Salt Hill tower, well, dam or ruin.
Two exterior photographs of Arthur S. Vernay’s Tudor house at Ossining, identified as the Croft by comparison with labeled photographs in Teatown’s 2018 report. The period caption describes imported English materials and says the terrace and stone wall were new; these are contemporary descriptions, not authentication of the materials’ age. The April 1916 issue date establishes publication; photograph exposure and house construction dates are not established. Full page from The Craftsman, volume XXX, no.1, consecutive p.68 (unnumbered plate; number inferred from sequence), Internet Archive object n89. Visible photograph credit: S. G. Mitchell, New York; original credit remains on the full plate.
Public domain in the United States (1916 US publication)
The hall and living room of Arthur S. Vernay’s house at Ossining, published as a complete page. The hall photograph shows the carved balcony, exposed timbers and fireplace; the living-room photograph shows paneling and furniture. Claims about antique furnishings remain the period captions’ descriptions. The April 1916 issue date establishes publication; photograph exposure and house construction dates are not established. Full page from The Craftsman, volume XXX, no.1, consecutive p.69 (unnumbered plate; number inferred from sequence), Internet Archive object n90. Visible photograph credit: S. G. Mitchell, New York; original credit remains on the full plate.
Public domain in the United States (1916 US publication)
County GIS composite around the future Gouveia Park before the Jurka house was permitted. Geographic excerpt exported from the county raster service; not an individual uncropped flight print. Local exposure day is not identified. Compare with the 1976 layer in Map layers.
County GIS historical aerial composite. Original flight contractor credited; no open reuse license identified.
County GIS composite showing the Jurka-era house, driveway and surrounding land before Gouveia ownership. Geographic excerpt exported from the county raster service; not an individual uncropped flight print. Local exposure day is not identified. Compare with the 1960 layer in Map layers.
County GIS historical aerial composite. Original flight contractor credited; no open reuse license identified.
The house before village acquisition, with its glass upper floor above the stone lower level. Native embedded JPEG retained without cropping or retouching; visible date stamp September 7, 2011.
Tri-State Engineering, P.C.; no open reuse license identified in the inspected report. Limited historical-document illustration; consult the creator for further reuse.
The 2011 facade view records the projecting upper floor, lower stonework and garden figures. Native embedded JPEG retained without cropping or retouching; visible date stamp September 7, 2011. Shown at the house, not a surveyed camera position.
Tri-State Engineering, P.C.; no open reuse license identified in the inspected report. Limited historical-document illustration; consult the creator for further reuse.
Complete preliminary plat as reproduced on PDF page 29 of the assessment. Three proposed lots total 15.690 acres. The drawing records the residence, garage, drive, brooks and pond; it does not establish that the subdivision was completed or define present legal boundaries. Original orientation retained.
Chas. H. Sells, Inc.; no open reuse license identified. Public municipal record reproduction; consult the creator for further reuse.
Complete winter flight print over the Hudson River, Croton Point, Crugers and surrounding land. Rows of anchored vessels, frozen ponds and the road corridor are visible. The margin dates the exposure February 20, 1965. Original orientation and margins retained; the Gouveia locality is within this regional view. This frame is distinct from the 1960 composite excerpt. It is not registered as an overlay and is not used to infer building absence or a precise boundary.
No open reuse license or public-domain basis identified in the inspected county index, viewer or collection pages. Original flight-series credit retained; rights undetermined.
Complete flight print over Croton and the Hudson River, dated May 7, 1970 in its margin. Original orientation and margins retained; the Gouveia locality is within this regional view. A dense scan pattern also appears in the full original PDF. County filename C_10 and visible frame numbers 26 15 are different identifiers, both retained. This frame is distinct from the 1976 composite excerpt; it is not registered as an overlay or used to date construction.
No open reuse license or public-domain basis identified in the inspected county index, viewer or collection pages. Original flight-series credit retained; rights undetermined.
Captioned On-site Pond in the report. The photograph bears September 9, 2011, rather than the September 7 date on the house views. Native embedded JPEG; vegetation and water appearance describe that visit, not present conditions.
Tri-State Engineering, P.C.; no open reuse license identified in the inspected report. Limited historical-document illustration; consult the creator for further reuse.
The report records a second casing northwest of the two-car garage. This dated photograph documents its appearance in September 2011; it does not date installation, identify it as the 1966 supply well, or establish its present condition. Shown with the broad outbuilding locality; the casing itself is unlocated.
No open reuse license identified. Limited historical-document illustration with creator and source credit; consult the creator for further reuse.
Captioned 3 Bay garage on Part 1 PDF page 34 of Tri-State Engineering’s September 21, 2011 assessment. Camera stamp September 7, 2011. Native embedded JPEG preserved without retouching or upscaling. Shown at the broad outbuilding group; no surveyed historic footprint or present condition is asserted.
Tri-State Engineering, P.C.; no open reuse license identified in the inspected report. Limited historical-document illustration; consult the creator for further reuse.
The assessment labels this photograph “Two car garage with storage area.” The date printed in the image is September 7, 2011. This is a different structure from the separately captioned three-bay garage; individual construction dates and the exact camera position are unestablished.
No open reuse license identified. Limited historical-document illustration with creator and source credit; consult the creator for further reuse.
Larger unretouched reproduction retained as the source master. Marc Cheshire / Croton History dates the underlying image approximately 1860–1870 and credits Ken Sargeant’s reproduction of an image in the Ossining Historical Society collection. Original photographer and exact exposure date unknown. The source describes a probable tintype; that medium has not been independently verified.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Lightened version published by Croton History. Marc Cheshire / Croton History dates the underlying image approximately 1860–1870 and credits Ken Sargeant’s reproduction of an image in the Ossining Historical Society collection. Original photographer and exact exposure date unknown. The source describes a probable tintype; that medium has not been independently verified.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Cropped and adjusted detail of the gateway lettering. Marc Cheshire / Croton History dates the underlying image approximately 1860–1870 and credits Ken Sargeant’s reproduction of an image in the Ossining Historical Society collection. Original photographer and exact exposure date unknown. The source describes a probable tintype; that medium has not been independently verified.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Original poster advertising the Southern Freedom Movement rally at Temple Israel, Glengary Road, with Hansberry named as chair. Reproduced from the archive’s offered Standard image; no upscaling. The second archived image is the largely blank reverse and is not installed as a separate program.
NYPL reviewed this item but could not conclusively determine its copyright status. No public-domain or open-license claim. Original designer unidentified.
Undated photograph published by Croton Arboretum and Sanctuary. The finished boardwalk curves through wetland vegetation. This is not a dated construction photograph or identification of the 2010 extension. Photographer unidentified. Full hosted master retained without cropping or artificial detail.
No open reuse license stated on checked page; preserve organization credit and original URL. Root owns final reuse/editorial review.
Undated photograph published by Croton Arboretum and Sanctuary showing the gazebo and its boardwalk approach. The organizer dates the first gazebo dedication to April 1998; the photograph’s exposure date is unknown. Photographer unidentified. Full hosted master retained without cropping or artificial detail.
No open reuse license stated on checked page; preserve organization credit and original URL. Root owns final reuse/editorial review.
Undated photograph published by Croton Arboretum and Sanctuary showing a tree-identification sign beside a tree. Organizer Karen Jescavage-Bernard reported the Tree Trail signage in 2018; this photograph is not independently dated to that installation. Photographer unidentified. Full hosted master retained without cropping or artificial detail.
No open reuse license stated on checked page; preserve organization credit and original URL. Root owns final reuse/editorial review.
Official visitor schematic showing boardwalk, gazebo, wetland, streams and connecting trails. No scale/grid or survey coordinates; it has not been registered as a historical overlay. Map artist and publication year are not identified.
Reproduction from the organization’s public visitor map. No open reuse license stated; map artist not identified.
Atlas detail reproduced by Croton History showing A. P. Gardiner’s Hessian Hill holding, the curved approach and neighboring owners. Historical acreage labels do not establish modern legal boundaries.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The postcard identifies A. P. Gardiner’s country home. Reproduced by Marc Cheshire / Croton History; the exact match of each pictured building to surviving walls has not been surveyed.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The printed caption names Gardiner’s summer home. Landscape view reproduced by Croton History; it is not a picture of today’s standing manor clubhouse.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Photograph cropped from the original embedded page scan on printed p.33, preserving the complete photo area; the full source retains its identifying caption. Steep-roofed stone house amid course grading. Photographer and exact camera position unknown. Publication does not establish a 1911 building date or Larkin ownership.
Photograph reproduced from Golf Course News, August 1995, p.33. Photographer unidentified; copyright/reuse status unresolved. No open-license or public-domain claim.
Two plan excerpts reproduced in Ralph G. Mastromonaco’s October 19, 2020 memorandum: buildings beside the clubhouse and a wetland rehabilitation area. The engineer describes them as overlays of earlier Village approvals. This is the complete explanatory figure page, including its captions and engineer credit. It does not establish construction dates, current conditions or the complete original plan boundaries. No new building or wetland coordinates are inferred. Full-page 300-dpi PDF composite (2550×3300); the original contains raster strips at different native resolutions. No crop, retouching or artificial detail. Original three-page PDF preserved for the best available source.
Modern engineering reproduction; no open reuse license supplied. Engineer and municipal archive credits retained; no public-domain claim.
Postcard inscribed Grand Street North at Mt. Airy Avenue. Unpaved street, circular cistern at right, and the school building later used as Grand Street Firehouse.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The pedestal signal, brick planting extension and striped crosswalk appear in Provident Design Engineering’s November 27, 2018 proposal, PDF p.2. The exposure date and photographer are unidentified. This source photograph documents the junction as illustrated in the proposal; it does not date installation or a completed traffic change. Exact embedded 928×696 JPEG retained without recompression.
Rights undetermined; no public-domain, open-license or permission claim. Limited historical-document illustration with original source credit.
The working pedestal signal at Grand Street and Old Post Road South, with signs and a low brick planting extension in front of the taller base. Photograph by Astrocog.
The signal stands on an earlier pale pedestal, with Grand Street shops and automobiles behind it. Reproduced by Croton Friends of History. The host attributes circa 1930; that date has not been independently verified. Photographer and original repository are not identified.
Historical reproduction; reuse rights and original publication history not established. Source credit retained.
Original Sanborn sheet 2 maps labeled cisterns at Grand Street/Mt. Airy Avenue and Grand Street/South Highland Avenue, the later Dummy Light junction. It also shows Union Free School District No. 2, Quaker Church and cemetery, St. Mary's R.C. Church, and the separate Maple Street area. Street and building details were recorded for fire-insurance use; cistern symbols are not surveyed underground outlines. Full-resolution JPEG derived from the preserved LOC JP2; no crop, rotation or retouching.
Native-resolution 6450×7650 copy of the August 1924 index sheet. Its Water Facilities report describes a supply installed in 1911, spring-well pumping to a 450,000-gallon reservoir, six miles of pipe and seventy double hydrants. Installation date is the map’s retrospective statement. Earlier 1200×1423 file and complete catalog metadata remain accessible as an alternate copy; no original file is overwritten.
Original August 1924 sheet 5 maps water pipes and hydrants through the two Grand Street junctions where the 1903 map labeled cisterns. It identifies the former school as a fire department and court building and includes the separate Maple/South Highland area. No cistern-removal date is established. Full native-resolution JPEG derived from the preserved LOC JP2; no crop, rotation or retouching.
Historic exterior photograph, reproduced as photograph 009 in the 2017 National Register nomination. The nomination identifies Dr. Acker and supplies the approximate date. Original photographer and repository are not identified in the inspected caption.
Historical reproduction; reuse rights and original publication history not established. Source credit retained.
This clean estate-archive photograph matches the Cruger/Fox house view reproduced in the Ballard/Stevens album. The album title page, compiled in 1964, attributes the series to October-November 1911.
Historical reproduction; reuse rights not established. Credit and original source retained.
This clean estate-archive photograph matches the Fish House Spring view reproduced in the Ballard/Stevens album. The album title page, compiled in 1964, attributes the series to October-November 1911.
Historical reproduction; reuse rights not established. Credit and original source retained.
This clean estate-archive photograph matches the fountain-and-flagpole view reproduced in the Ballard/Stevens album. The album title page, compiled in 1964, attributes the series to October-November 1911.
Historical reproduction; reuse rights not established. Credit and original source retained.
The source identifies the lower structure as water storage for the main house and the upper level as a gazebo. Original reproduction hosted by Scenes From the Trail.
Historical reproduction; reuse rights not established. Credit and original source retained.
The print border reads DEC 68. The damaged wooden upper storey still stands; the exposure may predate processing. Original reproduction hosted by Scenes From the Trail.
Historical reproduction; reuse rights not established. Credit and original source retained.
The curved track, pipe fence and barn are visible in this estate-archive photograph. The matching view is attributed to E. E. Ballard's 1911 series by the field report.
Historical reproduction; reuse rights not established. Credit and original source retained.
Only one small exterior has explicit Finney Farm-Croton caption. Surrounding Big House interiors and Taos/Ranchos church views are separate Southwest subjects.
No new license established; Yale custody does not grant reuse automatically
This map shows the eastern coast of North America, focusing on New Netherland (present-day New York) and New England. It features the Hudson River, Native American territories, and early Dutch and English settlements. The map includes decorative elements such as animals, a compass rose, and a cityscape view of New Amsterdam.
An engraving depicting Fort New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island, showing the Dutch settlement with buildings, a fort, and a windmill. Several ships are anchored offshore, and Native Americans are shown in canoes in the foreground. The image includes a body of water, likely the Hudson River, and a landscape with trees and hills.
Detail from a 1685 edition of the Novi Belgii map showing the Hudson River valley including the area near present-day Croton Point where the Kitchawank had their fortress Navish.
Public domain
Visscher Map of New Netherland
c. 1655-1685 ·
Royal Maritime Museum / Wikimedia Commons
Map of the Province of New York during the Revolutionary War era, showing Westchester County — the contested 'Neutral Ground' between American and British lines.
Claude Joseph Sauthier's detailed 1778 map of the Province of New York showing Westchester County, the Van Cortlandt and Philipse manors, and the Croton River area during the Revolution.
Public domain
🏹Indigenous Peoples16 images
Maps and images related to the Kitchawank, Wappinger, and Lenape
Map II: Lower Manhattan in Aboriginal Times — Bolton (1922)
1922 ·
Bolton, Indian Paths in the Great Metropolis (1922), Map II
Fold-out map from Bolton’s Indian Paths showing Lower Manhattan as it appeared in aboriginal times, with indigenous trail routes marked in red. Shows Lenape place names including Sapokanican, Werpoes, Konaande Kongh, Kapsee, and Rinnegakonck. Includes parts of New Jersey (Harsimus) and western Long Island (Mespacetches). Published by Ohman Map Co., N.Y.
Public domain
Plate I: Jeffreys Hook, Fort Washington Point — Bolton (1922)
c.1920 ·
Bolton, Indian Paths in the Great Metropolis (1922), Plate I
Photograph of Jeffreys Hook, now known as Fort Washington Point, at the northern tip of Manhattan (Station 14, Map I). This rocky promontory where the Little Red Lighthouse now stands was a key landmark on the indigenous trail system. The Lenape used this narrow point to cross the Hudson River to the Palisades. Photograph by W. L. Calver.
Public domain
Plate II: An Indian Path Through Shorakapkok — Bolton (1922)
c.1920 ·
Bolton, Indian Paths in the Great Metropolis (1922), Plate II
Photograph showing an actual indigenous trail through the Shorakapkok area of northern Manhattan (Inwood Village), Station 16, Map V. The snow-covered path through bare winter trees shows how these trails, worn by centuries of use, persisted as visible traces into the early 20th century. Photograph by W. L. Calver.
Public domain
Plate III: Rockshelters at Shorakapkok — Bolton (1922)
c.1920 ·
Bolton, Indian Paths in the Great Metropolis (1922), Plate III
Photograph of rock shelters used by the Lenape at the Inwood village site of Shorakapkok (Station 16, Map V). These natural overhangs in the Manhattan schist provided shelter for indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Artifacts found here date back to the Archaic period. Photograph by W. L. Calver.
Public domain
Plate IV: Indian Burial of a Dog at Inwood — Bolton (1922)
c.1920 ·
Bolton, Indian Paths in the Great Metropolis (1922), Plate IV
Photograph of an archaeological excavation at Cooper Street and Isham Avenue, Inwood (Station 15, Map V), showing a ceremonial dog burial. Several men stand around the exposed burial site with ladders descending into the dig. Dog burials were significant in Lenape culture, indicating the spiritual importance of animals. Photograph by W. L. Calver.
Public domain
Plate IX: Acqueegenom — Crossing of the Westchester Path over Bronx River — Bolton (1922)
1921 ·
Bolton, Indian Paths in the Great Metropolis (1922), Plate IX
Photograph of Acqueegenom, the crossing place of the great Westchester Path over the Bronx River in Bronx Park. View looking north from Pelham Parkway. This was a major junction in the indigenous trail network — the path from here ran north through Westchester County past Croton to the highlands. The Lenape name ‘Acqueegenom’ refers to this important ford. Photograph by J. L. Nusbaum, 1921.
Public domain
Indian Woman and Child Burial at Shorakapkok
1908 ·
Bolton, Indian Paths in the Great Metropolis (1922), Plate V
The image shows the excavated skeletons of an adult woman and a child, likely in a seated position as originally buried. The remains are positioned on dark soil or a dirt floor. An arrowpoint appears to be embedded near the woman's ribcage.
Public domain
Plate VI: The Wading Place at Kingsbridge — Bolton (1922)
c.1920 ·
Bolton, Indian Paths in the Great Metropolis (1922), Plate VI
Photograph of the ancient wading place at Kingsbridge, now covered by Broadway. The Macomb house is visible on the left, with the Old Kingsbridge road in the foreground. This crossing point over Spuyten Duyvil Creek connected Manhattan’s trail system to the great paths running north through Westchester toward Croton and beyond. Photograph by Edward Wenzel.
Public domain
Plate VII: The Albany Post-Road (Hudson River Path) — Bolton (1922)
c.1920 ·
Bolton, Indian Paths in the Great Metropolis (1922), Plate VII
Photograph of the Albany Post Road, once the Hudson River Path, now Newton Avenue, Borough of the Bronx. On the left is the old Hadley farm-house, looking northward. This indigenous trail ran along the east bank of the Hudson from Manhattan north through Westchester to Albany. The section through Croton-on-Hudson became the Old Post Road connecting the village to New York City. Photograph by E. F. Coffin.
Public domain
Plate VIII: The Mosholu (Tippetts Brook) Below Spuyten Duyvil Hill — Bolton (1922)
1906 ·
Bolton, Indian Paths in the Great Metropolis (1922), Plate VIII
Photograph of the Mosholu, or Tippetts Brook, below Spuyten Duyvil Hill (Station 17, Map of Borough of the Bronx). Along the base is Dash’s lane, a probable Indian path to Nipnichsen. ‘Mosholu’ is a Lenape word meaning ‘smooth stones.’ The Mosholu Parkway today preserves this indigenous name. Photograph by Edward Wenzel, 1906.
Photograph of Van Cortlandt Avenue at Rochambeau Street, once the Indian Shore Path, showing the Valentine-Varian Homestead of 1770. View looking east toward Williamsbridge reservoir. The Van Cortlandt family, who owned vast estates in Westchester including lands near Croton, gave their name to the avenue that replaced the trail. Photograph by J. L. Nusbaum, 1921.
Public domain
Hutchinson River Crossing, Eastchester to Pelham
1921 ·
Bolton, Indian Paths in the Great Metropolis (1922), Plate XIII
A stone bridge over the Hutchinson River, with a road and sidewalk leading up to it. The image shows a view looking north from the grounds of the Pell mansion towards Mount Vernon. A metal gate is visible on the left side of the bridge.
1921 map showing the locations of indigenous tribes around Manhattan, including the Kitchawank in the Croton-on-Hudson area. The Kitchawank were a band of the Wappinger Confederacy.
Eight-foot bronze statue of Daniel Nimham by sculptor Michael Keropian, dedicated 2022 in Fishkill, NY. Nimham was the last sachem of the Wappinger who traveled to London in 1766 and died at the Battle of Kingsbridge in 1778.
Public domain
Title Page — History of the Indian Tribes of Hudson's River
1872 ·
Internet Archive (ruttenberindians00ruttrich), p.1
Thomas Sully painting (1812) depicting the capture of Major John Andre by three American militiamen near Tarrytown, September 23, 1780. Andre was carrying plans of West Point's defenses hidden in his stockings.
Engraving of Benedict Arnold, the American general who conspired to surrender West Point to the British. His treason was exposed when the HMS Vulture was driven from Croton Point by militia cannon fire.
A Croton River Disaster—197 Years Ago Today
On March 10, 1818, the Westchester Herald reported on a devastating freshet—a spring flood caused by rapid snow thaw and heavy rain—that struck the Croton River. The disaster destroyed valuable mill infrastructure owned by General Philip Van Cortlandt.
The Damage
"The rapid thaw on Saturday...attended with heavy rain, occasioned the Croton river to rise to a considerable height, and floated down ponderous shoals of ice." One merchant mill was displa
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Ferry House postcard reproduced by Croton History. Marc Cheshire dates it circa 1907. The card bears “J. A. Given”; the imprint’s role and the exact exposure date are not established here. This view predates the restoration discussed in the federal inventory.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
This image shows a detailed schematic of the HMS Vulture, a British sloop-of-war. The drawing includes various views of the ship, including top, side, and bottom perspectives, with handwritten notes and measurements.
Self-portrait by Major John Andre, head of British intelligence, who was captured after being stranded behind American lines when the HMS Vulture was driven from Croton Point.
1859 engraving by Benson Lossing depicting the Pavonia Massacre of February 25, 1643, when Dutch soldiers killed approximately 120 sleeping Wappinger refugees at Pavonia (Jersey City). The massacre triggered Kieft's War.
Photograph by Commons contributor Dmadeo, 24 November 2007. Full 3648×2736 original replaces the smaller copy as the gallery’s selected master; the earlier file and catalog remain available. No crop or retouch. CC BY-SA 4.0 selected from the author’s offered licenses.
The image shows the interior of a kitchen with a large wooden table in the center, various cooking utensils hanging from the wall and ceiling, a large bowl on the table, and a cabinet with dishes on the right.
Public domain
Willem Kieft and Algonquian Chief Smoking Peace Pipe
An illustration depicting Willem Kieft, Director-General of New Netherland, and an Algonquian chief smoking a peace pipe, surrounded by other colonial figures and Native Americans. The scene appears to be set near a fortified area, possibly a Dutch settlement, with buildings and a flagpole visible in the background. A body of water with a ship is also seen in the distance.
Public domain
Kitchawank Native American Village
Catalog dates differ ·
Internet Archive / Wikimedia Commons
An illustration depicting a Native American village, likely of the Kitchawank people, showing a palisaded settlement with several rounded houses or wigwams and a central fire pit. The village is surrounded by a wooden palisade with pointed logs. People are shown outside and near the structures.
Portrait of Willem Kieft (1597-1647), Director of New Netherland, whose decision to attack the Weckquaesgeek against the advice of the Council of Twelve Men triggered Kieft's War and the Pavonia Massacre.
Public domain
🏗️Aqueducts & Dams132 images
Construction of the Old Croton Aqueduct and New Croton Dam
Croton Lake pressure tunnel: completed lining, February 14, 1912
An interior view of the completed concrete lining, cataloged as Contract 24 in the Board of Water Supply construction photographs. The date comes from the item title; NYPL separately gives the collection/item catalog date as approximately and questionably 1918. The photograph does not locate its camera position within the tunnel. This is the Catskill Aqueduct crossing beneath Croton Lake, distinct from the village well system and New Croton Dam. Complete 760×538 JPEG offered by the catalog’s Standard download preserved, including mount and color scale; higher-resolution master not recovered.
NYPL reports copyright and related-rights status undetermined. No open license or public-domain status claimed. Limited historical illustration with original catalog and collection credit.
Plate 166 in Lazarus White’s The Catskill Water Supply of New York City, printed page 488: Contract 24, Croton Lake Siphon. The original diagram shows the reservoir crossing, shafts, borings, contours, roads and a scale. Its labels place New Croton Dam 2½ miles away and Old Croton Dam ¾ mile away. The upper plan and lower vertical profile use different views of the same crossing; this page is a document, not a registered modern map overlay. Faithful rotated page rendering, with no invented alignment or geographic control points.
Original 1913 US publication is in the US public domain; repository copy credited. Display derivative rendered from the full original PDF preserved in the research record.
Photograph of the New Croton Dam spillway. The S-shaped spillway became internationally known as the 'Croton Profile' — a standard reference for gravity dam design.
On October 11, 1842, former President John Quincy Adams discovered he had overlooked multiple invitations to serve as a distinguished guest at the Croton Water Celebration. His diary entry documented this oversight: "on turning over my letters recently received, to endorse and file them, I found one which I had totally forgotten" regarding "a festival to be held on the 14th of this month, in celebration of the introduction of the Croton water into the city."
Though numerous dignitaries received
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
New Croton Dam Construction, circa 1902
The Croton History website recently acquired a remarkable photographic collection documenting the New Croton Dam during its construction phase. Based on the visible completion stages of the structure, historians estimate these images were captured around 1902.
The photographs feature a visitor identified as "Mr. John Fish," who appears in several shots taken at the construction site. The origin and significance of Fish's visit remain mysterious. As the a
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Ossining Historical Society Museum houses a remarkable photographic collection documenting the Old Croton Aqueduct. During a recent visit, curator Norm MacDonald shared newly acquired materials, including two rare photographs capturing blacksmiths at the New Croton Dam from September 1895.
These images are particularly significant because "there's a real dearth of images of the workers, their living quarters, and day-to-day life," despite thousands of photographs existing from the dam's con
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Ossining Historical Society Museum houses a remarkable photographic collection documenting the Old Croton Aqueduct. During a recent visit, curator Norm MacDonald shared newly acquired materials, including two rare photographs capturing blacksmiths at the New Croton Dam from September 1895.
These images are particularly significant because "there's a real dearth of images of the workers, their living quarters, and day-to-day life," despite thousands of photographs existing from the dam's con
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Ossining Historical Society Museum houses a remarkable photographic collection documenting the Old Croton Aqueduct. During a recent visit, curator Norm MacDonald shared newly acquired materials, including two rare photographs capturing blacksmiths at the New Croton Dam from September 1895.
These images are particularly significant because "there's a real dearth of images of the workers, their living quarters, and day-to-day life," despite thousands of photographs existing from the dam's con
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Ossining Historical Society Museum houses a remarkable photographic collection documenting the Old Croton Aqueduct. During a recent visit, curator Norm MacDonald shared newly acquired materials, including two rare photographs capturing blacksmiths at the New Croton Dam from September 1895.
These images are particularly significant because "there's a real dearth of images of the workers, their living quarters, and day-to-day life," despite thousands of photographs existing from the dam's con
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
A photograph from Scientific American dated February 5, 1898, documents the initial phase of New Croton Dam construction—redirecting the Croton River's natural flow to create the excavation site for the dam's foundation.
The project commenced on September 20, 1892, with river diversion work. Engineers blasted a channel measuring 125 feet wide and approximately a quarter-mile long through solid rock on the valley's north side. A masonry barrier 25 feet high was constructed alongside this channel
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
A photograph from Scientific American dated February 5, 1898, documents the initial phase of New Croton Dam construction—redirecting the Croton River's natural flow to create the excavation site for the dam's foundation.
The project commenced on September 20, 1892, with river diversion work. Engineers blasted a channel measuring 125 feet wide and approximately a quarter-mile long through solid rock on the valley's north side. A masonry barrier 25 feet high was constructed alongside this channel
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
This article showcases a commemorative medal created to celebrate the opening of the Old Croton Aqueduct to the public on October 14, 1842. The piece was designed by Robert Lovett, Sr., a prominent American engraver.
Lovett was born on March 19, 1796, in New York City. Following military service during the War of 1812, he apprenticed under master stone seal engraver Thomas Brown. By 1816, he had established his own engraving business in Philadelphia. Notably, correspondence between Thomas Jeffe
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
This article showcases a commemorative medal created to celebrate the opening of the Old Croton Aqueduct to the public on October 14, 1842. The piece was designed by Robert Lovett, Sr., a prominent American engraver.
Lovett was born on March 19, 1796, in New York City. Following military service during the War of 1812, he apprenticed under master stone seal engraver Thomas Brown. By 1816, he had established his own engraving business in Philadelphia. Notably, correspondence between Thomas Jeffe
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
A detailed engraving from the October 17, 1896 Scientific American depicting the New Croton Dam construction. According to Christopher Tompkins, author of The Croton Dams and Aqueduct, this image is "especially noteworthy for its accuracy in depicting the excavation."
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
A detailed engraving from the October 17, 1896 Scientific American depicting the New Croton Dam construction. According to Christopher Tompkins, author of The Croton Dams and Aqueduct, this image is "especially noteworthy for its accuracy in depicting the excavation."
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
New Croton Dam Construction, circa 1902
The Croton History website recently acquired a remarkable photographic collection documenting the New Croton Dam during its construction phase. Based on the visible completion stages of the structure, historians estimate these images were captured around 1902.
The photographs feature a visitor identified as "Mr. John Fish," who appears in several shots taken at the construction site. The origin and significance of Fish's visit remain mysterious. As the a
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
New Croton Dam Construction, circa 1902
The Croton History website recently acquired a remarkable photographic collection documenting the New Croton Dam during its construction phase. Based on the visible completion stages of the structure, historians estimate these images were captured around 1902.
The photographs feature a visitor identified as "Mr. John Fish," who appears in several shots taken at the construction site. The origin and significance of Fish's visit remain mysterious. As the a
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
On October 11, 1842, former President John Quincy Adams discovered he had overlooked multiple invitations to serve as a distinguished guest at the Croton Water Celebration. His diary entry documented this oversight: "on turning over my letters recently received, to endorse and file them, I found one which I had totally forgotten" regarding "a festival to be held on the 14th of this month, in celebration of the introduction of the Croton water into the city."
Though numerous dignitaries received
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
New Croton Dam Post Card
This post features a vintage Colortone postcard depicting the New Croton Dam, published by the Ruben Publishing Co. in Newburgh, N.Y. and printed by "C.T. Art" (Curt Teich Art). Based on the code number visible in the lower right corner of the postcard, the card is dated to 1939.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
New Croton Dam, circa 1906
This post features a historical postcard depicting the nearly completed New Croton Dam, published by William Terhune, "Ossining on Hudson," N.Y., circa 1906. The postcard was sent from Ossining on March 13, 1906.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Visit to New Croton Dam—February, 1934
In the winter of 1934, members of the Bagley family of Peekskill documented their visit to the New Croton Dam through a series of photographs. Each image bears a handwritten inscription on its reverse side and carries a stamp indicating the month and year of capture.
The collection includes several compelling winter scenes. One photograph shows the main dam structure, while another captures the spillway during the cold season. A third image documents ice
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Visit to New Croton Dam—February, 1934
In the winter of 1934, members of the Bagley family of Peekskill documented their visit to the New Croton Dam through a series of photographs. Each image bears a handwritten inscription on its reverse side and carries a stamp indicating the month and year of capture.
The collection includes several compelling winter scenes. One photograph shows the main dam structure, while another captures the spillway during the cold season. A third image documents ice
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Visit to New Croton Dam—February, 1934
In the winter of 1934, members of the Bagley family of Peekskill documented their visit to the New Croton Dam through a series of photographs. Each image bears a handwritten inscription on its reverse side and carries a stamp indicating the month and year of capture.
The collection includes several compelling winter scenes. One photograph shows the main dam structure, while another captures the spillway during the cold season. A third image documents ice
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Visit to New Croton Dam—February, 1934
In the winter of 1934, members of the Bagley family of Peekskill documented their visit to the New Croton Dam through a series of photographs. Each image bears a handwritten inscription on its reverse side and carries a stamp indicating the month and year of capture.
The collection includes several compelling winter scenes. One photograph shows the main dam structure, while another captures the spillway during the cold season. A third image documents ice
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Visit to New Croton Dam—February, 1934
In the winter of 1934, members of the Bagley family of Peekskill documented their visit to the New Croton Dam through a series of photographs. Each image bears a handwritten inscription on its reverse side and carries a stamp indicating the month and year of capture.
The collection includes several compelling winter scenes. One photograph shows the main dam structure, while another captures the spillway during the cold season. A third image documents ice
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
New Croton Dam Spillway
This historical piece showcases a photograph of the nearly completed New Croton Dam's spillway, captured during construction before water typically flowed over it. The image comes from the George P. Hall & Son Photograph Collection at the New-York Historical Society.
The article highlights the immense scale of the structure, noting that it was "made entirely of hand-hewn stone which was cut, moved and placed without the aid of modern construction equipment." The photogr
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
New Croton Dam Spillway
This historical piece showcases a photograph of the nearly completed New Croton Dam's spillway, captured during construction before water typically flowed over it. The image comes from the George P. Hall & Son Photograph Collection at the New-York Historical Society.
The article highlights the immense scale of the structure, noting that it was "made entirely of hand-hewn stone which was cut, moved and placed without the aid of modern construction equipment." The photogr
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
New Croton Dam Spillway
This historical piece showcases a photograph of the nearly completed New Croton Dam's spillway, captured during construction before water typically flowed over it. The image comes from the George P. Hall & Son Photograph Collection at the New-York Historical Society.
The article highlights the immense scale of the structure, noting that it was "made entirely of hand-hewn stone which was cut, moved and placed without the aid of modern construction equipment." The photogr
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
This photograph of the New Croton Dam was published in the "Rotogravure Picture Section" of the Sunday, December 14, 1919 issue of the New York Times. The accompanying caption read: "For the first time in fourteen years water is flowing over the huge dam of the Croton Reservoir at the estimated rate of 2,000,000,000 gallons a day, the vast tide dropping to the Croton River, 150 feet below."
The image was captured by Underwood & Underwood, a pioneering news bureau photography firm.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
On October 11, 1842, former President John Quincy Adams discovered he had overlooked multiple invitations to serve as a distinguished guest at the Croton Water Celebration. His diary entry documented this oversight: "on turning over my letters recently received, to endorse and file them, I found one which I had totally forgotten" regarding "a festival to be held on the 14th of this month, in celebration of the introduction of the Croton water into the city."
Though numerous dignitaries received
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Croton Aqueduct Puzzles
This piece explores two nineteenth-century jigsaw puzzles featuring the Old Croton Dam and High Bridge, part of a collection called "Sliced Objects" published by E. G. Selchow & Co. between approximately 1867 and 1880.
Selchow was a prominent manufacturer of games and puzzles during the Victorian period. In 1880, John Righter became a partner, and the company was renamed Selchow & Righter. The firm eventually became known for creating Parcheesi, Scrabble, and Trivial Pu
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
A group of armed guards, likely militia or National Guard, are gathered near a tent encampment at the New Croton Dam construction site during the 1900 labor strike. The guards are dressed in uniforms and hats, with some wearing suspenders. Rifles are visible among the guards. The scene shows a dirt path leading to the encampment with trees and hills in the background.
A black-and-white photograph showing a labor camp during the 1900 New Croton Dam strike. The image features a man in a uniform holding a rifle in the foreground, with numerous tents and scattered workers in the background. The camp appears to be set up in a dirt field with trees and hills in the distance.
Two men standing on a bridge, one in a military-style uniform holding a rifle, the other in a suit and bowler hat, possibly discussing labor strike details during the April 1900 labor strike at the New Croton Dam.
Photograph of the construction site of the New Croton Dam in 1900. The image shows a large stone wall under construction, with a series of metal frames and scaffolding. In the background, a row of white tents is visible on a hillside, likely worker accommodations. The surrounding landscape features rolling hills with sparse trees.
A group of six men in military uniforms, likely part of the Hospital Corps, stand in front of a tent with a Red Cross flag at the New Croton Dam labor strike in April 1900.
Two soldiers in uniform stand on a wooden platform with a large metal machine, overlooking the construction site of the New Croton Dam in Croton-on-Hudson, NY. They hold rifles and wear hats, with a rugged landscape and construction equipment in the background.
A group of soldiers in military uniforms and casual work attire are gathered around wooden tables, eating from metal bowls and plates. They appear to be on a break during the 1900 labor strike at the New Croton Dam construction site. A tent and trees are visible in the background.
Aerial photograph showing Indian Creek Culvert and the aqueduct embankment, HAER NY-108-3. The original caption sheet credits Jack Boucher, 1978; it gives no compass direction. Full 5000×4073 native TIFF is preserved separately. The JPEG retains the entire image, borders and survey number without crop, retouching or added detail. Linked at the structure, not a mapped camera position.
Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress; no known restrictions on U.S. Government field photographs. This credit applies to the Boucher field photograph, not every reproduced item in the survey.
Printed broadside celebrating the completion of the Croton Aqueduct, October 14, 1842. These broadsides were distributed during the celebration parade along with copies of the Croton Ode by George Pope Morris.
Lithograph by G. Hayward showing water cascading over the Old Croton Dam spillway, drawn for D.T. Valentine. The Old Croton Dam (1837-1842) was an engineering marvel — a masonry gravity dam 50 feet high and 270 feet long, creating a reservoir that supplied all of New York City's water.
Complete engineering sheet, rendered as a 6000-pixel JPEG without cropping or retouching. Northeast and southwest elevations and plan show the culvert within the aqueduct embankment. Original bitonal TIFF is preserved. The historical title dates construction 1837–1839; the separate HAER summary gives 1837–38. The drawing is documentation from 1975, not an original 1830s construction plan.
Aerial view looking north, showing the aqueduct embankment and culvert through the trees. The marker identifies the structure, not the camera position. Original HAER caption sheet explicitly dates Jack Boucher’s field photography to 1978. Full native TIFF preserved separately; complete JPEG derivative retains image borders and survey number.
Indian Brook in the foreground and the stone portal beneath the aqueduct embankment. This portrait-format exposure includes more of the wall above the arch. Original HAER caption sheet explicitly dates Jack Boucher’s field photography to 1978. Full native TIFF preserved separately; complete JPEG derivative retains image borders and survey number.
A separate landscape-format exposure showing the arch and flanking buttresses. The original caption identifies the buttressing as a later addition, without dating it. Original HAER caption sheet explicitly dates Jack Boucher’s field photography to 1978. Full native TIFF preserved separately; complete JPEG derivative retains image borders and survey number.
Color transparency photograph from the Historic American Engineering Record survey of the New Croton Dam. Shows the massive masonry dam completed in 1906 — at 297 feet high, it was the tallest dam in the world at the time of its completion. The dam created the New Croton Reservoir, which still supplies water to New York City.
Color transparency from the HAER survey showing the downstream face of the New Croton Dam. The dam's spillway, 1,000 feet long and 297 feet high, is one of the most impressive masonry structures in the United States.
Color transparency from the HAER survey of the New Croton Dam and surrounding landscape. The dam was built by thousands of Italian immigrant workers between 1892 and 1906, many of whom settled in the 'Little Italy' neighborhood at Croton Landing.
Public domain (US Government)
Croton Dam Wood Engraving — Lossing
1866 ·
Internet Archive (cu31924068919384), p.205 (cropped)
Complete mounted album leaf, with its caption and margins retained. The Museum of the City of New York dates this view to circa 1905 and identifies the photographer as unknown. The museum blog discusses a later album period; that is separate from the attributed photograph date. Accession 42.172.95. Existing dam locality supplies context; the camera position is unlocated.
Rights undetermined. Retained as a limited historical illustration with museum and original collection attribution; no open-license or public-domain claim.
The Superior Times of Wisconsin covered the completion of the New Croton Dam in April 1906. The dam was the tallest masonry structure in the world and made national news.
An architectural drawing showing two elevations of the Croton Aqueduct Distributing Reservoir, with detailed views of the structure's sides fronting on Forty-Second Street and Fifth Avenue.
Engineering drawing showing various cross-sectional views of a tunnel, likely part of the Croton Aqueduct system. The drawing includes five different sections with detailed measurements and annotations.
Engineering diagram showing the method of construction on steep side hills for the Croton Aqueduct, Tarrytown Division. The diagram includes six cross-sectional views of the aqueduct's construction on varying slopes, with labels and measurements.
Engineering cross-section drawing of the Old Croton Dam showing its masonry gravity construction. The dam was 50 feet high and 270 feet long, creating a 400-acre reservoir that supplied all of New York City with clean water beginning in 1842.
Public domain
Croton Dam Strike (1900) — Croton Dam Strike Camp A
Catalog dates differ ·
NY Heritage Digital Collections
Strikers displaying their flag during the April 1900 labor strike at the New Croton Dam construction site. Italian immigrant workers struck over wages and working conditions. Governor Theodore Roosevelt sent the National Guard to Croton Landing to maintain order.
The same photograph appears as plate 164 in Lazarus White’s 1913 engineering account, whose caption identifies Camp Bradley at Croton Lake and the incinerator at right. Photograph date follows the NYPL item title; the catalog also gives an approximate/questionable 1918 creation date. General Research Division, The New York Public Library; New York City Board of Water Supply, compiler; photographer unidentified. Available Standard 760 representation, with the album mount and color scale retained. Exact feature and camera positions are unlocated.
Rights undetermined by NYPL; no public-domain, CC0, or open-license claim. Retained as a limited historical illustration with original catalog and collection credit.
A hillside view across camp buildings toward water and an opposite wooded slope. Croton Lake pressure tunnel camp overview, May 6, 1910. General Research Division, The New York Public Library. New York (N.Y.). Board of Water Supply is cataloged as compiler; photographer unidentified. Photograph date follows the item title; the catalog also carries an approximate/questionable 1918 creation date. Available Standard 760 representation; full album mount and color scale retained. Camera and camp locations are not established.
Rights undetermined by NYPL; no public-domain, CC0, or open-license claim. Retained as a limited historical illustration with original catalog and collection credit.
The same photograph appears as plate 165 in Lazarus White’s 1913 engineering account, whose caption identifies filters used to purify water from Camp Bradley. The caption describes water from the camp; it does not identify these as drinking-water filters. Photograph date follows the NYPL item title; the catalog also gives an approximate/questionable 1918 creation date. General Research Division, The New York Public Library; New York City Board of Water Supply, compiler; photographer unidentified. Available Standard 760 representation, with the album mount and color scale retained. Exact feature and camera positions are unlocated.
Rights undetermined by NYPL; no public-domain, CC0, or open-license claim. Retained as a limited historical illustration with original catalog and collection credit.
A tunnel interior with a rectangular framework at the far end and water along the floor. No operational or completion date is inferred. Croton Lake pressure tunnel interior, October 3, 1913. General Research Division, The New York Public Library. New York (N.Y.). Board of Water Supply is cataloged as compiler; photographer unidentified. Photograph date follows the item title; the catalog also carries an approximate/questionable 1918 creation date. Available Standard 760 representation; full album mount and color scale retained. Camera and camp locations are not established.
Rights undetermined by NYPL; no public-domain, CC0, or open-license claim. Retained as a limited historical illustration with original catalog and collection credit.
View of the Old Croton Dam and the aqueduct near Sing Sing (now Ossining). From the Emmet Collection. Shows the dam and surrounding landscape nearly 40 years after the aqueduct's completion.
Public domain
Croton Dam on the Croton River — Stereoscopic View (1865)
1865 ·
NYPL, Robert N. Dennis Collection of Stereoscopic Views
Stereoscopic photograph of the Old Croton Dam, showing water flowing over the spillway. From the Robert N. Dennis collection. This is a rare early photograph of the dam that supplied all of New York City's water from 1842 until the New Croton Dam was completed in 1906.
Public domain
New York Post Office
1843 ·
NYPL / F.B. Tower, Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct
The image shows a tower plate of the Croton Aqueduct route near Ossining, then known as Sing Sing. The aqueduct's route follows the landscape contours to maintain a gentle gravity-fed downward grade. A tower structure is prominently featured.
Public domain
Croton Aqueduct Tower in Valley
1843 ·
NYPL, Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct (F.B. Tower)
The image depicts a stone tower standing amidst trees on the edge of a valley, with a body of water in the foreground and a small boat with two people. The Croton Aqueduct bridge is visible, crossing the valley. The scene shows a serene landscape with trees and what appears to be a church or buildings in the distance.
Public domain
City Hall Park, Croton Fountain Celebration
1843 ·
NYPL / F.B. Tower, Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct
An illustration of a celebration scene in City Hall Park with a large fountain, people in 19th-century attire, and a monument in the background. The Croton Fountain is shown with a 50-foot jet of water, surrounded by onlookers and horseback riders.
Public domain
View of Jefferson, Chemung, NY
1843 ·
NYPL / F.B. Tower, Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct
This image shows a scenic view of a landscape with rolling hills, trees, and a body of water in the background. People are depicted in the foreground, and the image includes a caption at the bottom.
Public domain
Entrance to the Croton Dam — F.B. Tower (1843)
1843 ·
NYPL / F.B. Tower, Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct
Tower's plate showing the entrance and gate house of the Old Croton Dam. The dam's masonry gate house controlled the flow of water into the aqueduct tunnel that carried it 41 miles to Manhattan. From 'Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct' (1843).
Public domain
Distributing Reservoir, Murray Hill — F.B. Tower (1843)
1843 ·
NYPL, Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct (F.B. Tower)
Tower's plate of the Croton Distributing Reservoir on Murray Hill at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue. This Egyptian Revival fortress, with walls 44 feet high, stored 20 million gallons and was a popular promenade. It was demolished in 1899-1900 to build the New York Public Library — the main branch stands on its exact footprint today.
Public domain
Croton Aqueduct Harlem River Crossing
1843 ·
NYPL, Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct (F.B. Tower)
The image depicts the Croton Aqueduct crossing the Harlem River, showcasing the original High Bridge design with stone arches. The scene includes a river with sailboats and steamboats, a grassy bank with trees, and people on horseback and on foot. In the background, there are hills and buildings.
Public domain
San Francisco Map (1848)
1843 ·
NYPL / F.B. Tower, Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct
Tower's plate showing a jet of Croton water at the Harlem River. Engineers tested the system by sending water through at pressure before the official opening. The sight of clean water jetting high into the air was a sensation — a preview of the 50-foot fountain that would erupt at City Hall Park on October 14, 1842.
Public domain
Croton Aqueduct Approach to Manhattan
1843 ·
NYPL / F.B. Tower, Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct
The image depicts a landscape with a large, bare tree in the foreground and a body of water in the background. A structure resembling a small house or shed is visible on the right side. People and animals are shown in the distance, possibly interacting with the aqueduct.
Public domain
View of Chelsea, Mass. from Eagle Hill, East Boston
1843 ·
NYPL / F.B. Tower, Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct
An engraving showing a scenic view of Chelsea, Massachusetts, from Eagle Hill in East Boston. The image depicts a waterfront scene with buildings, boats on the water, and a distant industrial area with smoke rising. A cow and calf are shown grazing on the foreground hillside.
Public domain
Pipe Chamber — F.B. Tower (1843)
1843 ·
NYPL, Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct (F.B. Tower)
Tower's engineering plate showing a pipe chamber along the Croton Aqueduct. These underground chambers housed the valves and connections that controlled the flow of water through the system. Tower's detailed architectural illustrations were both artistic and technically accurate.
Tower's plate showing the Croton Receiving Reservoir at Yorkville in upper Manhattan. This was the terminus of the 41-mile aqueduct — Croton water flowed here by gravity before being distributed to the city. The reservoir site later became part of Central Park's Great Lawn.
Public domain
Croton Aqueduct at Sing Sing Kill — F.B. Tower (1843)
1843 ·
NYPL, Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct (F.B. Tower)
Tower's plate showing the Croton Aqueduct crossing the Sing Sing Kill (creek) near present-day Ossining. The aqueduct was carried over streams and valleys on stone arches and bridges. The word 'kill' is from the Dutch for creek, a reminder that this land was once New Netherland.
Public domain
View of Plymouth
1843 ·
NYPL / F.B. Tower, Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct
This image depicts a scenic view of Niagara Falls, showcasing multiple waterfalls cascading into a large body of water, surrounded by lush greenery and trees. A rainbow is visible in the mist below the main waterfall. In the foreground, people are standing on a path overlooking the falls.
Public domain
View of Richmond, Virginia
1843 ·
NYPL, Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct (F.B. Tower)
A serene landscape drawing of a river scene with a sailboat and a rowboat, featuring buildings and trees along the shoreline, with a bridge in the distance.
Public domain
Weir at the Croton Dam — F.B. Tower (1843)
1843 ·
NYPL / F.B. Tower, Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct
Tower's plate showing the weir (water measurement structure) at the Old Croton Dam. The weir measured the flow of water entering the aqueduct, ensuring adequate supply for the city while maintaining the reservoir level.
Public domain
Croton Aqueduct near York Hill
1843 ·
NYPL / F.B. Tower, Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct
The image shows a 19th-century engraving of the Croton Aqueduct near York Hill in upper Manhattan. The scene depicts a body of water with boats and a shoreline featuring buildings. The aqueduct's structure is visible, showcasing engineering work.
Public domain
PWA New York project-status sheet, January 3, 1940
Complete Report No. 5 sheet, printed page 21, headed Status of Completed Non-Federal Allotted Projects. Croton-on-Hudson appears as docket 1541, waterworks, with a $91,900 loan, $23,253 grant, $115,153 total allotment and $109,937 reported project costs. The sheet reports 100 percent complete. It does not identify a particular well, dam or reservoir. These are historical report fields, not present costs or a modern condition inspection. Exact construction-day decoding remains unconfirmed.
Federal historical report, reproduced with source and archival credit. No separate reuse license for the hosted scan was recovered; no blanket license for other collection images is asserted.
Scientific American, June 20, 1891, p. 383: complete cover with a contemporary valley engraving, an imagined reservoir view and a proposed dam section. The continuation on p. 389 explicitly says vertical measurements in the section are exaggerated. These are illustrations of a proposal, not photographs or an as-built survey. Munn & Co.; scan from Survivor Library. Research lead: Croton History / Marc Cheshire, “Croton River Valley, Before & After.”
Original 1891 publication; no separately verified open license for the modern scan. No blanket rights claim for the scan provider or Croton History reproductions.
Construction photograph reproduced in Carl Oechsner’s Silver Lake article for Croton Friends of History, where its caption gives 1961. That is a later attribution; no original exposure date or photographer has been identified. Workers and temporary construction materials are visible beside the rock-lined riverbed. Linked to the general Silver Lake locality, without a surveyed camera position or identification with the separately mapped Black Rock Dam or upper weir. Complete source JPEG preserved without cropping, retouching or upscaling.
Original photographer and reuse rights undetermined; no open license or public-domain claim. Retained as a limited historical illustration with the source article and its date attribution.
Engraving from F.B. Tower's 'Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct' showing a section of the 41-mile aqueduct system that brought fresh water from the Croton River to New York City.
Public domain
Frontispiece — Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct
An engraving showing a section of the Croton Aqueduct system, specifically at Sing Sing (now Ossining), with a man leading oxen along a road in front of a stone wall and arches of the aqueduct, with buildings and trees in the background.
Map/engraving from Scientific American (June 4, 1887) showing both the Old (dotted line) and New (solid line) Croton Aqueduct routes from Putnam County to Manhattan. A comprehensive overview of the entire water supply infrastructure.
Public domain
Aerial View of Croton Dam and Reservoir (1931)
1931 ·
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) / Wikimedia Commons
Stunning aerial photograph of the New Croton Dam and reservoir by Captain A.W. Stevens, U.S. Army. Shows the massive dam and the reservoir stretching into the distance. The New Croton Dam, completed in 1906, was the tallest dam in the world at the time.
Aerial view of the New Croton Dam, showing the dam's long concrete structure, a large body of water (likely the reservoir), and surrounding landscape with trees and a road. The image appears to be taken from a high vantage point, possibly from an airplane or a tall building.
An illustration of a serene landscape featuring the Croton Dam, with a building on the right side, a boat with two people on the water, and a rocky shoreline lined with trees. The scene depicts a calm body of water with a stone structure in the foreground.
Public domain
Scene Below the Croton Dam — Harper's Magazine (1860)
December 1860 ·
Harper's New Monthly Magazine / Wikimedia Commons
Engraving from T. Addison Richards' article 'The Croton Aqueduct' in Harper's New Monthly Magazine, December 1860. Shows the dramatic scenery below the Old Croton Dam with water cascading over the spillway. Part of an 8-engraving series documenting the entire aqueduct from source to city.
Public domain
Croton Aqueduct at Mill River — Tower/Bennett Engraving (c.1843)
Engraving by F.B. Tower (artist), W. Bennett (engraver) showing the Croton Aqueduct crossing at Mill River. From Tower's 'Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct' (1843), the definitive visual record of the aqueduct's construction. Tower created 21 plates documenting every major feature of the system.
The image shows a large stone dam with water flowing out of it, creating a small waterfall. A bridge with arches spans the top of the dam. The dam is surrounded by a body of water and a grassy hillside with a staircase leading down to the water.
Public domain
🏘️Village Life & Buildings79 images
Sanborn maps, manor houses, vineyards, and daily life in Croton
A steam shovel used for excavating clay at the William A. Underhill brickyard on Croton Point. By 1883, 13 brickyards were operating in the area, producing 64,000 bricks daily.
The Twentieth Century Limited at Harmon
This piece showcases a remarkable photograph of the celebrated Twentieth Century Limited locomotive, captured at the Harmon railroad yards on May 12, 1938. The image was taken by Robert Yarnall Richie, a commercial and industrial photographer who worked on assignment for major corporations throughout his career. Richie's photographic work is noteworthy for combining both artistic merit and documentary value.
The photograph is part of a larger collection
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Ruins of the Underhill Wine Cellars
The article presents three undated photographs, likely from the 1920s or 1930s, documenting the remnants of wine cellars on Croton Point. These images were captured by Leslie V. Case, who served as superintendent of Tarrytown Schools for over three decades.
Case was an accomplished amateur archaeologist and geologist who collected Egyptian artifacts, gemstones, and Native American relics. He chaired the Westchester Historical Society's Committee on Indian Re
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Ruins of the Underhill Wine Cellars
The article presents three undated photographs, likely from the 1920s or 1930s, documenting the remnants of wine cellars on Croton Point. These images were captured by Leslie V. Case, who served as superintendent of Tarrytown Schools for over three decades.
Case was an accomplished amateur archaeologist and geologist who collected Egyptian artifacts, gemstones, and Native American relics. He chaired the Westchester Historical Society's Committee on Indian Re
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Ruins of the Underhill Wine Cellars
The article presents three undated photographs, likely from the 1920s or 1930s, documenting the remnants of wine cellars on Croton Point. These images were captured by Leslie V. Case, who served as superintendent of Tarrytown Schools for over three decades.
Case was an accomplished amateur archaeologist and geologist who collected Egyptian artifacts, gemstones, and Native American relics. He chaired the Westchester Historical Society's Committee on Indian Re
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Census Map of Croton, 1935
This post presents three detailed sections from a 1935 census map of the Town of Cortlandt, which accompanied the 1940 census. The map details focus on three areas: Croton, Harmon, and Croton Point.
The map was created in January 1935 "in the office of the County Engineer, with workers supplied by the Westchester County Emergency Work Bureau." This indicates the map was a product of Depression-era public works employment programs.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Other Harmon
While Clifford B. Harmon earned recognition as a prominent aviator and real estate developer who created the suburban community of Harmon along the Hudson River, his brother William E. Harmon left a more culturally significant legacy.
William Elmer Harmon established the Harmon Foundation in 1922. Initially supporting diverse causes like playgrounds and nursing programs, the foundation became "one of the first major supporters of African American creativity" by 1925.
Growing
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Selling Harmon
Clifford B. Harmon was a prolific real estate developer who created 256 subdivisions across 26 American cities during the early 1900s. One of his most notable projects was the section of Croton originally branded as Harmon-on-Hudson.
The marketing materials employed hyperbolic language, declaring that "All New York is Amazed!" at what was claimed as "the Quickest and Most Successful Real Estate Development in the History of New York."
The ads appealed to families, urging them t
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Cannon Ball Time to Harmon
This post features a historical advertisement from the New York Evening World (June 25, 1907) promoting land sales in Harmon. The ad describes Harmon as "the highest, healthiest, most beautiful, most accessible and most aristocratic part of Westchester County," highlighting the New York Central's electric terminal located there.
The marketing campaign emphasized urgency and affordability: "Don't wait! HARMON is your golden opportunity... $10 secures a beautiful villa
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Newly Married Folks Buy . . . at Harmon
According to a June 12, 1921 article from the New York Tribune, Harmon-on-the-Hudson emerged as a thriving suburban real estate hub that spring. Developer Clifford B. Harmon reported that approximately one hundred building lots had recently sold, primarily to newlyweds who were actively constructing homes.
"Interesting cottages and bungalows" were among the recently erected structures in the area.
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Harmon Hats - Everybody Needs 'Em!
This piece discusses a vintage advertisement for Harmon Hats that appeared in the October 1949 issue of Outdoorsman magazine. The ad promoted "zelan treated" all-purpose sports hats priced at "$5.45," featuring "genuine mouton ear-neck flaps" for extra protection.
Two models were available: model #7070, described as "ideal for mom, pop and the children," and model #7071, marketed specifically for "fishermen and hunters" with an advertised "unbreakable visor."
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One hundred and nine years ago this month, property lots in Harmon were experiencing rapid sales, according to a May 24, 1907 article in the Katonah Times. The newly developed community, located one mile north of Ossining on the Hudson River, had generated significant buyer interest despite being recently laid out.
The marketing campaign proved remarkably successful. A special excursion train from Grand Central Station on May 5 brought over five hundred prospective buyers, with nearly one-quart
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
One hundred and nine years ago this month, property lots in Harmon were experiencing rapid sales, according to a May 24, 1907 article in the Katonah Times. The newly developed community, located one mile north of Ossining on the Hudson River, had generated significant buyer interest despite being recently laid out.
The marketing campaign proved remarkably successful. A special excursion train from Grand Central Station on May 5 brought over five hundred prospective buyers, with nearly one-quart
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
One hundred and nine years ago this month, property lots in Harmon were experiencing rapid sales, according to a May 24, 1907 article in the Katonah Times. The newly developed community, located one mile north of Ossining on the Hudson River, had generated significant buyer interest despite being recently laid out.
The marketing campaign proved remarkably successful. A special excursion train from Grand Central Station on May 5 brought over five hundred prospective buyers, with nearly one-quart
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Harmon, the New City
This article examines a circa 1906 photograph showing surveyors working along tracks at the Harmon Shops, revealing fascinating historical details beyond the main subjects.
The most striking background element is a sign reading "Harmon, the New City" on a distant hill—advertising what developer Clifford B. Harmon called "the most important and extensive suburban development in the history of New York." This signage exemplified his innovative marketing approach targeting Hu
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Harmon, the New City
This article examines a circa 1906 photograph showing surveyors working along tracks at the Harmon Shops, revealing fascinating historical details beyond the main subjects.
The most striking background element is a sign reading "Harmon, the New City" on a distant hill—advertising what developer Clifford B. Harmon called "the most important and extensive suburban development in the history of New York." This signage exemplified his innovative marketing approach targeting Hu
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Harmon, the New City
This article examines a circa 1906 photograph showing surveyors working along tracks at the Harmon Shops, revealing fascinating historical details beyond the main subjects.
The most striking background element is a sign reading "Harmon, the New City" on a distant hill—advertising what developer Clifford B. Harmon called "the most important and extensive suburban development in the history of New York." This signage exemplified his innovative marketing approach targeting Hu
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Harmon Shops of the New York Central Railroad
This historical post showcases photographs and technical documentation of the Harmon Shops, a major railroad facility in the Hudson Valley region. The author presents images from 1907, when the shops were newly constructed, and from 1914, when they became pivotal to the region's development.
The facility served as "the terminus of the innovative 'electric system' from New York City"—a significant selling point for real estate developer Clifford Har
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Harmon Shops of the New York Central Railroad
This historical post showcases photographs and technical documentation of the Harmon Shops, a major railroad facility in the Hudson Valley region. The author presents images from 1907, when the shops were newly constructed, and from 1914, when they became pivotal to the region's development.
The facility served as "the terminus of the innovative 'electric system' from New York City"—a significant selling point for real estate developer Clifford Har
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Harmon Shops of the New York Central Railroad
This historical post showcases photographs and technical documentation of the Harmon Shops, a major railroad facility in the Hudson Valley region. The author presents images from 1907, when the shops were newly constructed, and from 1914, when they became pivotal to the region's development.
The facility served as "the terminus of the innovative 'electric system' from New York City"—a significant selling point for real estate developer Clifford Har
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
What Does Everyone Want? Land
On July 16, 1928, the New York Times published William E. Harmon's obituary. Harmon explained his business approach: "The surest way is to hit upon something that everybody wants, make it possible for everyone to buy it and then let everyone know that I have it for sale."
He identified land as the universal desire. He developed an installment plan for real estate, allowing buyers to purchase lots with minimal cash and small weekly payments.
Harmon partnered with
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The Underhill Vineyards, 1867
In October 1867, Harper's Weekly featured a full-page wood engraving depicting the Underhill vineyards on Croton Point during grape harvest season. The artwork, created by artist D. C. Hitchcock, captured the operation of Richard T. Underhill's vineyard enterprise.
According to historian Thomas Pinney's History of Wine in America, the Underhills represented "the first dynasty in American viticulture" and were "the real founders of the winegrowing industry in New Y
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The Underhill Vineyards, 1867
In October 1867, Harper's Weekly featured a full-page wood engraving depicting the Underhill vineyards on Croton Point during grape harvest season. The artwork, created by artist D. C. Hitchcock, captured the operation of Richard T. Underhill's vineyard enterprise.
According to historian Thomas Pinney's History of Wine in America, the Underhills represented "the first dynasty in American viticulture" and were "the real founders of the winegrowing industry in New Y
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The Season of the Vintage
This article presents a letter originally published in the October 23, 1862 issue of the New York Times describing the Croton Point vineyards near the Hudson River in New York.
The letter depicts an autumn harvest season, noting that "granaries are bursting with the harvesting of the Summer's generous growth" and praising the vineyard's "drooping clusters." The writer details Dr. Underhill's vineyard operations spanning 45-50 acres on Croton Point, located between the
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Winter on the Hudson River
This piece draws from Benson John Lossing's 1866 classic The Hudson, from the Wilderness to the Sea, documenting a strikingly different winter landscape along the Hudson River compared to modern times.
Lossing describes arriving at Peek's Kill Bay on a cold moonlit evening, where "the river presented a smooth surface of strong ice" and young skaters glided across the frozen expanse. The following morning brought crowds of all ages enjoying winter sports—skating, ice-
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Winter on the Hudson River
This piece draws from Benson John Lossing's 1866 classic The Hudson, from the Wilderness to the Sea, documenting a strikingly different winter landscape along the Hudson River compared to modern times.
Lossing describes arriving at Peek's Kill Bay on a cold moonlit evening, where "the river presented a smooth surface of strong ice" and young skaters glided across the frozen expanse. The following morning brought crowds of all ages enjoying winter sports—skating, ice-
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Winter on the Hudson River
This piece draws from Benson John Lossing's 1866 classic The Hudson, from the Wilderness to the Sea, documenting a strikingly different winter landscape along the Hudson River compared to modern times.
Lossing describes arriving at Peek's Kill Bay on a cold moonlit evening, where "the river presented a smooth surface of strong ice" and young skaters glided across the frozen expanse. The following morning brought crowds of all ages enjoying winter sports—skating, ice-
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
You Need Not go to the Rhine to See Vineyards
In September 1859, The Gardener's Monthly published an account of a visit to Croton Point, describing Dr. Underhill's extensive vineyard operations. The estate "was visited through the summer by numerous travellers, who are permitted to drive through the grounds."
His vineyards covered the northwest and southeast slopes of Croton Point, with vines "so arranged, that a perfect draught of air is kept up between the rows." The land preparation cost ov
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The Mystery of the Underhill Bible
The Westchester County Historical Society acquired a significant historical artifact—a Bible bearing the bookplate of Abraham I. Underhill, one of three brothers who established a flour mill on the Croton River in 1792.
The Bible contains a handwritten page documenting Abraham Underhill's marriage. The entry reads: "in a publick Meeting of the people called Quakers at Croton in the Town of Cortlandt, the 19th day of the 12th month, 1805."
Most intriguingly,
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Mystery of the Underhill Bible
The Westchester County Historical Society acquired a significant historical artifact—a Bible bearing the bookplate of Abraham I. Underhill, one of three brothers who established a flour mill on the Croton River in 1792.
The Bible contains a handwritten page documenting Abraham Underhill's marriage. The entry reads: "in a publick Meeting of the people called Quakers at Croton in the Town of Cortlandt, the 19th day of the 12th month, 1805."
Most intriguingly,
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Along Elliott Way near the Yacht Club, red bricks scatter among the shoreline rocks—remnants of the William A. Underhill Brickyard that operated on Croton Point's northern end. These "Croton Point bricks" carried maker's marks; some featured Underhill's initials (WAU), while others bore the stamp "IXL," a marketing claim meaning "I excel" at brickmaking.
During the 1850s brickmaking boom, over 25 brickyards lined Haverstraw Bay's shores. Within Croton specifically, five yards operated between t
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The Mystery of the Underhill Medal
A reader named Mike S. discovered a silver medal buried in his grandfather's garden in Shirley, New York approximately 25 years prior. The medal, awarded in 1847 to R.T. Underhill, commemorated his cultivation of Isabella and Catawba grapes on Croton Point. Mike's grandfather found the artifact while tilling his garden and passed it along as a "lucky charm," sparking questions about its origins and journey to Long Island.
Richard T. Underhill: The Grape King
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The Mystery of the Underhill Medal
A reader named Mike S. discovered a silver medal buried in his grandfather's garden in Shirley, New York approximately 25 years prior. The medal, awarded in 1847 to R.T. Underhill, commemorated his cultivation of Isabella and Catawba grapes on Croton Point. Mike's grandfather found the artifact while tilling his garden and passed it along as a "lucky charm," sparking questions about its origins and journey to Long Island.
Richard T. Underhill: The Grape King
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Season of the Vintage
This article presents a letter originally published in the October 23, 1862 issue of the New York Times describing the Croton Point vineyards near the Hudson River in New York.
The letter depicts an autumn harvest season, noting that "granaries are bursting with the harvesting of the Summer's generous growth" and praising the vineyard's "drooping clusters." The writer details Dr. Underhill's vineyard operations spanning 45-50 acres on Croton Point, located between the
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Van Cortlandt Manor in Miniature
The New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show featured a miniature replica of Van Cortlandt Manor crafted entirely from natural materials. This rustic version was "made entirely of plant parts such as twigs, bark, and leaves."
The exhibition was recommended as "a great trip for all ages." This miniature landmark representation was one of numerous New York landmark replicas showcased during the annual train exhibition, offering visitors a creative way to ex
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Croton's Old Post Road Inn, 1890
In January 1890, Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly published an article by C. Hills Warren examining the Albany Post Road's history with nostalgic reverence. Warren observed that the road's significance had diminished considerably since its heyday as the primary stagecoach route between New York City and Albany. Steam navigation and railroad expansion had rendered it obsolete for transportation purposes.
Warren embarked on a journey retracing the historic route, d
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William E. Harmon's Death Reveals His Secret
William E. Harmon, a retired real estate operator, passed away on July 16, 1928. His obituary initially presented him as a philanthropist. However, three days later, the New York Times revealed a remarkable secret: Harmon had been living a double life as "Jedediah Tingle," a mysterious benefactor who distributed generous gifts to writers, poets, and deserving individuals while maintaining complete anonymity.
Through his assumed identity, he claimed
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Harmon Foundation art exhibition at Dillard University, New Orleans, ca. 1936-37. The Foundation, established by William E. Harmon (brother of Clifford Harmon who developed Croton-Harmon), sponsored the first exhibition of African-American art in 1928.
Public domain
Clifford B. Harmon in Biplane
c. 1915 ·
Library of Congress, George Grantham Bain Collection
Clifford B. Harmon, aviator and real estate developer, seated in a biplane. Harmon built 'Harmon, the New City' around the Croton railroad stop, giving Croton-Harmon its name.
Public domain
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map — Croton-on-Hudson (1903)
1903 ·
Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division
November 1903 Sanborn sheet 1 shows the village coverage index, George M. Travis brickyard and an Episcopal church/chapel inset. This is an early fire-insurance map of Croton-on-Hudson; a December 1897 edition precedes it. It is distinct from the newly recovered sheet 2 showing the Grand Street cisterns.
Sanborn map from 1911, five years after the completion of the New Croton Dam. Shows how the village had changed since the 1903 edition — new buildings, expanded infrastructure, and the impact of the dam workers who had settled permanently in the area.
An engraving depicting a serene Hudson River scene with a bridge spanning a stream or river, surrounded by dense trees and mountains in the background.
Public domain
Hudson River Scene with Railroad Bridge
1866 ·
Internet Archive (cu31924068919384), p.185 (cropped)
An engraving depicting a scenic view of the Hudson River with a railroad bridge, a train crossing, and a sailboat on the river. In the foreground, there are trees, a fence, and two men standing. The image appears to be a serene landscape of the Hudson Valley area.
An old black and white illustration of a steamer ship on the Hudson River, with two masts and a paddlewheel visible, sailing past a shoreline with trees and possibly a cliffside.
Public domain
Bridge over a waterfall
1866 ·
Internet Archive (cu31924068919384), p.220 (cropped)
An engraving depicting a bridge over a small waterfall in a wooded area. Two people are standing on the bridge, which spans a rocky stream with a small waterfall. The scene is surrounded by trees and foliage.
Public domain
Hudson River Steamboat
1866 ·
Internet Archive (cu31924068919384), p.225 (cropped)
Full published page from Marion Harland’s Some Colonial Homesteads and Their Stories, 1899 reprint of the 1897 work, PDF p.206. It records a pre-restoration view, not the present appearance or a dated construction campaign. Photographer unidentified. Library of Congress / Internet Archive scan. Complete PDF layers composed at native 1927-by-2979 foreground geometry; full page rotated 90 degrees clockwise for reading. No crop, retouching, artificial detail or color adjustment. The unmodified complete PDF is the preservation master; extracted masked JPX components alone are incomplete.
1899 US published page; public domain. Preserve publisher and scan credits; no exposure-date inference.
Full published page from Marion Harland’s Some Colonial Homesteads and Their Stories, 1899 reprint of the 1897 work, PDF p.214. It records a pre-restoration view, not the present appearance or a dated construction campaign. Photographer unidentified. Library of Congress / Internet Archive scan. Complete PDF layers composed at native 1927-by-2979 foreground geometry; No crop, retouching, artificial detail or color adjustment. The unmodified complete PDF is the preservation master; extracted masked JPX components alone are incomplete.
1899 US published page; public domain. Preserve publisher and scan credits; no exposure-date inference.
Full published page from Marion Harland’s Some Colonial Homesteads and Their Stories, 1899 reprint of the 1897 work, PDF p.218. It records a pre-restoration view, not the present appearance or a dated construction campaign. Photographer unidentified. Library of Congress / Internet Archive scan. Complete PDF layers composed at native 1927-by-2979 foreground geometry; No crop, retouching, artificial detail or color adjustment. The unmodified complete PDF is the preservation master; extracted masked JPX components alone are incomplete.
1899 US published page; public domain. Preserve publisher and scan credits; no exposure-date inference.
Charles Snell, 1967, National Park Service / National Historic Landmarks documentation. Original caption form follows the photograph on PDF page 2. The caption’s December 1974 verification refers to a later visit, not the exposure date. Shown at the general manor site; no separate camera or building position is inferred. Complete 300-dpi PDF-page composite, including foreground/background image layers; no retouching or artificial detail. The original layered PDF is preserved.
Charles Snell, 1967, National Park Service / National Historic Landmarks documentation. Original caption form follows the photograph on PDF page 6. The caption’s December 1974 verification refers to a later visit, not the exposure date. Shown at the general manor site; no separate camera or building position is inferred. Complete 300-dpi PDF-page composite, including foreground/background image layers; no retouching or artificial detail. The original layered PDF is preserved.
James Dillon, December 1974, National Park Service / National Historic Landmarks documentation. Original caption form follows the photograph on PDF page 16. The form calls this building “Ferry House Kitchen”; the photograph is an exterior view. Shown at the general manor site; no separate camera or building position is inferred. Complete 300-dpi PDF-page composite, including foreground/background image layers; no retouching or artificial detail. The original layered PDF is preserved.
Charles Snell, December 1974, National Park Service / National Historic Landmarks documentation. Original caption form follows the photograph on PDF page 4. Shown at the general manor site; no separate camera or building position is inferred. Complete 300-dpi PDF-page composite, including foreground/background image layers; no retouching or artificial detail. The original layered PDF is preserved.
The Croton-Harmon station platform in 1967, showing the transition point where electric locomotives replaced diesel for the run into New York City. This changeover, established in 1913, made Harmon a nationally known railroad name.
Engraving in Benson J. Lossing’s The Hudson, printed p. 316 / PDF p. 332. Full published page from the Library of Congress / Internet Archive scan, digitization sponsored by the Sloan Foundation. Croton Friends of History’s Croton in the 1850s supplied a research lead. This is an illustrated view of the surrounding landscape, not a photograph of Finney Farm. Its exact viewpoint and the farm’s parcel relationship are unverified.
Page 2 of the 1924 Sanborn fire insurance map showing Croton-on-Hudson village center, including building footprints, construction materials, and street layout.
Public domain
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map — Croton-on-Hudson (1924), Sheet 3
An illustration of a large house with a picket fence, surrounded by trees, with people and cows in the foreground. A woman and children are standing near a dirt path, while cows graze nearby.
Public domain
Westchester Portrait/Engraving — Scharf (1886)
1886 ·
Internet Archive (historyofwestche00scha_0), p.380
A black and white portrait of a man with a beard and mustache, wearing a dark suit and vest, with a white collar visible. The image appears to be an engraving or illustration from a book.
Public domain
Portrait of Mrs. Cornelia Beekman
1886 ·
Internet Archive (historyofwestche00scha_0), p.430
An engraving of a woman in 18th-century attire, identified as Mrs. Cornelia Beekman, on a page from 'History of Westchester County'. The portrait is accompanied by a biographical text.
Public domain
Sleepy Hollow Bridge
1886 ·
Internet Archive (historyofwestche00scha_0), p.450
An engraving of a man with a dog standing near a stone bridge over a river, with trees and foliage in the background. The bridge appears to be made of stone and has an archway. The man is dressed in 19th-century attire and holds a rifle.
An illustration of a bunch of white grapes with a leaf and a single grape, likely depicting the 'Martha' grape variety. The image is labeled 'Fig. 8. - MARTHA.' and appears to be from a book on viticulture.
Public domain
Table of Air-Line Distances
1867 ·
Westchester County Archives Digital Collections (p17286coll1)
This image shows a table of air-line distances from various locations in and around Westchester County, New York. The table is presented in a vintage style with a decorative title and includes explanations for the atlas. The page is yellowed with age and has a few stains.
Public domain
1867 Westchester County Atlas - Bedford Town Detail
1867 ·
Westchester County Archives Digital Collections (p17286coll1)
This image shows a detailed section of the 1867 Westchester County Atlas, focusing on the Town of Bedford. The map displays various districts in different colors, including Bedford, Cortlandt, and others, with labeled roads, districts, and properties.
Public domain
1867 Atlas - Mamaroneck, Westchester Co., NY
1867 ·
Westchester County Archives Digital Collections (p17286coll1)
This is a map from the 1867 Atlas of Westchester County showing the area of Mamaroneck, Rye Neck, and surrounding regions. The map displays property lines, roads, and notable locations in the area.
Public domain
1867 Atlas of North Salem, NY
1867 ·
Westchester County Archives Digital Collections (p17286coll1)
This image shows a page from an 1867 atlas featuring maps of various areas in Westchester County, New York, including Croton Falls, Purdy Station, North Salem, Salem Centre, and a larger map of the Town of North Salem.
Public domain
Electric Locomotives at Croton-Harmon Yards (1976)
Penn Central ACMUs (electric multiple units) at the Croton-Harmon railroad yards in 1976. Croton-Harmon has been the electric changeover point for trains entering New York City since 1913, when the New York Central Railroad established it as the boundary between steam/diesel operation upstate and electric operation on the approach to Grand Central Terminal.
Public domain
📷Croton Point Park (1920s-1950s)76 images
Westchester County Park Commission photographs of Croton Point, the beach, dam, and reservoir
Station and rail setting from the pedestrian bridge. Photograph by N. Larson, 1987; New York State Division for Historic Preservation, negative collection. Original caption on PDF p.13 of the nomination. This records the station in 1987, not its present condition. No open reuse license stated. Decoded at native source dimensions; rotated 90 degrees clockwise for reading, without crop, retouching, color adjustment or invented detail. Unmodified extracted master retained separately.
NYS staff photograph; no open reuse license supplied. Creator, state negative collection and federal archive credits retained.
Station exterior, southeast perspective. Photograph by N. Larson, 1987; New York State Division for Historic Preservation, negative collection. Original caption on PDF p.15 of the nomination. This records the station in 1987, not its present condition. No open reuse license stated. Decoded at native source dimensions; rotated 90 degrees clockwise for reading, without crop, retouching, color adjustment or invented detail. Unmodified extracted master retained separately.
NYS staff photograph; no open reuse license supplied. Creator, state negative collection and federal archive credits retained.
Another exterior view, labeled southeast perspective on the original reverse. Photograph by N. Larson, 1987; New York State Division for Historic Preservation, negative collection. Caption reverse: nomination PDF p.17. This records 1987 condition, not the present building. No open reuse license stated. Native-source image rotated 90 degrees clockwise for reading; unmodified extracted JPEG retained separately.
NYS staff photograph; no open reuse license supplied. Creator, state negative collection and federal archive credits retained.
A black and white photograph showing waves crashing onto the beach at Croton Point, with a small island or peninsula in the background covered in trees and a small structure. The Hudson River and distant mountains are visible.
Public domain (county government records)
Croton Point Beach Waves 1923
1923 ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
A black and white photograph showing waves crashing onto the shore at Croton Point, with trees and hills in the background. The image captures a dynamic moment with white-capped waves moving towards the shore, and large rocks scattered along the beach.
Public domain (county government records)
Croton Lake 1926A
1926 ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
A black-and-white photograph showing a large construction crane and framework for the Croton Lake Bridge, with a vintage car and construction trailer in the foreground.
Public domain (county government records)
Croton Dam Bridge Towers Under Construction
1931 ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
A black-and-white photograph showing the construction of bridge towers for the Croton Dam, likely part of the Croton Aqueduct system. The towers are made of metal and have cables attached. The scene is set in a snowy landscape with trees in the background.
Public domain (county government records)
Croton Lake Bridge Opening
Early 20th century ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
A sepia-toned photograph of a serene landscape featuring large rocks in the foreground along the shoreline, with the calm Hudson River in the middle, and mountains or hills in the background under a cloudy sky with sunlight peeking through.
Public domain (county government records)
Croton Point Sunset
1925 ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
A sepia-toned photograph of a serene lake or river scene at sunset, with the sun peeking through clouds and casting a reflection on the water. In the foreground, large rocks are visible along the shoreline, and in the background, silhouetted hills or mountains can be seen.
Public domain (county government records)
Croton Point Docks 1924
1924 ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
A black-and-white photograph showing an industrial area at Croton Point, with a wooden structure and a large pipe or beam on supports. A small building is visible on the left, and a body of water with a distant shoreline can be seen in the background.
Public domain (county government records)
Croton Point Peninsula 1926A
1926 ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
A black and white photograph of the Croton River, showing a serene landscape with a river flowing through a wooded area. The riverbank on the left side of the image has tall grasses and reeds. The sky above is cloudy and overcast.
Public domain (county government records)
Croton River 1923B
1923 ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
A sepia-toned photograph showing a crowded beach scene at Croton Point, with people gathered around two large tents, some sitting on the sand, and others standing or walking around. The background features trees and a cloudy sky.
Public domain (county government records)
Crowds Beach 1926B
1926 ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
Lantern slide image showing a large arched bridge spanning a body of water, likely the New Croton Reservoir. The bridge has a metal truss structure and appears to be surrounded by trees and hills in the background.
Public domain (county government records)
Lanternslide Bridge over Croton Reservoir
Early 20th century ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
Lantern slide image showing a large steel arch bridge spanning a body of water, likely the Croton Reservoir. The bridge has a distinctive truss structure and appears to connect two landmasses with a large stone or concrete structure on one side. The image depicts a serene scene with trees and a clear sky.
Public domain (county government records)
Lanternslide Croton Point Beach
Early 20th century ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
A detailed map of the Plateau Camp Colony in Croton Point Park, Westchester County, NY, created by the Westchester County Park Commission in February 1925. The map shows the layout of the camp, including the placement of tents, a council fire, pavilion and store, and parking spaces.
Public domain (county government records)
New Croton Reservoir 1923
1923 ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
Three Boy Scouts are shown clearing brush on a hillside, with one scout on the left holding a branch, another in the center holding a shovel, and a third on the right holding a branch. A building and trees are visible in the background.
Public domain (county government records)
Boy Scouts working with a log
Early 20th century ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
Two young men, likely Boy Scouts, are working together on a log beside a dirt road. One wears a hat and a light jacket, while the other wears a white T-shirt and dark pants. They appear to be in a wooded area with bare trees and brush.
Public domain (county government records)
Croton Aqueduct Bridge 1931
1931 ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
Black and white photograph of a large steel arch bridge under construction over a body of water, likely the Hudson River. The bridge's metal structure is prominent, with a tall tower on the left side and scaffolding along the near bank. The background shows trees and hills across the water.
Public domain (county government records)
Croton Aqueduct Bridge
1935 ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
Black and white photograph of a large steel arch bridge spanning a body of water, with a stone structure on the left bank. The bridge has a prominent arch and suspension cables. A river or reservoir is visible below the bridge.
Public domain (county government records)
Croton Reservoir Bridge 1935
1935 ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
Black and white photograph showing a large arched bridge spanning a body of water, likely the Hudson River, with a rocky shoreline in the foreground and trees on either side. The New Croton Reservoir dam is visible behind the bridge.
Public domain (county government records)
Croton Aqueduct Bridge Rendering
Early 20th century ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
An architectural rendering of a bridge over a body of water, likely the Croton Reservoir. The bridge has a distinctive arched truss structure and appears to be surrounded by trees and a sloping hillside.
Public domain (county government records)
Park Commission Croton Point Park 1957
1957 ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
Black and white photograph of a serene lake shore with trees in the foreground, rocks in the water, and mountains in the background. A boat is visible on the lake in the distance.
Public domain (county government records)
Croton Point Park Summer Camp Activity
Early 20th century ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
Black and white photograph of children gathered around a rope, likely participating in a summer camp activity. Two boys are engaged with a rope, while an adult supervises. The scene is set in a dirt area with trees and a field in the background.
Public domain (county government records)
Women examining documents at a table
Early 20th century ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
Four women are gathered around a table, examining and handling large sheets of paper or fabric. They appear to be in a room with wooden furniture and possibly a library or archive setting.
Public domain (county government records)
Women Preparing a Large Map or Fabric
Early 20th century ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
Four women are gathered around a table, handling a large piece of fabric or paper. They appear to be in an indoor setting, possibly a library or office, with bookshelves visible in the background. The women are focused on unfolding and examining the material.
Public domain (county government records)
Fishing on Hudson River Shore
Early 20th century ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
Black and white photograph of two men fishing on the rocky shoreline of the Hudson River. One man is actively fishing with a long rod, while the other appears to be observing or preparing gear. The shoreline features trees, large rocks, and driftwood. In the background, there are distant hills and a calm river.
Public domain (county government records)
Hudson River View from Croton
Early 20th century ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
A black and white photograph showing a view of the Hudson River from a road in Croton, with trees and a guardrail in the foreground, and a body of water with distant hills in the background.
Public domain (county government records)
Hudson River View from Croton
Early 20th century ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
Black and white photograph showing a view of the Hudson River from a vantage point in Croton, with trees and a wooden fence in the foreground, and a landscape of trees and possibly a golf course or park in the midground.
Public domain (county government records)
New Croton Reservoir, partially drained
Early 20th century ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
Aerial view of the partially drained New Croton Reservoir, showing a large expanse of mudflats and a small amount of water remaining. The surrounding landscape is wooded, with a bridge visible in the distance.
Public domain (county government records)
Park Commission New Croton Reservoir B
Early 20th century ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
A black-and-white photograph showing a view of the Hudson River through a car side mirror. The river, shoreline, and distant mountains are visible in the reflection. The foreground includes a grassy area and trees.
Public domain (county government records)
Scenic Overlook in Croton Park
Early 20th century ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
A black and white photograph showing a scenic overlook with a stone railing, overlooking a forested area and a body of water in the distance, likely the Hudson River. The overlook appears to be part of a park, possibly in or near Croton-on-Hudson, NY.
Public domain (county government records)
Rendering Croton Point 1925
1925 ·
Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Collection
Black and white photograph of three people in early 20th-century clothing posing on a boat. The man on the left wears a suit and hat, while the two women beside him wear long dresses and hats. They are standing on the deck of a boat with a metal railing.
Black and white photograph of people, mostly children, swimming and playing in the water at Croton Point, with a large wooden building in the background. The image shows a beach scene with people wading in the water and a large structure, likely a bathhouse or pavilion, along the shoreline.
Black and white photograph of two young girls wading in shallow water at Croton Point. One girl is bending over, possibly picking up something from the water, while the other stands behind her. In the background, a large pavilion and a crowd of people are visible.
Black and white photograph of two young children wading in the water at Croton Point. A girl in a white dress is stepping into the water while a boy in a dark hat and shirt follows behind. In the background, several people are standing on the shore and a stone wall runs along the edge of the water.
A black and white photograph of a man and woman standing on a pier or deck with a railing, overlooking a body of water. The woman wears a long white dress and hat, while the man is dressed in a dark suit and cap. The background shows a body of water with trees in the distance.
Three women in early 20th-century clothing sitting on a dirt path or beach. The woman on the right wears a distinctive feathered hat. Trees and a field are visible in the background.
A group of people, including women and children, are in a small wooden boat on the Hudson River. A man in a hat is helping a child into the boat. In the background, a large paddlewheel steamboat is docked, with 'STEAMBOAT CO.' visible on its side.
A family of five poses on a tree stump and root system at Croton Point, with a large paddlewheel boat visible in the Hudson River behind them. The family members are dressed in formal attire, suggesting a special occasion or outing. In the background, a sandy beach and a few small boats are visible.
Black and white photograph of a group of people dressed in late 19th-century clothing gathered outside a large pavilion or picnic shelter at Croton Point. A young girl in a white blouse and dark skirt is prominently featured walking towards the camera, while another girl in a white dress and hat is in the foreground, slightly out of focus.
A black and white photograph showing a man in a suit and hat standing on a beach, with a crowd of people in old-fashioned clothing sitting and standing behind him. In the background, there is a building with a flagpole and trees. The scene appears to be a leisurely gathering at Croton Point.
Photograph of people dressed in early 20th-century clothing standing and sitting on the deck of a boat named Sirius, likely at Croton Point. The boat's deck and smokestack are visible, with a body of water in the background.
A black-and-white photograph showing a woman in early 20th-century attire holding a beer, standing on a covered porch or deck with several men. The setting appears to be a recreational or excursion location, likely Croton Point based on the title.
A young child sits on the sand at Croton Point, playing with a bucket or shovel. In the background, several adults in late 19th-century clothing are standing or sitting, some under a tree or near the shoreline.
Black and white photograph of a family of four posing on a brick wall beside a body of water, likely the Hudson River, at Croton Point. The family members are dressed in early 20th-century attire, with the man in a suit and hat, and the women in long dresses and hats. A small wooden structure is visible on the left side of the image.
Black and white photograph of a group of women and children sitting on benches inside a trolley or train car. The women are dressed in early 20th-century clothing, with hats and long dresses. A sign on the wall reads 'RESERVED'.
A black and white photograph of a formally dressed couple standing on a beach at Croton Point. The man wears a suit and hat, while the woman wears a long dress and a large hat with feathers. In the background, several people are visible, some sitting on the ground and others near the water.
A receipt from Whitney Studio Galleries dated April 29, 1929, addressed to George Biddle in Croton-on-Hudson, NY, for 2 lithographs titled 'Hombre Que Sin Verguenza' and 'Coffee Stachus', valued at $15.
An aerial photograph showing a landscape with a large body of water in the background, likely the Croton Reservoir. The foreground features a mix of residential areas, roads, and wooded patches.
This is a topographic map of Putnam County, New York, from 1889. It shows the area around Croton Watershed with various lakes, reservoirs, and geographical features. The map includes labeled locations such as Croton Corners Reservoir, Lake Gilead, and Middle Branch Reservoir.
Public domain
Croton–Ossining surficial geology and sections — USGS plate 2
Full unretouched map sheet rendered as a 7000-pixel JPEG, including legend and three geologic sections. The original PDF is preserved separately. An optional atlas overlay uses only the main map panel; geological contacts may be approximate or inferred. Publication date is distinct from the 1986 geological work and 1982 base-map date.
USGS / NYSDEC publication; original NYS Department of Transportation base-map credit retained. No separate reuse license supplied.
Curtiss JN-4 Jenny, the type of biplane commonly used for aerial bootlegging during Prohibition. A Curtis biplane crashed near Croton on May 15, 1922, carrying 250 quarts of Canadian whiskey.
Federal Prohibition agents destroying barrels of confiscated alcohol. At the Nikko Inn in Croton, agents went undercover as musicians — 'McKay fiddled, Reager sang and Gallante danced' — before making arrests.
Currier & Ives 1874 temperance cartoon 'Woman's Holy War.' The Croton area had several speakeasies during Prohibition including the Nikko Inn, Mikado Inn, and Tumble Inn.
An illustration of a colonial-era man riding a horse down a snowy street, waving his hat in the air. The scene includes a church with a clock tower and a picket fence in the background.
Public domain
📁Other Images443 images
Military Map: Frog's Point to Croton River (1776)
1776 ·
Leventhal Map Center, Boston Public Library
Revolutionary War map showing American and British army positions from Frog's Point to the Croton River, October 12-28, 1776. Shows the Croton Ferry crossing and military fortifications in the Neutral Ground.
No known copyright restrictions
William A. Underhill Brickyard, Croton Point, NY
c. 1880-1900 ·
brickcollecting.com — https://brickcollecting.com/croton.htm
Historical photograph of the William A. Underhill brickyard operation on Croton Point, showing the brick manufacturing facility that operated from the 1830s until 1915 when clay supplies were exhausted.
Historical photograph, public domain
Historic IXL Marked Brick from Westchester Construction
Late 19th to early 20th Century ·
brickcollecting.com
This close-up image displays a single reddish-brown brick, featuring the embossed mark 'I X I' within a rectangular border. This mark identifies it as a product of the IXL Brick Company, a prominent manufacturer active from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Such mass-produced bricks were fundamental building materials, indicating industrial contributions to local construction and infrastructure in communities like Croton-on-Hudson. The brick's worn texture suggests its use in a historical structure.
This image features a weathered, reddish-brown brick with a distinct anchor symbol embossed within a rectangular depression on its surface. Green moss and dirt partially cover the brick, indicating its age and outdoor exposure. The anchor symbol often represents maritime connections or a manufacturer's mark, hinting at potential historical ties to riverine commerce or industries in the Croton-on-Hudson area.
See source for rights
John Cox Brickyard, Croton Landing
c. 1880-1900 ·
brickcollecting.com — https://brickcollecting.com/croton.htm
Historical photograph of the John Cox brickyard at Croton Landing. Cox was one of many brick manufacturers operating along the Hudson River in the 19th century.
Historical photograph, public domain
Boarding House and Store, Croton Point Brickyard Village
c. 1880-1910 ·
brickcollecting.com — https://brickcollecting.com/croton.htm
The boarding house, store, one-room schoolhouse and 3-story brick barn that formed the small village around the Underhill brickyard on Croton Point. These buildings served the workers and their families.
Historical photograph, public domain
1891 F.W. Beers Map — Anchor Brick Co. and Brickyards
Detail from F.W. Beers atlas showing the location of the William A. Underhill Brick Company on Croton Point, with surrounding streets and properties of the brickyard village.
Public domain map
Interwasser — Dr. R.T. Underhill Villa, Croton Point (1846)
c. 1846-1890 ·
brickcollecting.com — https://brickcollecting.com/croton.htm
The Italianate villa Interwasser built by Dr. Richard T. Underhill in 1846 on Croton Point, with its distinctive tower room. Underhill was the leading agriculturalist and wine producer, cultivating 80 acres of Isabella and Catawba grapes.
This image captures a close-up of a single weathered, reddish-brown brick, likely part of an outdoor path or older structure. The brick's surface is covered with dirt and moss, hinting at significant age and exposure to the elements. Faint, raised letters, appearing to spell 'UJN', are visible, representing a manufacturer's mark. Such bricks can provide clues about historical construction methods and local industry in Croton-on-Hudson or Westchester County.
This image captures a close-up of a weathered, reddish-brown common brick. The word 'CROTON' is distinctly impressed into its surface, indicating its likely origin from a brickworks in or around Croton-on-Hudson, New York. These locally produced bricks were integral to construction projects throughout the region, underscoring the area's industrial history. They likely date from the late 19th to early 20th century, a period of significant local building activity.
See source for rights
W.A. Underhill Stamped Brick from Croton Point Kilns
Late 19th to early 20th Century ·
brickcollecting.com
A close-up photograph displays a rectangular, reddish-orange brick with the letters "W A U" deeply impressed into its face. The brick shows signs of age and wear, including minor chips and surface imperfections. This mark likely identifies it as a product of the W.A. Underhill Brick Company, a prominent manufacturer with kilns historically located at Croton Point in Croton-on-Hudson. Such bricks were widely used in construction throughout Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley region.
See source for rights
Underhill Wine Cellars, Croton Point
c. 1850-1900 ·
brickcollecting.com — https://brickcollecting.com/croton.htm
The vaulted brick wine cellars built into the hillside by Dr. R.T. Underhill on Croton Point. Used to store Croton Point wine, described in an 1865 Times article as the ideal ladies beverage. Two cellars still standing.
Historical photograph, public domain
October 14, 1842 - Thousands to celebrate the Croton Dam and fresh water for NYC
October 14, 1842 - "Thousands to celebrate the Croton Dam and fresh water for NYC"
A first-person account from Julia Lawrence Hasbrouck's diary describes the Croton Water Celebration in New York City. The diarist noted it was "a happy day for New York, as now she stands a 'queen city' with her beautifull Fountains, and pure transparent water."
On Friday, October 14, 1842, the entire city mobilized for the celebration. Hasbrouck observed that "The whole city were on the move; and thousands of c
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Croton Cider - Then & Now
This piece explores Croton's agricultural heritage by contrasting historical cider production with contemporary practices at Thompson's Cider Mill.
Thompson's Cider Mill is a modern venue where visitors can observe traditional apple cider-making processes. The proprietor, Geoff Thompson, and his team transform bushels of heritage and conventional apple varieties into cider using methods largely unchanged since the 18th and 19th centuries.
Croton's cider tradition run
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Resolved, Unanimously, July 9, 1776
On July 9, 1776, Colonel Pierre Van Cortlandt and ten other Westchester County deputies met at the Court House in White Plains to vote on the Declaration of Independence. They convened as part of "the Provincial Congress of the Province of New-York" at a critical moment in American history.
New York's position held special significance because its Philadelphia delegation had abstained from the July 2 independence vote, preventing unanimity. A committee chair
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Accident on the Van Cortlandt Bridge, 1911
During the summer of 1911, a heavy truck's rear wheels broke through the wooden planks of the Van Cortlandt Bridge, which crossed the Croton River along the Albany Post Road. The accident occurred on the Croton side of the bridge, with Van Cortlandt Manor visible through the trees in the background of the photograph.
The truck's occupants were identified as David Miller and Aimee Marie Dyckman, a local woman he would marry six years later. Dyckman, wh
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Accident on the Van Cortlandt Bridge, 1911
During the summer of 1911, a heavy truck's rear wheels broke through the wooden planks of the Van Cortlandt Bridge, which crossed the Croton River along the Albany Post Road. The accident occurred on the Croton side of the bridge, with Van Cortlandt Manor visible through the trees in the background of the photograph.
The truck's occupants were identified as David Miller and Aimee Marie Dyckman, a local woman he would marry six years later. Dyckman, wh
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Motoring Across the Croton, 1912
A 1912 photograph captures an early automobile crossing the Van Cortlandt Bridge over the Croton River, offering a glimpse into the dawn of motorized transportation in the Hudson Valley region.
The narrative identifies three key landmarks from that era: the Crotonville School (today's Parker-Bale American Legion Post), the Croton Bay Pumping Station built in 1890, and the Van Cortlandt Bridge itself.
The bridge, also called the Long Bridge or Wagon Bridge, was
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Croton's First Train Station
This article presents a historically significant photograph of Croton's inaugural train station, circa 1849. The station was constructed in 1849 and situated on the river side of the tracks, positioned across from what is now the intersection of North Riverside Avenue and Grand Street.
The image was sourced from filmmaker and historian Ken Sargeant's collection of 19th-century Croton photographs, obtained through collaboration with Roberta Arminio at the Ossining H
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Croton Cider - Then & Now
This piece explores Croton's agricultural heritage by contrasting historical cider production with contemporary practices at Thompson's Cider Mill.
Thompson's Cider Mill is a modern venue where visitors can observe traditional apple cider-making processes. The proprietor, Geoff Thompson, and his team transform bushels of heritage and conventional apple varieties into cider using methods largely unchanged since the 18th and 19th centuries.
Croton's cider tradition run
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
'Twas the Night Before Christmas in Sing Sing
This article explores the connection between Clement C. Moore, author of the famous Christmas poem, and the village of Sing Sing (now Ossining), New York.
According to historical records, Moore "had once contemplated making a summer home on the Hudson. In 1839, he bought a beautiful estate at Sing Sing." He subsequently gave the property to his son Benjamin, and the poet made periodic visits to see his son and daughter-in-law there.
The Moore fami
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Croton Cider - Then & Now
This piece explores Croton's agricultural heritage by contrasting historical cider production with contemporary practices at Thompson's Cider Mill.
Thompson's Cider Mill is a modern venue where visitors can observe traditional apple cider-making processes. The proprietor, Geoff Thompson, and his team transform bushels of heritage and conventional apple varieties into cider using methods largely unchanged since the 18th and 19th centuries.
Croton's cider tradition run
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
During a beach walk along Croton Point's north shore, the author discovered old bricks embedded in concrete, stamped with "IX" and "XL" markings. These artifacts originated from William A. Underhill's brickyard at the point's northern end.
The bricks bore the "IXL" stamp, representing a marketing strategy meaning "I excel" at brickmaking. Some displayed Underhill's initials (WAU) instead. The burned appearance suggests they were rejected pieces later incorporated into early 20th-century cabin f
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Croton Reservoir in Central Park, Rejected Design
In 1857, the Central Park Commission conducted a design competition. Thirty-three entries were submitted, with only five surviving to the present day. Two rejected designs are currently displayed at the New-York Historical Society. One is a striking proposal by John Rink, an engineer, featuring formal gardens with ornate decorative patterns. His design included a monumental museum structure positioned along the south and east sides of the Croton
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Croton Reservoir in Central Park, Rejected Design
In 1857, the Central Park Commission conducted a design competition. Thirty-three entries were submitted, with only five surviving to the present day. Two rejected designs are currently displayed at the New-York Historical Society. One is a striking proposal by John Rink, an engineer, featuring formal gardens with ornate decorative patterns. His design included a monumental museum structure positioned along the south and east sides of the Croton
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Croton Reservoir in Central Park, Rejected Design
In 1857, the Central Park Commission conducted a design competition. Thirty-three entries were submitted, with only five surviving to the present day. Two rejected designs are currently displayed at the New-York Historical Society. One is a striking proposal by John Rink, an engineer, featuring formal gardens with ornate decorative patterns. His design included a monumental museum structure positioned along the south and east sides of the Croton
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Double Arches Promenade
The Double Arches Promenade in Ossining was undergoing reconstruction. The article features a historical postcard from June 11, 1907, "published by William Terhune, Ossining on Hudson," showing the location approximately a century prior.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
R. T. Underhill - Doctor, Winemaker, and Investor in the First New York City Elevated Railway
Richard T. Underhill was an investor in the West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway Company, which pioneered the city's first elevated railway system.
Charles T. Harvey, a self-taught engineer, built an experimental cable-powered elevated railway in 1867, starting from Battery Place and extending northward. The company, chartered in 1866, aimed to construct a 25-mile line reaching Yonkers with $100,000 i
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
R. T. Underhill - Doctor, Winemaker, and Investor in the First New York City Elevated Railway
Richard T. Underhill was an investor in the West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway Company, which pioneered the city's first elevated railway system.
Charles T. Harvey, a self-taught engineer, built an experimental cable-powered elevated railway in 1867, starting from Battery Place and extending northward. The company, chartered in 1866, aimed to construct a 25-mile line reaching Yonkers with $100,000 i
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
On May 15, 1922, a Curtis biplane crashed on a farm near Croton-on-Hudson, New York, carrying a cargo of illegal liquor during the Prohibition era. The incident has come to be known as "The Mystery of the Rum Plane."
The Crash
As darkness fell, the aircraft circled over farmland owned by former Westchester County deputy sheriff George McCall, located approximately a mile above Croton and a quarter-mile from the Tumble Inn roadhouse. The pilot initially hesitated to land, circling repeatedly be
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This piece presents a detailed historical map illustrating Croton's appearance in 1872, sourced from the County Atlas of Westchester New York by J.B. Beers & Co. During this period, the village—known as Croton Landing—consisted primarily of residential and commercial structures concentrated along what is now Grand Street, Brook Street, and Riverside Avenue. The map reveals that Riverside Avenue once ran adjacent to the Hudson River's original banks; the area east of the railroad tracks was subse
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Dr. Underhill, a Patriarch and a Man of Renown
The Eclectic Magazine, in an April 1864 piece, praised Dr. Underhill as "a patriarch and a man of renown" among grape growers. The publication highlighted his fifty-acre Croton Point vineyards as the source of celebrated grapes known for their quality and sweetness.
Thousands of grape baskets from his vineyard reached New York households annually, followed by wine production. The wines were described as suitable for medicinal purposes and communio
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
R. T. Underhill - Doctor, Winemaker, and Investor in the First New York City Elevated Railway
Richard T. Underhill was an investor in the West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway Company, which pioneered the city's first elevated railway system.
Charles T. Harvey, a self-taught engineer, built an experimental cable-powered elevated railway in 1867, starting from Battery Place and extending northward. The company, chartered in 1866, aimed to construct a 25-mile line reaching Yonkers with $100,000 i
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Sing Sing Camp-Meeting
This article examines the history of the Sing Sing Camp Meeting, a Methodist religious gathering established in the Hudson River region. According to an 1874 New-York Daily Tribune article, the camp meeting was founded over 40 years prior to provide "a short season of out-door worship during the sultriest portion of the year."
The institution began informally when Wesley disciples gathered in groves near Croton for outdoor religious services. In 1832, the "Mount Pleasant
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Sing Sing Camp-Meeting
This article examines the history of the Sing Sing Camp Meeting, a Methodist religious gathering established in the Hudson River region. According to an 1874 New-York Daily Tribune article, the camp meeting was founded over 40 years prior to provide "a short season of out-door worship during the sultriest portion of the year."
The institution began informally when Wesley disciples gathered in groves near Croton for outdoor religious services. In 1832, the "Mount Pleasant
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Sing Sing Camp-Meeting
This article examines the history of the Sing Sing Camp Meeting, a Methodist religious gathering established in the Hudson River region. According to an 1874 New-York Daily Tribune article, the camp meeting was founded over 40 years prior to provide "a short season of out-door worship during the sultriest portion of the year."
The institution began informally when Wesley disciples gathered in groves near Croton for outdoor religious services. In 1832, the "Mount Pleasant
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
In a June 1931 column for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, entertainment writer Rian James promoted his "Gadabout Guide" to New York's unconventional dining establishments. His "Wide-Open Spaces Department" captured Depression-era roadhouse culture, describing how drivers of modest vehicles gripped their steering wheels anxiously amid traffic.
James surveyed various establishments across New York City, Long Island, the Bronx, and lower Westchester before concluding with the Nikko Inn at Harmon-on-the-
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
A Van Cortlandt Manor Treasure - on eBay!
The Westchester County Historical Society (WCHS) acquired an important historical document: a 22-page notebook from surveyor George W. Cartwright. The journal documents his detailed survey of Van Cortlandt Manor conducted between 1837-1838.
Cartwright referred to the area as "Van Cortlandt Manor Farm" in his initial entry. The organization believes a survey map held by Historic Hudson Valley was created from these very notes. By comparing the notebook
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A Van Cortlandt Manor Treasure - on eBay!
The Westchester County Historical Society (WCHS) acquired an important historical document: a 22-page notebook from surveyor George W. Cartwright. The journal documents his detailed survey of Van Cortlandt Manor conducted between 1837-1838.
Cartwright referred to the area as "Van Cortlandt Manor Farm" in his initial entry. The organization believes a survey map held by Historic Hudson Valley was created from these very notes. By comparing the notebook
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
A Van Cortlandt Manor Treasure - on eBay!
The Westchester County Historical Society (WCHS) acquired an important historical document: a 22-page notebook from surveyor George W. Cartwright. The journal documents his detailed survey of Van Cortlandt Manor conducted between 1837-1838.
Cartwright referred to the area as "Van Cortlandt Manor Farm" in his initial entry. The organization believes a survey map held by Historic Hudson Valley was created from these very notes. By comparing the notebook
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Census Map of Croton, 1935
This post presents three detailed sections from a 1935 census map of the Town of Cortlandt, which accompanied the 1940 census. The map details focus on three areas: Croton, Harmon, and Croton Point.
The map was created in January 1935 "in the office of the County Engineer, with workers supplied by the Westchester County Emergency Work Bureau." This indicates the map was a product of Depression-era public works employment programs.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Census Map of Croton, 1935
This post presents three detailed sections from a 1935 census map of the Town of Cortlandt, which accompanied the 1940 census. The map details focus on three areas: Croton, Harmon, and Croton Point.
The map was created in January 1935 "in the office of the County Engineer, with workers supplied by the Westchester County Emergency Work Bureau." This indicates the map was a product of Depression-era public works employment programs.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
New Croton Dam, circa 1907
This post features a vintage postcard depicting the nearly-completed New Croton Dam, also known as the Cornell Dam, photographed around 1907. The dating is based on the postcard's "undivided back" format, which was standard from 1901 to 1907—a period when addresses could only be written on the reverse side.
The publisher was William Terhune, based in Ossining on Hudson, with printing done in Germany. The image shows the dam during its final construction phases at Cro
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A pen-and-ink drawing from Hudson Valley Echoes, issue #3, 1953. "Early morning is greeted by the calls of the Crows as they fly off at their slow pace to distant hills... Departing from our camping place in the small lagoon located near the southwest end of the Point (Tellers Point) we paddle along the beautiful Senasqua marshes, the tall slender grasses swaying in the breeze."
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A Croton River Disaster—197 Years Ago Today
On March 10, 1818, the Westchester Herald reported on a devastating freshet—a spring flood caused by rapid snow thaw and heavy rain—that struck the Croton River. The disaster destroyed valuable mill infrastructure owned by General Philip Van Cortlandt.
The Damage
"The rapid thaw on Saturday...attended with heavy rain, occasioned the Croton river to rise to a considerable height, and floated down ponderous shoals of ice." One merchant mill was displa
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Camping at Croton Point, 1905
An 1905 article in Country Life in America magazine featured Croton Point as an ideal camping destination. Located "about thirty miles from the city" on the Hudson's New York side, the area offered a retreat that felt remote while remaining accessible to urban centers.
The article described "Horseshoe Beach of fine sand" as an excellent bathing location and praised the river and bay for sailing. Fishermen could find decent sport off the northwestern point. Campers
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On May 15, 1922, a Curtis biplane crashed on a farm near Croton-on-Hudson, New York, carrying a cargo of illegal liquor during the Prohibition era. The incident has come to be known as "The Mystery of the Rum Plane."
The Crash
As darkness fell, the aircraft circled over farmland owned by former Westchester County deputy sheriff George McCall, located approximately a mile above Croton and a quarter-mile from the Tumble Inn roadhouse. The pilot initially hesitated to land, circling repeatedly be
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
A 1906 engineering plan depicting the downstream elevation of the New Croton Dam, prepared by the New York City Aqueduct Commission, from the Historic American Engineering Record at the Library of Congress.
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O, blessed be the Croton!
The article introduces a poem by Lydia Maria Child celebrating the Croton Aqueduct's opening in 1842. Child, described as "renowned in her day as a tireless crusader for truth and justice," wrote "The New-York Boy's Song" to honor how clean water transformed New York City.
The poem expresses joy about the aqueduct's benefits across social classes. As Child wrote, the Croton "flows for man and beast, and gives its wealth out freely, to the greatest and the least." The
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The Motorist's Playground
This post examines early 1920s roadhouse culture in the Croton area. Advertisements from the June 12, 1921 New-York Tribune featured three Croton "road houses" in a promotion marketing "Westchester County, the Motorist's Playground, 900 Miles of Good Roads."
A 1917 Variety article discussed E.H. Sommers' roadhouse ventures, including his operation of Tumble Inn near Peekskill and Nikko Inn at Harmon. These establishments served "those owning fast cars" in an era when
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Sixty-nine years before the publication date, on April 1, 1948, the U.S. Postal Service officially incorporated hyphens into the cancellation stamp for what had previously been called "Croton on Hudson." This transition is documented through a pair of commemorative envelopes known as "last/first covers," which were inscribed by Augustus W. Dymes, Jr., who served as the local postmaster and was the uncle of Dorothy Pezanowski, the village's current historian.
In philatelic terminology, a cachet
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Sixty-nine years before the publication date, on April 1, 1948, the U.S. Postal Service officially incorporated hyphens into the cancellation stamp for what had previously been called "Croton on Hudson." This transition is documented through a pair of commemorative envelopes known as "last/first covers," which were inscribed by Augustus W. Dymes, Jr., who served as the local postmaster and was the uncle of Dorothy Pezanowski, the village's current historian.
In philatelic terminology, a cachet
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Sixty-nine years before the publication date, on April 1, 1948, the U.S. Postal Service officially incorporated hyphens into the cancellation stamp for what had previously been called "Croton on Hudson." This transition is documented through a pair of commemorative envelopes known as "last/first covers," which were inscribed by Augustus W. Dymes, Jr., who served as the local postmaster and was the uncle of Dorothy Pezanowski, the village's current historian.
In philatelic terminology, a cachet
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Sixty-nine years before the publication date, on April 1, 1948, the U.S. Postal Service officially incorporated hyphens into the cancellation stamp for what had previously been called "Croton on Hudson." This transition is documented through a pair of commemorative envelopes known as "last/first covers," which were inscribed by Augustus W. Dymes, Jr., who served as the local postmaster and was the uncle of Dorothy Pezanowski, the village's current historian.
In philatelic terminology, a cachet
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Croton Landing, 1881
A historical map detail from the Atlas of Westchester County, New York, compiled by G.W. Bromley & Co., Civil Engineers, published in 1881. The image shows Croton Landing as it appeared during that era.
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Croton's Old Post Road Inn, 1890
In January 1890, Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly published an article by C. Hills Warren examining the Albany Post Road's history with nostalgic reverence. Warren observed that the road's significance had diminished considerably since its heyday as the primary stagecoach route between New York City and Albany. Steam navigation and railroad expansion had rendered it obsolete for transportation purposes.
Warren embarked on a journey retracing the historic route, d
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Croton-on-Hudson Phone Directory, 1938
Thanks to Carl Oechsner, the site obtained a 1938 Croton-on-Hudson phone directory. The creators initially planned to scan advertisements for establishments like the Mikado Inn, Konco's Garage, and Robbins Pharmacy. Upon closer examination, they discovered listings for notable Crotonites including Max Eastman, Margaret Mayo, and Carrie E. Tompkins.
The team scanned every page and processed the images through optical character recognition technology, creat
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Six photographs from the 1924 Westchester County Park Commission report. "Croton Point Park" opened to the public in 1923, and was purchased on July 2, 1923. The county replaced "a group of shacks known as 'tent city'" with baseball fields and a children's camp. During the 1930s, an emergency airplane landing strip was constructed.
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Six photographs from the 1924 Westchester County Park Commission report. "Croton Point Park" opened to the public in 1923, and was purchased on July 2, 1923. The county replaced "a group of shacks known as 'tent city'" with baseball fields and a children's camp. During the 1930s, an emergency airplane landing strip was constructed.
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Six photographs from the 1924 Westchester County Park Commission report. "Croton Point Park" opened to the public in 1923, and was purchased on July 2, 1923. The county replaced "a group of shacks known as 'tent city'" with baseball fields and a children's camp. During the 1930s, an emergency airplane landing strip was constructed.
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During a beach walk along Croton Point's north shore, the author discovered old bricks embedded in concrete, stamped with "IX" and "XL" markings. These artifacts originated from William A. Underhill's brickyard at the point's northern end.
The bricks bore the "IXL" stamp, representing a marketing strategy meaning "I excel" at brickmaking. Some displayed Underhill's initials (WAU) instead. The burned appearance suggests they were rejected pieces later incorporated into early 20th-century cabin f
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Croton Cider - Then & Now
This piece explores Croton's agricultural heritage by contrasting historical cider production with contemporary practices at Thompson's Cider Mill.
Thompson's Cider Mill is a modern venue where visitors can observe traditional apple cider-making processes. The proprietor, Geoff Thompson, and his team transform bushels of heritage and conventional apple varieties into cider using methods largely unchanged since the 18th and 19th centuries.
Croton's cider tradition run
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Camping at Croton Point, 1905
An 1905 article in Country Life in America magazine featured Croton Point as an ideal camping destination. Located "about thirty miles from the city" on the Hudson's New York side, the area offered a retreat that felt remote while remaining accessible to urban centers.
The article described "Horseshoe Beach of fine sand" as an excellent bathing location and praised the river and bay for sailing. Fishermen could find decent sport off the northwestern point. Campers
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As summer concludes, this postcard offers a glimpse into recreational activities at Croton Point around 1915. The card was published for "W.H. Noll, Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y." by Commercialchrome, a Cleveland-based printing company operating from 1910-1920. The white border and divided back layout suggest a circa 1915 printing date.
W.H. Noll likely refers to William H. Noll, who operated Bill's Restaurant at the intersection of South Riverside Avenue and Brook Street. According to his 1941 obitua
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As summer concludes, this postcard offers a glimpse into recreational activities at Croton Point around 1915. The card was published for "W.H. Noll, Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y." by Commercialchrome, a Cleveland-based printing company operating from 1910-1920. The white border and divided back layout suggest a circa 1915 printing date.
W.H. Noll likely refers to William H. Noll, who operated Bill's Restaurant at the intersection of South Riverside Avenue and Brook Street. According to his 1941 obitua
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A Civil War era map from the U.S. Coast Survey, 1861-1865. The survey was conducted under A.D. Bache, great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin. James McNeill Whistler, the painter, worked as a Coast Survey engraver before his artistic career.
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Croton Point and Ossining, circa 1905
This post features a historical postcard depicting a northwestern view over Ossining's rooftops toward Croton Point and Haverstraw. The card was postmarked January 18, 1905.
The postcard is classified as an "undivided back" design, produced during a period when postal regulations restricted back-side writing to addresses only. William Terhune, a local Ossining publisher, produced this card as part of his postcard publishing work.
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A stereoview photograph of the Croton Reservoir in Central Park from Deloss Barnum's "Views in Central Park" series. The site of the reservoir is now occupied by the Great Lawn.
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A stereoview photograph of the Croton Reservoir in Central Park from Deloss Barnum's "Views in Central Park" series. The site of the reservoir is now occupied by the Great Lawn.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
A stereoview photograph of the Croton Reservoir in Central Park from Deloss Barnum's "Views in Central Park" series. The site of the reservoir is now occupied by the Great Lawn.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The "Good and Substantial" Sloop, Fair Play
A historical shipping advertisement from the Hudson River Chronicle newspaper, published in Sing Sing on November 2, 1841, promotes a vessel called the Fair Play, described as "good and substantial." The advertisement represents documentation of commercial shipping operations that served the Croton area.
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Clean, Sweet, Abundant Water!
This article features an excerpt from Maria Lydia Child's Letters from New-York, celebrating the opening of the Croton Aqueduct in October 1842. Child eloquently describes New Yorkers' joy at accessing clean water.
Child expresses wonder at the magnificent fountains. The central fountain in the park could "throw the column sixty feet into the air, and drops it into the basin in a shower of diamonds." The fountain featured various formations including "The Maid of
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The Greatest Jubilee That New York . . . Has Ever Boasted
This month marks the 171st anniversary of what was described as "a jubilee in commemoration of the greatest blessing that a city like New York could receive—the introduction of an abundant supply of pure and wholesome water." The celebration took place on October 14, 1842.
The article draws from coverage published in the Dollar Weekly newspaper on October 22, 1842. Publishers Herrick & Ropes produced what they called the "cheapest paper
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Celebrating High Bridge
High Bridge stands as one of America's most significant early engineering achievements and New York City's oldest existing bridge. Originally designed as a component of the Old Croton Aqueduct system, this structure conveyed water across the Harlem River into Manhattan. Though built primarily for transporting water through large pipes, the bridge welcomed pedestrians and quickly became a beloved public destination following its 1848 completion.
The bridge attracted thro
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The Greatest Jubilee That New York . . . Has Ever Boasted
This month marks the 171st anniversary of what was described as "a jubilee in commemoration of the greatest blessing that a city like New York could receive—the introduction of an abundant supply of pure and wholesome water." The celebration took place on October 14, 1842.
The article draws from coverage published in the Dollar Weekly newspaper on October 22, 1842. Publishers Herrick & Ropes produced what they called the "cheapest paper
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Greatest Jubilee That New York . . . Has Ever Boasted
This month marks the 171st anniversary of what was described as "a jubilee in commemoration of the greatest blessing that a city like New York could receive—the introduction of an abundant supply of pure and wholesome water." The celebration took place on October 14, 1842.
The article draws from coverage published in the Dollar Weekly newspaper on October 22, 1842. Publishers Herrick & Ropes produced what they called the "cheapest paper
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Greatest Jubilee That New York . . . Has Ever Boasted
This month marks the 171st anniversary of what was described as "a jubilee in commemoration of the greatest blessing that a city like New York could receive—the introduction of an abundant supply of pure and wholesome water." The celebration took place on October 14, 1842.
The article draws from coverage published in the Dollar Weekly newspaper on October 22, 1842. Publishers Herrick & Ropes produced what they called the "cheapest paper
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
October 14, 1842 - "Thousands to celebrate the Croton Dam and fresh water for NYC"
A first-person account from Julia Lawrence Hasbrouck's diary describes the Croton Water Celebration in New York City. The diarist noted it was "a happy day for New York, as now she stands a 'queen city' with her beautifull Fountains, and pure transparent water."
On Friday, October 14, 1842, the entire city mobilized for the celebration. Hasbrouck observed that "The whole city were on the move; and thousands of c
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
October 14, 1842 - "Thousands to celebrate the Croton Dam and fresh water for NYC"
A first-person account from Julia Lawrence Hasbrouck's diary describes the Croton Water Celebration in New York City. The diarist noted it was "a happy day for New York, as now she stands a 'queen city' with her beautifull Fountains, and pure transparent water."
On Friday, October 14, 1842, the entire city mobilized for the celebration. Hasbrouck observed that "The whole city were on the move; and thousands of c
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Grape King of Croton Point
Richard T. Underhill earned the title "Grape King" through pioneering viticulture efforts at Croton Point during the 19th century. He initially purchased European grape varieties from Andre Parmentier, a Belgian nurseryman who had emigrated to America. After his first European plantings failed, Underhill shifted strategy in 1827, establishing what became "the first large vineyard in the country" by cultivating American grape varieties like Catawba and Isabella acr
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Danish Home Christmas Seals
For more than six decades, the Danish Home in Croton has produced Christmas seals—decorative stamp-like labels affixed to holiday mail that serve dual purposes of fundraising and raising awareness for charitable initiatives.
These beautiful, poster-style designs are similar to what many recognize from the American Lung Association's annual Christmas seal campaigns. However, the term "Christmas seals" isn't exclusive to that organization, despite their trademark stat
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Danish Home Christmas Seals
For more than six decades, the Danish Home in Croton has produced Christmas seals—decorative stamp-like labels affixed to holiday mail that serve dual purposes of fundraising and raising awareness for charitable initiatives.
These beautiful, poster-style designs are similar to what many recognize from the American Lung Association's annual Christmas seal campaigns. However, the term "Christmas seals" isn't exclusive to that organization, despite their trademark stat
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Danish Home Christmas Seals
For more than six decades, the Danish Home in Croton has produced Christmas seals—decorative stamp-like labels affixed to holiday mail that serve dual purposes of fundraising and raising awareness for charitable initiatives.
These beautiful, poster-style designs are similar to what many recognize from the American Lung Association's annual Christmas seal campaigns. However, the term "Christmas seals" isn't exclusive to that organization, despite their trademark stat
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Danish Home Christmas Seals
For more than six decades, the Danish Home in Croton has produced Christmas seals—decorative stamp-like labels affixed to holiday mail that serve dual purposes of fundraising and raising awareness for charitable initiatives.
These beautiful, poster-style designs are similar to what many recognize from the American Lung Association's annual Christmas seal campaigns. However, the term "Christmas seals" isn't exclusive to that organization, despite their trademark stat
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Danish Home Christmas Seals
For more than six decades, the Danish Home in Croton has produced Christmas seals—decorative stamp-like labels affixed to holiday mail that serve dual purposes of fundraising and raising awareness for charitable initiatives.
These beautiful, poster-style designs are similar to what many recognize from the American Lung Association's annual Christmas seal campaigns. However, the term "Christmas seals" isn't exclusive to that organization, despite their trademark stat
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Declaring Independence, July 2, 1776
On July 2, 1776, the Pennsylvania Evening Post published the earliest known printed announcement that independence had been declared. The notice appeared modestly on the final page, above ship advertisements, reading: "This day the CONTINENTAL CONGRESS declared the UNITED COLONIES FREE and INDEPENDENT STATES."
That same day, the Continental Congress had passed Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee's resolution stating the colonies were absolved from British a
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A 1906 engineering plan depicting the downstream elevation of the New Croton Dam, prepared by the New York City Aqueduct Commission, from the Historic American Engineering Record at the Library of Congress.
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A Different View of the Double Arch
In 1925, when Alvah P. French published his multi-volume History of Westchester County New York, most of the photographs he included were contemporary, showing the county as it was in the 1920s. One can imagine a photographer, driving all over Westchester with a list of historic sites, stopping to take this unusual view of Ossining's famous Double Arch.
The article includes a footnote referencing the Westchester County Historical Society's collection of Fren
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Double Arches Promenade
The Double Arches Promenade in Ossining was undergoing reconstruction. The article features a historical postcard from June 11, 1907, "published by William Terhune, Ossining on Hudson," showing the location approximately a century prior.
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This vintage Esso service station map from 1950 strategically excluded the railroad—"the arch-enemy of gas companies." However, an anchor symbol beneath "Croton-on-Hudson" indicated seaplane service back to New York City, and a small airplane landing strip existed near the New Croton Dam via Route 129.
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This vintage Esso service station map from 1950 strategically excluded the railroad—"the arch-enemy of gas companies." However, an anchor symbol beneath "Croton-on-Hudson" indicated seaplane service back to New York City, and a small airplane landing strip existed near the New Croton Dam via Route 129.
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Selling Harmon
Clifford B. Harmon was a prolific real estate developer who created 256 subdivisions across 26 American cities during the early 1900s. One of his most notable projects was the section of Croton originally branded as Harmon-on-Hudson.
The marketing materials employed hyperbolic language, declaring that "All New York is Amazed!" at what was claimed as "the Quickest and Most Successful Real Estate Development in the History of New York."
The ads appealed to families, urging them t
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Selling Harmon
Clifford B. Harmon was a prolific real estate developer who created 256 subdivisions across 26 American cities during the early 1900s. One of his most notable projects was the section of Croton originally branded as Harmon-on-Hudson.
The marketing materials employed hyperbolic language, declaring that "All New York is Amazed!" at what was claimed as "the Quickest and Most Successful Real Estate Development in the History of New York."
The ads appealed to families, urging them t
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
You Need Not go to the Rhine to See Vineyards
In September 1859, The Gardener's Monthly published an account of a visit to Croton Point, describing Dr. Underhill's extensive vineyard operations. The estate "was visited through the summer by numerous travellers, who are permitted to drive through the grounds."
His vineyards covered the northwest and southeast slopes of Croton Point, with vines "so arranged, that a perfect draught of air is kept up between the rows." The land preparation cost ov
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Hidden in the Trees
This article examines a Hudson River School painting by Sanford Robinson Gifford titled "Hook Mountain, Near Nyack, on the Hudson" from 1866. The work depicts a westward view from southern Croton Point and contains a subtle historical detail.
Within the painting's foreground trees, carefully hidden from immediate view, sits the rooftop and cupola of an Italianate villa. This residence belonged to Richard T. Underhill, who constructed the mansion in 1846 and named it "Interw
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Hidden in the Trees
This article examines a Hudson River School painting by Sanford Robinson Gifford titled "Hook Mountain, Near Nyack, on the Hudson" from 1866. The work depicts a westward view from southern Croton Point and contains a subtle historical detail.
Within the painting's foreground trees, carefully hidden from immediate view, sits the rooftop and cupola of an Italianate villa. This residence belonged to Richard T. Underhill, who constructed the mansion in 1846 and named it "Interw
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The Motorist's Playground
This post examines early 1920s roadhouse culture in the Croton area. Advertisements from the June 12, 1921 New-York Tribune featured three Croton "road houses" in a promotion marketing "Westchester County, the Motorist's Playground, 900 Miles of Good Roads."
A 1917 Variety article discussed E.H. Sommers' roadhouse ventures, including his operation of Tumble Inn near Peekskill and Nikko Inn at Harmon. These establishments served "those owning fast cars" in an era when
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
A Sharp and Palpable Difference
In a previous post, the authors displayed two advertisements from 1917 for Goodyear Cord Tires featuring detailed pen-and-ink drawings of Nikko Inn. These promotional materials appeared in various magazines including the Atlantic Monthly, The New Country Life, Travel, and Forest & Stream.
A more refined advertisement from the same campaign was discovered in the December 1917 issue of Ladies' Home Journal. Myron Perley, an illustrator and art director remembered
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A Sharp and Palpable Difference
In a previous post, the authors displayed two advertisements from 1917 for Goodyear Cord Tires featuring detailed pen-and-ink drawings of Nikko Inn. These promotional materials appeared in various magazines including the Atlantic Monthly, The New Country Life, Travel, and Forest & Stream.
A more refined advertisement from the same campaign was discovered in the December 1917 issue of Ladies' Home Journal. Myron Perley, an illustrator and art director remembered
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
A Sharp and Palpable Difference
In a previous post, the authors displayed two advertisements from 1917 for Goodyear Cord Tires featuring detailed pen-and-ink drawings of Nikko Inn. These promotional materials appeared in various magazines including the Atlantic Monthly, The New Country Life, Travel, and Forest & Stream.
A more refined advertisement from the same campaign was discovered in the December 1917 issue of Ladies' Home Journal. Myron Perley, an illustrator and art director remembered
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Croton Point, 1898
This article features a historical map of "Teller's Point or Croton Point" created by Edward Hagaman Hall for an 1898 magazine article in The Spirit of '76. The map documents roads, buildings, and fifteen numbered points of historic interest.
Hall was a journalist and preservation advocate involved with several organizations during the early 1900s. He championed the "City Beautiful movement" and worked to preserve New York's aesthetic heritage.
The ASHPS held an option to p
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The Underhill Vineyards, 1867
In October 1867, Harper's Weekly featured a full-page wood engraving depicting the Underhill vineyards on Croton Point during grape harvest season. The artwork, created by artist D. C. Hitchcock, captured the operation of Richard T. Underhill's vineyard enterprise.
According to historian Thomas Pinney's History of Wine in America, the Underhills represented "the first dynasty in American viticulture" and were "the real founders of the winegrowing industry in New Y
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A notable oil painting by Robert Havell Jr. depicting the Hudson River landscape is being auctioned at Sotheby's. The work, titled "View of the Hudson from Horton's Road Near Croton," has been held by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts since 1935 and is being sold to fund future acquisitions.
The painting captures recognizable Croton area features, including the Croton River emptying into the Hudson, Croton Point in the distance, and Van Cortlandt Manor visible among trees along the roadside. Th
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Celebrating High Bridge
High Bridge stands as one of America's most significant early engineering achievements and New York City's oldest existing bridge. Originally designed as a component of the Old Croton Aqueduct system, this structure conveyed water across the Harlem River into Manhattan. Though built primarily for transporting water through large pipes, the bridge welcomed pedestrians and quickly became a beloved public destination following its 1848 completion.
The bridge attracted thro
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
A notable oil painting by Robert Havell Jr. depicting the Hudson River landscape is being auctioned at Sotheby's. The work, titled "View of the Hudson from Horton's Road Near Croton," has been held by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts since 1935 and is being sold to fund future acquisitions.
The painting captures recognizable Croton area features, including the Croton River emptying into the Hudson, Croton Point in the distance, and Van Cortlandt Manor visible among trees along the roadside. Th
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Halloween with Houdini in Harmon
On Halloween 1922, renowned magician Harry Houdini performed what he termed a "pseudo seance" at the Harmon residence of Sophie Irene Loeb, a journalist and social reformer. Houdini used the word "pseudo" deliberately, as he was celebrated for exposing fraudulent spiritualists and mediums who deceived people claiming to contact the deceased.
In his book Magician Among Spirits, Houdini explained his skepticism: "Gladly would I embrace Spiritualism, if it could p
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Halloween with Houdini in Harmon
On Halloween 1922, renowned magician Harry Houdini performed what he termed a "pseudo seance" at the Harmon residence of Sophie Irene Loeb, a journalist and social reformer. Houdini used the word "pseudo" deliberately, as he was celebrated for exposing fraudulent spiritualists and mediums who deceived people claiming to contact the deceased.
In his book Magician Among Spirits, Houdini explained his skepticism: "Gladly would I embrace Spiritualism, if it could p
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Maps from Walling's Route Guides, 1867, showing the Hudson River Railroad—predecessor to today's Metro-North. "The Hudson River Railroad was chartered in May, 1846 and Cornelius Vanderbilt obtained control of the line in 1864." The timetable lists Cornelius Vanderbilt as President and William Henry Vanderbilt as Vice President.
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Maps from Walling's Route Guides, 1867, showing the Hudson River Railroad—predecessor to today's Metro-North. "The Hudson River Railroad was chartered in May, 1846 and Cornelius Vanderbilt obtained control of the line in 1864." The timetable lists Cornelius Vanderbilt as President and William Henry Vanderbilt as Vice President.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Maps from Walling's Route Guides, 1867, showing the Hudson River Railroad—predecessor to today's Metro-North. "The Hudson River Railroad was chartered in May, 1846 and Cornelius Vanderbilt obtained control of the line in 1864." The timetable lists Cornelius Vanderbilt as President and William Henry Vanderbilt as Vice President.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The "Good and Substantial" Sloop, Fair Play
A historical shipping advertisement from the Hudson River Chronicle newspaper, published in Sing Sing on November 2, 1841, promotes a vessel called the Fair Play, described as "good and substantial." The advertisement represents documentation of commercial shipping operations that served the Croton area.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
In 1950, Theodore J. Cornu created a historical map depicting "the lower Hudson River as the Lenape saw it, circa 1600," published in Hudson Valley Echoes Issue 1.
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Hudson Valley Echoes
This page showcases issues 1 and 2 of Theodore J. Cornu's hand-drawn, hand-lettered self-published journal titled "Hudson Valley Echoes." Posts of issues 3 and 4 are forthcoming.
Issue 1 (1950): Contains four pages of the original hand-lettered journal featuring Cornu's artistic renderings and text about Hudson Valley history.
Issue 2 (1952): Consists of four additional pages continuing the journal series with the same distinctive hand-drawn aesthetic.
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Hudson Valley Echoes, Issue #2
This post presents the second issue of Theodore J. Cornu's hand-drawn and hand-lettered self-published journal, Hudson Valley Echoes. The publication is described as "extraordinary" and represents Cornu's artistic contribution to regional history documentation.
The journal focuses on regional Indigenous history and local heritage, covering topics including Croton Point, Croton River, the Hudson Highlands, the Hudson River, and the Lower Hudson Valley.
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Map details from the 1908 Atlas of the rural country district north of New York City, compiled by E. Belcher Hyde and published from offices at No. 5 Beekman Street in Manhattan.
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Map details from the 1908 Atlas of the rural country district north of New York City, compiled by E. Belcher Hyde and published from offices at No. 5 Beekman Street in Manhattan.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Map details from the 1908 Atlas of the rural country district north of New York City, compiled by E. Belcher Hyde and published from offices at No. 5 Beekman Street in Manhattan.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Ice Boating on the Hudson River
This post serves as a follow-up to an earlier article titled "Winter on the Hudson River." It features a historical postcard depicting an ice boat in action on the Hudson River, dated around 1910.
The postcard was created by the Hugh C. Leighton Co. and is part of the Waterways Post Card Collection housed at the Graduate School of Library and Information Studies at Queens College (CUNY) in New York. This collection preserves "historically significant cultural he
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During a beach walk along Croton Point's north shore, the author discovered old bricks embedded in concrete, stamped with "IX" and "XL" markings. These artifacts originated from William A. Underhill's brickyard at the point's northern end.
The bricks bore the "IXL" stamp, representing a marketing strategy meaning "I excel" at brickmaking. Some displayed Underhill's initials (WAU) instead. The burned appearance suggests they were rejected pieces later incorporated into early 20th-century cabin f
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Detail from Thomas Jeffreys' map, The Provinces of New York, and New Jersey, "Drawn by Major Holland, Corrected and Improved by Governr. Pownall, Member of Parliament 1776."
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Celebrating High Bridge
High Bridge stands as one of America's most significant early engineering achievements and New York City's oldest existing bridge. Originally designed as a component of the Old Croton Aqueduct system, this structure conveyed water across the Harlem River into Manhattan. Though built primarily for transporting water through large pipes, the bridge welcomed pedestrians and quickly became a beloved public destination following its 1848 completion.
The bridge attracted thro
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Roy Kojima, Busted and Boastful
Roy Kojima was a Japanese proprietor of the Nikko Inn, a speakeasy operating in Harmon-on-Hudson during Prohibition. In May 1925, federal authorities padlocked the establishment for two months after agents purchased illegal alcohol there.
In 1931, journalist Karl Kingsley Kitchen visited the inn and documented Kojima's surprising claim: he asserted he had authored the popular song "The Million-Dollar Baby" years earlier. Kitchen observed that while Kojima's orig
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Croton-on-Hudson Phone Directory, 1938
Thanks to Carl Oechsner, the site obtained a 1938 Croton-on-Hudson phone directory. The creators initially planned to scan advertisements for establishments like the Mikado Inn, Konco's Garage, and Robbins Pharmacy. Upon closer examination, they discovered listings for notable Crotonites including Max Eastman, Margaret Mayo, and Carrie E. Tompkins.
The team scanned every page and processed the images through optical character recognition technology, creat
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Clean, Sweet, Abundant Water!
This article features an excerpt from Maria Lydia Child's Letters from New-York, celebrating the opening of the Croton Aqueduct in October 1842. Child eloquently describes New Yorkers' joy at accessing clean water.
Child expresses wonder at the magnificent fountains. The central fountain in the park could "throw the column sixty feet into the air, and drops it into the basin in a shower of diamonds." The fountain featured various formations including "The Maid of
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Oscar Levant Plays the Mikado
Oscar Levant, a pianist, composer, actor, author and quiz-show panelist known for his quick wit, performed at the Mikado Inn in Harmon-on-the-Hudson during 1922 when he was just 16 years old. In his 1965 memoir The Memoirs of an Amnesiac, Levant recalled this formative experience.
He "played the piano in a Japanese roadhouse" while sharing living quarters with approximately 20-30 Japanese waiters in the cellar. The establishment featured a three-piece orchestra on
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Little Nemo in Sing Sing
This post celebrates a remarkable 1910 comic strip sequence featuring Winsor McKay's innovative work. The artist created a storyline where Little Nemo and companions accidentally land at Sing Sing Prison after returning from Mars in their dirigible.
The narrative unfolds as the characters fly up the Hudson River, admiring the Palisades before mistakenly touching down at the prison instead of their intended West Point destination. True to the comic strip's format, the p
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Little Nemo in Sing Sing
This post celebrates a remarkable 1910 comic strip sequence featuring Winsor McKay's innovative work. The artist created a storyline where Little Nemo and companions accidentally land at Sing Sing Prison after returning from Mars in their dirigible.
The narrative unfolds as the characters fly up the Hudson River, admiring the Palisades before mistakenly touching down at the prison instead of their intended West Point destination. True to the comic strip's format, the p
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Little Nemo in Sing Sing
This post celebrates a remarkable 1910 comic strip sequence featuring Winsor McKay's innovative work. The artist created a storyline where Little Nemo and companions accidentally land at Sing Sing Prison after returning from Mars in their dirigible.
The narrative unfolds as the characters fly up the Hudson River, admiring the Palisades before mistakenly touching down at the prison instead of their intended West Point destination. True to the comic strip's format, the p
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Log Cabin Restaurant Revisited
The post features an early postcard depicting the "Belle Terre, Log Cabin Restaurant at Camp Broadway, Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y." According to the Croton Historical Society's book in Arcadia's Images of America series, this establishment "was located near the present entrance to Arrow Crest."
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Log Cabin Restaurant, circa 1915
A historical photograph of the Log Cabin Restaurant from approximately 1915 shows a rustic log cabin structure that served as a dining establishment in the Croton-on-Hudson area during the early 20th century.
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What a Delightful Ride
The article presents a historical account of traveling by rail along the Hudson River in 1873, written under the pseudonym "Vieux Moustache" by author Clarence Gordon, originally published in the Troy Daily Whig on April 26, 1873.
Gordon describes the scenic train journey from New York City northward through Sing Sing (present-day Ossining) to Croton. The narrative includes vivid descriptions of passing Sing Sing prison, with its "high, shadowed, white walls pierced with
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The Mystery of the Lost High Bridge Watch
On January 17, 1883, the Troy Daily Times published a lost-and-found advertisement for a small gold English watch engraved with an image of High Bridge spanning the Croton River in New York. The owner valued it as a family heirloom rather than for its monetary worth.
High Bridge was a wooden covered structure that crossed the Croton River, opening in June 1842 and collapsing into the river from neglect in October 1879—a span of just 37 years. The bridg
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This article showcases a commemorative medal created to celebrate the opening of the Old Croton Aqueduct to the public on October 14, 1842. The piece was designed by Robert Lovett, Sr., a prominent American engraver.
Lovett was born on March 19, 1796, in New York City. Following military service during the War of 1812, he apprenticed under master stone seal engraver Thomas Brown. By 1816, he had established his own engraving business in Philadelphia. Notably, correspondence between Thomas Jeffe
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Map of the Hudson River Line Steamers, 1883
This post features a historical route map depicting the Hudson River Line steamers Albany and Chauncey Vibbard during the era of steamboat travel.
According to the New York State Education Department, the Hudson River Day Line became the most celebrated steamboat service of its time. The Chauncey Vibbard launched in 1864, paired with the Daniel Drew to transport passengers between New York and Albany six days weekly. The journey took nine hours, with
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Map of the Hudson River Line Steamers, 1883
This post features a historical route map depicting the Hudson River Line steamers Albany and Chauncey Vibbard during the era of steamboat travel.
According to the New York State Education Department, the Hudson River Day Line became the most celebrated steamboat service of its time. The Chauncey Vibbard launched in 1864, paired with the Daniel Drew to transport passengers between New York and Albany six days weekly. The journey took nine hours, with
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Ultimate Bird's Eye View of Manhattan
This post presents an interactive map mashup comparing Manhattan's development across 177 years. The visualization combines an 1836 map by Colton with contemporary satellite imagery, allowing viewers to explore urban transformation from the island's tip to Spuyten Duyvil.
The article highlights specific locations relevant to Croton history, including the Croton Aqueduct Receiving Reservoir at Central Park and the Distributing Reservoir at Fifth Avenue
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The Ultimate Bird's Eye View of Manhattan
This post presents an interactive map mashup comparing Manhattan's development across 177 years. The visualization combines an 1836 map by Colton with contemporary satellite imagery, allowing viewers to explore urban transformation from the island's tip to Spuyten Duyvil.
The article highlights specific locations relevant to Croton history, including the Croton Aqueduct Receiving Reservoir at Central Park and the Distributing Reservoir at Fifth Avenue
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Ultimate Bird's Eye View of Manhattan
This post presents an interactive map mashup comparing Manhattan's development across 177 years. The visualization combines an 1836 map by Colton with contemporary satellite imagery, allowing viewers to explore urban transformation from the island's tip to Spuyten Duyvil.
The article highlights specific locations relevant to Croton history, including the Croton Aqueduct Receiving Reservoir at Central Park and the Distributing Reservoir at Fifth Avenue
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
On May 15, 1922, a Curtis biplane crashed on a farm near Croton-on-Hudson, New York, carrying a cargo of illegal liquor during the Prohibition era. The incident has come to be known as "The Mystery of the Rum Plane."
The Crash
As darkness fell, the aircraft circled over farmland owned by former Westchester County deputy sheriff George McCall, located approximately a mile above Croton and a quarter-mile from the Tumble Inn roadhouse. The pilot initially hesitated to land, circling repeatedly be
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Croton-on-Hudson Phone Directory, 1938
Thanks to Carl Oechsner, the site obtained a 1938 Croton-on-Hudson phone directory. The creators initially planned to scan advertisements for establishments like the Mikado Inn, Konco's Garage, and Robbins Pharmacy. Upon closer examination, they discovered listings for notable Crotonites including Max Eastman, Margaret Mayo, and Carrie E. Tompkins.
The team scanned every page and processed the images through optical character recognition technology, creat
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Oscar Levant Plays the Mikado
Oscar Levant, a pianist, composer, actor, author and quiz-show panelist known for his quick wit, performed at the Mikado Inn in Harmon-on-the-Hudson during 1922 when he was just 16 years old. In his 1965 memoir The Memoirs of an Amnesiac, Levant recalled this formative experience.
He "played the piano in a Japanese roadhouse" while sharing living quarters with approximately 20-30 Japanese waiters in the cellar. The establishment featured a three-piece orchestra on
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Mikado Inn "Real Photo" Postcard, circa 1920
This post showcases a "real photo" postcard of the Mikado Inn in Harmon-on-Hudson from around 1920. The establishment invited visitors to "take a stroll in the beautiful Japanese gardens" and enjoy either exotic oriental cuisine or familiar American fare, including a "$5.00 Porterhouse Steak for two."
The inn was constructed circa 1920 by "Admiral" George T. Moto (also known as "Data Moto" and "Toshiyuki Moto"), a former employee of Clifford Harmon.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Mikado Inn "Real Photo" Postcard, circa 1920
This post showcases a "real photo" postcard of the Mikado Inn in Harmon-on-Hudson from around 1920. The establishment invited visitors to "take a stroll in the beautiful Japanese gardens" and enjoy either exotic oriental cuisine or familiar American fare, including a "$5.00 Porterhouse Steak for two."
The inn was constructed circa 1920 by "Admiral" George T. Moto (also known as "Data Moto" and "Toshiyuki Moto"), a former employee of Clifford Harmon.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Mikado Inn "Real Photo" Postcard, circa 1920
This post showcases a "real photo" postcard of the Mikado Inn in Harmon-on-Hudson from around 1920. The establishment invited visitors to "take a stroll in the beautiful Japanese gardens" and enjoy either exotic oriental cuisine or familiar American fare, including a "$5.00 Porterhouse Steak for two."
The inn was constructed circa 1920 by "Admiral" George T. Moto (also known as "Data Moto" and "Toshiyuki Moto"), a former employee of Clifford Harmon.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
What's Cookin' at the Mikado?
A vintage menu from the Mikado Inn in Harmon showcases dining options from the 1930s era. The establishment offered Spring Lamb Chops for $1.50, Filet Mignon Mikado for $3.00, and a Porterhouse Steak for two priced at $5.00.
The menu features "Chicken or Beef Sukiyaki, seasoned with Soyu Sauce served in a chafing dish with rice" as the house specialty. This dish represents an interesting culinary intersection of Japanese cuisine offered in the Hudson Valley region
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What's Cookin' at the Mikado?
A vintage menu from the Mikado Inn in Harmon showcases dining options from the 1930s era. The establishment offered Spring Lamb Chops for $1.50, Filet Mignon Mikado for $3.00, and a Porterhouse Steak for two priced at $5.00.
The menu features "Chicken or Beef Sukiyaki, seasoned with Soyu Sauce served in a chafing dish with rice" as the house specialty. This dish represents an interesting culinary intersection of Japanese cuisine offered in the Hudson Valley region
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
This is Mikado Inn
A historic postcard circa 1920 features signage for the Mikado Inn along Truesdale Drive in the Harmon area. The establishment was operated by "Admiral" George T. Moto. While the entrance sign has disappeared over time, portions of the original low stone wall and entrance structure remain visible today.
The postcard was produced by the Photo & Art Postal Card Co. of New York, commissioned by the inn's proprietor. The property showcased Japanese gardens and served as a popula
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
This is Mikado Inn
A historic postcard circa 1920 features signage for the Mikado Inn along Truesdale Drive in the Harmon area. The establishment was operated by "Admiral" George T. Moto. While the entrance sign has disappeared over time, portions of the original low stone wall and entrance structure remain visible today.
The postcard was produced by the Photo & Art Postal Card Co. of New York, commissioned by the inn's proprietor. The property showcased Japanese gardens and served as a popula
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
A Croton River Disaster—197 Years Ago Today
On March 10, 1818, the Westchester Herald reported on a devastating freshet—a spring flood caused by rapid snow thaw and heavy rain—that struck the Croton River. The disaster destroyed valuable mill infrastructure owned by General Philip Van Cortlandt.
The Damage
"The rapid thaw on Saturday...attended with heavy rain, occasioned the Croton river to rise to a considerable height, and floated down ponderous shoals of ice." One merchant mill was displa
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'Twas the Night Before Christmas in Sing Sing
This article explores the connection between Clement C. Moore, author of the famous Christmas poem, and the village of Sing Sing (now Ossining), New York.
According to historical records, Moore "had once contemplated making a summer home on the Hudson. In 1839, he bought a beautiful estate at Sing Sing." He subsequently gave the property to his son Benjamin, and the poet made periodic visits to see his son and daughter-in-law there.
The Moore fami
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If You Follow the Road to Harmon, You Surely Can't go Wrong
This article features a promotional postcard for the Nikko Tea House, likely printed between 1907 and 1910. An artist with initials "W.K." created the illustrations and hand-lettered content on the card's centerfold.
The postcard includes a map depicting the Nikko's location and marking "police traps" on Westchester roads. The design cleverly incorporates Hudson River depictions that transform into Japanese lantern strings at the bott
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In a June 1931 column for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, entertainment writer Rian James promoted his "Gadabout Guide" to New York's unconventional dining establishments. His "Wide-Open Spaces Department" captured Depression-era roadhouse culture, describing how drivers of modest vehicles gripped their steering wheels anxiously amid traffic.
James surveyed various establishments across New York City, Long Island, the Bronx, and lower Westchester before concluding with the Nikko Inn at Harmon-on-the-
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You Can Expect Immediate Benefits
The article examines a 1917 Goodyear Cord Tire advertisement campaign featuring the Nikko Inn. These ads appeared across prestigious publications including the Atlantic Monthly, The New Country Life, Travel, and Forest & Stream magazines.
The advertisements featured detailed pen-and-ink illustrations of Nikko Inn set in the background, positioning it as an ideal destination to visit "in superior comfort" via vehicles equipped with Goodyear Cord Tires. The camp
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You Can Expect Immediate Benefits
The article examines a 1917 Goodyear Cord Tire advertisement campaign featuring the Nikko Inn. These ads appeared across prestigious publications including the Atlantic Monthly, The New Country Life, Travel, and Forest & Stream magazines.
The advertisements featured detailed pen-and-ink illustrations of Nikko Inn set in the background, positioning it as an ideal destination to visit "in superior comfort" via vehicles equipped with Goodyear Cord Tires. The camp
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Roy Kojima, Busted and Boastful
Roy Kojima was a Japanese proprietor of the Nikko Inn, a speakeasy operating in Harmon-on-Hudson during Prohibition. In May 1925, federal authorities padlocked the establishment for two months after agents purchased illegal alcohol there.
In 1931, journalist Karl Kingsley Kitchen visited the inn and documented Kojima's surprising claim: he asserted he had authored the popular song "The Million-Dollar Baby" years earlier. Kitchen observed that while Kojima's orig
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American Cooking, Japanese Service!
An advertisement from the May 30, 1908 Highland Democrat announced "Something New!" promoting the Nikko Tea House located on the Croton River in Harmon, where "Cool Breezes blow even on the warmest days."
The New York Times described the Nikko Tea House as "perched on the precipitous bank of the Croton River" with rustic construction, surrounded by "a dense grove of pines and cedars, in which are many picturesque summer houses."
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If You Follow the Road to Harmon, You Surely Can't go Wrong
This article features a promotional postcard for the Nikko Tea House, likely printed between 1907 and 1910. An artist with initials "W.K." created the illustrations and hand-lettered content on the card's centerfold.
The postcard includes a map depicting the Nikko's location and marking "police traps" on Westchester roads. The design cleverly incorporates Hudson River depictions that transform into Japanese lantern strings at the bott
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
If You Follow the Road to Harmon, You Surely Can't go Wrong
This article features a promotional postcard for the Nikko Tea House, likely printed between 1907 and 1910. An artist with initials "W.K." created the illustrations and hand-lettered content on the card's centerfold.
The postcard includes a map depicting the Nikko's location and marking "police traps" on Westchester roads. The design cleverly incorporates Hudson River depictions that transform into Japanese lantern strings at the bott
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Roy Kojima, Busted and Boastful
Roy Kojima was a Japanese proprietor of the Nikko Inn, a speakeasy operating in Harmon-on-Hudson during Prohibition. In May 1925, federal authorities padlocked the establishment for two months after agents purchased illegal alcohol there.
In 1931, journalist Karl Kingsley Kitchen visited the inn and documented Kojima's surprising claim: he asserted he had authored the popular song "The Million-Dollar Baby" years earlier. Kitchen observed that while Kojima's orig
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
A Delightful Place to Dine
This piece examines a vintage black-and-white postcard featuring the Nikko Inn, located in Harmon-on-Hudson. The reverse side bears significance because, though appearing handwritten, the message was actually printed on every copy. This allowed for efficient promotion.
Edward H. Sommers managed the Nikko Inn prior to 1917 and later "placed Tumble In, near Peekskill, . . . on a profitable basis."
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A Delightful Place to Dine
This piece examines a vintage black-and-white postcard featuring the Nikko Inn, located in Harmon-on-Hudson. The reverse side bears significance because, though appearing handwritten, the message was actually printed on every copy. This allowed for efficient promotion.
Edward H. Sommers managed the Nikko Inn prior to 1917 and later "placed Tumble In, near Peekskill, . . . on a profitable basis."
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Nikko Inn, Harmon, N.Y.
The Nikko Inn, alternatively known as "The Japanese Tea House," was a notable structure in Harmon during the early development of the community. Real estate developer Clifford B. Harmon was actively promoting his newly developing suburban community as "the most important and extensive suburban development in the history of New York." The Nikko Inn had connections to Prohibition-era speakeasy activities.
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The Mystery of the Lost High Bridge Watch
On January 17, 1883, the Troy Daily Times published a lost-and-found advertisement for a small gold English watch engraved with an image of High Bridge spanning the Croton River in New York. The owner valued it as a family heirloom rather than for its monetary worth.
High Bridge was a wooden covered structure that crossed the Croton River, opening in June 1842 and collapsing into the river from neglect in October 1879—a span of just 37 years. The bridg
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Driving to the Dam, 1912
This historical post features a 1912 photograph showing "an automobile driving along the road which once ran across what is now the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail." The image captures an early motorcar on a path near the New Croton Dam.
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The Hudson River National Defense Fleet, officially established by Congress in 1946, served as a reserve of merchant ships ready to support military operations. Located at Jones Point (formerly Caldwell's Landing) near Dunderberg Mountain, this anchorage housed what locals called the "Ghost Fleet."
The fleet reached its peak in July 1965 with 189 ships arranged in ten rows extending several miles south from the Jones Point dock. During the Korean War, 130 ships were activated, leaving only 39 b
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The Hudson River National Defense Fleet, officially established by Congress in 1946, served as a reserve of merchant ships ready to support military operations. Located at Jones Point (formerly Caldwell's Landing) near Dunderberg Mountain, this anchorage housed what locals called the "Ghost Fleet."
The fleet reached its peak in July 1965 with 189 ships arranged in ten rows extending several miles south from the Jones Point dock. During the Korean War, 130 ships were activated, leaving only 39 b
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Hudson River National Defense Fleet, officially established by Congress in 1946, served as a reserve of merchant ships ready to support military operations. Located at Jones Point (formerly Caldwell's Landing) near Dunderberg Mountain, this anchorage housed what locals called the "Ghost Fleet."
The fleet reached its peak in July 1965 with 189 ships arranged in ten rows extending several miles south from the Jones Point dock. During the Korean War, 130 ships were activated, leaving only 39 b
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Season of the Vintage
This article presents a letter originally published in the October 23, 1862 issue of the New York Times describing the Croton Point vineyards near the Hudson River in New York.
The letter depicts an autumn harvest season, noting that "granaries are bursting with the harvesting of the Summer's generous growth" and praising the vineyard's "drooping clusters." The writer details Dr. Underhill's vineyard operations spanning 45-50 acres on Croton Point, located between the
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'Twas the Night Before Christmas in Sing Sing
This article explores the connection between Clement C. Moore, author of the famous Christmas poem, and the village of Sing Sing (now Ossining), New York.
According to historical records, Moore "had once contemplated making a summer home on the Hudson. In 1839, he bought a beautiful estate at Sing Sing." He subsequently gave the property to his son Benjamin, and the poet made periodic visits to see his son and daughter-in-law there.
The Moore fami
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Gardens of Van Cortlandt Manor, 1930
These glass lantern slides document the gardens of Van Cortlandt Manor as they appeared in 1930, when the property remained in the hands of Van Cortlandt descendants. The photographs originate from the Garden Club of America collection housed in the Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Gardens.
The Van Cortlandt family maintained ownership until 1945. Subsequently, John D. Rockefeller acquired the property in 1953 and initiated restoration eff
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The Gardens of Van Cortlandt Manor, 1930
These glass lantern slides document the gardens of Van Cortlandt Manor as they appeared in 1930, when the property remained in the hands of Van Cortlandt descendants. The photographs originate from the Garden Club of America collection housed in the Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Gardens.
The Van Cortlandt family maintained ownership until 1945. Subsequently, John D. Rockefeller acquired the property in 1953 and initiated restoration eff
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Gardens of Van Cortlandt Manor, 1930
These glass lantern slides document the gardens of Van Cortlandt Manor as they appeared in 1930, when the property remained in the hands of Van Cortlandt descendants. The photographs originate from the Garden Club of America collection housed in the Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Gardens.
The Van Cortlandt family maintained ownership until 1945. Subsequently, John D. Rockefeller acquired the property in 1953 and initiated restoration eff
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Croton's Old Post Road Inn, 1890
In January 1890, Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly published an article by C. Hills Warren examining the Albany Post Road's history with nostalgic reverence. Warren observed that the road's significance had diminished considerably since its heyday as the primary stagecoach route between New York City and Albany. Steam navigation and railroad expansion had rendered it obsolete for transportation purposes.
Warren embarked on a journey retracing the historic route, d
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Declaring Independence, July 2, 1776
On July 2, 1776, the Pennsylvania Evening Post published the earliest known printed announcement that independence had been declared. The notice appeared modestly on the final page, above ship advertisements, reading: "This day the CONTINENTAL CONGRESS declared the UNITED COLONIES FREE and INDEPENDENT STATES."
That same day, the Continental Congress had passed Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee's resolution stating the colonies were absolved from British a
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Declaring Independence, July 2, 1776
On July 2, 1776, the Pennsylvania Evening Post published the earliest known printed announcement that independence had been declared. The notice appeared modestly on the final page, above ship advertisements, reading: "This day the CONTINENTAL CONGRESS declared the UNITED COLONIES FREE and INDEPENDENT STATES."
That same day, the Continental Congress had passed Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee's resolution stating the colonies were absolved from British a
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Underhill Bible - on eBay!
A seller on eBay offered a bible bearing the bookplate of Abraham I. Underhill, one of three brothers who established a flour mill on the Croton River in 1792 under a Van Cortlandt family lease.
The bible contained handwritten documentation of Abraham Underhill's marriage "in a publick Meeting of the people called Quakers at Croton in the Town of Cortlandt, the 19th day of the 12th month, 1805 according to the order of the said society," along with birth records for
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Underhill Bible - on eBay!
A seller on eBay offered a bible bearing the bookplate of Abraham I. Underhill, one of three brothers who established a flour mill on the Croton River in 1792 under a Van Cortlandt family lease.
The bible contained handwritten documentation of Abraham Underhill's marriage "in a publick Meeting of the people called Quakers at Croton in the Town of Cortlandt, the 19th day of the 12th month, 1805 according to the order of the said society," along with birth records for
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Underhill Bible - on eBay!
A seller on eBay offered a bible bearing the bookplate of Abraham I. Underhill, one of three brothers who established a flour mill on the Croton River in 1792 under a Van Cortlandt family lease.
The bible contained handwritten documentation of Abraham Underhill's marriage "in a publick Meeting of the people called Quakers at Croton in the Town of Cortlandt, the 19th day of the 12th month, 1805 according to the order of the said society," along with birth records for
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Purdy Homestead on Quaker Ridge Road
The article highlights the Purdy homestead on Quaker Ridge Road in Cortlandt, featured during the 18th Annual Croton Arboretum Garden Tour. The 23-acre estate showcases the deep historical roots of the Purdy family, who settled in the region in 1735.
The Purdy family has significant connections to local and regional history. Jacob Purdy served in the Westchester Militia from 1775 through the Revolutionary War. His White Plains residence reportedly serve
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The Purdy Homestead on Quaker Ridge Road
The article highlights the Purdy homestead on Quaker Ridge Road in Cortlandt, featured during the 18th Annual Croton Arboretum Garden Tour. The 23-acre estate showcases the deep historical roots of the Purdy family, who settled in the region in 1735.
The Purdy family has significant connections to local and regional history. Jacob Purdy served in the Westchester Militia from 1775 through the Revolutionary War. His White Plains residence reportedly serve
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Purdy Homestead on Quaker Ridge Road
The article highlights the Purdy homestead on Quaker Ridge Road in Cortlandt, featured during the 18th Annual Croton Arboretum Garden Tour. The 23-acre estate showcases the deep historical roots of the Purdy family, who settled in the region in 1735.
The Purdy family has significant connections to local and regional history. Jacob Purdy served in the Westchester Militia from 1775 through the Revolutionary War. His White Plains residence reportedly serve
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Purdy Homestead on Quaker Ridge Road
The article highlights the Purdy homestead on Quaker Ridge Road in Cortlandt, featured during the 18th Annual Croton Arboretum Garden Tour. The 23-acre estate showcases the deep historical roots of the Purdy family, who settled in the region in 1735.
The Purdy family has significant connections to local and regional history. Jacob Purdy served in the Westchester Militia from 1775 through the Revolutionary War. His White Plains residence reportedly serve
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Croton Aqueduct Puzzles
This piece explores two nineteenth-century jigsaw puzzles featuring the Old Croton Dam and High Bridge, part of a collection called "Sliced Objects" published by E. G. Selchow & Co. between approximately 1867 and 1880.
Selchow was a prominent manufacturer of games and puzzles during the Victorian period. In 1880, John Righter became a partner, and the company was renamed Selchow & Righter. The firm eventually became known for creating Parcheesi, Scrabble, and Trivial Pu
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Today marks a significant milestone for the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, celebrating 120 years since its official incorporation on February 12, 1898.
According to the Manual of Westchester County published that same year, the incorporation process involved a special election where residents voted overwhelmingly in favor—74 votes supporting incorporation against only 21 opposing it. At the time of incorporation, the village had a population of 1,244 residents, which has grown substantially to ov
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Croton-on-Hudson Phone Directory, 1938
Thanks to Carl Oechsner, the site obtained a 1938 Croton-on-Hudson phone directory. The creators initially planned to scan advertisements for establishments like the Mikado Inn, Konco's Garage, and Robbins Pharmacy. Upon closer examination, they discovered listings for notable Crotonites including Max Eastman, Margaret Mayo, and Carrie E. Tompkins.
The team scanned every page and processed the images through optical character recognition technology, creat
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
On May 15, 1922, a Curtis biplane crashed on a farm near Croton-on-Hudson, New York, carrying a cargo of illegal liquor during the Prohibition era. The incident has come to be known as "The Mystery of the Rum Plane."
The Crash
As darkness fell, the aircraft circled over farmland owned by former Westchester County deputy sheriff George McCall, located approximately a mile above Croton and a quarter-mile from the Tumble Inn roadhouse. The pilot initially hesitated to land, circling repeatedly be
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On May 15, 1922, a aircraft carrying Canadian liquor crashed in Croton, drawing attention from law enforcement and local residents. The New York Times reported that when authorities arrived at the wreckage, they found "country folk grouped about the battered remains of a once gallant craft, some of them looking quite cheerful over that which the air had provided."
One local who climbed the hill near the Tumble Inn photographed the damaged plane before police dismantled it and transported it to
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
On May 15, 1922, a aircraft carrying Canadian liquor crashed in Croton, drawing attention from law enforcement and local residents. The New York Times reported that when authorities arrived at the wreckage, they found "country folk grouped about the battered remains of a once gallant craft, some of them looking quite cheerful over that which the air had provided."
One local who climbed the hill near the Tumble Inn photographed the damaged plane before police dismantled it and transported it to
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
On May 15, 1922, a aircraft carrying Canadian liquor crashed in Croton, drawing attention from law enforcement and local residents. The New York Times reported that when authorities arrived at the wreckage, they found "country folk grouped about the battered remains of a once gallant craft, some of them looking quite cheerful over that which the air had provided."
One local who climbed the hill near the Tumble Inn photographed the damaged plane before police dismantled it and transported it to
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Celebrating Ossining's Double Arch
This post celebrates the restoration of Ossining's famous Double Arch promenade, which reopened on Saturday, July 20, 2013. The Double Arch is a granite aqueduct structure spanning the Sing Sing Kill. In 1839, the Westchester Herald called it "the most astonishing specimen of the art and ability of man to be seen in this section."
The article assembles historical images documenting this engineering landmark, including an 1868 map, construction drawings by Chi
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A map and graph from the May 23, 1908 issue of Scientific American illustrating reservoirs within the Croton watershed system following completion of the New Croton Dam, with their relative elevations.
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A detailed engraving from the October 17, 1896 Scientific American depicting the New Croton Dam construction. According to Christopher Tompkins, author of The Croton Dams and Aqueduct, this image is "especially noteworthy for its accuracy in depicting the excavation."
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Driving to the Dam, 1912
This historical post features a 1912 photograph showing "an automobile driving along the road which once ran across what is now the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail." The image captures an early motorcar on a path near the New Croton Dam.
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A 1924 aerial photograph taken by a Manhattan map-making firm purports to document evidence of submarine activity in the Hudson River near Croton Point. According to Ellen NicKenzie Lawson's book Smugglers, Bootleggers and Scofflaws: Prohibition and New York City, the image shows "two submarines below the surface of the Hudson River, each 250 feet long and 600 feet apart."
The photograph emerged during Prohibition's height, when "Rum Row"—a smuggling corridor stretching from Nantucket to New Yo
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During a beach walk along Croton Point's north shore, the author discovered old bricks embedded in concrete, stamped with "IX" and "XL" markings. These artifacts originated from William A. Underhill's brickyard at the point's northern end.
The bricks bore the "IXL" stamp, representing a marketing strategy meaning "I excel" at brickmaking. Some displayed Underhill's initials (WAU) instead. The burned appearance suggests they were rejected pieces later incorporated into early 20th-century cabin f
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A map of Central Park from 1865, published by L. Prang in Boston. In 1931, the reservoir was drained and filled with material from Rockefeller Center and Eighth Avenue subway construction. Today, the Great Lawn occupies the site.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
A map of Central Park from 1865, published by L. Prang in Boston. In 1931, the reservoir was drained and filled with material from Rockefeller Center and Eighth Avenue subway construction. Today, the Great Lawn occupies the site.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
The Grape King of Croton Point
Richard T. Underhill earned the title "Grape King" through pioneering viticulture efforts at Croton Point during the 19th century. He initially purchased European grape varieties from Andre Parmentier, a Belgian nurseryman who had emigrated to America. After his first European plantings failed, Underhill shifted strategy in 1827, establishing what became "the first large vineyard in the country" by cultivating American grape varieties like Catawba and Isabella acr
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Hudson River Sights by Walt Whitman
This piece presents Walt Whitman's prose observations from his 1882 collection Specimen Days & Collect, capturing the poet's impressions of Hudson River life during the industrial era.
Whitman celebrates the construction of the Hudson River Railroad along the shore, noting that "The grade is already made by nature; you are sure of ventilation one side—and you are in nobody's way." He finds beauty in the constant movement of trains and freight cars, describin
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Celebrating Ossining's Double Arch
This post celebrates the restoration of Ossining's famous Double Arch promenade, which reopened on Saturday, July 20, 2013. The Double Arch is a granite aqueduct structure spanning the Sing Sing Kill. In 1839, the Westchester Herald called it "the most astonishing specimen of the art and ability of man to be seen in this section."
The article assembles historical images documenting this engineering landmark, including an 1868 map, construction drawings by Chi
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Hudson River Sights by Walt Whitman
This piece presents Walt Whitman's prose observations from his 1882 collection Specimen Days & Collect, capturing the poet's impressions of Hudson River life during the industrial era.
Whitman celebrates the construction of the Hudson River Railroad along the shore, noting that "The grade is already made by nature; you are sure of ventilation one side—and you are in nobody's way." He finds beauty in the constant movement of trains and freight cars, describin
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Celebrating Ossining's Double Arch
This post celebrates the restoration of Ossining's famous Double Arch promenade, which reopened on Saturday, July 20, 2013. The Double Arch is a granite aqueduct structure spanning the Sing Sing Kill. In 1839, the Westchester Herald called it "the most astonishing specimen of the art and ability of man to be seen in this section."
The article assembles historical images documenting this engineering landmark, including an 1868 map, construction drawings by Chi
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Celebrating Ossining's Double Arch
This post celebrates the restoration of Ossining's famous Double Arch promenade, which reopened on Saturday, July 20, 2013. The Double Arch is a granite aqueduct structure spanning the Sing Sing Kill. In 1839, the Westchester Herald called it "the most astonishing specimen of the art and ability of man to be seen in this section."
The article assembles historical images documenting this engineering landmark, including an 1868 map, construction drawings by Chi
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Croton Aqueduct Puzzles
This piece explores two nineteenth-century jigsaw puzzles featuring the Old Croton Dam and High Bridge, part of a collection called "Sliced Objects" published by E. G. Selchow & Co. between approximately 1867 and 1880.
Selchow was a prominent manufacturer of games and puzzles during the Victorian period. In 1880, John Righter became a partner, and the company was renamed Selchow & Righter. The firm eventually became known for creating Parcheesi, Scrabble, and Trivial Pu
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The Mystery of the Devil's Footprints
This article explores a local legend about mysterious footprints in rock formations near Croton-on-Hudson, New York. The story centers on Hessian Hill, where Alfred P. Gardiner purchased land in 1906 and built an estate.
According to an 1912 New York Press article, peculiar footprints appeared in stone on both sides of the Hudson River. On the Hessian Hill side, "a huge boulder shadowed by tall trees" bore "the imprint of a pair of human feet placed side b
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During a beach walk along Croton Point's north shore, the author discovered old bricks embedded in concrete, stamped with "IX" and "XL" markings. These artifacts originated from William A. Underhill's brickyard at the point's northern end.
The bricks bore the "IXL" stamp, representing a marketing strategy meaning "I excel" at brickmaking. Some displayed Underhill's initials (WAU) instead. The burned appearance suggests they were rejected pieces later incorporated into early 20th-century cabin f
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Bird's Eye Views of the Croton Aqueduct, 1879-1887
This post examines two historical perspective maps depicting New York City's water infrastructure during a critical period of urban expansion.
Will L. Taylor created a four-sheet engraving published by Galt & Hoy showing Manhattan from an elevated viewpoint. This was "the first true attempt at a perspective map of the city" and "a stunning achievement for the time." The detailed map displays all three major components of the Old Croton Aqueduc
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Bird's Eye Views of the Croton Aqueduct, 1879-1887
This post examines two historical perspective maps depicting New York City's water infrastructure during a critical period of urban expansion.
Will L. Taylor created a four-sheet engraving published by Galt & Hoy showing Manhattan from an elevated viewpoint. This was "the first true attempt at a perspective map of the city" and "a stunning achievement for the time." The detailed map displays all three major components of the Old Croton Aqueduc
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Bird's Eye Views of the Croton Aqueduct, 1879-1887
This post examines two historical perspective maps depicting New York City's water infrastructure during a critical period of urban expansion.
Will L. Taylor created a four-sheet engraving published by Galt & Hoy showing Manhattan from an elevated viewpoint. This was "the first true attempt at a perspective map of the city" and "a stunning achievement for the time." The detailed map displays all three major components of the Old Croton Aqueduc
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
You Can Expect Immediate Benefits
The article examines a 1917 Goodyear Cord Tire advertisement campaign featuring the Nikko Inn. These ads appeared across prestigious publications including the Atlantic Monthly, The New Country Life, Travel, and Forest & Stream magazines.
The advertisements featured detailed pen-and-ink illustrations of Nikko Inn set in the background, positioning it as an ideal destination to visit "in superior comfort" via vehicles equipped with Goodyear Cord Tires. The camp
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On May 15, 1922, a Curtis biplane crashed on a farm near Croton-on-Hudson, New York, carrying a cargo of illegal liquor during the Prohibition era. The incident has come to be known as "The Mystery of the Rum Plane."
The Crash
As darkness fell, the aircraft circled over farmland owned by former Westchester County deputy sheriff George McCall, located approximately a mile above Croton and a quarter-mile from the Tumble Inn roadhouse. The pilot initially hesitated to land, circling repeatedly be
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Tumble Inn
The Tumble Inn was situated at the location now occupied by Skyview. A postcard from 1919 displays the property's backyard, captioned as "view from our bedroom windows."
The reverse side contains a note from someone named Aunt Ella, stating: "Wish you were with us. $7.50 per day for my room and $10.00 for the other two at 'Tumble Inn' . . . best in the country . . ."
The establishment operated as an inn and speakeasy during the early 20th century in Croton-on-Hudson.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Tumble Inn
The Tumble Inn was situated at the location now occupied by Skyview. A postcard from 1919 displays the property's backyard, captioned as "view from our bedroom windows."
The reverse side contains a note from someone named Aunt Ella, stating: "Wish you were with us. $7.50 per day for my room and $10.00 for the other two at 'Tumble Inn' . . . best in the country . . ."
The establishment operated as an inn and speakeasy during the early 20th century in Croton-on-Hudson.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Dr. Underhill's Elevated Railroad
The article highlights a rare historical photograph showing the tracks of the West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway Company, sourced from the New York Historical Society.
"Richard T. Underhill, the 'Grape King' of Croton Point, was an investor in this company—which began the New York City transportation system." The photograph captures the Ninth Avenue line from Gansevoort Street looking north, dating to approximately 1870-1880.
The post connects Underhill's e
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U.S. Geographical Survey Map, 1943
This article examines a 1943 topographic map of the Haverstraw Quadrangle, surveyed in 1938 by the U.S. Department of the Interior Geological Survey. The map reveals Croton's landscape before Route 9 construction.
Key observations include: "All but one of the buildings on the west side of Riverside Avenue were torn down when Route 9 was built." The surviving structure is the former Croton train station, now occupied by F.A. Burchetta Co.
A pond shown in the
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
U.S. Geographical Survey Map, 1943
This article examines a 1943 topographic map of the Haverstraw Quadrangle, surveyed in 1938 by the U.S. Department of the Interior Geological Survey. The map reveals Croton's landscape before Route 9 construction.
Key observations include: "All but one of the buildings on the west side of Riverside Avenue were torn down when Route 9 was built." The surviving structure is the former Croton train station, now occupied by F.A. Burchetta Co.
A pond shown in the
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
U.S. Geographical Survey Map, 1943
This article examines a 1943 topographic map of the Haverstraw Quadrangle, surveyed in 1938 by the U.S. Department of the Interior Geological Survey. The map reveals Croton's landscape before Route 9 construction.
Key observations include: "All but one of the buildings on the west side of Riverside Avenue were torn down when Route 9 was built." The surviving structure is the former Croton train station, now occupied by F.A. Burchetta Co.
A pond shown in the
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Motoring Across the Croton, 1912
A 1912 photograph captures an early automobile crossing the Van Cortlandt Bridge over the Croton River, offering a glimpse into the dawn of motorized transportation in the Hudson Valley region.
The narrative identifies three key landmarks from that era: the Crotonville School (today's Parker-Bale American Legion Post), the Croton Bay Pumping Station built in 1890, and the Van Cortlandt Bridge itself.
The bridge, also called the Long Bridge or Wagon Bridge, was
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Motoring Across the Croton, 1912
A 1912 photograph captures an early automobile crossing the Van Cortlandt Bridge over the Croton River, offering a glimpse into the dawn of motorized transportation in the Hudson Valley region.
The narrative identifies three key landmarks from that era: the Crotonville School (today's Parker-Bale American Legion Post), the Croton Bay Pumping Station built in 1890, and the Van Cortlandt Bridge itself.
The bridge, also called the Long Bridge or Wagon Bridge, was
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
An early postcard from approximately 1901-1907 bears the inscription "This is Lovers Bridge of Croton so they say," referring to what was officially known as the Van Cortlandt Bridge. The photograph captures a small section of the original Long Bridge, constructed during the 1860s to carry the Old Albany Post Road across the mouth of the Croton River near Van Cortlandt Manor.
The manor house appears hidden among trees on the right side of the photograph, while South Riverside Avenue curves away
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
An early postcard from approximately 1901-1907 bears the inscription "This is Lovers Bridge of Croton so they say," referring to what was officially known as the Van Cortlandt Bridge. The photograph captures a small section of the original Long Bridge, constructed during the 1860s to carry the Old Albany Post Road across the mouth of the Croton River near Van Cortlandt Manor.
The manor house appears hidden among trees on the right side of the photograph, while South Riverside Avenue curves away
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Croton's First Train Station
This article presents a historically significant photograph of Croton's inaugural train station, circa 1849. The station was constructed in 1849 and situated on the river side of the tracks, positioned across from what is now the intersection of North Riverside Avenue and Grand Street.
The image was sourced from filmmaker and historian Ken Sargeant's collection of 19th-century Croton photographs, obtained through collaboration with Roberta Arminio at the Ossining H
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In 1913, the Overman Tire Company conducted a demonstration test using a National touring car equipped with their cushion tires. The test aimed to showcase "the ability of Overman cushion tires to withstand the abuse to which tires ordinarily are subjected by the average driver." The vehicle traveled various routes and road surfaces within a 50-mile radius of New York City.
The test route conveniently passed by the New Croton Dam, with a photographer documenting the journey. The complete collec
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
In 1913, the Overman Tire Company conducted a demonstration test using a National touring car equipped with their cushion tires. The test aimed to showcase "the ability of Overman cushion tires to withstand the abuse to which tires ordinarily are subjected by the average driver." The vehicle traveled various routes and road surfaces within a 50-mile radius of New York City.
The test route conveniently passed by the New Croton Dam, with a photographer documenting the journey. The complete collec
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
In 1913, the Overman Tire Company conducted a demonstration test using a National touring car equipped with their cushion tires. The test aimed to showcase "the ability of Overman cushion tires to withstand the abuse to which tires ordinarily are subjected by the average driver." The vehicle traveled various routes and road surfaces within a 50-mile radius of New York City.
The test route conveniently passed by the New Croton Dam, with a photographer documenting the journey. The complete collec
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
Published by William Terhune, printed in Germany, reproduced by Croton History. Its Revolutionary War crossing caption is an attributed postcard claim.
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
View of Haverstraw Bay, circa 1868
At first glance, this print appears to be a Hudson River landscape painting, showing a northward view from Scarborough. The composition depicts the widest section of the river, stretching from Rockland Lake to the Croton's mouth.
The artistic composition contrasts two eras. A sailboat in the foreground represents the river's natural, romantic state, while a steamboat in the distance heading toward New York City symbolizes the industrial future, alongside fact
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
View of Haverstraw Bay, circa 1868
At first glance, this print appears to be a Hudson River landscape painting, showing a northward view from Scarborough. The composition depicts the widest section of the river, stretching from Rockland Lake to the Croton's mouth.
The artistic composition contrasts two eras. A sailboat in the foreground represents the river's natural, romantic state, while a steamboat in the distance heading toward New York City symbolizes the industrial future, alongside fact
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
View of Haverstraw Bay, circa 1868
At first glance, this print appears to be a Hudson River landscape painting, showing a northward view from Scarborough. The composition depicts the widest section of the river, stretching from Rockland Lake to the Croton's mouth.
The artistic composition contrasts two eras. A sailboat in the foreground represents the river's natural, romantic state, while a steamboat in the distance heading toward New York City symbolizes the industrial future, alongside fact
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
A notable oil painting by Robert Havell Jr. depicting the Hudson River landscape is being auctioned at Sotheby's. The work, titled "View of the Hudson from Horton's Road Near Croton," has been held by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts since 1935 and is being sold to fund future acquisitions.
The painting captures recognizable Croton area features, including the Croton River emptying into the Hudson, Croton Point in the distance, and Van Cortlandt Manor visible among trees along the roadside. Th
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
In 1913, the Overman Tire Company conducted a demonstration test using a National touring car equipped with their cushion tires. The test aimed to showcase "the ability of Overman cushion tires to withstand the abuse to which tires ordinarily are subjected by the average driver." The vehicle traveled various routes and road surfaces within a 50-mile radius of New York City.
The test route conveniently passed by the New Croton Dam, with a photographer documenting the journey. The complete collec
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
New York Walk Book, 1923
A map from the "pocket edition" of the New York Walk Book, released in 1923 by the American Geographical Society. The publication featured three primary walking routes in the Croton area:
- Salt Hill Route—Croton to Croton Lake Station
- Croton Lake Region—Harmon to Millwood
- Montrose to Harmon via Spitzenberg and Keg Mountains
The guidebook included detailed pen-and-ink illustrations, including one depicting "the mouth of the Croton River."
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
New York Walk Book, 1923
A map from the "pocket edition" of the New York Walk Book, released in 1923 by the American Geographical Society. The publication featured three primary walking routes in the Croton area:
- Salt Hill Route—Croton to Croton Lake Station
- Croton Lake Region—Harmon to Millwood
- Montrose to Harmon via Spitzenberg and Keg Mountains
The guidebook included detailed pen-and-ink illustrations, including one depicting "the mouth of the Croton River."
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
History Underfoot
A homeowner in Harmon showcased Croton Point bricks integrated into their porch flooring, many bearing the stamp "WAU" (William A. Underhill's initials). These well-preserved bricks, worn by over a century of use, represent the industrial heritage of the region.
William A. Underhill operated a brickyard on Croton Point's northern end, extracting clay deposits for production. His brother, Richard T. Underhill, developed vineyards on the southern portion of the peninsula.
The
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A map from the 1924 Report of the Westchester County Park Commission, published during a period when "the Westchester park and parkway system was being greatly expanded."
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Resolved, Unanimously, July 9, 1776
On July 9, 1776, Colonel Pierre Van Cortlandt and ten other Westchester County deputies met at the Court House in White Plains to vote on the Declaration of Independence. They convened as part of "the Provincial Congress of the Province of New-York" at a critical moment in American history.
New York's position held special significance because its Philadelphia delegation had abstained from the July 2 independence vote, preventing unanimity. A committee chair
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Hudson River Sights by Walt Whitman
This piece presents Walt Whitman's prose observations from his 1882 collection Specimen Days & Collect, capturing the poet's impressions of Hudson River life during the industrial era.
Whitman celebrates the construction of the Hudson River Railroad along the shore, noting that "The grade is already made by nature; you are sure of ventilation one side—and you are in nobody's way." He finds beauty in the constant movement of trains and freight cars, describin
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
What a Delightful Ride
The article presents a historical account of traveling by rail along the Hudson River in 1873, written under the pseudonym "Vieux Moustache" by author Clarence Gordon, originally published in the Troy Daily Whig on April 26, 1873.
Gordon describes the scenic train journey from New York City northward through Sing Sing (present-day Ossining) to Croton. The narrative includes vivid descriptions of passing Sing Sing prison, with its "high, shadowed, white walls pierced with
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
What a Delightful Ride
The article presents a historical account of traveling by rail along the Hudson River in 1873, written under the pseudonym "Vieux Moustache" by author Clarence Gordon, originally published in the Troy Daily Whig on April 26, 1873.
Gordon describes the scenic train journey from New York City northward through Sing Sing (present-day Ossining) to Croton. The narrative includes vivid descriptions of passing Sing Sing prison, with its "high, shadowed, white walls pierced with
Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions
French military manuscript map (pen and ink) from the American Revolution showing the terrain between the Hudson River and the Croton River. Includes military annotations. This area would become the route of the Croton Aqueduct sixty years later.
This map shows a section of the Albany Post Road from New York to Poughkeepsie, specifically highlighting the route through Croton. It includes landmarks such as the Van Cortlandt ferry crossing the Croton River, mile markers, and various property owners' names.
Public domain
Hudson-Fulton Celebration Float — Introduction of Croton Water (1909)
Parade float commemorating the introduction of Croton Water, from the 1909 Hudson-Fulton Celebration in New York City. Shows how the 1842 Croton water achievement was still celebrated 67 years later as one of the defining moments in the city's history.
Title page and first page of music for J. Hazzard's Croton Waltz, 1844. A separate piano composition celebrating the Croton water celebration, registered with the U.S. District court the same year as Henry F. Williams's better-known waltz of the same name.
Public domain (registered for copyright 1844; copyright expired)
Croton Waltz (1844) by J. Hazzard — Page 2
1844 ·
Library of Congress, Music Division — https://www.loc.gov/item/2023798735/
Ink and watercolor rendering of aqueduct cross-sections, elevations, and construction plans by chief engineer John B. Jervis. Shows the precise engineering behind the gravity-fed system that carried Croton water to New York City.
Ink and watercolor engineering drawing by chief engineer John B. Jervis showing workers tunnelling through earth during the construction of the Croton Aqueduct. Jervis designed the entire 41-mile system, including the dam, aqueduct, and High Bridge.
Public domain
Lloyd's Topographical Map of the Hudson River (1864)
J.L. Lloyd's detailed map covering Troy to Sandy Hook, showing all buildings and householders' names within 4 miles of the river. Croton Point and the Croton River mouth are labeled with individual property owners.
Public domain
Blank Endpaper from Croton Water Sheet Music
1842 ·
Library of Congress, Music Division (item 2023798259)
The image shows a blank endpaper from a sheet music book. The page is white with some speckles and marks, likely from aging. In the top-right corner, the number '30' is handwritten.
Public domain
Croton Water Sheet Music — Phillips/Willis (1842), Page 002
1842 ·
Library of Congress, Music Division (item 2023798259)
Title page — "From Mountain Heights & Vallies Green" Song & Chorus commemorating the Croton Water, 1842. Words by Jonas B. Phillips, Music by John Willis. Published by John F. Nunns, 240 Broadway.
Public domain
Croton Water Sheet Music — Phillips/Willis (1842), Page 003
1842 ·
Library of Congress, Music Division (item 2023798259)
Page 1 (blank verso) of Henry F. Williams's Croton Waltz, 1844. The image bears handwritten markings: 'Deposited Decr. 26, 1844 By A. Fiot as proper' and the LOC manuscript number 398.
Public domain (registered for copyright 1844; copyright expired)
Croton Waltz (1844) by H. F. Williams — Page 2
1844 ·
Library of Congress, Music Division — https://www.loc.gov/item/2023798664/
Title page of 'The Original Favorite Croton Waltz, Composed and Arranged for the Piano-Forte by H. F. Williams, Professor of Music.' Published Philadelphia: A. Fiot, 196 Chesnut St.; New York: W. Dubois, 315 Broadway. Marked Valse, 3/4 time. The first 3 lines of music are visible on this page.
Public domain (registered for copyright 1844; copyright expired)
Croton Waltz (1844) by H. F. Williams — Page 3
1844 ·
Library of Congress, Music Division — https://www.loc.gov/item/2023798664/
Page 2 of music — middle section of Henry F. Williams's Croton Waltz. Continues the piano arrangement with dynamic markings (f, p, cres, ff) and trill ornaments.
Public domain (registered for copyright 1844; copyright expired)
Croton Waltz (1844) by H. F. Williams — Page 4
1844 ·
Library of Congress, Music Division — https://www.loc.gov/item/2023798664/
Oil on canvas by Henry Ward Ranger (1858-1916) depicting the High Bridge carrying the Croton Aqueduct over the Harlem River. The oldest standing bridge in New York City, High Bridge was the engineering showpiece of the Croton water system. Its Roman-style stone arches, deliberately designed to evoke classical aqueducts, made it one of the most painted landmarks in 19th-century New York.
Public domain (CC0)
Alexandria Gazette, October 17, 1842
October 17, 1842 ·
Library of Congress, Chronicling America (sn85025007)
Front page of the Alexandria Gazette newspaper, dated Monday morning, October 17, 1842. The page contains various articles, advertisements, and notices, including a mention of the Croton Water Celebration in New York City on October 14, 1842.
Public domain
Morning Star newspaper front page
November 23, 1842 ·
Library of Congress, Chronicling America (sn84024361)
The image shows the front page of the Morning Star newspaper, dated November 23, 1842. The page contains various articles, with the main headline 'MORNING STAR' and several columns of text. There are no images or graphics visible on this page.
Public domain
Richmond Enquirer newspaper front page
October 21, 1842 ·
Library of Congress, Chronicling America (sn84024735)
The image shows the front page of the Richmond Enquirer newspaper, dated October 21, 1842. The page is filled with dense text in multiple columns, with a prominent header featuring the newspaper's name and a decorative image. A smaller inset image appears on the right side of the page.
Print of the October 14, 1842 Croton Water Celebration from the I.N. Phelps Stokes Collection of American Historical Prints. Shows the scene at City Hall Park as the fountain erupted for the first time, marking the arrival of clean water in New York City after years of contaminated wells and devastating cholera epidemics.
Public domain
Croton Water Reservoir — Augustus Fay Lithograph (1850)
Hand-colored lithograph by Augustus Fay showing the Croton Distributing Reservoir on Murray Hill, Manhattan. This massive Egyptian Revival fortress held 20 million gallons of Croton water and became a popular promenade — New Yorkers walked along the top walls for the view. It stood at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue until demolished to build the New York Public Library.
Public domain
Croton Distributing Reservoir
c.1850s ·
NYPL, Eno Collection of New York City Views
An illustration of the Croton Distributing Reservoir, showing its imposing Egyptian Revival walls with people walking on top and around it. The reservoir is surrounded by trees and a few buildings in the background.
W. E. Worthen’s complete 1889 watershed map includes Croton Landing, Quaker Bridge, Croton Lake and the northern reservoirs. Its printed scale is one and one-half inches to the mile, with twenty-foot contours. The legend distinguishes city-owned reservoirs and lakes supplying water, other lakes, and reservoirs ordered or under construction. This NYPL scan colors East Branch/Sodom pink; the previously held Putnam County detail colors it blue. They are related cartographic versions with different coloring states; the other version’s coloring date is unconfirmed. The displayed preview is reduced for delivery; Original JPG preserves the complete unchanged 10153×15733-pixel NYPL file. No restoration, georegistration, construction-date inference or added detail.
Lithograph by Nathaniel Currier (of 'Currier and Ives' fame) showing the newly completed Croton Distributing Reservoir on Murray Hill in 1842. One of the earliest images of the reservoir that would define Manhattan's midtown landscape for nearly sixty years.
The Croton Distributing Reservoir on Murray Hill, Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. This Egyptian Revival structure, with walls 44 feet high and 25 feet thick at the base, held 20 million gallons of Croton water. New Yorkers promenaded along the top for panoramic city views. Demolished 1899-1900; the New York Public Library Main Branch now stands on its exact footprint.
Public domain
The High Bridge at Harlem, Length 1,450 ft. (1849)
1849 ·
NYPL, Eno Collection of New York City Views
Lithographic print showing the newly completed High Bridge spanning the Harlem River. At 1,450 feet long and 114 feet above the water, it was an engineering marvel. The print captures the bridge just one year after its opening in 1848. From the Eno Collection.
Lithograph showing the Croton Aqueduct spanning the Harlem River, with a man fishing in the foreground on the riverbank, surrounded by trees and rocks.
The High Bridge over the Harlem River, viewed from the Westchester side looking northwest, during construction of a large water main. The bridge has multiple stone arches and spans the river, with trees and buildings in the foreground.
The image does not match the provided metadata. It appears to be a portrait of Dante Alighieri, not The High Bridge. The portrait is a black and white engraving of Dante wearing a dark robe and a head covering, facing left. There is a caption below the portrait that reads 'The Leo Portrait DANTE.'
Postcard view of the High Bridge from the east, showing the Croton Aqueduct bridge spanning the Harlem River. By 1898, the High Bridge had been carrying water for 50 years and was one of New York City's most beloved landmarks. From the Detroit Publishing Company collection.
Public domain
High Bridge, Croton Aqueduct — Stereoscopic View (1864)
1864 ·
NYPL, Robert N. Dennis Collection of Stereoscopic Views
Stereoscopic photograph of the High Bridge carrying the Croton Aqueduct over the Harlem River, from the Robert N. Dennis collection. Stereoscopic views were the 3D photography of the Victorian era — viewed through a handheld device, they created a striking illusion of depth. The High Bridge's Roman-style stone arches made it one of the most popular stereoscopic subjects in New York.
Public domain
Hydrographic Map Showing Line of Croton Aqueduct (1846)
1846 ·
NYPL, Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division
Detailed map from the NYPL Map Division showing the complete route of the Croton Aqueduct from the Croton Dam through Westchester County to Manhattan. Compiled under the direction of chief engineer John B. Jervis. Shows the relationship of the aqueduct to rivers, hills, and settlements along its 41-mile route.
Public domain
Profile of Lower Part of Croton Aqueduct — Jervis/Schramke (1843)
1843 ·
NYPL, Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division
Engineering profile drawn by Theophilus Schramke under the direction of chief engineer John B. Jervis, showing the elevation changes along the lower portion of the Croton Aqueduct as it approached Manhattan. The aqueduct descended by gravity from the Croton Dam at 166 feet above tide to the receiving reservoir at 115 feet — a remarkably gentle grade over 41 miles.
Public domain
Bromley Atlas — Town of Cortlandt (1914)
1914 ·
David Rumsey Map Collection (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
G.W. Bromley & Co. atlas plate showing buildings by material, water mains, hydrants, sewers, trolley lines, lot numbers, and land ownership in Croton-on-Hudson..
CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Lands to be acquired for New Croton Reservoir, Katonah (1895)
1895-08-23 ·
Westchester County Clerk Historical Maps
Lithograph depicting the grand civic celebration of October 14, 1842, when Croton water first flowed into New York City. Published by J.F. Atwill. Shows the Park Fountain erupting as crowds fill City Hall Park, with City Hall and the Astor House visible in the background. This was 'the greatest jubilee that New York has ever boasted.'
Public domain
Croton Water Celebration — Panoramic View (1842)
1842 ·
New York Public Library / Wikimedia Commons
Large panoramic view of the 1842 Croton Water Celebration from the NYPL collection. Shows the full scope of the celebration in City Hall Park, with the 50-foot fountain visible. A seven-mile parade wound through Manhattan to this spot, where the New York Sacred Music Society sang the Croton Ode to music adapted from Rossini.
An oil painting depicting a serene landscape with a large tree in the foreground, a winding path leading to a body of water, and a distant mountain range. A figure of a woman is seen walking along the path. The scene appears to be a rural or natural area with trees, grass, and a body of water, possibly the Hudson River.
A color botanical illustration of the Catawba grape, showing a vine branch with two clusters of purple grapes, a large green leaf, and a smaller yellow leaf.
Photographic plate of the Catawba grape from Ulysses Prentiss Hedrick's 'The Grapes of New York' (1908). Catawba was one of the two main varieties grown by Robert Underhill at his Croton Point vineyard. The grape, originally from the Catawba River valley in North Carolina, thrived in the Hudson Valley climate and produced a popular light wine.
Two men fishing on the shore of a body of water, likely the Hudson River, at Croton Point. One man is shirtless and the other is holding a fishing rod. A woman and child are partially visible on the left side.
Early 20th century postcard showing the Croton-Harmon railroad station. Harmon became a major rail hub in 1913 when the New York Central Railroad established its electric changeover point here — steam locomotives from upstate were swapped for electric engines for the run into Grand Central Terminal.
Public domain
Croton Distributing Reservoir, Fifth Ave. & 42nd St. (1899)
Photograph of the Egyptian Revival-style Croton Distributing Reservoir at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. This fortress-like structure stored and distributed Croton water throughout Manhattan. It was demolished in 1899-1900 to make way for the New York Public Library main branch — the very building that stands there today.
Fishing at Croton Point, 1973. EPA Documerica photograph. Despite the nearby landfill operations, the Hudson River at Croton Point remained popular for recreational fishing.
Public domain
Joint Committee on Standards for Graphic Presentation (1915)
1915 ·
Publications of the American Statistical Association 14(112) / Wikimedia Commons
Group portrait of the Joint Committee on Standards for Graphic Presentation, 1915. Willard Cope Brinton chaired this committee, which produced the first American standards for how statistical charts should be drawn. The 1915 committee report — published in Publications of the American Statistical Association — became a foundational document in the history of data visualization.
Public domain
Glimpse on the Croton Lake — Harper's Magazine (1860)
December 1860 ·
Harper's New Monthly Magazine / Wikimedia Commons
Engraving showing the Croton reservoir lake behind the Old Croton Dam. From T. Addison Richards' article 'The Croton Aqueduct' in Harper's New Monthly Magazine, December 1860. The dam created a 400-acre lake that was the sole water supply for New York City.
Public domain
The High Bridge at Harlem — Harper's Magazine (1860)
December 1860 ·
Harper's New Monthly Magazine / Wikimedia Commons
Engraving of the iconic High Bridge carrying the Croton Aqueduct over the Harlem River. The oldest standing bridge in New York City, opened 1848, with Roman-style stone arches. From Harper's, December 1860.
Public domain
The Hudson Highlands, Source of the Croton — Harper's (1860)
December 1860 ·
Harper's New Monthly Magazine / Wikimedia Commons
Engraving showing the Hudson Highlands near the source of the Croton River. From Harper's, December 1860. The Croton River rises in Putnam County and flows through the highlands before reaching the dam at Croton-on-Hudson.
Public domain
The Croton on Its Way to Town — Harper's Magazine (1860)
December 1860 ·
Harper's New Monthly Magazine / Wikimedia Commons
Engraving showing the Croton Aqueduct route as it carries water toward Manhattan. From T. Addison Richards' comprehensive article in Harper's, December 1860. The aqueduct traveled 41 miles by gravity from the Croton Dam to the receiving reservoir in Manhattan.
Public domain
An Aqueduct Ventilator — Harper's Magazine (1860)
December 1860 ·
Harper's New Monthly Magazine / Wikimedia Commons
Engraving of a ventilation tower along the Croton Aqueduct. These distinctive stone towers, spaced at intervals along the 41-mile route, allowed air circulation in the underground tunnel. They became landmarks along the aqueduct trail and several survive today. From Harper's, December 1860.
Public domain
Hudson River North to Croton Point — Robert Havell Jr. (1851)
Oil painting by Robert Havell Jr. showing the Hudson River looking north toward Croton Point. Havell, famous for engraving Audubon's 'Birds of America,' painted this during the peak of Robert Underhill's vineyard operation at Croton Point — then the largest vineyard in America, covering 75 acres with Isabella and Catawba grapes. This is one of the earliest artistic depictions of Croton Point.
Public domain
High Bridge and High Service Works — Lithograph (1841)
Early lithograph (1841) showing the planned High Bridge, the high service works, and the reservoir for the Croton Aqueduct system at the Harlem River crossing. This was drawn before the bridge was completed in 1848.
The High Bridge across the Harlem River from King's Handbook of New York City (1893). Shows the bridge in its original stone-arch form — a Roman-style aqueduct bridge that was the engineering showpiece of the Croton system.
Photographic plate of the Isabella grape from 'The Grapes of New York' (1908). Isabella was the primary variety planted by Robert Underhill at Croton Point beginning in the 1830s. The dark-skinned grape produced a sweet, foxy wine that was enormously popular in antebellum America. At its peak, the Croton Point vineyard produced up to 20,000 gallons per year.
A small blue house with a black roof and white door is centered in the image. A black lamppost stands in front of the house, which has a wreath on the door and a mailbox to the right. The house is situated on a residential street with other houses and trees in the background.
A detailed map showing the vicinity of New York City, including parts of New Jersey and New York State. The map displays various locations, roads, and bodies of water in the area.
Portrait photograph of Willard Cope Brinton (1880-1957), Harvard-trained mechanical engineer and founding figure of American information visualization. Brinton and his wife Laura owned the country property in Croton-on-Hudson that became Brinton Brook Sanctuary after her memorial donation to the National Audubon Society in 1957.
Hand-colored lithograph of the Croton Aqueduct's receiving reservoir at Yorkville (now the site of Central Park's Great Lawn). This was where Croton water first arrived in Manhattan after its 41-mile journey.
Individual exposures undated here; album circa 1916-1921 is not an exposure date ·
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University — Mabel Dodge Luhan Papers, YCAL MSS 196, Box 105 Oversize, Folder 2456 — https://collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/2005127
Album page shows adobe residence, gate and construction in Taos setting. No visible Finney Farm/Croton caption. Do not identify this as a Croton farm photograph.
IIIF availability is not a public-domain declaration; current Yale rights statement unavailable
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