HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. LOCATION
The Hudson Highlands Scenic Area of Statewide Significance (SASS) encompasses a twenty mile stretch of the Hudson River and its shorelands and varies in width from approximately 1 to 6 miles. The SASS includes the Hudson River and its east and west shorelands. It extends from its northern boundary, which runs from the northern tip of Scofield Ridge, Denning Point and the base of Storm King Mountain to its southern boundary at Roa Hook and the southern limits of the Bear Mountain State Park. At the SASS's northern and southern extremes, the SASS extends across the Hudson River to the mean high tide line on the opposite shoreline.
The Hudson Highlands SASS is located within the City of Newburgh, the Town of New Windsor, the Town of Cornwall, the Town of Highlands, the Village of Cornwall-on-the-Hudson and the Village of Highland Falls, Orange County; the Town of Stony Point, Rockland County; the City of Peekskill, the Town of Cortlandt and the Village of Buchanan, Westchester County; the Town of Philipstown, the Village of Nelsonville and the Village of Cold Spring, Putnam County; and the Town of Fishkill and the City of Beacon, Dutchess County.
The Hudson Highlands SASS is comprised of 28 subunits:
HH-1 Cornwall Hillside Estates; HH-2 Storm King; HH-3 Contemporary West Point Military Academy; HH-4 West Point Military Academy; HH-5 Highlands; HH-6 Highland Falls; HH-7 Con Hook; HH-8 Fort Montgomery; HH-9 Brooks Lake; HH-10 Hessian Lake; HH-11 Bear Mountain State Park; HH-12 Iona Island Marsh; HH-13 Iona Island; HH-14 Jones Point; HH-15 Wallace Pond; HH-16 Anthony's Nose; HH-17 Manitou; HH-18 Manitou Marsh; HH-19 Garrison Landing; HH-20 Garrison Four Corners; HH-21 Fort Hill; HH-22 Nelson Corners; HH-23 Constitution Marsh; HH-24 Constitution Island; HH-25 Cold Spring; HH-26 Hudson Highlands State Park; HH-27 Dutchess Junction; HH-28 Pollepel Island.
Refer to the Hudson Highlands SASS Map for the SASS boundary.
II. DESCRIPTION
The Hudson Highlands SASS is a highly scenic and valued region of the Hudson River Valley, rich in natural beauty, cultural and historical features.
The Hudson Highlands are part of the Reading Prong of the New England Upland, a division of the Appalachian Highlands. This is composed almost entirely of Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks and forms a low, rugged mountain range, underlain by some of the oldest rocks in the eastern United States, over one billion years old. The area exhibits a very complex geological record, with several cycles of crustal movement, metamorphism, igneous intrusion, folding and faulting, sedimentation and erosion.
The highest elevation and the most spectacular relief in the SASS occurs at the northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands. This comprises Storm King and Crows Nest to the west and Breakneck Ridge, the Beacons and Bull Hill to the east. The southern gateway is formed by the peaks of the Bear Mountain State Park to the west, including Dunderberg and Bear Mountain, and Manitou Mountain and Anthony's Nose to the east.
The Hudson River has carved a spectacular gorge through the Hudson Highlands. The river seems to have followed three distinct fault lines, exploited structurally weak zones and the general north-east trend of the rock formations and has been modified by glacial action to arrive at its current course, one that shows a high degree of integration into the geological structure of the area.
Between Storm King and Breakneck Ridge, where the high peaks drop straight to the water, the Hudson River corridor is a fjord, deepened by glacial action and filled by the rising sea as the ice melted. This landscape feature is unique in New York State and very rare in the eastern United States. Off Gees Point at West Point, the Hudson River is 202 feet deep. This part of the Hudson is known as World's End and is the deepest point on the river.
The present shoreline configuration includes steep cliffs, bluffs, and gently sloping banks. Several promontories jut into the Hudson, forming bends in the river which mirror the underlying topography. The original channel of the Hudson River, following a fault zone, was established east of Constitution Island and west of Iona Island. Later, glacial ice, unable to follow the sharp turns, carved new channels, leaving the two islands as topographic features in the river. There are a number of coves and tributaries where streams such as Indian Brook, Doodletown Brook, Popolopen Brook and the Fishkill Creek converge with the Hudson River. At these locations the shoreline features an estuary rich in wetlands, tidal mudflats and shallows.
Variations in bedrock composition exist between the east and west shorelands of the SASS, resulting in differential erosion, varying weathering patterns and discoloration of the rock surface. The roundness of many of the Highland summits is due to erosion. The flanks of the mountains are buried beneath sedimentary deposits, while the clefts and valleys have been filled with glacial till. The rolling upland valleys contain numerous wetlands, mountain streams, ponds and lakes, such as Wallace Pond, Lake Alice, the Melzingah and Beacon Reservoirs and Gordons Brook.
An extensive vegetative cover of mature woodlands of mixed deciduous and coniferous trees dominates all but the steepest of mountain slopes. On the lower slopes and lowland plateaus the dense woodland coverage gives way to a combination of mixed woodlands and clearings comprised of farmsteads, open pasture and meadows and landscaped estates with formal gardens and sweeping lawns. Small hamlets and villages are situated in the lowland valleys and plateaus, nestling into the woodlands and featuring mature street landscaping. The shoreline vegetation includes wooded banks, bluffs and cliffs and the wetland vegetation of Constitution Marsh, Manitou Marsh and Iona Marsh.
The settlement and transportation patterns of the Highlands are heavily influenced by the area's topography, respecting the natural features in their layout and location. Settlements are limited to the lowland plateaus and lower hillsides and appear tightly clustered within the landscape. Large historic estates are located throughout the SASS, taking advantage of the spectacular views from the hillsides above the hamlets. More recent residential and commercial development shows less respect for the topography of the area. Subdivision of farmsteads and estates and commercial strip development along major highways has resulted in a dispersal of the settlement pattern, leading to an increasing suburbanization of the Hudson Highlands.
Railroads hug the shoreline of the Hudson River and roads follow the hillside contours and inland valleys. There are two military sites within the SASS, the undeveloped parts of the Camp Smith Military Reservation and the United States Military Academy at West Point, both with extensive areas of open space. The present-day land use pattern of the Hudson Highlands is dominated by State parkland, preserving much of the open space of the SASS for its aesthetic, recreational and natural resource values. This has resulted in a land use pattern of formal and informal recreational facilities, nature reserves and "wilderness".
The Hudson Highlands have long been significant in the culture and history of both the State of New York and the United States. The area came to prominence when Henry Hudson explored the region in 1609, and the ship's log describes the spectacular landscape. Since that time the area has been perceived as a unique environment with outstanding scenic, cultural and historic resources. The present day landscape of the Hudson Highlands SASS owes a great deal to its cultural and historical development since the 17th century. This is particularly evident in the land use and settlement pattern and in the development of the State park system in the area.
Early settlement and economic development of the Hudson Valley during the pre-Revolutionary War period bypassed the rugged mountainous landscape of the Hudson Highlands for the more attractive and easily developable fertile land located to the north and west. During this period the development of settlements in the Highlands was affected by the political and administrative system of Dutch and English colonial government, the series of manorial grants and patents, difficulties in transportation and the rugged, forested topography and narrow marsh-bounded shoreline. These factors combined to hold in check the spread of small settlements and occupation of land by all but a few lords of the manor and hardy yeoman farmers.
By the time of the Revolutionary War there were some family farms in the uplands and small settlements based around sawmill operations at Highland Falls and Cornwall. Development of military facilities led to a clearing of the woodlands. The decision to fortify the Hudson Highlands, taken in 1775, resulted in the eventual construction of forts on Constitution Island, at Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton on either side of the Popolopen Creek and at Fort Putnam above West Point; numerous roundouts; chains and chevaux-de-frises across the Hudson River; and improved transportation and communication facilities.
The strategic value of the Hudson Highlands was the main reason for the development of the military facilities and its key role as a theater of battle during the Revolutionary War. The landscape offered natural opportunities for protection of the increasingly important commercial use of the Hudson River as a transportation corridor to the interior of the north- eastern United States. Two major campaigns for control of the Hudson River were centered on the Hudson Highlands during the war.
The American Revolution and the immediate succeeding years provided a stimulus to settlement and trade in the Highlands. Gradually a pattern of rural activity was established, based around the expansion of the United States Military Academy at West Point, quarrying, shipbuilding and iron manufacturing. The lowlands alongside the Hudson proved viable for farming, and clearing of the landscape continued. Growth concentrated on the lower plains, associated with road connections and ferry crossings, while the uplands remained free of settlement. Cold Spring grew around the West Point Foundry into a thriving industrial village.
By the mid-19th century transportation improvements opened up more of the Hudson Valley through steamboat, railroad and improved turnpikes. With increased accessibility the Highlands became attractive to the wealthy, and opulent estates and large hotels and resorts were developed on the hillsides overlooking the Hudson River. Agricultural land became more a part of a designed landscape than a working landscape as "gentlemen farmers" moved in, while the pastoral landscape provided a backdrop for recreation to both the rich and the urban masses. Recreational facilities varied from picnic grounds, public beaches and pleasure grounds for day-trippers to hotels and resorts for the wealthy. These trends capitalized on the taste for picturesque environments which ran through the 19th century.
As development pressure intensified at the turn of the 20th century, a preservation movement became established in the lower Hudson Valley. Starting with the concern over the impacts of quarrying on the Palisades, this movement culminated with the establishment of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) in 1900 and the designation and acquisition of much of the western shore of the lower Hudson for recreation.
In 1909 the Highlands west of the Hudson were brought into the jurisdiction of the PIPC. Their inclusion came about as a result of a move by the New York State Prison Authority to develop facilities near Bear Mountain and the accompanying public outcry at the inappropriateness of such a use in a scenic area with great recreational potential. At this time the State received a gift of 10,000 acres of land from the Harrimans, who owned the southwestern part of the Hudson Highlands, with the condition that the prison proposal be abandoned and that the area between the Harriman property and the Hudson River be secured for park land. In 1910 the prison proposal was abandoned, and over the next decades further acquisition by the State filled in the gaps of the Harriman and Bear Mountain State Parks and moved northward to Storm King.
Further action by conservation groups, again opposed to the impact of quarrying, led to the protection of the eastern Highlands through the creation of the Hudson Highlands State Park. More recently the Hudson Highlands became a landmark of the environmental movement of the late 1960's when Storm King became the proposed site for a pump storage electric generation station. This was defeated after a long battle because of potential impacts on the scenic and ecological values of the area, resulting in the proposed 500 acre site being donated for park use as the Storm King State Park.
As the 20th century progressed, many of the farms, resorts and estates have succumbed to development pressure and have been abandoned to natural regeneration, replaced with institutional use or developed through subdivision. Much of the development pressure has been related to the proximity of the area to New York City, direct rail access and to the major improvements in road accessibility with the opening of the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Storm King Highway, the Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway, the Bear Mountain Bridge Road and the Palisades Interstate Parkway. These roads also increased the accessibility of the area for recreation visitors.
The physical character and cultural and historical development of the Hudson Highlands has resulted in the current settlement and land use patterns, and led to the present day landscape and architectural character. This includes historic settlements on the low coastal plain, dispersed estates and new development on the hillsides above the coastal plain, and a patchwork of public and private open spaces including agricultural land, forest and woodland, and formal and informal recreation areas at the Hudson Highlands, Bear Mountain, and Storm King State Parks. The New York State Military Reservation, known as Camp Smith, occupies most of the SASS located in Westchester County, generally preserving the wooded landscape character.
In the eastern Highlands the Town of Philipstown contains numerous historic estates, farmsteads, the hamlet of Garrison and the well-preserved historic waterfront of the Village of Cold Spring. On the western side two historic communities, Highland Falls and Fort Montgomery, have generally maintained their historic pattern of tightly clustered structures surrounded by dramatic wooded hillsides. The SASS also includes numerous historic structures including Castle Rock, Eagle's Rest, Dick's Castle, and Boscobel. The Bear Mountain Bridge, Popolopen Bridge, Palisades Parkway, and Storm King Highway are all examples of engineering design which complement the natural formation of the landscape.
At the United States Military Academy at West Point, the landform creates a natural strategic fortress for controlling passage and protecting commercial traffic on the Hudson River, a major water transportation corridor. The granite structures of the military academy appear to grow directly from and reflect the character of the rocky cliffs. The restored remains of the historic Fort Putnam overlook West Point.
The Hudson Highlands SASS is a landscape rich in symbolic value and meaning, resulting from historic events, folklore, art and literature, and influencing public perception of the area. The area was at the center of the romantic movement that began before the Civil War and became a pervasive movement that affected all aspects of art and society in the region, including architecture, literature, painting, recreation and tourism. This has led to a continuum of environmental and scenic appreciation concerned with the Hudson Highlands that runs through the last two centuries.
The history and nostalgia associated with the Revolutionary War and the role of the Hudson Highlands as a central theater of battle has given the area prominence, with many writers documenting the events of the war. Early writers described the development and landscape of the area through historical and geological association, with an overriding romantic and picturesque feel for the scenery of the Highlands. This often created an historical-romantic landscape, drawing on the folklore of the lower Hudson Valley and exaggerating the aesthetic drama of the natural landscape. This romanticism can be seen in the design of many of the remaining historic structures and the formal landscapes of the estates that dot the slopes of the eastern Highlands, taking advantage of views of the dramatic and wild western shore.
The ultimate expression of this romanticism over the Hudson Highlands came through the Hudson River School of landscape painters and the Knickerbocker writers. The area was interpreted for the nation with a sense of wildness balanced with a more subdued pastoral feel by the likes of artists Thomas Cole, Frederic Church, Asher B. Durand and David Johnson and writers Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper and N.P. Willis. Storm King Mountain was a favorite subject. The work of these painters and writers instilled a sense of pride and an understanding of the value of landscape aesthetics associated with the features of the entire Hudson Valley, including the Highlands. This appreciation for the scenic value of the Hudson Highlands continues to this day and can be seen in the continued presence of a conservation and recreation ethic in the Hudson Valley.
III. AESTHETIC SIGNIFICANCE
The Hudson Highlands SASS is of statewide aesthetic significance by virtue of the combined aesthetic values of landscape character, uniqueness, public accessibility and public recognition.
There exists in the SASS unusual variety as well as unity of major components and striking contrasts between scenic elements. The SASS is generally free of discordant features. The scenic quality of the Hudson Highlands SASS is significant based on the existence of the following physical and cultural characteristics.
A. Landscape Character
1. Variety
The Hudson Highlands SASS exhibits an unusual variety of major components. The main variety lies in the topography. The SASS is dominated by a low, rugged mountain range, split by the narrow and deep fjord-like passage of the Hudson River. Within the mountain range are numerous individual peaks of various heights, separated by rolling, upland valleys which feature mountain lakes, ponds, wetlands and streams. The shoreline configuration in the Highlands varies from steep cliffs and bluffs that plunge from peak to shore to gently sloping banks and low, narrow coastal plains. Coves, creeks, wetlands, tidal flats and shallows found where tributaries converge on the Hudson further shape the shoreline.
Variety also exists in vegetation coverage. Dense and mature mixed woodlands on the uplands give way to a combination of mixed woodlands, farmsteads, pastures and meadows and landscaped estates on the lower slopes and lowlands. A rich and varied wetland vegetation is found along the shoreline of the Hudson River and its coves and creeks.
The land use pattern varies considerably within the SASS. There are a number of compact historic settlements located on the lowland coastal plains, surrounded by a mix of woodlands, farmsteads, landscaped estates and more recent development on the lower slopes. A mixture of private estates, recreation facilities and State and federal military reservations are scattered through the wooded uplands. The architectural style of the many historic estates and buildings varies considerably throughout the scenic area. This reflects the tastes of individual landowners, the long history of development in the region and the longstanding picturesque movement in the Hudson Highlands.
2. Unity
The Hudson Highlands SASS is unified by its topography. While internally the individual landform components vary, the SASS is a coherent geological feature, part of the Reading Prong of the New England Upland, a division of the Appalachian Highlands. This upland landform creates a distinctive low mountain range running northeast-southwest across the coastal area of the Hudson River. The vegetation, dominated by mature, mixed woodland, unifies the various landforms from the mountain peaks, through the lower slopes and lowland plains to the shoreline. The presence of the Hudson River is a unifying theme, shaping the physical topography, influencing cultural patterns and constituting a common scenic element central to the Hudson Highlands.
3. Contrast
There are many striking contrasts among the basic scenic elements in the Hudson Highlands SASS. The contrasts in topography and landform consists mainly of contrast in line and form. The rolling peaks contrast with the steep rugged rock faces of the bluffs and cliffs. The shoreline configuration of these bluffs and cliffs contrasts with the gentle banks and lowland plains and with the creeks and coves. The Hudson River varies in width and depth, and its currents create varying patterns, contrasting with the surrounding uplands.
There are many textural and color contrasts within the SASS, mostly associated with vegetation and geology. The dense wooded areas contrast with the open meadows and the formal landscape estates which in turn contrast with the wetland vegetation of the coves and creeks. This provides contrasting textures in the landscape composition and rich color contrasts both between vegetation types and, over time, color changes within the seasons. The rock composition varies within the SASS, resulting in many contrasts in surface features, textures and colors, as the natural form is impacted by geomorphological processes such as metamorphism, erosion and weathering and deposition. The contrast between the colors and texture of the water surface of the Hudson River and the surrounding vegetation and rock composition creates many and varied effects.
Certain contrasts of a more ephemeral nature are to be found in the SASS. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic character of the landscape composition as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area. The speed and pattern of flow of the Hudson contrast with the creeks and coves and vary with the seasons and weather conditions, providing contrasts in texture and color.
4. Freedom from Discordant Features
The Hudson Highlands SASS is generally well-preserved and free of discordant features. The settlement and transportation patterns are heavily influenced by and respect the topography of the Highlands. The settlements are limited to the lowland plateaus and lower hillsides and are tightly clustered within the landscape. More recent residential and commercial development has taken place through subdivision of farmsteads and estates and along major highways with less respect for the topography of the area, resulting in a dispersal of the settlement pattern and leading to an increasing suburbanization of the Highlands. Railroads hug the shoreline, and roads follow the contours of the Highlands. The Bear Mountain Bridge, Popolopen Bridge, Palisades Parkway, and Storm King Highway are examples of engineering design which complement the natural formation of the landscape, adding to the value of the landscape rather than being discordant features. The physical and cultural components of the SASS are generally well maintained.
B. Uniqueness
The Hudson Highlands SASS is unique in New York State. The Hudson Highlands are composed of some of the oldest rocks in New York State, dating from the Pre-Cambrian era. Between Storm King and Breakneck Ridge, where the high peaks drop straight to the water, the Hudson River corridor is a fjord, deepened by glacial action and filled by the sea as the ice melted. This low, rugged mountain range split by the Hudson River corridor is a landscape feature not found anywhere else in New York's coastal area and is very rare in the eastern United States. The significant strategic role of the area during the American Revolution gives the Hudson Highlands a unique place in the nation's history.
C. Public Accessibility
The Hudson Highlands SASS has a high degree of public access. Much of the riverside land on the western banks of the Hudson River is in public ownership and provides physical and visual access to the Hudson River, its shoreline and the inland mountain peaks. Public access areas include Storm King State Park, Harriman State Park and Bear Mountain State Park. Public access is available in limited areas of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Similarly there is a considerable amount of public access on the eastern shore in the Hudson Highlands State Park. This park is a combination of many separate parcels and includes riverfront land and dramatic and undeveloped mountain peaks reaching elevations of 1500 feet.
Three recent purchases in the Hudson Highlands SASS by two regional not-for-profit organizations concerned with open space preservation and the promotion of public access may increase public access in the near future. Scenic Hudson and the Open Space Institute combined to purchase Mystery Point, located in the viewshed of the Bear Mountain Bridge, while the Open Space Institute has purchased land at North Redout and Arden Point in Garrison. Part of the latter site has been acquired from the Open Space Institute by the State of New York and will be added to the Hudson Highlands State Park and opened for passive public recreation.
The land ownership pattern outside the public land is that of low density residential development. This results in few opportunities for public access. In these areas public access is limited to local roads and to views from the Hudson River and the passenger trains that run along the east shore of the Hudson River. Views within the Hudson Highlands SASS are extensive and significant. The many peaks and hillsides offer long and broad views of the Hudson River and its surrounding rugged landscape. Cross-river views include many dramatic peaks, hamlets, mansions and estates and the impressive structures and ramparts of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Viewed from the Hudson River, the wooded shorelands and cliffs of the SASS rise abruptly from the Hudson River to the mountain peaks and ridges. Views are confined in the narrow corridor, only to open at the bends in the Hudson and in views out of the SASS at the north and south gateways of the Hudson Highlands.
The composition of the SASS is well balanced with several positive focal points including the Bear Mountain Bridge, the mansions and hamlets. The steep wooded peaks of the Highlands provide a striking setting for the numerous historic structures. NY Route 9D provides views of the river and the western shore from northern Westchester to southern Dutchess counties. Striking views are available from the railroad, the Hudson River, and many local roads. The variety of length of views, composition, backgrounds and significant focal points combine to enhance the scenic quality of the views available in the Hudson Highlands
D. Public Recognition
The scenic and aesthetic quality of the Hudson Highlands has achieved a high degree of public recognition. Many writers and artists have focused on the area, culminating with the work of the Hudson River School of painters, whose work has brought national and international recognition to the area and its landscape components. The value of the area's scenic and recreational resources has been recognized through the development of the State Parks system and in the involvement of the environmental movement in major land use issues impacting on the Highlands for the purpose of protecting and preserving their scenic character. The successes of the environmental movement have had national significance.
Sections of the Old Storm King Highway, NY Route 9W, NY Route 202, the Bear Mountain Bridge, Bear Mountain Bridge Road, the Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway and local roads within the Bear Mountain State Park are all designated as Scenic Roads under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law.
The historical and architectural significance of the Hudson Highlands is recognized by the large number of structures listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The Hudson Highlands Multiple Resource Area, with boundaries similar to the Hudson Highlands SASS, includes 56 individual properties and three historic districts, at Cold Spring, Garrison Landing and the Bear Mountain State Park. In addition, there are three other listed properties in the Town of Philipstown -- Boscobel, Castle Rock and the deRham Farm. There are also two National Historic Landmarks in the SASS -- Fort Montgomery and the United States Military Academy at West Point.
The scenic and aesthetic quality of the SASS has received long-standing public recognition through the actions of the State and environmental not-for-profit organizations who have sought to protect individual parcels of land from development. This has resulted in the extensive areas of State parkland in the SASS.
IV. IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Whether within or outside a designated SASS all proposed actions subject to review under federal and State coastal acts or a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program must be assessed to determine whether the action could affect a scenic resource and whether the action would be likely to impair the scenic beauty of the scenic resource.
Policy 24 provides that when considering a proposed action, agencies shall first determine whether the action could affect a scenic resource of statewide significance. The determination would involve:
(1) a review of the coastal area map to ascertain if it shows an identified scenic resource which could be affected by the proposed action, and
(2) a review of the types of activities proposed to determine if they would be likely to impair the scenic beauty of an identified resource.
Impairment includes:
(i) the irreversible modification of geologic forms; the destruction or removal of vegetation; the modification, destruction, or removal of structures, whenever the geologic forms, vegetation or structures are significant to the scenic quality of an identified resource; and
(ii) the addition of structures which because of siting or scale will reduce identified views or which because of scale, form, or materials will diminish the scenic quality of an identified resource.
Policy 24 sets forth certain siting and facility-related guidelines to be used to achieve the policy, recognizing that each development situation is unique and that the guidelines will have to be applied accordingly. The guidelines are set forth below, together with comments regarding their particular applicability to this Scenic Area of Statewide Significance. In applying these guidelines to agricultural land it must be recognized that the overall scenic quality of the landscape is reliant on an active and viable agricultural industry. This requires that farmers be allowed the flexibility to farm the land in an economically viable fashion, incorporating modern techniques, changes in farm operation and resultant changes in farm structures. Policy 24 guidelines include:
SITING STRUCTURES AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT SUCH AS HIGHWAYS, POWER LINES, AND SIGNS, BACK FROM SHORELINES OR IN OTHER INCONSPICUOUS LOCATIONS TO MAINTAIN THE ATTRACTIVE QUALITY OF THE SHORELINE AND TO RETAIN VIEWS TO AND FROM THE SHORE;
COMMENT: For much of the length of the Hudson Highlands SASS, the Hudson River is bounded by steep, undeveloped wooded bluffs that figure prominently in views within the SASS, notably from and across the Hudson River. Siting of structures on the slopes or crests of these bluffs, on the immediate shoreline of the Hudson River or over the water surface of the Hudson River would introduce discordant elements into the landscape and impair the scenic quality of the SASS.
The siting of new residential development has the potential to threaten the future visual quality of the SASS. Areas which afford views, such as ridgelines, hilltops, and hillsides overlooking the Hudson River, are most attractive to new development, but also the most vulnerable to impairment from inappropriate development. The siting of residential development, structures and other discordant features such as large buildings, highways, power lines and signs on ridgelines, hilltops and exposed hillsides and in the direct viewshed of the Hudson River would introduce discordant elements into the landscape and impair the scenic quality of the SASS.
Iona Island Marsh, Manitou Marsh and Constitution Marsh are particularly critical scenic components in the SASS. Activities that would subdivide the large undisturbed appearance of these areas into smaller fragments, introduce structures into the low-lying landscape and eliminate wetland or shallow areas through dredging, filling or bulkheading would result in a direct impact on the shoreline, changing the character of the relationship between the Hudson River and its shorelands, and impairing the scenic quality of the SASS.
CLUSTERING OR ORIENTING STRUCTURES TO RETAIN VIEWS, SAVE OPEN SPACE AND PROVIDE VISUAL ORGANIZATION TO A DEVELOPMENT;
COMMENT: The Hudson Highlands SASS features a low intensity pattern of development that includes a large amount of functional open space. Historic estate houses punctuate the landscape of rolling upland pastures, landscaped estates and woodland. Recent poorly sited residential development has not respected the traditional patterns of development within the SASS and has disturbed the visual organization established through this traditional development pattern. Further expansion of new development into the open areas of the SASS would replace the varied vegetation types. The textures, colors, contrast and expansiveness of the natural landscape character and their interrelationship would be lost, impairing the scenic quality of the SASS. Failure to use topography, existing vegetation and the clustering of new development to blend new development into the landscape would impair the scenic quality of this SASS. Failure to continue the current pattern of preserved open space through the State Park network and respect the balance between formal recreation areas and wilderness would also impair the scenic quality of the SASS.
INCORPORATING SOUND, EXISTING STRUCTURES (ESPECIALLY HISTORIC BUILDINGS) INTO THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME;
COMMENT: The Hudson Highlands SASS is a unique natural and cultural landscape. The loss of historic structures would alter the cultural character of the landscape, remove focal points from views and diminish the level of contrast between the natural landscape and the cultural landscape, thus impairing the scenic quality of the SASS.
REMOVING DETERIORATED AND/OR DEGRADING ELEMENTS;
COMMENT: The Hudson Highlands SASS is generally free of discordant features, and structures are generally well maintained.
MAINTAINING OR RESTORING THE ORIGINAL LAND FORM, EXCEPT WHEN CHANGES SCREEN UNATTRACTIVE ELEMENTS AND/OR ADD APPROPRIATE INTEREST;
COMMENT: The landform of the Hudson Highlands SASS is primarily in an undisturbed state and is the unifying factor in the SASS. The contrast in elevation and the juxtaposition of water and land contributes to the scenic quality of the SASS. The failure to maintain existing landforms and their interrelationships would reduce the unity and contrast of the SASS and impair its scenic quality.
MAINTAINING OR ADDING VEGETATION TO PROVIDE INTEREST, ENCOURAGE THE PRESENCE OF WILDLIFE, BLEND STRUCTURES INTO THE SITE, AND OBSCURE UNATTRACTIVE ELEMENTS, EXCEPT WHEN SELECTIVE CLEARING REMOVES UNSIGHTLY, DISEASED OR HAZARDOUS VEGETATION AND WHEN SELECTIVE CLEARING CREATES VIEWS OF COASTAL WATERS;
COMMENT: The variety of vegetation and the unifying continuous vegetative cover of the Hudson Highlands SASS make a significant contribution to the scenic quality of the SASS. The tidal marshes of Iona Island Marsh, Manitou Marsh and Constitution Marsh, and pastures, woodlands, and landscaped estates provide variety, unity and contrast to the landscape. The wildlife supported by this vegetation adds ephemeral effects and increases the scenic quality of the SASS. Vegetation helps structures blend into the predominantly natural landscape and plays a critical role in screening facilities and sites which would otherwise be discordant elements and impair the scenic quality of the SASS.
Clearcutting or removal of vegetation on the wooded bluffs along the Hudson River and in the upland areas would change the character of the river corridor and impair its scenic quality. Iona Island Marsh, Manitou Marsh and Constitution Marsh are particularly critical scenic components in the SASS. Activities that would subdivide the large undisturbed appearance of these areas into smaller fragments, the introduction of structures into the low-lying landscape and the elimination of wetland or shallow areas through dredging, filling or bulkheading would result in a direct impact on the shoreline, changing the character of the relationship between the Hudson River and its shorelands and impairing the scenic quality of the SASS.
USING APPROPRIATE MATERIALS, IN ADDITION TO VEGETATION, TO SCREEN UNATTRACTIVE ELEMENTS;
COMMENT: The Hudson Highlands SASS is generally free of discordant elements. The failure to blend new structures into the natural setting, both within the SASS boundaries and in the viewshed of the SASS, would impair the scenic quality of the SASS.
USING APPROPRIATE SCALES, FORMS AND MATERIALS TO ENSURE THAT BUILDINGS AND OTHER STRUCTURES ARE COMPATIBLE WITH AND ADD INTEREST TO THE LANDSCAPE.
COMMENT: The existing structures located within the Hudson Highlands SASS generally are compatible with and add interest to the landscape because they are of a scale, design and materials that are compatible with the predominantly natural landscape. New development or alterations to existing structures can also be designed to complement the scenic quality of the SASS through use of a scale, form, color and materials which are compatible with the existing land use and architectural styles of the area and can be absorbed into the landscape composition. Failure to construct new buildings which are compatible with the cultural fabric of the SASS as represented in these historic structures would impair the scenic quality of the SASS.
Failure to use appropriate scale, form, and materials to ensure that new development is compatible with the surrounding landscape and does not distract from the landscape composition of a designated area would impair the scenic quality of the SASS. In addition, failure to mitigate the effects associated with development such as lighting, horizontal or vertical interruption of form, incongruous colors, or plume discharge would impair the quality of the landscape and the scenic quality of the SASS.
Hudson Highlands Scenic Area of Statewide Significance
Index to Hudson Highlands Subunits
HH-1 Cornwall Hillside Estates Subunit
HH-3 Contemporary West Point Military Academy Subunit
HH-4 West Point Military Academy Subunit
HH-11 Bear Mountain State Park Subunit
HH-12 Iona Island Marsh Subunit
HH-19 Garrison Landing Subunit
HH-20 Garrison Four Corners Subunit
HH-23 Constitution Marsh Subunit
HH-24 Constitution Island Subunit
HH-26 Hudson Highlands State Park Subunit
HH-27 Dutchess Junction Subunit
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
HH-1 Cornwall Hillside Estates Subunit
I. Location
The Cornwall Hillside Estates subunit is located on the western slopes of Storm King Mountain, south of the Village of Cornwall-on-the-Hudson. It extends south from the northern boundary of the Hudson Highlands SASS, which runs northeast from the junction of NY Route 9W and Continental Road, following Continental Road to its junction with The Boulevard, along The Boulevard to its junction with Hasbrouck Avenue. It then runs along Hasbrouck Avenue to its junction with Ridge Road, where it follows Ridge Road and Duncan Avenue to the Catskill Aqueduct, which it follows to its junction with Mountain Road. Mountain Road is the subunit's eastern boundary and it forms a common boundary with the HH-2 Storm King subunit. The westerly boundary of the subunit is the coastal boundary, following NY Route 9W southwest to the junction of Mountain Road. The subunit is approximately 1 mile long and 1.5 miles wide. It is located in the Town of Cornwall and the Village of Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, Orange County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheet number 2 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit exhibits high topographic variety. It is composed of the gently rolling lower slopes and steep hillsides which form the northeastern flank of Storm King Mountain. The subunit forms part of the northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands. The vegetation is a diverse mix of mature woodlands, open pastures, the formal recreational landscaping of a golf course and the landscaped lawns of estates and residential development. Breeds Pond and several streams are located in the subunit, although their impact is limited, as these features are generally hidden from view.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit features a cohesive and historic settlement pattern with many old homes located in a well-designed and maintained landscape. Most of the roads and houses have been built on the hillside overlooking the Town of Cornwall and the Village of Cornwall-on-the-Hudson to the north. The houses are set in a well-maintained landscaped setting of lawns and formal gardens among woodland and pasture. Boundary features including stone walls and gatehouses are significant, although some of the stone walls are in need of repair. Recent residential development is mixed into the historic settlement pattern. The formal open landscape of the historic Storm King School and the Storm King Golf Club contrast with the surrounding woodland coverage.
The significance of several old homes, all visible from public roads, has been recognized by listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The Amelia Barr House on Mountain Road is a two story rambling clapboard residence dating from 1881, a distinctive example of the type of residence that was built on the mountainside in Cornwall. The house is associated with one of its earlier owners, Amelia Barr, an important literary figure of the American Romantic period. Deer Hill on Deerhill Road, built in 1875, is in excellent condition and has retained most of its intricate detailing. It is one of the most significant Italianate and Italian Villa styled residences in the Hudson Highlands. The gatehouse on Deerhill Road is a rare and distinctive example of a castellated gatehouse. Built in the mid 1880's, the one and a half story Norman style stucco residence has a three story cylindrical tower and forms an impressive gatehouse to a mansion that was never built. The LeDoux/Healey House on Deerhill Road, built in 1890, is one of the best shingle style cottages in the Hudson Highlands. The two story building has a broad overhanging roof and retains all of its period detailing. The residence, originally a summer home, overlooks the Hudson River. It is a distinctive example of the style of cottage built by Mead and Taft. Far less pretentious is a "Dwelling on Mountain Road." This simple clapboard building is a rare surviving vernacular late 19th century estate worker dwelling.
Certain contrasts of a more ephemeral nature are to be found in the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic character of the landscape composition as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area. There are no discordant features within the subunit, although distant views include the urban development at Newburgh.
C. Views
Views from the subunit are extensive and varied. The views to the north and northwest are long and extensive and extend over the Village of Cornwall-on-the-Hudson to the Hudson River, the urban clusters of New Windsor and Newburgh and to the Beacon-Newburgh Bridge, although in places this view is narrowed by trees and mountainsides. Views from the Storm King Golf Club are extensive. Views to the west include the summit of Black Rock and the interior peaks and valleys of the Hudson Highlands. The backdrop to the northwest consists of the distant Catskill Mountains and to the east and south are the nearby and dominating Storm King and Whitehorse Mountains. There are no main focal points within the subunit, although the dynamic composition of woodlands, meadows and clusters of landscaped residences provides interest within the subunit.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit is not unique. The blend of landscape components is a good example of the scenic quality of the Hudson Highlands SASS.
IV. Public Accessibility
The land ownership pattern related to the low density development scattered throughout the subunit has resulted in few opportunities for public access in the Cornwall Hillside Estates subunit. Public accessibility is mostly limited to the extensive network of public roads within the subunit. These are generally lightly travelled and offer some spectacular vistas of the Hudson Valley. The Museum of the Hudson Highlands, a regional, non-profit natural history museum, is located on The Boulevard and is open to the public throughout the year. The museum offers exhibits on the natural history of the Hudson Highlands and has a self-guided nature trail through its 40 acre property covering a stream, gorge, mature woodland and pasture. The upland section of the subunit is visible from the Hudson River and its eastern shorelands, from NY Route 9W on the southern boundary of the subunit and from NY Route 32 and the New York State Thruway to the west of the subunit. The subunit forms the foreground of distant views of the Hudson Highlands from areas north of the SASS, including New Windsor, Newburgh and Beacon.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition of the subunit is limited to the local population and travelers on the New York State Thruway and NY Route 32. The subunit receives wider recognition as part of the northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands. NY Route 9W is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. The historical and architectural significance of five residences within the subunit has been recognized by their inclusion on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Cornwall Hillsides Estates subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it is a noteworthy landscape which forms part of the northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands and figures prominently in the views from the distinctive HH-26 Hudson Highlands State Park subunit on the eastern shore of the Hudson river. It exhibits a high topographic variety, with rolling slopes and steep uplands covered with a diverse vegetation of mature woodland, open pastures, and formal landscaped areas. There is a moderate contrast in form, texture and color between rolling meadows and steep woodland, all within a cohesive historic settlement pattern which unifies the composition. The subunit is accessible from local roads and is recognized as part of the northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands, through a Scenic Road designation and by the listing of properties on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The subunit is free from discordant features.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Storm King subunit is comprised of the Storm King and Crows Nest Mountains, located south of the Village of Cornwall-on-the-Hudson. It extends south from the northern boundary of the Hudson Highlands SASS, which runs east along the Catskill Aqueduct, from the boundary's junction with Mountain Road to the Hudson River. Mountain Road is the subunit's western boundary, and it forms a common boundary with the HH-1 Cornwall Hillsides Estates subunit. The westerly boundary continues south along the coastal boundary, following NY Route 9W south to its junction with Route 218, which forms the southern boundary of the subunit, a common boundary with the HH-3 Contemporary West Point Military Academy and HH-5 Highlands subunits. The subunit extends across the Hudson River and shares a common boundary with the HH-25 Cold Spring and the HH-26 Hudson Highlands State Park subunits on the eastern shorelands of the Hudson River. The subunit extends approximately 3 miles from north to south and is about 1.75 miles wide. It is located in the Towns of Cornwall and Highlands and the Village of Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, Orange County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheet number 2 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is composed entirely of steep wooded bluffs, sheer cliffs and mountains. The subunit forms part of the glacially formed fjord. The peak of Storm King Mountain reaches an elevation of 1340 feet and, with Butter Hill, forms a dramatic semi-circular crest. These two peaks are separated from the summit of Crows Nest, at over 1400 feet the highest point in the subunit, by The Clove, a mountain stream in a deep wooded valley. This is one of many permanent and seasonal mountain streams and waterfalls within the subunit. Dense mature woodlands dominate the landscape. This mature woodland coverage hides the scars of quarrying, although early records and accounts of the area show that this was not always the case, as the woodland timber was used for boat building and in local foundries, leaving the rock faces of Storm King Mountain open to view. The shoreline is relatively smooth with a few gently rounded points and a lagoon of tidal flats and marshlands enclosed by the railroad tracks.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit is mostly wilderness composed of the Storm King State Park and part of the landholding of the United States Military Academy at West Point. The subunit has a rich cultural history. It has been the subject of many legends and provided the inspiration for many Hudson River School artists during the 19th century Romantic Movement. The natural beauty of Storm King is enhanced by the ephemeral effects of clouds, mists and sunlight, all of which produce dramatic changes to the landscape. The mountain was originally known as "Butter Hill", named by the early Dutch settlers after its distinctive shape. The Knickerbocker writer N. P. Willis renamed the mountain Storm King.
The most significant built structure in the subunit has become a significant scenic component. The Old Storm King Highway, NY Route 218, is a winding two lane highway that wraps around Storm King Mountain and Crows Nest from West Point to Cornwall Landing. Literally carved into the rock face of the mountains, the highway is protected on the river side by a stone wall. It is 21,000 feet long with a maximum height above the Hudson River of about 420 feet and at no point is the grade over 7%.
The highway was built to overcome the serious transportation difficulties between communities in this part of the Hudson Highlands and resulted from local pressure on the State in the early 1900's. After a special appropriation from the Legislature and consideration of complicated survey, design and construction issues, the work started in 1916 and was completed in 1922. The highway shortened the trip between Newburgh and West Point by 22 miles.
The Old Storm King Highway is one of the most picturesque roads in the Hudson Valley, and pulloffs at various locations provide motorists with the opportunity to enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the Hudson Highlands. The roadway and its supporting scenic details, such as the stone walls, are maintained in their original condition and have not been significantly altered since their original construction. In addition to its scenic value, the highway is significant for its engineering achievement and its contribution to the history of transportation in the Hudson Highlands.
The area has wildlife interest and benefits from management as a protected wilderness area. The presence of wildlife provides ephemeral characteristics. Contrasts of an ephemeral nature are to be found in the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic character of the landscape composition as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area.
There are few structures within the subunit. They limited to a scattering of residential development on the western flanks of Storm King Mountain along Mountain Road, a television relay tower, NY Route 9W and NY Route 218, the dramatic Old Storm King Highway, NY Route 9W and the railroad which hugs the shoreline. Although these are discordant features, they do not impair the scenic value of the subunit as they respect the topography and are generally not visible.
C. Views
Views from the uplands of the subunit are directed to the river and the opposite bank. While views within the uplands of the subunit are often limited and constrained by the woodland coverage and steep slopes, there are points from which extensive vistas unfold. From the pulloff along NY Route 9W, the pulloffs on NY Route 218, and from the summit of Storm King Mountain, there are extensive views of the Hudson Highlands, the Hudson River and West Point. Longer views from the peaks afford many vistas of the Hudson Valley, while more extensive panoramas include the range of mountains from Schunemunk to the Shawangunks standing out in front of the distant Catskill Mountains. Pollepel Island, Denning Point, the urban clusters of New Windsor and Newburgh and the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge are focal points to the north; Breakneck Ridge, Sugarloaf Mountain and Bull Hill stand out to the east; while Little Stony Point, Cold Spring, West Point, Constitution Island and Marsh and the estates and mansions of the Garrison area are focal points to the south. Views from the Hudson River are dominated by the steep cliffs and towering and rounded wooded peaks of Storm King and Crows Nest Mountains. These combine with the peaks on the eastern shorelands of the river to form a narrow corridor which opens out into the broad vistas of Newburgh Bay north of Storm King.
III. Uniqueness
Storm King Mountain, the dominant landform of this subunit, is unique in the coastal area of the State and is one of the State's natural treasures. The Old Storm King Highway, cut into the mountainside, is a unique scenic resource unequalled in the State.
IV. Public Accessibility
The Storm King subunit has a high degree of visual accessibility. The height of Storm King Mountain, Butter Hill and Crows Nest makes them highly visible. The subunit can be seen from the Hudson River and from the Village of Cold Spring, NY Route 9D, the Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway and the passenger trains on the east bank of the river. It is also visible from West Point, the Village of Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, New Windsor, Newburgh, the New York State Thruway, NY Routes 9W and 218, and the Old Storm King Highway. Scenic overlooks on these last two roads offer dramatic views of the Hudson Valley and the Hudson Highlands. The subunit includes the Storm King State Park, where trail networks offer public access to the summits. The Stillman Trail, just north of the scenic overlook on NY Route 9W, is a well known and scenic route to the summits of Butter Hill and Storm King Mountain.
V. Public Recognition
The Storm King subunit is a well-recognized landmark and scenic focal point. The subunit receives very positive public recognition as part of the northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands and is often used as a symbol for the entire Hudson River Valley. The protection of land and the development of the State Park system in the Storm King Mountain area has historical and symbolic significance as an early recognition of the scenic value of the Hudson Highlands.
The importance of Storm King Mountain as an inspiration to, and subject of, the Hudson River School of landscape painters is well recognized. The area has become a landmark of the environmental movement, when in the late 1960's a proposed pump storage electric generation station was defeated because of the potential impacts on the scenic and ecological values of the area.
NY Route 218, The Old Storm King Highway, and NY Route 9W are designated Scenic Roads under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. The historic and engineering significance of the Old Storm King Highway is recognized by its inclusion in the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Storm King subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it is an extraordinarily dramatic landform and has high scenic quality. The subunit exhibits a high topographic variety, with steep cliffs and rolling uplands. There is a moderate contrast in form, texture and color between woodland and bare rock faces. The subunit is unified as a landform through the mature woodland coverage and a common wilderness theme. The subunit is unique in the State. It has a high degree of public accessibility from local roads and the Storm King State Park and receives public recognition as a landmark in the Hudson Valley, as part of the northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands, and through Scenic Road designations and the listing of the Old Storm King Highway on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The subunit is free from discordant feature.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
HH-3 Contemporary West Point Military Academy Subunit
I. Location
The Contemporary West Point Military Academy subunit is composed of two sections to the north and south of the historic HH-4 West Point Military Academy subunit and includes all of the remaining development of the United States Military Academy at West Point. The subunit shares a common boundary with the HH-2 Storm King, HH-4 West Point Military Academy, HH-5 Highlands, HH-6 Highland Falls and HH-9 Con Hook subunits. The subunit extends across the Hudson River and shares a common boundary with the HH-24 Constitution Island, Constitution Marsh, and HH-25 Cold Spring subunits on the eastern shorelands of the Hudson River. The northern section of the subunit is approximately 1.5 miles long by 0.75 miles wide, extending up Washington Valley along NY Route 218. The southern section is approximately one mile long by 0.75 miles wide and reaches up the hillside above the Hudson River. The subunit is located in the Town of Highlands, Orange County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheets, numbers 2 and 4, for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is composed of shoreline, valley, hillside and plateau above the Hudson River. The vegetation in the subunit is a mix of street trees, formal landscaping and dense woodland. Lusk Reservoir and Crows Nest Brook are the main water features present. The Hudson River is deep, narrow and fast flowing adjacent to the northern portion of the subunit, and the shoreline is gently curving.
B. Cultural Character
Located in the subunit are the extensive contemporary living quarters and support structures of the West Point Military Academy. The subunit exhibits a consistent institutional quality. Many of the structures in this well-maintained subunit are well designed and well-sited on tree-lined streets. The layout of the residential areas is particularly attractive with a formal landscape setting of lawns and garden plantings. Athletic fields are located down by the Hudson River. The Cadet Cemetery is an area of considerable historic and architectural significance. Michie Stadium, home of the Army football team, is a dominant and impressive feature located high above historic West Point, and brings visual interest to the subunit on game days when up to 26,000 people attend the games. The day to day activities of the military academy provide many ephemeral characteristics which enhance the scenic qualities of the subunit.
Some contemporary academy structures in this subunit are massive with little articulation or are sprawling with little visual relevance to the military complex and its historic structures in the adjacent HH-4 West Point Military Academy subunit. These structures are discordant features in this subunit and detract from the scenic quality of the adjacent historic subunit. The mature street trees and varied topography help to absorb some of the distracting features.
C. Views
Views of the Hudson River are partial to full, depending on the location within the subunit. Most vistas are internal and linear, following and confined by the street patterns, with occasional views down street corridors to the Hudson River and its east bank. The subunit is framed by the dramatic background of the mountains of the Hudson Highlands. The major structures form focal points within the subunit. Views from the Hudson River are of the wooded uplands and the dominant bulky support buildings and structures.
III. Uniqueness
The settlement pattern and setting of the living quarters for the United States Military Academy at West Point is well planned and forms a pattern unique to the Hudson Highlands SASS and the State.
IV. Public Accessibility
The Contemporary West Point Military Academy subunit has relatively high visual accessibility as part of the tourist route through West Point and on to Storm King and Bear Mountain State Parks. The football games at Michie Stadium attract large numbers of the general public to the subunit on game days. Many of the residential areas are not publicly accessible. The subunit is visible from the Hudson River, surrounding subunits and from the east shore, including Garrison hamlet, the Village of Cold Spring, the estates of Philipstown and the passenger railroad on the eastern banks of the Hudson River.
V. Public Recognition
The Contemporary West Point Military Academy subunit is recognized by the public as part of the United States Military Academy. West Point is a landmark for Hudson River Valley travelers. The architectural and historical significance of the United States Military Academy was recognized in 1960 when it was designated as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service. The designation covers an area of approximately 2,500 acres in both the HH-4 West Point Military Academy and HH-3 Contemporary West Point Military Academy subunits. Located within this area are 227 buildings of historic and architectural importance.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Contemporary West Point Military Academy subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it is surrounded by subunits rated distinctive and has a significant place in the context of the Hudson Highlands SASS, linking the Storm King and West Point. Although the subunit is set within the mountains of the Hudson Highlands, which offer a dramatic background in all directions, it is not distinctive, due to its limited variety of features, common style of buildings and repetitive, ordered landscape. However, the residential layout and setting is unique in the State. The subunit is accessible to the public and receives public recognition as part of the United States Military Academy at West Point. The architectural and historical significance of the United States Military Academy has been recognized by its designation as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
HH-4 West Point Military Academy Subunit
I. Location
The West Point Military Academy subunit is centered on the historic core of the United States Military Academy, located on the west bank of the Hudson River. The subunit shares a common boundary with the HH-3 Contemporary West Point Military Academy, HH-5 Highlands, HH-6 Highland Falls and HH-7 Con Hook subunits. The subunit extends across the Hudson River and shares a common boundary with the HH-24 Constitution Island, HH-23 Constitution Marsh, HH-20 Garrison Four Corners and HH-19 Garrison Landing subunits on the eastern shorelands of the Hudson River. The subunit extends approximately 1.5 miles along the coast and is 1 mile wide. It is located in the Town of Highlands, Orange County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheets, numbers 3 and 4, for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is a peninsula jutting out into a narrow section of the Hudson River. Its varied shoreline form, steep banks and bluffs, sharp bends in the river, relatively level plateau and surrounding hills form a natural fortress site of strategic importance. The vegetation in the subunit is a mix of mature street trees, formal landscaping of floral plantings, lawns and parade grounds and dense tree planting. Lusk Reservoir and a number of small ponds are located within the subunit. Off Gees Point is Worlds End, a particularly narrow and fast flowing section of the Hudson River where, at 202 feet, the river is at its deepest. The narrowness and depth of the Hudson as it proceeds through the constricted channel off West Point leads to a very turbid flow.
B. Cultural Character
Taking advantage of the natural strategic advantages of the subunit is the United States Military Academy at West Point, a highly unified institutional complex of dramatic scale and siting. The subunit has historical significance dating back to the American Revolutionary War. In 1775 George Washington and military advisers recommended that the Hudson River be blocked to prevent the British from using the river to strike into the interior of New York. The area around West Point and Constitution Island was identified for fortification. In 1776 Constitution Fort was completed on Constitution Island. After early British successes in the Hudson Highlands, which saw the removal of the chain at Anthony's Nose and the capture and destruction of Fort Constitution, it was decided to fortify West Point. In 1778 Fort Clinton, originally known as Fort Arnold, was completed.
In the same year a large iron chain was stretched across the river from Fort Clinton to Marine Battery and the rebuilt defenses on Constitution Island, successfully halting the British advance inland. The preliminary fortifications were strengthened in 1779 by construction of Fort Putnam on Mount Independence, a rocky crag 451 feet above the Hudson River inland of the early fortifications and designed to provide covering protection to Fort Clinton. Several smaller batteries and redoubts were constructed as part of the group of fortifications designed by the Polish engineer Colonel Thaddeus Kosciusko on this reach of the Hudson River. After these fortifications were complete, it was clear to the British forces that they could not take West Point by force, and only Benedict Arnold's famous plot with Major Andre to pass on plans of the fortifications to the British threatened the defenses in 1780. The American flag has flown over the United States Army at West Point since January 20, 1778, making it the country's oldest continually occupied military post. In 1802 Congress authorized the founding of a military academy at West Point and this use continues today, standing as an icon of traditional American values.
The central academy buildings, mostly constructed around the turn of the century, are a striking arrangement of monolithic Gothic and Neoclassic structures, expressing the military education function. Prior to their construction, West Point was smaller in scale and featured monuments, military buildings, parade grounds and a hotel, all set in a park-like setting. This was developed in its early stages by Sylvanus Thayer, Superintendent of West Point from 1817 to 1833, who is widely credited with establishing the credibility of the military academy. The physical development of West Point continued with additional funding from Congress. This enabled Superintendent Major Delafield to start the process of altering the appearance of the site through the adoption of Tudor and Gothic styles during his periods as Superintendent of West Point between 1838 and 1864. After a period of architectural experimentation, during which time many different styles and designs were tried, the major period of development at West Point during the early 20th century, saw a return to a consistent Gothic style within a comprehensive plan for the growth of the academy designed by Cram, Goodhue and Ferguson. This reaffirmed the successful style of the mid-19th century development of West Point.
The many structures of the academy are largely well designed and sited to create different functional areas with distinct character in terms of style, scale and massing. The collection of buildings has been constantly changing, as historic structures have in the past been demolished and replaced in order to meet the growing requirements of the modern day military academy. The vast parade ground, the Plain, remains an important historic and scenic feature in the subunit. Its openness contrasts with the surrounding ensemble of the massive granite buildings of the academy. The Battle Monument at Trophy Point, erected in 1894, once the site of Roe's West Point Hotel in the 19th century, commemorates soldiers killed in the Civil War. It consists of a 46 foot high Roman doric column standing atop a circular stairway surrounded by eight pedestals; each supports a sphere flanked by two cannons. Parts of the West Point chain which once stretched across the Hudson River are on display at Trophy Point. The Kosciusko Monument on Cullum Road, erected in 1828 and modified in 1913, is located on the site of the old Fort Clinton. These monuments are landmarks within the military academy.
The day-to-day activities of the military academy provide many ephemeral characteristics which enhance the scenic qualities of the subunit. The maintenance and upkeep of the subunit is impeccable. There are no discordant features within the subunit, although some post World War II construction in the adjacent HH-3 Contemporary West Point Military Academy subunit does not keep with the style or materials of the historic structures of the West Point Military Academy subunit and detracts from its scenic quality.
C. Views
Views from the West Point Military Academy subunit are long and wide, over 5 miles up and down the Hudson River with the Hudson Highlands as a backdrop. The bends in the river, the steep valley sides and mountain peaks frame the many and varied views, creating dramatic compositions. There are numerous focal points both within the subunit and in the surrounding area, including the many historic buildings, Constitution Island, Pollepel Island and the surrounding Highland peaks. The subunit is particularly important in views from the Hudson River and the eastern shorelands of the SASS. The ensemble of granite buildings in the Gothic style combines to resemble a fortress rising from the cliffs above the Hudson River.
III. Uniqueness
The United States Military Academy at West Point is unique to the State and the Nation. It is the country's oldest continuously-occupied military post and is steeped in history.
IV. Public Accessibility
The West Point Military Academy subunit has a moderate degree of visual accessibility, since much of the complex is open to the public. The historic Thayer Hotel, built in 1924 and recently renovated, is located on the grounds of the military academy. It is open to the public. A visitors center, located just south of Thayer Gate in the Highlands Falls subunit, provides bus tours of the academy grounds, and visitors can walk along the academy roads and on some of the many trails around the military academy to obtain views of the river and eastern shorelands, including Garrison hamlet, the Village of Cold Spring, and the estates of Philipstown. The subunit is visible from these settlements, the Hudson River, local roads and the railroad on the eastern bank.
Fort Putnam, originally built in 1778, was partially restored in the early part of this century and is open to the public, offering spectacular views of the Hudson River. Battle Monument and Kosciusko Monument are accessible to the public and provide interpretative plaques and classic views of the Hudson River and Hudson Highland peaks. Below Trophy Point is a bandshell used for popular outside concerts. Flirtation Walk, presently not accessible to the public, is an historic trail which winds down to the shore of the Hudson River from Cullum Road just north of the Bachelors building around Gees Point and the sharp bend in the Hudson River and back up to Battle Monument. The trail passes several sites of historic interest including the sites of the western end of the chain, the chain battery, the Sheridan Monument and the earthworks of Fort Clinton.
There are two dock areas at West Point. The South Dock is the more developed and provides access for day trip cruises, transient boaters and boat trips to Constitution Island. To the north of the dock area are a series of athletic fields and picnic areas sited on the flat, filled shoreline below the steep bluffs and the impressive buildings of the military academy. The North Dock is reserved for military academy use, and public access is limited. Both dock areas provide water level access to spectacular views of the Hudson River and the surrounding Hudson Highlands.
V. Public Recognition
The West Point Military Academy subunit is known world-wide and has significant symbolic value as an historic fortress and training ground of the United States Army. West Point is a landmark for Hudson River Valley travelers. The architectural and historical significance of the United States Military Academy was recognized in 1960 when it was designated as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service. The designation covers an area of approximately 2,500 acres in both the West Point Military Academy and HH-3 Contemporary West Point Military Academy subunits. Located within this area are 227 buildings of historic and architectural importance.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The West Point Military Academy subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it has very high scenic quality. It is a highly ordered landscape of great historic importance, composed of a highly unified and ordered institutional complex of dramatic scale and siting. There is a large variety of scenic components, including the varied topography and shoreline form and many architectural styles. Much contrast exists between scenic components including the openness of the parade grounds and the enclosure of the built areas. The subunit is unified by the massing of granite buildings in the Gothic style which combine to resemble a fortress rising from the cliffs above the Hudson River. The United States Military Academy at West Point is unique to the State and the nation. The subunit is highly accessible from local roads, trails and the Hudson River within the subunit and from subunits on the eastern shoreline. The West Point Military Academy subunit is known world-wide. It is a landmark for Hudson River Valley travelers. The architectural and historical significance of the United States Military Academy has been recognized by its designation as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service. The subunit is free from discordant features.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Highlands subunit is located west of the main developed areas of the United States Military Academy at West Point. The westerly boundary of the subunit is the coastal area boundary, following NY Route 9W south from its junction with Route 218 to the boundary of the Village of Highland Falls. The subunit shares a common boundary with the HH-2 Storm King, HH-3 Contemporary West Point Military Academy, HH-4 West Point Military Academy and HH-6 Highland Falls subunits. The subunit is roughly circular in shape with a diameter of 1.5 miles. It is located in the Town of Highlands, Orange County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheet number 4 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is composed of one large rounded hill with two twin high peaks reaching above 800 feet in elevation, providing a solid setting for West Point. Mature woodlands dominate the landscape. There are several small streams, including Stony Lonesome Brook, ponds and wetlands.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit is predominantly wooded with clearings containing a small ski slope, sports fields, scattered residential development and a golf course. The subunit is part of the United States Military Academy and forms the backdrop to West Point. It was the setting of historic battles in the Revolutionary War. Wildlife of the wooded habitat and seasonal changes in color and tone provide ephemeral characteristics which enhance the scenic qualities of the subunit. The landscape is generally well maintained. A recent subdivision, a shopping area with an extensive parking lot, a radio tower and water towers are discordant features. These elements are largely screened from the viewshed of the Hudson River by topography and woodlands.
C. Views
Views from the subunit are mostly internal, restricted by woodlands and topography. Some extended views of the Hudson River and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point are available from the eastern hillside. The partial views of these landscape features are again enclosed by the dense woodland. Focal points within the background of dramatic wooded hillsides include the buildings of West Point, Fort Putnam and the Hudson River.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit is not unique. However, the dramatic hill and the blend of landscape components are a good example of the scenic quality of the Hudson Highlands SASS.
IV. Public Accessibility
The Highlands subunit is part of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Access is limited to local roads. As the backdrop to West Point the subunit is moderately visible to West Point visitors and occupants. The upland parts of the subunit are visible from the Hudson River and subunits on the opposite shore.
V. Public Recognition
The Highlands subunit is recognized as part of the United States Military Academy at West Point.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Highlands subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it is of high scenic quality. The solid, massive hill has a unity of shape, while steep and rolling hillsides and several flat areas provide variety within the topography of the subunit. The dense woodlands, with the varying colors, tones and textures caused by seasonal changes to the vegetative cover, provide a contrasting and soft backdrop to the formal monolithic granite structures of the nearby military academy. The subunit is accessible from local roads and adjacent subunits and is recognized as part of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Discordant features do exist within the subunit, but these are mostly screened by topography and vegetation.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Highland Falls subunit is located on the western shorelands of the Hudson River. It extends south from the boundary of the United States Military Academy at West Point for approximately one mile, encompassing the developed area of Highland Falls. The eastern boundary is the top of the bluffs overlooking the Hudson River, a common boundary with the HH-7 Con Hook subunit, and the western boundary is the coastal area boundary, following NY Route 9W. The subunit is located in the Town of Highlands and the Village of Highland Falls, Orange County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheet number 4 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is situated above the steep bluffs and cliffs of the Hudson River and is composed of a plateau of low topographic relief surrounded by steep wooded hillsides. Mature street trees are an important feature throughout the village, providing character and landscape interest.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit is comprised of the Village of Highland Falls situated on the cliffs overlooking the Hudson River. Located adjacent to the Thayer Gate entrance to the United States Military Academy at West Point, the historic Village of Highland Falls, formerly called Buttermilk Falls, was once a resort town, but now acts as a service village for the adjacent military academy. It remains tightly clustered in the valley at the base of Bare Rock Mountain. The grid pattern of the village and the many historic structures extend dramatically to the steep cliffs of the Hudson River. These features have been well preserved and provide historic integrity.
A focal point in the village is the United States Military Academy Visitors Center and Museum, which is sited on the bluffs overlooking the Hudson River. The site has had a varied history originating as a resort. It is the location of the historic Cozzens Hotel, originally built in 1849 within the grounds of West Point and rebuilt here in 1861 after a fire. Later it become Cranstons Hotel and Landing, and was acquired in 1900 by a Catholic Order which formed Ladycliff College.
The significance of several old buildings has been recognized through their listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Number 37 Center Street, built in 1850, is a significant example of Greek Revival architecture which is unique to the Hudson Highlands. This two story clapboard residence is part of a grouping of buildings which forms one of the earliest settlement districts in the village of which number 37 is the most intact, representative example of the early housing stock of Highland Falls. The Highland Falls Village Hall, built in 1894, is the most significant example of 19th century commercial architecture in the village. Pine Terrace, built in 1865, overlooks the Hudson River. The two story brick structure with a three story central pavilion is a significant example of the early Second Empire style and the best example in the Hudson Valley. Number 116 Main Street, built in 1865, is a two story clapboard residence with a three story tower. It is the most significant Italian Villa structure in Highland Falls and embodies the distinctive characteristics of the type, period and method of construction. The Cragston Dependencies, built in 1860, comprised of a residence, barns and supporting structures, is a significant Carpenter Gothic complex with architectural integrity.
The Church of the Holy Innocents, built in 1846, and the associated rectory, built in 1900, are listed properties. The church is a one story building with a two story crenelated tower and steep pitched gable roofs, while the rectory is a two and a half story half timbered Tudor Revival, together forming a distinctive and early example of English rural Gothic church architecture, a style which spread through the Hudson Valley. The church was designed and paid for by Robert Walter Weir, Professor of Drawing and Painting at the United States Military Academy and important figure in the history of art in the Hudson Valley. He used the money received from his painting "The Embarkation of the Pilgrims", commissioned for the Rotunda of the National Capitol, to pay for the church, which was designed as a memorial to his children. The nearby First Presbyterian Church of Highland Falls, built in 1868, is a fine example of Romanesque architecture and the only example of the work of the noted architect Frederick Clarke Withers in the Hudson Highlands.
The wooded areas of the hillsides offer seasonal changes in color and tone which provide ephemeral characteristics that enhance the scenic qualities of the subunit, while the activity generated by the United States Military Academy Visitor Center provides visual interest. The subunit is not well maintained. Recent commercial sprawl along N.Y Route 218 is a discordant feature, and changes to the facades of buildings and the location and use of signs in the business district have not respected the historic fabric and style of the buildings. These features detract from the overall scenic quality of the subunit.
C. Views
Views from Highland Falls are of the surrounding Hudson Highlands and the Hudson River. Views across the river include the estates of the Garrison area. The views are moderately long, stretching 2-3 miles up and down the Hudson River, although the width of views is generally narrow, constrained by the built form of the subunit. Internal views are linear, following the street lines and influenced by the grid pattern. These views are set against the backdrop of the dramatic Hudson Highlands.
III. Uniqueness
The Highland Falls subunit is not unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
The land ownership pattern related to the developed nature of the subunit has resulted in few opportunities for public access in the Highland Falls subunit. Accessibility is mainly limited to local roads. The most visited and visually accessible section of Highland Falls is along Main Street, NY Route 218, and the United States Military Academy Visitors Center and Museum. The subunit can be viewed from the Hudson River, subunits on the eastern shorelands and the passenger trains that run along the eastern banks of the Hudson River.
V. Public Recognition
The Highland Falls subunit is recognized as the approach to the West Point Military Academy from the south and the location of the West Point Museum and Visitor Center. The historical and architectural significance of seven structures within the subunit has been recognized by their inclusion on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Highland Falls subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it is adjacent to subunits rated highly distinctive and has a significant place in the context of the Hudson Highlands SASS, linking Storm King Mountain and the United States Military Academy at West Point in the northern portion of the Hudson Highland to the Bear Mountain State Park in the south. Although the subunit is not distinctive, due to limited variety and contrasts, a need for better maintenance and the presence of discordant features, the subunit is accessible to the public via NY Route 218, Main Street and the United States Military Academy Visitors Center and Museum. The subunit is recognized as the approach to the West Point Military Academy, and the historic significance of several structures in the village is recognized through their listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. It contains an intact historic village with tree lined streets and good vernacular architecture, situated dramatically on a plateau above the Hudson River.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Con Hook subunit is situated on the west shore of the Hudson River and stretches south from the southern boundary of the United States Military Academy to Old Mine Dock Road in the hamlet of Fort Montgomery. The western boundary of the subunit is the top of the bluffs overlooking the Hudson River, a common boundary with the HH-6 Highland Falls and HH-8 Fort Montgomery subunits. The subunit extends across the Hudson River and shares a common boundary with the HH-18 Manitou Marsh subunit on the eastern shorelands of the Hudson River. The subunit is approximately 4 miles long and 0.25 miles wide. It is located in the Town of Highlands and the Village of Highland Falls, Orange County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheets, numbers 4 and 5, for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is composed of the Hudson River shoreline and has a variety of landforms, including gently sloping banks and steep bluffs. The bluffs have elevations up to 100 feet. The shoreline configuration is varied and includes several small promontories. Con Hook, the largest projection into the Hudson River, is a low rocky headland composed of wetlands and mature woodlands jutting out into the channel. This feature pinches the Hudson River into a narrow and deep channel. The remainder of the subunit is largely an undeveloped steep wooded bank. Highland Brook enters the Hudson at the once spectacular Buttermilk Falls. Here the Brook plunges over the steeply sloping and cracked granite rock face, spreading out into a broad sheet of milky white foam. Originally the brook was utilized for waterpower for flour mills at the rivers edge. The construction of the west shore railroad meant the removal of the mills and water power facilities and modification of the shoreline and the course of the brook. The brook has been modified upstream for water supply purposes. As a result, Buttermilk Falls are not as spectacular as they once were, except perhaps in times of snow melt and heavy rain.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit contains scattered residences set on the mature wooded bluffs. It includes part of the historic site and structures of the Cozzens Hotel, sited on the bluffs overlooking the Hudson River. The site has had a varied history, originating as a resort. Later it became Cranstons Hotel and Landing and was acquired in 1900 by a Catholic Order which formed Ladycliff College. It is now the United States Military Academy Visitors Center and Museum. The former Cranstons Landing became the Highland Falls Railroad Depot. The landing is now used as a marina and the depot as a residence.
The significance of several old buildings, mostly visible from public roads or the Hudson River, has been recognized by listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The Parry House, a two story clapboard residence built in the 1860's, overlooks the Hudson River. The building is a fine example of a small, frame Second Empire residence, retaining a high level of picturesque detailing. The house was built for one of the Parry brothers, owners of a local flour mill once located at the nearby Buttermilk Falls and reputedly the largest mill between New York City and Albany. The Squirrels was originally a farmhouse, built around 1845, overlooking the Hudson River and Buttermilk Falls. It was bought by John Bigelow, part owner of the New York Evening Post and later an important politician involved in international affairs, national politics and civic improvements in New York City. Bigelow hired Calvert Vaux to design alterations to the original farmhouse and a gatehouse. These were completed in 1856. The association with Bigelow and Vaux makes The Squirrels one of the most significant small estates in the Hudson Valley. The Webb Lane House, built in 1903, overlooks the Hudson River and Buttermilk Falls. It is significant as the only example of a Mission style residence in the Hudson Highlands. The Highland Falls Railroad Depot, built in 1882, is one of the finest surviving train depots in the area and has historical importance relating to its association with the West Shore Railroad. The Depot was converted into a residence in the late 1950's.
The wildlife which occupies the wooded bluffs and wetland habitat and the seasonal changes in color and tone of the vegetation provide ephemeral characteristics which enhance the scenic qualities of the subunit. The subunit is generally well maintained. The railroad, scattered houses, trailer parks and small industrial and institutional buildings are discordant features, although they do not impair the scenic quality of the subunit because they are well screened. Their impact is greater during the winter months when the leaves are off the trees, effectively reducing the vegetative screening.
C. Views
Views from the subunit are extensive and include as focal points the estates and mansions set in the hills of Garrison on the eastern shore of the Hudson River. Views of Anthony's Nose are particularly impressive from Old Mine Dock Road. Views of the Hudson River are both broad and long, stretching from the Bear Mountain Bridge to West Point, and include wide panoramas. Views from the Hudson River are of the steep wooded bluffs and cliffs and feature Buttermilk Falls, Con Hook and the scattered development on the bluffs. The physical features of the subunit provide an important buffer between the river corridor and the developed uplands, giving the impression of a natural and pristine shoreline when viewed from the Hudson River and the eastern shorelands. The Hudson Highlands provide a dramatic wooded backdrop for views in all directions.
III. Uniqueness
The steep bluffs and the wetlands associated with the Con Hook promontory, both located immediately adjacent to the shoreline of the Hudson River, are unique scenic features in the Hudson Highlands.
IV. Public Accessibility
The land ownership pattern related to the low density development scattered throughout the subunit has resulted in few opportunities for public access in the Con Hook subunit. It is visually accessible from the Hudson River, the Bear Mountain Bridge, from subunits on the eastern shorelands and from the passenger trains that run along the eastern banks of the Hudson River.
V. Public Recognition
The Con Hook subunit receives local recognition and is also known as the middleground of views from the Bear Mountain Bridge and in views toward West Point from the Hudson River and the eastern shorelands. The Bear Mountain Bridge is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law because of views it provides of the Hudson Highlands. The historical and architectural significance of four residences within the subunit have been recognized by their inclusion on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Con Hook subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it has high scenic quality featuring a large wetland adjacent to the steep wooded and rocky bluffs which create a varied and contrasting shoreline to the Hudson River. The physical features of the subunit provide an important buffer between the river corridor and the developed uplands, giving the impression of a natural and pristine shoreline when viewed from the Hudson River and the eastern shorelands. The subunit is unique in the Hudson Highlands. It is accessible from the Hudson River and is visible from local roads in surrounding subunits. It receives recognition from the local population and is also known as the middle ground of views from the Bear Mountain Bridge. The subunit is a significant component of the viewshed of the Bear Mountain Bridge, a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law and an historic structure listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Fort Montgomery subunit is irregularly shaped, extending south from its common boundary with the HH-6 Highland Falls subunit to Old Mine Dock Road and Mine Road in the hamlet of Fort Montgomery, a common boundary with the HH-10 Hessian Lake subunit. The eastern boundary is the top of the bluffs overlooking the Hudson River, a common boundary with the HH-7 Con Hook subunit. The western boundary is the coastal area boundary, following NY Route 9W to its intersection with the boundary of the Harriman State Park. The boundary then follows the boundary of the State park and the edge of the built area of Fort Montgomery to Brooks Lake, a common boundary with the HH-9 Brooks Lake subunit. The subunit is approximately 2.75 miles long and varies from 0.25 to 1 mile wide. It is located in the Town of Highlands and the Village of Highland Falls, Orange County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheets, numbers 4 and 5, for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit includes a flat plateau, valley and gently rising hillside above the western banks of the Hudson River. The hillside is covered with mature woodlands which, along with street trees, are dominant vegetative features in the developed areas of the subunit. Pelts Pond, Crystal Lake and Garrison Pond are small but significant water features in the subunit. There are also several small streams in the subunit.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit includes a small hamlet center, residential development off Mine Road and recent residential and commercial development on either side of NY Routes 218 and 9W in the Village of Highland Falls and the hamlet of Fort Montgomery. The historic hamlet center of Fort Montgomery, set against the background of the Hudson Highlands, has retained its tight development pattern.
The significance of two historic buildings has been recognized through their listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. St. Marks Episcopal Church in Fort Montgomery, built in 1923, is a relatively simple parish church in the English rural style. Built of local stone, the church embodies the distinctive characteristics of the rustic vernacular architecture of the Hudson Highlands and is a significant 20th century continuation of the 19th century architectural style. Stonihurst, built in 1880, is a unique example of a late Gothic-influenced estate demonstrating the persistence of the picturesque style in the Hudson Highlands. Overlooking the Hudson River, the estate includes a main residence, gatehouse, barn and gazebo, all in the Carpenter Gothic architectural tradition of the Hudson Valley.
The subunit is not well maintained. Recent developments constitute discordant features within the subunit, detracting from the scenic quality of the area such that sprawling patterns have become dominant outside the hamlet, modern housing designs in recent subdivisions conflict with historic houses, and changes to the facades of buildings in the business district have not respected the historic fabric and style of the buildings. Recent development along NY Route 9W is also discordant. The subunit includes several trailer parks, although these are relatively well screened. Their impact is greater during the winter months when the leaves are off the trees, effectively reducing the vegetative screening.
C. Views
The Fort Montgomery subunit offers few views of the Hudson River, although where these do exist they are relatively long in both directions, between 2-3 miles up and down the River. Internal views are contained by the extensive woodlands and settlement pattern. The Hudson Highlands provide a dramatic background to the subunit. Major focal points in views from the subunit include the historic Bear Mountain Bridge, Bear Mountain and the steep, wooded headland of Anthony's Nose located across the Hudson River. The composition of views in the subunit has been compromised by recent sprawling development patterns.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit is not unique. It is an historic settlement that has been impaired by modern development.
IV. Public Accessibility
The land ownership pattern related to the developed nature of the subunit has resulted in few opportunities for public access in the Fort Montgomery subunit. It is accessible from local roads, a small park off NY Route 9W and Mine Road, and is visible from the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Hudson River, from subunits on the eastern shorelands and from the passenger trains that run along the eastern banks of the Hudson River.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition is generally limited to the local population. The historical and architectural significance of two structures within the subunit has been recognized by their inclusion on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
Although the Fort Montgomery subunit is not distinctive, due to the limited variety and contrasts in scenic components, a need for better maintenance and the presence of discordant features, it is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it is adjacent to subunits rated highly distinctive and has a significant place in the context of the Hudson Highlands SASS, linking Storm King Mountain and the United States Military Academy at West Point in the northern portion of the Hudson Highland to the Bear Mountain State Park in the south. The subunit is accessible from local roads and NY Route 9W and is visible from the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Hudson River, a small park off Mine Road, subunits on the eastern shorelands and from passenger trains on the eastern side of the Hudson River. Two historic structures in the subunit are listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Brooks Lake subunit surrounds the hamlet of Fort Montgomery. The western boundary is the coastal area boundary, following the boundary of the United States Military Reservation. The eastern boundary of the subunit follows the boundary of the Harriman State Park and the edge of the built area of Fort Montgomery to Brooks Lake, a common boundary with the HH-8 Fort Montgomery subunit, and along Mine Road to its intersection with the coastal area boundary, a common boundary with the HH-10 Hessian Lake subunit. The subunit is irregularly shaped, extends approximately 3.5 miles around the hamlet and is located in the Town of Highlands, Orange County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheet number 5 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is composed of a mix of gentle to steep hillsides reaching elevations of 950 feet around the rocky summit of the Torne, the highest peak in the subunit. The hillsides of the subunit are covered with mature mixed woodlands. Brooks Lake is situated at approximately 150 feet elevation. Created during early mining activity, the Lake is a significant water feature in the subunit. Several streams are also located in the subunit.
B. Cultural Character
Land ownership in the subunit is a mix of private and public, including a portion of the Harriman State Park, a natural, undisturbed and well maintained public wildlands donated to the State in 1910 by Mrs. Mary Harriman. For further information regarding Harriman State Park, consult the HH-10 Hessian Lake subunit. A cluster of residential development is located in the south of the subunit along Mine Road. The presence of wildlife provides ephemeral characteristics, and contrasts of an ephemeral nature are also found in the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic character of the landscape composition as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area. There are no discordant features visible in the subunit.
C. Views
The elevation of the subunit offers partial to full views of the Hudson River, Anthony's Nose, the Bear Mountain Bridge, Bear Mountain and the surrounding Hudson Highlands. Long views are available from the higher elevations, but views within the subunit are generally constrained by woodlands and topography.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit is not unique. The Hudson Highlands landscape setting is common to the region.
IV. Public Accessibility
The Brooks Lake subunit is accessible from local roads and from the trails within the Harriman State Park. Parts of the subunit are visible from trails and roads in the Bear Mountain State Park, the Palisades Interstate Parkway, the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Hudson River, from subunits on the eastern shorelands and from the passenger trains that run along the eastern banks of the Hudson River.
V. Public Recognition
The Brooks Lake subunit is recognized as part of the State park system in the Hudson Highlands. It is a locally valued section of the State park due to its proximity to the dense residential development of Fort Montgomery. The rocky summit of the Torne is a landmark in the area. The gift of the land to the State by Mrs Harriman has historical and symbolic significance as an early recognition of the scenic value of the Hudson Highlands.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Brooks Lake subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it has high scenic quality, featuring the wooded hills of the Harriman State Park. The subunit features a varied topography with gentle slopes, rolling hills and rocky summits, unified by mature woodlands. The wildness of the State park contrasts with the cluster of residential development in the south of the subunit. It is accessible from local roads, trails in the State park and is visible from trails and roads in Bear Mountain State Park, from the Palisades Interstate Parkway, the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Hudson River, from surrounding subunits and from the passenger trains on the eastern shore of the Hudson. The subunit is recognized as an early component of the State park system in the Hudson Highlands, its gift to the State by the Harriman's representing an early recognition of the scenic value of the Hudson Highlands. There are no discordant features visible.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Hessian Lake subunit is located on the western banks of the Hudson River at the juncture of the Bear Mountain Bridge crossing and the beginning of the Palisades Parkway. The northern boundary of the subunit follows Old Mine Dock Road and Mine Road from the Hudson River west to the coastal area boundary, a common boundary with the HH-7 Con Hook, HH-8 Fort Montgomery and HH-9 Brooks Lake subunits. The southern and western boundaries of the subunit follow the coastal area boundary south from Mine Road to the Palisades Interstate Parkway, then east along the Palisades Interstate Parkway, and then south along the base of Bear Mountain to Seven Lakes Drive and finally to NY Route 9W, a common boundary with the HH-11 Bear Mountain State Park subunit. The subunit extends across the Hudson River and shares a common boundary with the HH-18 Manitou Marsh and HH-16 Anthony's Nose subunits on the eastern shorelands of the Hudson River. The subunit includes approximately 1.25 miles of the Hudson River shoreline and extends inland for between 0.25 and 1.25 miles. It is located in the Town of Highlands, Orange County, and the Town of Stony Point, Rockland County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheet number 5 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The Hessian Lake subunit is comprised of steep banks descending to the Hudson River, a level plateau and the Popolopen Gorge. The Hudson River makes a sharp bend through this subunit, directed or contained by the topography. Water features include Doodletown Bight, Hessian Lake and the spectacular Popolopen Brook. The brook exhibits tremendous variety as it flows through the subunit. The confluence with the Hudson River features a broad mouth with slow flowing water contained between steep slopes and two rocky promontories. Less than half a mile from its mouth the brook has the character of a narrow, fast flowing mountain stream with small waterfalls. Immediately above this is a 30 foot dam, with a cascading overflow. The dam, built to send water to a nearby mill, holds back Roe Pond, an extensive mill pond shrouded in hemlocks. Above the pond the gorge narrows into the Hell Hole, where the Brook flows through pools and rapids and over waterfalls. There is a dramatic contrast between the mature mixed woodland which coats the steep banks and slopes and the manicured clearings of public recreation areas located on the plateau around Hessian Lake.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit is dominated by State park lands and features a mix of formal recreation facilities and a natural, undisturbed and well-maintained public wildlands. A cluster of residential development is located in the southern portion of the subunit along Mine Road. A yacht club and wastewater treatment plant are sited on the Hudson River at the end of Old Mine Dock Road.
The Bear Mountain State Park, part of the Palisades Interstate Parks system, was the first developed recreational park in New York State. The creation of the park began in 1910 with a gift of 10,000 acres of land west of the Hudson River from Mrs. Mary Harriman. This and contiguous parcels subsequently acquired constitute the Bear Mountain and Harriman State Parks. Capital for land purchase and development was provided by a $1,000,000 trust fund from Mrs. Harriman and $2,500,000 in bonds issued by the State. Early park planning and development were initiated by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, and the National Park Service provided design assistance on the many structures and formal layout of the park. The development and preservation of the park is a key part of the American movement in the early 20th century to preserve scenic beauty.
The Hessian Lake subunit has great historic significance. Located on the banks of the Popolopen Brook are the sites of Fort Montgomery to the north and Fort Clinton to the south, two important fortifications in the Revolutionary War. Constructed at the start of the war, they were reinforced by a chain strung across the Hudson River between Fort Montgomery and Anthony's Nose designed to stop British ships from reaching West Point. In October of 1777 Sir Henry Clinton led a British attack on the forts, marching over Dunderberg Mountain to successfully capture and destroy the American defenses after an intense battle. A violent skirmish at Lake Sinnipink, now known as Hessian Lake, led to hundreds of fatal casualties, with the bodies cast into the lake resulting in its nickname as "Bloody Pond". The remains of Fort Clinton are part of the Trailside Museum and include a star redoubt and embankments. The remains of Fort Montgomery, a major military fortification enclosing 20 acres includes three redoubts. The site has been excavated and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1972.
The Hessian Lake recreation area includes a large lake and sweeping lawn surrounded by wooded hillsides, a hub of human activity in a wild setting. The main buildings of the Bear Mountain State Park are found in this area, a cohesive group of rustic structures closely harmonizing with the physical characteristics of the subunit. The largest structure and focus of activity is the large Bear Mountain Inn, completed in 1915. The inn is a two story structure of rough, uncoursed stone with log timbers and a gable roof. As attendance at the Park increased, additional structures were added through the 1920's and 1930's to aid visitors in the interpretation and enjoyment of the park's physical and cultural character. The increase in attendance was due mainly to the rapid improvements in access to the area through major transportation projects such as the railroad, the Bear Mountain Bridge, Seven Lakes Drive, Storm King Highway and Popolopen Drive. The Palisades Interstate Parkway is a significant transportation feature in the subunit. It improves access to the Park and creates a landscaped transportation corridor which bisects the subunit. The Palisades Interstate Parkway opened in 1951. Although conceived of as a landscaped, scenic drive, it soon became a major commuter artery. In spite of its heavy use, the parkway still retains the design integrity that is associated with the parkways of Robert Moses.
Battered walls of uncoursed stone, simple floor plans and unembellished surfaces distinguish the additional buildings. These address a variety of residential, recreational and support functions and include stone lodges and residences, a dock, boathouse, bath house and swimming pool, garages, storehouses, the administrative building and the Trailside Museum. The design, materials and scale of the structures conform to the character of their natural surroundings. The resulting organic forms complement the forest growth around each structure and mesh man with the environment.
The Palisades Interstate Park Commission, using plans designed by the National Park Service, engineered and constructed the park structures using labor largely provided by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Temporary Emergency Relief Administration and the Works Progress Administration. The style and design of the structures were consistent with national park architecture of the 1930's, yet was also consistent with the local landscape. The few modern structures which have been added to the State park have been sensitively designed and located and are not discordant.
The Bear Mountain Bridge, a truly spectacular structure, spans the Hudson River from Anthony's Nose on the east to Popolopen Creek and Fort Clinton on the west. In 1922 the State Legislature authorized a privately owned bridge to be built across the Hudson River at Bear Mountain. The Harriman family, through the Bear Mountain Hudson River Bridge Company, built the bridge at a cost of $6,000,000. Construction began in 1923, and the bridge opened in 1927. At the time of completion it was the longest suspension bridge in the world, the first bridge built with steel cables and the first passenger bridge crossing the Hudson River south of Albany. The bridge spans the Hudson River 153 feet above the water, while the two steel towers rise 355 feet above their foundation piers, set in solid rock on the river banks. These towers hold the 18 inch cables which support the 1,632 feet suspension span. The total length of the bridge is 2,257 feet, and the roadway is 38 feet wide with a 5 foot sidewalk on each side. The sidewalk is now part of the Appalachian Trail. In 1940 the State purchased the bridge for $2,275,000. The Bear Mountain Bridge is a significant historic feature, both for its engineering advances and transportation impact on the Hudson Highlands. The Popolopen Bridge, visible from the Bear Mountain Bridge, is an old arched-truss iron bridge that carries New York Route 9W across the gorge formed by the Popolopen Brook.
The toll house on the west side of the Bear Mountain Bridge is a random-coursed, rustic stone structure. It was completed at the same time as the bridge and is a significant contributing element to the Bear Mountain Bridge. It is also a significant structure in its own right, with the eclectic design containing elements of the Tudor, Elizabethan and English cottage styles, making it the most important structure of its type in the Hudson Highlands.
The area has wildlife interest and benefits from management as a protected wilderness area. The presence of wildlife provides ephemeral characteristics. Contrasts of an ephemeral nature are to be found in the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic character of the landscape composition as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area. The bustling human activity associated with the State park is an important ephemeral characteristic which enhances the scenic quality of the subunit.
The formal and wilderness landscape settings are both well-maintained. There are no discordant features in the subunit, although a trailer park off Mine Road and the wastewater treatment plant and structures at the yacht club off Old Mine Dock Road do impair the scenic quality of the subunit.
C. Views
The sharp bend in the Hudson River at this point provides striking views directed and contained by the topography. Views of Anthony's Nose are particularly impressive from the vicinity of Old Mine Dock Road. Views are composed of a wide variety of natural and manmade landscape components. Long and unobstructed views extend up the Hudson Valley to the north, notably from the Bear Mountain Bridge. Views from the Hudson River include the wooded mouth of the Popolopen Brook, the wooded bluffs, and the Bear Mountain Bridge. The many well-designed structures provide strong manmade focal points complementing the wooded backdrop of mountain peaks.
III. Uniqueness
The Hessian Lake subunit is unique in the State. It includes the first developed recreational park in New York State and features a unique blend of engineered elements, including the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Palisades Interstate Parkway and the collection of park buildings, all set in a natural landscape.
IV. Public Accessibility
Most of the Hessian Lake subunit is in public ownership, and its recreation facilities and trails are accessible to the public. The subunit also has high visual accessibility provided by the Palisades Interstate Parkway, the Bear Mountain Bridge, N.Y Route 9W and 202, the Hudson River and the heavily visited Hessian Lake recreation area and trails within the Bear Mountain State Park. The Bear Mountain State Park is visited by over 2 million people annually. The Bear Mountain Trailside Museum and Zoo are visited annually by over 500,000 people.
The subunit is also visible from subunits on the eastern shorelands and from the passenger trains that run along the eastern banks of the Hudson River. An important public access facility in the subunit is the Bear Mountain State Park Dock, which established the first public access to the park when it was completed in 1910. The dock provides physical and visual access to the Hudson River. This is used during the summer months by a Day Liner excursion vessel which operates from New York City, providing opportunities to the general public for visual access to the Hudson Highlands from the Hudson River.
V. Public Recognition
The Hessian Lake subunit receives a very positive public recognition, notably for its historic and recreational value. The Bear Mountain Bridge and New York Routes 9W and 202 are designated Scenic Roads under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. The subunit comprises part of the Bear Mountain State Park Historic District, listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The site of Fort Montgomery is a designated National Historic Landmark. The Bear Mountain Bridge is recognized for its historic and engineering value and is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The protection of land and the development of the State park system in the Bear Mountain area has historical and symbolic significance as an early recognition of the scenic value of the Hudson Highlands.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Hessian Lake subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it has high scenic quality. It encompasses a dramatic Hudson Highlands setting with well-sited and well-designed manmade features. There is an extensive variety of landscape features, including a creek mouth, tumbling brook, the Hudson River, a lake, flat plateau and steep bluffs. Contrasts exist between scenic components, emphasizing texture, form and line particularly associated with the graceful bridge structures, the rustic park structures and between the formal recreation areas and the wild, natural areas. The scenic components are unified by the woodland coverage and the common theme of open space protection and public recreation. The public parkland is highly accessible and highly visible from local roads, the trails and recreation facilities in the State park, the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Hudson River and the opposite shoreline. It receives public recognition as part of the Bear Mountain and Harriman State Park. Three designated Scenic Roads, the Bear Mountain Bridge, NY Route 9W and NY. Route 202, are designated under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. Fort Montgomery is a National Historic Landmark; and the cluster of park buildings are part of the Bear Mountain State Park Historic District listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, along with the Bear Mountain Bridge. The subunit is free from discordant features.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
HH-11 Bear Mountain State Park Subunit
I. Location
The Bear Mountain State Park subunit is a large subunit located on the western shorelands of the Hudson River. The northern boundary of the subunit extends east from the coastal area boundary along the Palisades Interstate Parkway, and then south along the base of Bear Mountain to Seven Lakes Drive and NY Route 9W, a common boundary with the HH-10 Hessian Lake subunit. The subunit then follows the edge of the marshlands at Salisbury Meadows, a common boundary with the HH-12 Iona Island Marsh subunit, to the Hudson River. Here the subunit extends across the Hudson River to the mean high tide line on the eastern shorelands of the Hudson River, in part a common boundary with the HH-16 Anthony's Nose subunit. The boundary of the subunit moves inland at Jones Point, running along the base of Dunderberg Mountain to NY Route 9W, which it follows to its intersection with the coastal area boundary at the southern boundary of the Bear Mountain State Park. The western boundary of the subunit is the coastal area boundary, running south along the Palisades Interstate Parkway to the junction with Cedar Flats Road. Here the subunit boundary extends north and east to form the southern boundary of the Hudson Highlands SASS, extending along the coastal area boundary and following the southern boundary of the Bear Mountain State Park to the Hudson River. The subunit is approximately 6 miles long and 4 miles wide. It is located in the Town of Highlands, Orange County, the Town of Stony Point, Rockland County and the City of Peekskill and Town of Cortlandt, Westchester County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheets, numbers 5 and 6, for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical character
The subunit is composed entirely of State park land, its dramatic and varied topography comprised of steep mountains and deep valleys. The peaks, rising to over 1000 feet, include the extensive, rugged and steep Bear, Bald, and Dunderberg Mountains as well as the lesser West, Pines, and Pingyp Mountains. Extensive mature mixed woodlands cover the landscape. The dominant water features in the subunit are the numerous mountain streams, some seasonal, which tumble through the mountain landscape. These include Bottom Brook, Timp Brook, and Doodletown Brook. The subunit includes a section of the Hudson River shoreline where the steep mountain landscape at Jones Point creates a sharp turn in the river, pinched by adjoining subunits into the glacially formed fjord of the Hudson Highlands.
B. Cultural Character
The Bear Mountain State Park, part of the Palisades Interstate Parks system, was the first developed recreational park in New York State. The creation of the park began in 1910 with a gift of 10,000 acres of land west of the Hudson River from Mrs. Mary Harriman. This and contiguous parcels subsequently acquired constitute the Bear Mountain and Harriman State Park. Capital for land purchase and development was provided by a $1,000,000 trust fund from Mrs. Harriman and $2,500,000 in bonds issued by the State. Early park planning and development was initiated by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, and the National Park Service provided design assistance for the many structures and formal layout of the park. The development and preservation of the park is a key part of the American movement of the early 20th century to preserve scenic beauty.
In the hollow between Dunderberg, West Mountain and Bear Mountain is the historic settlement of Doodletown. Once a hamlet occupied by woodsmen during the 19th century and later by workers in the Palisades Park system and the Iona Island arsenal, the settlement is now a ghost town.
The extensive trail network throughout the subunit includes the historic route of the 1777 British attack on Fort Montgomery at the mouth of the Popolopen Creek. A feature to be found on the trails over Dunderberg Mountain is the remains of the uncompleted Dunderberg Spiral Railway. This gravity railway was planned to serve a hotel on the summit of the mountain. Although construction on the railway began in 1890, funds soon ran out and the project was never completed. The landscaped corridor of the well-designed, scenic Palisades Interstate Parkway passes along the entire western boundary of the subunit, and the scenic Perkins Memorial Drive serves the Perkins Memorial Tower, a five story stone observation tower on the summit of Bear Mountain. The Appalachian Trail winds through much of the subunit, crossing the summit of Bear Mountain. The idea of Benton Mackay, a U.S. Labor Department policymaker, the Appalachian Trail is a long distance footpath that stretches from Maine to Georgia along the entire Appalachian Mountain chain. The Bear Mountain section of the Trail, opened in 1923, formed the first section of the 2,025 mile trail, which was finally completed in 1937.
The area has wildlife interest and benefits from management as a protected wilderness area. The presence of wildlife provide ephemeral characteristics, and contrasts of an ephemeral nature are to be found in the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic character of the landscape composition as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area. The bustling human activity associated with the State park is an important ephemeral characteristic which enhances the scenic quality of the subunit.
Few built features have been permitted in this part of the State park. The subunit is a large, generally undisturbed public wildland and is generally well maintained. There are very few discordant features visible in the subunit. These include infrastructure related to the State park, such as extensive parking lots and maintenance depots related to the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area.
C. Views
The peaks and hillsides of the subunit offer extensive panoramic views of the Hudson River Valley, and the surrounding Hudson Highlands, extending north to the mountains around Garrison, Cold Spring and West Point and south to the New York City skyline. Views within the subunit are often contained by the surrounding mountains and woodland. Focal points include the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Torne, Iona Island, Manitou Marsh and Anthony's Nose. The views from the overlooks on the Perkins Memorial Drive, which winds its way around Bear Mountain, and from the summit of Bear Mountain are particularly spectacular. The City of Peekskill, Westchester County's garbage generated power plant and the nuclear power complex at Indian Point, all situated across the Hudson River from Dunderberg Mountain, detract from some of the dramatic Highland views, introducing urban and industrial elements into the natural wildlands of the Bear Mountain State Park and the surrounding Hudson Highlands. However, these features are often screened from view in many of the trailside vistas by woodland and topography. Views from the Hudson River are of the steep wooded bluffs and high mountain peaks.
III. Uniqueness
The Bear Mountain State Park subunit consists of a large area of public and undisturbed wildlands in a coastal highlands setting that is unique in the State.
IV. Public Accessibility
The Bear Mountain State Park subunit has extensive public, physical and visual accessibility. It is highly visible from the Palisades Parkway, the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Hudson River, adjacent subunits, from subunits on the eastern shorelands and from the passenger trains that run along the eastern banks of the Hudson River. NY Route 9W traverses the eastern portion of the subunit offering views of the Hudson River and the eastern shore. The Anthony Wayne Recreation Area provides public access to the western edge, while the Perkins Memorial Drive and Observatory provides vehicular access to the peak of Bear Mountain. The Appalachian Trail winds through much of the subunit crossing the Bear Mountain peak. This is just one part of an extensive trail network within the subunit.
V. Public Recognition
The Bear Mountain State Park subunit receives strong positive public recognition, notably as a valued State park and the southern gateway to the Hudson Highlands. NY Route 9W is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law, as are several other stretches of local roads within the park. The subunit comprises part of the Bear Mountain State Park Historic District, listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The protection of land and the development of the State park system in the Bear Mountain area has historical and symbolic significance as an early recognition of the scenic value of the Hudson Highlands.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Bear Mountain State Park subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it has high scenic quality. There is much variety in the topography of the subunit, with steep mountains, rocky summits and deep valleys, unified in the vegetative coverage. A high degree of contrast is found in texture, form and line, brought about by the abrupt changes in skyline and the meeting of river and mountain. The large area of public and undisturbed wildlands in a coastal highlands setting is unique in the State. As State park land the subunit has excellent accessibility. The subunit is also visible from the Palisades Parkway; the Bear Mountain Bridge; the Hudson River; adjacent subunits, including those on the eastern shore of the Hudson; and from the passenger trains that run along the eastern shore Hudson River. It is recognized as part of the State park system and as the southern gateway to the Hudson Highlands. Scenic resources receive broad public recognition. Several scenic roads designated under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law are located in the subunit, including NY Route 9W. The Bear Mountain State Park Historic District is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, and the Bear Mountain area has historic and symbolic significance as an early recognition of the scenic value of the Hudson Highlands. There are few discordant features in the subunit.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
HH-12 Iona Island Marsh Subunit
I. Location
The Iona Island Marsh subunit is located to the south of the Bear Mountain Bridge and west of Iona Island. It is bounded on the northeast by the Conrail railroad tracks, a common boundary with the HH-13 Iona Island subunit, and to the south and west by the steep slopes of Dunderberg and Bear Mountains, a common boundary with the HH-11 Bear Mountain State Park subunit. The subunit is approximately 1 mile long and 0.5 miles wide. It is located in the Town of Stony Point, Rockland County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheet number 5 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is a large, undisturbed marsh dominated by water features and an extensive wetland habitat. The marsh developed as a result of the changing course of the Hudson River, caused when glacial ice, unable to follow the original sharp turns of the river created by fault zones, carved new channels and left the old channel to silt up, forming a deep tidal marsh. The subunit is a cove composed of Salisbury and Ring Meadows, large tidal wetlands separated by the Snake Hole Creek. The Doodletown Brook meanders through the meadows and empties into the Doodletown Bight which reaches far into the subunit. The two creeks form areas of open water. The rocky outcrops on the edge of Iona Island rise abruptly from the marsh, contrasting with the overall flatness of the subunit. Vegetation is dominated by wetland and aquatic plants, with shrubs and hedgerows on the upland area.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit is a designated wildlife refuge and is preserved and maintained as a natural wild landscape. The diversity and abundance of wildlife within the subunit provide ephemeral characteristics which enhance the scenic qualities of the subunit. The colors, tones and texture of the subunit change throughout the day and the seasons, increasing the scenic quality of the subunit with the addition of positive ephemeral characteristics. The access road to Iona Island and the railroad run through the marsh area, separating the wetland areas and forming discordant features that detract from the scenic qualities of the wetland.
C. Views
Low level views from within the Iona Island Marsh subunit are contained by the tall vegetation which, from this perspective, obscures the horizon. Views within the subunit are across the wetlands to the surrounding mountains. Iona Road and NY Route 9W provide sweeping views of the meadows and the surrounding mountains. The view from the access road north to the Bear Mountain Bridge through the tall wetland vegetation is particularly impressive. The steep mountain slopes and the Bear Mountain Bridge provide striking focal points and combine to form a dramatic backdrop to internal views of the subunit and views out from the subunit.
III. Uniqueness
The Iona Island Marsh subunit is a unique marsh and estuary habitat and one of the largest, undeveloped tidal wetlands on the Hudson River.
IV. Public Accessibility
The Iona Island Marsh is part of the Bear Mountain State Park and is owned by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. Educational use of the marsh is offered through programs run by the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, providing public access to the marsh. The subunit is highly visible from the Iona Island access road, the Bear Mountain Bridge, NY Route 9W and the Bear Mountain Bridge Road. The marsh is particularly visible from the upland sections of surrounding subunits.
V. Public Recognition
The Iona Island Marsh subunit receives wide public recognition due to its high visual accessibility and is highly valued by the general public as a wildlife refuge. The Marsh is a designated Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat, part of the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, and a registered National Natural Landmark. The protection of land and the development of the State park system in the Bear Mountain area has historical and symbolic significance as an early recognition of the scenic value of the Hudson Highlands. Iona Island Road is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Iona Island Marsh subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it is of high scenic quality. There is a high degree of variety and contrast between the water features and vegetation and a varied and interesting coastline configuration. The landform of the subunit contrasts with the steep mountains that surround it. The diversity and abundance of wildlife species in Iona Marsh are unusual in the lower Hudson River and add to the scenic value of the subunit. The changing colors and textures of the marsh vegetation, enhanced by dramatic changes in weather conditions and the contrast between wetlands and open water, add significantly to the scenic qualities of the subunit. Iona Island Marsh is a unique marsh and estuarine habitat, one of the largest, undeveloped tidal wetlands on the Hudson River. The subunit has excellent accessibility and public recognition. Iona Island Road is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law; and the subunit constitutes the middleground of views from the Bear Mountain Bridge and the Bear Mountain Bridge Road on the eastern shore of the Hudson River, also designated a Scenic Road under Article 49. The marsh's natural resource values are recognized through its Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat designation, inclusion in the National Estuarine Research Reserve, and its designation as a National Natural Landmark. The subunit is free from discordant features.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Iona Island subunit is located along the west bank of the Hudson River south of the Bear Mountain Bridge. The Conrail railroad tracks form the western boundary, a common boundary with the HH-12 Iona Island Marsh subunit. The subunit extends across the Hudson River and shares a common boundary with the HH-16 Anthony's Nose subunit on the eastern shorelands of the Hudson River. The subunit is approximately one mile long and 0.25 miles wide. The subunit is located in the Town of Stony Point, Rockland County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheet number 5 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Component
A. Physical Character
The subunit is a rugged and rocky island with many abandoned structures. The island was formed as a result of the changing course of the Hudson River caused when glacial ice, unable to follow the original sharp turns of the river created by fault zones, carved new channels. The extensively cleared landscape is regenerating into second growth scrub and woodlands, but remains a scarred landscape in a very scenic setting in the narrows of the Hudson River, south of the Bear Mountain Bridge. Restoration of the derelict land and some structures is in progress, returning the land to the naturally scenic condition prevalent in the rest of the Bear Mountain State Park. Water features dominant in the subunit are the Hudson River, Ring Meadows and Snake Hole Creek. The island has unique climatic advantages, lying at the northern limits of the mild sea breezes blowing up from the mouth of the Hudson, causing milder winters and earlier springs than in other parts of the Hudson Highlands.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit has an interesting and varied history. Over 3000 years ago, it hosted early Indian settlement, remains of which have been found on the island and are now exhibited in the Trailside History Museum at the Bear Mountain State Park. Plans to fortify the island during the Revolutionary War were never fulfilled, although the island was occupied briefly by British troops. In the mid-19th century the island was the site of horticultural and viticultural experiments, and it became known for its grapevines, peach orchards and seed-propagation houses. Late in the 19th century the ownership of the island continued to change hands. It eventually became a private summer resort, and then a popular excursion playground, featuring picnic grounds, an amusement park and a hotel. In 1899 the navy purchased Iona Island and constructed a military complex, including a large munitions plant and a supply depot. The island was acquired in the 1960s by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, which began the process of restoration of this much-impacted landscape.
Iona Island is recognized for its wildlife importance, notably as a wintering ground for bald eagles. The diversity and abundance of wildlife within the subunit provides ephemeral characteristics which enhance the scenic qualities of the island.
The abandoned structures set within the disturbed landscape of the Island are discordant features within the subunit, although their negative impact is being reduced as the site undergoes restoration.
C. Views
The subunit projects far into the Hudson River, providing extensive views of the Hudson River. The length of the views extends some 2 to 3 miles to the north and south, although these are somewhat contained by turns in the river around Anthony's Nose and Dunderberg Mountain. Views from the Hudson River are of the low island set against the background of wooded mountains. The mountain peaks and the Bear Mountain Bridge provide dramatic focal points fully visible from the subunit, and the surrounding Hudson Highlands provide a spectacular backdrop.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit is not unique, although the existence of such a large island in the Hudson River is rare.
IV. Public Accessibility
The Iona Island subunit is highly visible. It is prominent in views from the Hudson River, the Perkins Memorial Drive to the summit of Bear Mountain, NY Route 9W, the Bear Mountain Bridge Road, the Bear Mountain Bridge, the railroad on the east shore of the Hudson River and the City of Peekskill. The island is part of the Bear Mountain State Park, but has limited public physical access. The island is closed to the public from December 1 to April 1, during the over-wintering on the island of bald eagles, while in the other months only those with permits from the Bear Mountain State Park are allowed beyond the railroad, limiting access to the subunit. Educational use of the marsh and the island is offered through programs run by the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve. The research reserve has proposed the adaptive reuse of the vacant former marine barracks as a site for a Hudson River Center for Education and Research. This would also include the development of a trail network on the island and result in increased public accessibility to the subunit.
V. Public Recognition
The Iona Island subunit is publicly recognized as a component in the views from the surrounding subunits, notably from the Bear Mountain State Park, the Bear Mountain Bridge and the Bear Mountain Bridge Road. The latter two roads are designated Scenic Roads under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law, in part because of the views they offer of the Bear Mountain State Park, including the Iona Island subunit. It is also recognized and valued by the public as a protected wildlife habitat, part of the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and as part of the Bear Mountain State Park. The protection of land and inclusion of the subunit in the State park system in the Bear Mountain area represents a public recognition of the scenic value of the subunit.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Iona Island subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it is of high scenic quality. The coastline configuration provides a variety of landscape features, and there is a dramatic contrast between the low island, marshlands, creek mouths, the Hudson River and the surrounding mountainous landscape of the Hudson Highlands.
Publicly recognized as a valuable wildlife habitat and as part of the Bear Mountain State Park, the subunit has limited physical access but is an important component in views from surrounding subunits and from two Scenic Roads designated under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. Several vacant and derelict structures set in the disturbed landscape of the subunit constitute discordant features, although their impact is being reduced through restoration activities.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Jones Point subunit is located on the west bank of the Hudson River at the base of Dunderberg Mountain. The western boundary of the subunit runs inland from Jones Point along the base of Dunderberg Mountain to NY Route 9W, which it follows to its intersection with the coastal area boundary at the southern boundary of the Bear Mountain State Park. The subunit extends across the Hudson River to the mean high tide line on the eastern shorelands of the Hudson River. It extends south approximately 1.5 miles from Jones Point along the Hudson River and averages 500 feet wide. It is located in the Town of Stony Point, Rockland County and the City of Peekskill, Town of Cortlandt and Village of Buchanan, Westchester County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheet number 6 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
This subunit is composed of a narrow, gently rising bank of the Hudson River to the south of Jones Point, adjacent to the steep wooded hillside of Dunderberg Mountain. The Hudson River adjacent to the subunit is nearly one mile wide, although it appears more narrow, pinched by adjoining subunits into the glacially formed fjord of the Hudson Highlands. Mature mixed woodlands are interspersed with landscaped clearings along the banks of the Hudson River.
B. Cultural Character
Jones Point is a landmark on the Hudson River and, along with Dunderberg Mountain, forms part of the southern gateway to the Hudson Highlands. The Conrail railroad tracks, Liberty Drive, and NY Route 9W run the length of the narrow subunit. It contains a small settlement whose roots go back to the site of an early ferry crossing to Peekskill, the settlement originally being known as Caldwell's Landing. The scattered housing is served by Liberty Drive, named after the "Liberty Ships", cargo vessels used to supply troops in the European conflict during World War II. These ships were anchored offshore for many years after the war. A monument to the Liberty Ships is located on Route 9W at a point where the broad expanse of the Hudson River which hosted the moored vessels provides a backdrop for the monument. The picturesque House of Prayer Church is situated on Liberty Drive. Extensive industrial development to the south and east of the subunit, including the Indian Point nuclear plant across the Hudson River, is a discordant feature and detracts significantly from the high scenic quality surrounding the subunit.
C. Views
Views from the subunit are contained by the bends in the Hudson River and are directed across the river to the City of Peekskill and the villages of Buchanan and Verplanck. The incongruent structures of industrial development on the eastern shorelands of the Hudson River dominate the views from the subunit, providing negative focal points. Views from the Hudson River are of the scattered residential development set in landscaped clearings on the low, wooded plateau below the rounded, wooded peak of Dunderberg Mountain.
III. Uniqueness
The Jones Point subunit is part of Dunderberg Mountain, a unique landform that creates a sharp bend in the Hudson River.
IV. Public Accessibility
The pattern of land ownership in the small Jones Point subunit limits public accessibility. It has high visual accessibility from the Hudson River, from settlements on the eastern shorelands and from the passenger trains that run along the eastern banks of the Hudson River.
V. Public Recognition
The Jones Point subunit receives positive public recognition as part of the southern gateway to the Highlands and is a landmark for travellers on the Hudson.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Jones Point subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it has a variety of positive scenic components, including the broad expanse of the Hudson River, the unique landform of Jones Point, and the picturesque settlement of Liberty Drive with the House of Prayer Church. The broad Hudson River contrasts with the narrow lowland banks. The subunit is highly visible from local roads, the Hudson River and from the eastern shorelands of the Hudson River. It is recognized as part of the southern gateway to the Hudson Highlands, and Jones Point creates a dramatic bend in the Hudson River, a landmark for travellers.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Wallace Pond subunit is situated to the east of the Hudson River. The subunit extends north from the southern boundary of the Hudson Highlands SASS, which is the northern boundary of the developed portion of the Camp Smith Military Reservation. The eastern boundary of the subunit is the coastal area boundary, following the New York-Albany Post Road, NY Route 9 north from the northern boundary of Camp Smith to its intersection with Route 403, Cat Rock Road, which it follows to its intersection with the Hudson River viewshed in the hamlet of Forsonville. The western boundary of the subunit is the viewshed of the Hudson River, extending north from Camp Smith to the intersection with Route 403 in the hamlet of Forsonville, a common boundary with the HH-16 Anthony's Nose subunit. The subunit is approximately 4 miles long and between 0.5 and 1.5 miles wide. It is located in the Town of Cortlandt, Westchester County and the Town of Philipstown, Putnam County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheets, numbers 4 and 5, for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit, situated on the eastern flank of the main ridge of the Hudson Highlands, consists of a rolling upland landscape rising to 700 feet, with woods, meadows, streams and ponds. A mix of mature deciduous and coniferous woodlands is predominant in the landscape. Wallace Pond, Lake Alice, and several smaller ponds are tucked into small valleys among the hills.
B. Cultural Character
The surrounding Hudson Highland peaks provide a dramatic setting for the considerable amount of scattered residential development that occurs on the southern edge of the subunit around Manitou Road, South Mountain Pass and Wallace Pond. Unlike much of the Hudson Highlands, the landscape of this subunit is not one of wildness, but a more pastoral mix.
The presence of wildlife provides ephemeral characteristics. Contrasts of an ephemeral nature are to be found in the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic feel of the landscape composition as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area.
Development is mostly screened by mature woodland and is generally well maintained. Recent residential development, however, has resulted in a more sprawling pattern and reduced the visual quality of the subunit, although the development is not a discordant feature. The central and northern portions of the subunit are relatively undeveloped.
C. Views
Views from the subunit are limited to the surrounding hills due to the enclosing topography and are largely contained by the woodland. The Highland peaks and a nearby monastery and convent, to the east of NY Route 9, are focal points. The subunit is located outside of the main viewshed of the Hudson River and affords only partial views of the Hudson River to the south. There are limited views of internal water bodies.
III. Uniqueness
The Wallace Pond subunit is not unique. It features the rolling topography typical of the upland sections of the Hudson Highlands.
IV. Public Accessibility
The land ownership pattern related to the low density development scattered throughout the subunit has resulted in few opportunities for public access in the Wallace Pond subunit. It is accessible from NY Route 9, the New York-Albany Post Road, local roads, and the Appalachian Trail which runs through its eastern portion. The Castle Rock Unique Area, on the slopes around the Castle Rock estate, and the Osborn Preserve, part of the Hudson Highlands State Park, provide considerable opportunities for public access in the northern part of the subunit.
V. Public Recognition
The Wallace Pond subunit receives public recognition from local residents, travellers on NY Route 9 and hikers on the Appalachian Trail. The inclusion of northern parts of the subunit in the Hudson Highlands State Park system represents a public recognition of the scenic value of the subunit.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Wallace Pond subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it is of high scenic quality. Although the subunit is not within the viewshed of the Hudson River, it forms an integral part of the Hudson Highlands SASS, forming the eastern flank of the southern gateway to the Hudson Highlands. The rolling landscape creates a varied topography. The dominant woodland coverage unifies the landscape of the subunit, with contrasts provided by scattered landscaped clearings related to residential development, open meadows, and the numerous ponds. The subunit is accessible from local roads, State park land and the Appalachian Trail. It is recognized by local residents, travellers on NY Route 9 and hikers on the Appalachian Trail and through the inclusion of parts of the subunit in the Hudson Highlands State Park. There are no discordant features, although recent residential development has reduced the overall scenic quality of the subunit.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Anthony's Nose subunit is situated on the east bank of the Hudson River. It extends from the southern boundary of the Hudson Highlands SASS at Roa Hook Road to Route 403 and the hamlet of Forsonville in the north, a common boundary with the HH-20 Garrison Four Corners subunit. The eastern boundary of the subunit is the viewshed of the Hudson River, extending north from the intersection of Roa Hook Road and the Bear Mountain Bridge Road to the intersection with Route 403 in the hamlet of Forsonville, a common boundary with the Wallace Pond subunit. The western boundary runs along NY Route 9D, the Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway, to its junction with Manitou Road, and along Manitou Road to the 200 foot contour line at the base of the steeply rising upland, which the boundary follows north to its intersection with Route 403. The subunit extends across the Hudson River and shares a common boundary with the HH-11 Bear Mountain State Park, HH-13 Iona Island and HH-10 Hessian Lake subunits on the western shorelands of the Hudson River. It is located in the Town of Cortlandt, Westchester County and the Town of Philipstown, Putnam County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheets, numbers 4 and 5, for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
Anthony's Nose is a large subunit composed of steep, wooded mountains, with rolling uplands rising to over 900 feet, encompassing Manitou Mountain, Anthony's Nose, Mine Mountain, Canada Hill, White Rock and Sugarloaf Hill. Anthony's Nose and Manitou Mountain plunge directly to the Hudson River forming very steep bluffs which, along with Dunderberg Mountain, Jones Point and Iona Island constrict the river valley into a dramatic narrow gorge, creating part of the glacially formed fjord. The tip of Anthony's Nose is pierced by a railroad tunnel some 200 feet in length. The gently curving shoreline of the Hudson River exhibits moderate undulation, broken by small points. Fish Island is the smallest named island on the river and is located close to the shore. The water features in the upland area include the Broccy Creek Reservoir, located in a col between Anthony's Nose and Mine Mountain; Curry Pond; Lake Lucretia (misnamed on the map Lake Elizabeth); and several smaller ponds and wetlands and mountain brooks, such as the Broccy Creek. The mature mix of deciduous and coniferous woodland provides a rich upland wildlife habitat.
B. Cultural Character
The Anthony's Nose subunit is a dramatic natural area, broken by only a few designed landscapes and structures. Some scattered houses are located on Manitou Road in the South Mountain Pass and along Cloudbank Road. There are several well-sited estates in the subunit. The Bear Mountain Bridge and the Bear Mountain Bridge Road are significant built structures in the subunit. The railroad hugs the Hudson River shoreline below Anthony's Nose and Manitou Mountain and passes through a short tunnel at the foot of the Bear Mountain Bridge. The New York State Military Reservation, known generally as Camp Smith, encompasses most that portion of the subunit located in Westchester County.
Castle Rock has historically been a prominent and significant architectural landmark in the Hudson Valley. Completed in 1881, it was designed by J. Morgan Slade for William H. Osborn, President of the Illinois Central Railroad and an important figure in the history of American transportation. The turreted rough-cut stone chateau stands like a European castle on a 630 foot high ridge overlooking the low-lying meadows of the adjacent HH-20 Garrison Four Corners subunit, the Hudson River, West Point and the Hudson Highlands. The Hudson River School artist Frederic Church, a lifelong friend of Osborn's, advised on Castle Rock's siting and landscaping. Clearly visible against the skyline from local roads, the two and a half story residence features a highly irregular arrangement of masses and detailing characteristic of the picturesque ideal of this period, an ideal with which the Hudson Highlands is closely associated. The structure is dominated by a round tower with a conical roof which, along with various porches, dormers and balconies, provides spectacular views of the Hudson Highlands.
Castle Rock was designed as a retirement home for W.H. Osborn. After his death it passed to his son Henry Fairfield Osborn, who enlarged the house through the addition of the north wing and library. Constructed in 1906, the extensions carefully followed the style of the original building. Henry Osborn also commissioned Olmsted Brothers to improve the landscaping and was responsible for some of the other structures on the estate. The estate remains in the ownership of the Osborn heirs. While the house and a modest associated acreage are still privately owned, most of the property comprises the State-owned Castle Rock Unique Area.
The dramatic main building is the focal point of a large estate that originally extended over 2,500 acres but now reaches only to NY Route 9D. Several estate structures are located in the adjacent HH-20 Garrison Four Corners subunit. Lilac Cottage is situated to the south of the main residence. An existing structure on the estate when Osborn purchased the site, it was renovated as a guest cottage. Picturesque dirt roads and trails run throughout the estate. The former Sloan Colt estate is set on another high ridge south of Sugarloaf Mountain (Osborn Preserve) and is oriented dramatically toward the Bear Mountain Bridge.
In the late 1880's William Church Osborn developed Forest Farm, a country seat and a working farm, on Cat Rock Road adjoining the property of his father, William H. Osborn. The younger Osborn was a New York City attorney and philanthropist who served as president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and was founding president of the Hudson River Conservation Society. The house was built in 1893; it was remodeled and reduced in size in the 1950's.
The Bear Mountain Bridge, a truly spectacular structure, spans the Hudson River from Anthony's Nose on the east to Popolopen Creek and Fort Clinton on the west. In 1922 the State Legislature authorized a privately owned bridge to be built across the Hudson River at Bear Mountain. The Harriman family, through the Bear Mountain Hudson River Bridge Company, built the bridge at a cost of $6,000,000. Construction began in 1923, and the bridge opened in 1927. At the time of completion, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world, the first bridge built with steel cables and the first non-railroad bridge crossing the Hudson River south of Albany. The bridge spans the Hudson River 153 feet above the water, while the two steel towers rise 355 feet above their foundation piers, set in solid rock on the river banks. These towers hold the 18 inch cables which support the 1632 feet of suspension span. The total length of the bridge is 2257 feet. The roadway is 38 feet wide with a 5 feet sidewalk on each side. The sidewalk is now part of the Appalachian Trail. (The Appalachian Trail is a long distance footpath that stretches from Maine to Georgia for 2,025 miles along the Appalachian Mountain chain. Started in 1923, it was completed in 1937.) In 1940 the State purchased the bridge for $2,275,000. The Bear Mountain Bridge is a significant historic feature, for both its engineering advances and its transportation impact on the Hudson Highlands.
The Bear Mountain Bridge joins NY Route 6 and 202, the two lane Bear Mountain Bridge Road which winds spectacularly for three miles around the contours on the flank of Anthony's Nose and Manitou Mountain, overlooking the Hudson River. By the act passed by the State Legislature enabling the construction of the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Bear Mountain-Hudson River Bridge Company was required to build a road along the south face of Anthony's Nose, over State land, to connect with the Albany Post Road, NY Route 9. The specifications called for the road to rise higher than the Storm King Highway and to offer scenic vistas up and down the Hudson River and of the surrounding Hudson Highlands. As a result, the highway, completed in 1924, is one of the most picturesque in the Hudson Valley. The roadway and supporting scenic detailing, including the stone walls constructed from material excavated during completion of the road and the now unused toll house, are maintained in their original form. The highway is significant in its engineering achievement and its contribution to the history of transportation in the region.
The presence of wildlife provides ephemeral characteristics. Contrasts of an ephemeral nature are to be found in the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic character of the landscape composition, as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area.
The bridge and highway are well-designed engineering landmarks that accentuate and enhance their natural setting while providing for extensive public access to the area. The subunit is well maintained, few structures are located within the subunit, and there are no discordant features visible.
C. Views
Views from the Anthony's Nose subunit are extensive. The peaks of the Hudson Highlands; the Hudson River; the Bear Mountain Bridge; and NY Route 6 and 202, the Bear Mountain Bridge Road, provide for broad vistas and many dramatic vantage points with extensive views up and down the river. There are many positive visual elements and striking focal points in the subunit, notably the majestic Castle Rock and the Bear Mountain Bridge. From the Bear Mountain Bridge Road and its overlook there are good views of Iona Island and Marsh, and Jones Point. The railroad hugs the shoreline, offering good views of the Hudson River and the western shorelands. Views from the Hudson River are of the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Bear Mountain Bridge Road and the towering wooded peaks that rise from the shores of the Hudson River.
III. Uniqueness
The Anthony's Nose subunit is unique in the State. The subunit features a unique arrangement of a group of mountains whose steep bluffs fall away to the adjacent lowland pastures and the Hudson River. The Bear Mountain Bridge and the Bear Mountain Bridge Highway are a unique scenic resource unequalled in the State. The Castle Rock estate and its ridgeline location is a unique setting for an historic residence.
IV. Public Accessibility
The Anthony's Nose subunit is accessible from the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Bear Mountain Bridge Road, local roads, the Hudson River, the passenger trains that run along the banks of the Hudson River and from subunits on the western shorelands, notably the Bear Mountain State Park. NY Route 9W traverses the eastern portion of the subunit offering views of the Hudson River and the eastern shore. The Appalachian Trail crosses the Bear Mountain Bridge and winds along the northern slope of Anthony's Nose and through South Mountain Pass, between Canada Hill and Mine Mountains. Limited public access to the Military Reservation is currently being negotiated as part of the Greenway Trail system. The Castle Rock Unique Area, on the slopes around the Castle Rock estate, is accessed from adjacent subunits. The Osborn Preserve, part of the Hudson Highlands State Park, and parts of Manitoga provide considerable opportunities for public access in the northern part of the subunit. The Osborn Preserve features a network of carriage paths.
V. Public Recognition
The Anthony's Nose subunit receives positive public recognition as part of the southern gateway to the Hudson Highlands and for the mountain peak landmarks it contains. Anthony's Nose, Manitou Mountain and Sugarloaf Mountain have historically been landmarks to travellers on the Hudson River. The Bear Mountain Bridge, the Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway and the Bear Mountain Bridge Road are designated Scenic Roads under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. The architectural significance of Castle Rock and the historic and engineering significance of the Bear Mountain Bridge and the Bear Mountain Bridge Road have been recognized by inclusion on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The protection of land and the development of the State park system in the Anthony's Nose area has significance as a public recognition of the scenic value of the subunit.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Anthony's Nose subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it has high scenic quality. The subunit features a variety of topography and physical features, including steep slopes, rolling upland and numerous water features. There are contrasts between the natural and manmade landscape features, which complement each other to form a cohesive landscape unit. The woodland coverage is a unifying component. The subunit is a unique landscape of outstanding natural and cultural character, with unmatched views of the Hudson Highlands. It is accessible from the Bear Mountain Bridge, local roads, the Appalachian Trail and State park land. The Bear Mountain Bridge, the Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway and the Bear Mountain Bridge Road are designated Scenic Roads under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. The subunit receives public recognition as part of the State park system and as the southern gateway to the Hudson Highlands. The significance of three structures in the subunit are recognized by their inclusion on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. There are no discordant features visible in the subunit.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Manitou subunit is located on the eastern shorelands of the Hudson River, on the western flanks of Anthony's Nose and Canada Hill. The eastern boundary runs along NY Route 9D, the Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway, to its junction with Manitou Road, along Manitou Road to the 200 foot contour line at the base of the steeply rising upland, a common boundary with the HH-16 Anthony's Nose subunit, which it follows north to the stream at the base of Sugarloaf Hill, a common boundary with the HH-20 Garrison Four Corners subunit. The western boundary follows the ridge of the bluff of the Hudson River along the 100 foot contour, a common boundary with the HH-18 Manitou Marsh subunit, from the Bear Mountain Bridge north to the stream at the base of Sugarloaf Hill. The subunit is approximately 2.75 miles long and 0.25 miles wide. It is located in the Town of Cortlandt, Westchester County and the Town of Philipstown, Putnam County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheet number 5 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is comprised of large estates and dense woods situated on the gently rising hillside beyond the bluffs of the Hudson River at the base of Anthony's Nose and Canada Hill. Mature, mixed woodlands cloak the hillside, while clearings of sweeping lawns mark the setting of residences scattered within the woodlands. Copper Mine Brook flows through the subunit, through steep slopes and ravines and over waterfalls.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit features scattered residential development. The well-preserved and maintained estates give the subunit historic value. The estates are set in a formal landscape of spreading lawns and woodlands, while good use is made of manmade landscape and boundary features such as hedgerows, stonewalls, gateways and gatehouses. The subunit includes turn of the century copper mine fields.
The significance of two estates has been recognized through listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Glenfields, a two story clapboard residence with a gable roof and massive granite chimney, was designed and constructed by Mead and Taft for the Kings, a prominent New York family. Completed in 1870, Glenfields was the country seat of Archibald Gracie King, grandson of Rufus King, a leading Federalist and U.S. Senator, and son of James Gore King, banker and Member of Congress. The landholding once totalled thousands of acres. Glenfields, sited overlooking the Hudson River, was easily accessible from a private road and dock on the Hudson River. King and his son were prominent local entrepreneurs with interests in a local granite company, as well as the Highland Copper Company, the Highland Chemical Company and the Highland Land Company. Kings Lane and Kings Dock became important to local traffic and the development of commerce in this part of the Hudson Highlands, providing links to New York City. The house is important for its association with a notable figure in regional commerce and as a distinctive example of the work of Mead and Taft, major builders of middle class houses of this period in the Hudson Highlands.
Located on the hillside above NY Route 9D is Dragon Rock, the home of Russel Wright, the foremost American designer of the mid-20th century. The residence, completed in 1959, is a multi-level structure of natural materials integrated with the landscape and nature of the Hudson Highlands. A rambling combination of Japanese architecture and the style of Frank Lloyd Wright (unrelated), who was consulted on the final design, the house is built into the side of an old quarry. Russel Wright completely restored the 80 acres of the estate, known as Manitoga, and created a landscaped nature sanctuary around his residence, turning a despoiled landscape into a natural forest garden.
Manitoga, the Algonquin term for Place of Great Spirit, was turned over in 1975 to The Nature Conservancy which opened the Manitoga Nature Sanctuary. In 1984, Manitoga, Inc. was established to promote Russel Wright's concept of design with nature, to develop educational programs and to offer public access to Manitoga. Trails cross the hillsides through the woodlands, along brooks and through openings in the woodland cover, providing extensive panoramic views of the Hudson River from Bear Mountain to Breakneck Ridge. Manitoga offers access to the Osborn Preserve, part of the Hudson Highlands State Park, and the Appalachian Trail in adjacent subunits. The distinctive qualities of the design of the building and the nature reserve make this property one of the best examples of an environmentally designed home in the United States and represents a continuum of the picturesque movement in the Hudson Highlands.
The presence of wildlife contributes ephemeral characteristics to the landscape. Contrasts of an ephemeral nature are to be found in the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic character of the landscape composition, as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area.
Recent limited residential development has been absorbed into the well-maintained landscape and has not yet been disruptive of the subunit's scenic quality. An area of filled land adjacent to NY Route 9D and Copper Mine Brook contains piles of fill, soil and construction equipment. The site is a discordant feature in the subunit and impairs the scenic quality of the NY Route 9D corridor.
C. Views
The Manitou subunit has extensive Hudson River views. Views from the highway and the upland are partially contained by topography and woodlands. The views are composed of complementing scenic components in the adjacent subunits, including river, marsh, mountain and estates, with focal points of Anthony's Nose, surrounding Highland peaks and partial views of the Bear Mountain Bridge set against the background of the Hudson Highlands.
III. Uniqueness
The Manitou subunit is not unique. The topography and vegetation coverage are common in the Hudson Highlands. The Manitoga property feature a unique style of building and landscape design that links man with nature.
IV. Public Accessibility
The land ownership pattern related to the low density development scattered throughout the subunit has resulted in few opportunities for public access in the Manitou subunit. It is accessible from NY Route 9D, the Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway, local roads, the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Hudson River and from subunits on the western shorelands. Public access is available at the Manitoga Nature Preserve off Route 9D via self-guided trails along streams and through woodland. The Manitou Point property at the northern end of the Manitou Marsh subunit, recently purchased by Scenic Hudson, Inc. and the Open Space Institute, includes upland in this subunit. The site includes a network of dirt and gravel roads and a stone bridge over the railroad. Plans for landscape improvements and public access are being developed and will provide improved public access in the subunit.
V. Public Recognition
The Manitou subunit is well recognized by the public. NY Route 9D, the Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway, is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. The historical and architectural significance of two residences within the subunit, Glenfields and Dragon Rock, is recognized through their inclusion on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Manitou subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it is of high scenic quality. The woods, estates and topography provide a variety of contrasting and positive scenic components set in a landscape unified through the mature woodland coverage. The contrasting features of the subunit can be best seen in the Manitoga Preserve, where Russell Wright's subtle landscape design highlights the contrasts of shape, form and texture. The subunit is usually accessible from local roads, the Hudson River, the Bear Mountain Bridge, and subunits on the western shorelands. It is physically accessible at Manitoga. The subunit receives positive public recognition. NY Route 9D, the Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway, is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. The significance of two residences, Glenfields and Dragon Rock, is recognized through their inclusion on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Manitou Marsh subunit is situated on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. It stretches from the southern point of Manitou Marsh to Arden Point in the north. The western boundary of the subunit follows the ridge of the bluff of the Hudson River along the 100 foot contour, a common boundary with the HH-17 Manitou and HH-20 Garrison Four Corners subunits, to the intersection with the stream that flows into the Hudson River at Arden Point, forming the northern boundary of the subunit, a common boundary with the HH-19 Garrison Landing subunit. The subunit extends across the Hudson River and shares a common boundary with the HH-10 Hessian Lake and HH-7 Con Hook subunits on the western shorelands of the Hudson River. The subunit is approximately 4.25 miles long and less than 1000 feet wide. It is located in the Town of Philipstown, Putnam County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheets, numbers 4 and 5, for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit consists of a narrow band of shoreline, marsh, river and low bluffs. The shoreline configuration is fairly smooth with small rocky outcrops, promontories and undulations. The extensive marsh contains several meandering streams, areas of open water and a distinctive pattern of drainage channels. The vegetation is a rich mix of marsh plants and woodlands.
B. Cultural Character
Several cottages are clustered on a small upland promontory of the subunit between the Hudson River and the marshlands. The cluster of development is accompanied by the trimmings of traditional riverside residential development of docks, lawns and gardens in an otherwise natural setting. The tight placement of these generally well maintained and vernacular residential structures reduces their visual impact on the landscape and adds visual interest to this largely undeveloped subunit. The Manitou Point estate includes both a wooded undulating promontory and marsh in the center of the subunit. A restored late 19th century three story brick mansion is situated in a landscaped setting on a wooded point overlooking the Hudson River. The mansion is served by an attractive stone bridge connecting Manitou Point to the upland over the railway tracks. The presence of wildlife provides ephemeral characteristics. Contrasts of an ephemeral nature are to be found in the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic character of the landscape composition as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area. The railroad tracks run through the subunit but are not a discordant feature.
C. Views
The subunit offers extensive Hudson River views, including the Bear Mountain Bridge and West Point, both manmade focal points which dramatically punctuate the natural riverine landscape. The peaks of the Hudson Highlands provide several natural focal points and serve as a backdrop. Anthony's Nose is particularly important to the subunit. The Hudson River, Con Hook, and Constitution Island feature prominently in views from the elevated portions of the subunit and from the two main promontories at Manitou Point and Arden Point. Views from the Hudson River are of the low wooded bluffs and rocky promontories.
III. Uniqueness
The Manitou Marsh subunit contains a cluster of residential development located on upland between the marsh and the river, a unique feature in the Hudson Highlands.
IV. Public Accessibility
The Manitou Marsh subunit is accessible from local roads in the subunit and the Hudson River and is visible from passenger trains, the Bear Mountain Bridge and from subunits on the western shorelands of the Hudson River. The Manitou Point property at the northern end of Manitou Marsh, which includes upland, marshlands, shoreline and a mansion, is owned by Scenic Hudson, Inc. and the Open Space Institute. The site includes a network of dirt and gravel roads and a stone bridge over the railroad. Plans for landscape improvements and public access to the Hudson River and Manitou Marsh are being developed. Thirty four acres of waterfront land at Arden Point, recently purchased by the Open Space Institute, have been acquired by the State and will become part of the Hudson Highlands State Park. There are plans for public access to the Hudson River shoreline, including a trail to the Hudson River and a parking area off Lower Station Road. Both parcels contain upland property in the adjacent Manitou and Garrison Four Corners subunits. There is a railroad station at the end of Manitou Station Road served by Metro North and one in the adjacent HH-19 Garrison Landing subunit.
V. Public Recognition
Manitou Point, Arden Point and Manitou Marsh are recognized by the public as landmarks in the Hudson Highlands. The recent purchases by Scenic Hudson and the Open Space Institute of Manitou Point and Arden Point, the latter acquired by New York State from the Open Space Institute and added to the Hudson Highlands State Park, is public recognition of the scenic value of the subunit.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Manitou Marsh subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it has high scenic quality. It contains a great variety of positive scenic components including marsh, river, mansion, cottages and upland woodlands. The combination of these components so close to the river is unique in the Hudson Highlands. The subunit is accessible from local roads, and visible from passenger trains, the Hudson River, the Bear Mountain Bridge and from subunits on the western shorelands of the Hudson River. Public access will increase in the future as public access improvements are made to Arden Point and Manitou Marsh, recently purchased by the Open Space Institute and Scenic Hudson, Inc. The scenic value of the landscape has been recognized by the recent purchase of these properties, and the acquisition of Arden Point from the Open Space Institute by New York State as an addition to the Hudson Highlands State Park. There are no discordant features in the subunit.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
HH-19 Garrison Landing Subunit
I. Location
The Garrison Landing subunit is located on the east shore of the Hudson River, centered on the hamlet of Garrison. The southern boundary of the subunit is the stream that flows into the Hudson River at Arden Point, a common boundary with the HH-18 Manitou Marsh subunit. The eastern boundary follows the 100 foot contour to its intersection with County Route 12, and then follows County Route 12 and County Route 14 to the railroad and the limit of northern development in the hamlet, a common boundary with the HH-20 Garrison Four Corners subunit. The subunit extends across the Hudson River and shares a common boundary with the HH-7 Con Hook subunit on the western shorelands of the Hudson River. The subunit is approximately one mile long and 1000 feet wide. It is located in the Town of Philipstown, Putnam County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheet number 4 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit consists of a river landing nestled into mature woodlands on the gently sloping banks of the Hudson River directly below a steep bluff. The hamlet has a very close relationship with the Hudson River. The shoreline of the Hudson River is gently curving with a few small points. The natural woodland vegetation is complemented with street plantings.
B. Cultural Character
Based around the site of an early Hudson River ferry crossing, the tightly clustered historic structures, dating from the 19th century, create a cohesive village pattern. The old railroad station, dating from 1892 and now occupied by a theater group, small stores and galleries, the waterfront park with gazebo and the marina at Garrison Landing add activity and interest without overwhelming the small scale character of the community. Well-screened vernacular houses are set in the woodlands on the uplands around the hamlet. The hamlet is well maintained, and there are no visible discordant features, although the cars in the unlandscaped railroad parking lot detract from the visual quality of the subunit. The hamlet is surrounded by an extensive woodland habitat.
The Garrison Landing Historic District, comprised of seventeen structures located between the Hudson River and the railroad, Covers most of the hamlet. A majority of the buildings built around the mid-19th century as the landing became a center for commerce focused on river and rail transportation. Four structures dominate the district, the two railroad stations, a frame commercial structure and the Golden Eagle Hotel on Dock Street. The 1892 stone railroad station is a typical example of Hudson Valley railroad architecture. This replaced a mid-19th century frame structure of mixed Italianate and Gothic influence which was relocated to the north of the stone structure. The later station is now used as a theater. Most of the other structures were built as tenant properties for employees of the Garrison and West Point Ferry Company and of the surrounding estates. These are modest structures with simple designs and detailing. The common architectural features which can be found throughout the district result from the community's being designed, built and owned by Henry White Belcher, owner of the ferry company. Larger residences were built at the northern end of the hamlet. The district remains intact, despite minor modern day modifications.
C. Views
The subunit offers extensive views of the Hudson River set against the background of the Hudson Highlands. Views to the south extend over 5 miles toward the Bear Mountain Bridge, while those to the north, limited in length by the bend of the Hudson River, include the impressive site and structures of West Point Military Academy west of the hamlet. Views from the subunit have a very strong composition of many positive scenic components and focal points, in particular, West Point, the surrounding peaks of the Hudson Highlands, upland estates, and the Hudson River. In views from the Hudson River, the tightly clustered landing appears comfortably nestled into the wooded shorelands of the Hudson River.
III. Uniqueness
The situation of the hamlet and its physical and historical relationship with the Hudson River are unique in the Hudson Highlands and on the Hudson River.
IV. Public Accessibility
The Garrison Hamlet subunit is physically and visually accessible from local roads, passenger trains, and the Hudson River. It is also visible from subunits on the western shorelands of the Hudson River, notably from West Point. Metro North trains stop at Garrison Station. The riverfront park provides access to the shore of the Hudson, and transient boats can dock at the marina. The recent acquisition by New York State from the Open Space Institute of property at Arden Point for inclusion in the Hudson Highlands State Park will increase access to the adjacent Manitou Marsh subunit. Parking and trail head facilities will be provided from County Route 12.
V. Public Recognition
The Garrison Hamlet subunit is well-recognized by the public as a picturesque and historic village. The hamlet is a landmark along the Hudson River and constitutes the middleground of views from the United States Military Academy at West Point. The historical and architectural significance of the subunit is recognized by the inclusion of the Garrison Landing Historic District on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Garrison Hamlet subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it has high scenic quality. It contains a large number of positive scenic components, with a strong pattern and relationship between the components and the landscape. There is variety and contrast among the structures in the hamlet and between the wooded slopes and bluffs and the formal landscaping of the hamlet. The tight cluster of the hamlet is a strong unifying component within the subunit. The location of an intact historic landing on the shorelands of the Hudson River is unique in the region. The subunit is accessible from local roads, passenger trains, and the Hudson River and is visible from subunits on the western shorelands of the Hudson River. The Garrison Hamlet subunit is a landmark along the Hudson River and constitutes the middleground of views from the United States Military Academy at West Point. The historical and architectural significance of the subunit is recognized by the inclusion of the Garrison Landing Historic District on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. There are no discordant features.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
HH-20 Garrison Four Corners Subunit
I. Location
The Garrison Four Corners subunit is an elongated subunit mainly located inland on the eastern shorelands of the Hudson River. The subunit extends north from the stream at the base of Sugarloaf Hill, a common boundary with the HH-17 Manitou subunit. The eastern boundary runs north from the stream, following the 200 foot contour to its intersection with NY Route 403, which it follows to its intersection with the 300 foot contour, a common boundary with the HH-16 Anthony's Nose subunit. The boundary follows the 300 foot contour, a common boundary with the HH-21 Fort Hill subunit, north to its intersection with Philipse Brook Road and the viewshed of the Hudson River, a common boundary with the HH-22 Nelson Corners subunit, which it follows to its intersection with NY Route 301, the Cold Spring-Carmel Road. The western boundary follows the ridge of the bluff of the Hudson River along the 100 foot contour from the stream at the base of Sugarloaf Hill to its intersection with County Route 12, and then follows County Route 12 and County Route 14 to the railroad and the limit of northern development in the hamlet, a common boundary with the HH-18 Manitou Marsh and HH-19 Garrison Landing subunit. North of Garrison Landing, the Garrison Four Corners subunit includes a short stretch of the Hudson River. Here the subunit extends across the Hudson River and shares a common boundary with the West Point Military Academy subunit on the western shorelands of the Hudson River. The western boundary then moves inland, running along the base of the wooded bluffs that border HH-23 Constitution Marsh, following the 20 foot contour to its intersection with Foundry Brook, a common boundary with the Constitution Marsh subunit. The subunit boundary then runs north along Foundry Brook to NY Route 301, the Cold Spring-Carmel Road, a common boundary with the HH-25 Cold Spring subunit, which it follows to the intersection of the viewshed of the Hudson River. The subunit is approximately 5.75 miles long and between 0.25 and 1.5 miles wide. It is located in the Town of Philipstown and the Village of Nelsonville, Putnam County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheets, numbers 3 and 4, for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
This large subunit consists of a dramatic and varied topographic relief, including the Hudson River and adjacent wooded bluffs; a broad plain covered with meadows, pastures and estates; and the steep, wooded hillsides rising to the rolling upland below Cat Hill in the northeast corner of the subunit. The vegetation coverage is a blend of formal landscaped estates and mature woodlands. There are numerous small streams, including Indian Brook, Philipse Brook and Arden Brook, all of which flow through ravines and over waterfalls, notably on Indian Brook. Wetlands and ponds, notably Dales Pond and Lath's Pond, constitute other water features in the subunit.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit consists of a landscape rich in heritage. It is composed of well-preserved historic estates and villas; active farmsteads; a country club and a small crossroad settlement. Several of the large estates are dramatically sited among the mature woodlands of the hillsides, taking advantage of remarkable panoramic views of the Hudson River and the Hudson Highlands. The estates are set in a formal landscape of spreading lawns and woodlands, while good use is made of manmade landscape and boundary features such as hedgerows, stonewalls, gateways and gatehouses.
The significance of numerous old estates, homes, and other buildings, many visible from public roads, has been recognized through their listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The majority of these estates are located adjacent to NY Route 9D, the Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway. The cultural character of each is discussed below.
Boscobel is a Federal style home originally built in 1806 for States Morris Dyckman on a site at Montrose, Westchester County. Its design follows the English examples of a slightly earlier period and is perhaps the most extraordinarily refined surviving example of an Adamesque style residence in America. In 1955 it was threatened with demolition, only to be saved by preservationists and moved the 15 miles to its current 45 acre landscaped site on a bluff overlooking the Hudson River and Constitution Marsh. The grounds have a large variety of formal plantings, including spring bulbs, roses, herbs and orchards. Reconstruction of the residence on the new site relied upon the drawings of the Historic American Building Survey (1934) for guidance. Restored and reconstructed as faithfully to the original as possible, Boscobel is now open to the public as one of America's most important museums of the decorative arts from the Federal period of American architecture and furniture. The architectural merits of Boscobel lie in the successful manifestation of the neoclassical elements of its design which typifies the urbane and cosmopolitan nature of the residential architecture of the Federal Period and epitomize the expression of the English taste that continued well after the Revolutionary War.
The Birches, built in 1882 for William H. Osborn, is significant as an intact example of a picturesque Gothic Cottage. Designed by Ralph Adams Cram to a style popularized by Vaux and Withers, the stone and shingle residence, located at Garrison Four Corners at the junction of NY Route 9D and NY Route 403, is unique in the Hudson Highlands.
Part of the Castle Rock estate, the major portion of which is located in the adjacent Anthony's Nose subunit, is included in the Garrison Four Corners subunit. Adjacent to the western stone gate on NY Route 9D is the rambling frame and clapboard residence known as Wing and Wing. This was an expansion of the original dwelling on the estate and for thirty years served as the summer house of the Osborn family until the completion of the castle. Two small barns and a cottage lie to the east of this residence. Located nearby in the meadows along NY Route 9D are a two story residence built during the 1890's and a guest cottage constructed around 1900. Two additional residential properties are located in the meadows, an integral part of the landscaping of the large estate. A stone gatehouse stands at the entrance to the long and winding driveway which ascends to Castle Rock from NY Route 403. Picturesque dirt roads and trails run throughout the estate.
Cold Spring Cemetery Gatehouse, built in 1862, is an early example of Gothic architecture in the area. Constructed in cut granite, the structure is now a residence.
The DeRham Farm, located off Indian Book Road, includes a two and a half story residence, two cottages, a carriage house, orchard house, playhouse shed, well house, barn and greenhouses. The main residence, completed around 1810, was originally in the Federal style; but subsequent alterations and rebuilding have followed both the Greek and Colonial Revival styles. Originally one estate, the property now consists of four separate parcels. The estate has a long history and is significant as it illustrates the historic and social development of the area and represents the design characteristics of a 19th century gentleman's farm as it evolved over time.
The land on which the farm stands was part of the original Highland Patent held by the Philipse family through the 18th century. It was first developed and farmed by a tenant farmer in the early 1700's. The farm passed through the family of the original tenant until the lease expired and was finally sold around 1820. The farm passed through a number of owners, each one improving the estate and its facilities until the farm was purchased by Henry C. DeRham in 1834. He used the estate as a summer home and was responsible for the major 19th century alterations to the estate. It remained in the family until 1949 when the farm was divided into the four current parcels and sold. Although the estate buildings are now in separate ownership and the acreage of the farm is greatly reduced, the location and integrity of the farm buildings remain as they were in the gentleman farming days of the 19th century. The main house is one of the oldest and most substantial residences in the area.
Dick's Castle, a romantic villa and somewhat of a folly, is significant as one of the small group of monumental houses built in the Hudson Valley and one of three fantasy buildings in the Hudson Highlands. Inspired by an 8th century Moorish castle and exhibiting flavors of Alhambra, this building of cast concrete was begun by Evans R. Dick in 1903 on its site some 400 feet above the Hudson River, offering panoramic vistas of the Hudson Highlands. The castle fronts the river with a high facade and contributes a southern European Renaissance character to the area. After a checkered history, the house stood unfinished for over seventy years, affected by early financial problems. Parts of the building were used as a residence before the Dia Art Foundation purchased the site in the 1980's with plans for a museum of Hudson Valley art. This never materialized, and Dick's Castle is being converted into condominiums. Renovation continues, although the structure remains empty. The structure has been painted a sterile white and has a vivid orange roof. These colors are out of character with the landscape, and the building stands out obtrusively on the hillside, constituting a discordant feature visible from distant Storm King and Bear Mountains.
Eagle's Rest, the Jacob Ruppert estate, focuses around a two story cut granite clad mansion built in the Tudor style and completed in 1929. Located off NY Route 9D, it commands impressive views of the Hudson River, Constitution Island and Marsh and West Point. The main residence is surrounded by 26 related outbuildings, including a large horse and cow barn. The barn complex recreates an English manorial village, complete with stone walls and a landscaped setting. Colonel Jacob Ruppert, the estate's owner, was a leading business figure and notable politician in New York City. He owned the New York Yankees and built Yankee Stadium.
The estate remained empty for a number of years after his death until it was purchased by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America for a religious retreat and educational seminary. The buildings now form the St. Basil's Academy. The main buildings on the estate are used for residence halls, classrooms and offices. The new buildings on the site do not conflict with the integrity of the estate, which remains fully intact. The Eagle's Rest is a notable complex of estate support buildings focused around a distinctive main residence. It is significant for its distinctive architectural qualities and its association with Jacob Ruppert, one of the State's most prominent citizens. The Gothic Revival residence with its siting above the Hudson River is the most significant of its type in the area.
Glencliffe is located to the south of the Highlands Country Club. It was the country seat of Hamilton Fish, a former Governor of New York and U.S. Senator who subsequently served as U.S. Secretary of State. An Italianate brick house was erected in 1861. The house was frequently enlarged, and the landscape grounds improved, by Fish and his son Stuyvesant Fish, president of the Illinois Central Railroad, during the 65 years of Fish family ownership. The property was sold the 1930's to the Capuchin Order, which modified the house to serve as a convent and constructed a large brick monastery within the grounds.
About 1860 Richard Arden constructed a frame grist mill on Arden Brook near the junction of NY Route 9D and Lower Station Road. Associated with it are a millers house and barn, both probably considerably older. The mill survives with its internal structure and external elements remarkably intact. These three structure now adorn the grounds of the Highlands Country Club.
Fairlawn is a three story brick residence built in 1860 for Thomas P. Rossiter to his own design. Rossiter was a nationally known painter of portraits and religious and historical paintings. The building is one of the most important Italianate residences in the Hudson Highlands, retaining significant classical detailing such as stone decoration and later additions of Greek cornices. The estate, located off NY Route 9D adjacent to the Boscobel Restoration, is sited prominently on the bluffs above Constitution Marsh and overlooks the Hudson River and West Point. It was at one time the home of Judge Robert P. Patterson, Assistant Secretary of War during World War II.
Garrison Union Free School, built in 1908, is a one story rustic stone and timber building. It is significant as a distinctive example of educational architecture in the Hudson Highlands and embodies the characteristics of a type and method of construction typical in the region. The school is also significant for its contribution to the educational history of the area.
The Hurst-Pierrepont Estate, located on a private road off NY Route 9D, focuses around a Gothic Villa designed by Alexander Jackson Davis and completed in 1867. The clapboard residence, barn and carriage house in a landscaped setting is a distinct example of this style. The estate is significant because of its association with a master architect and Edwards Pierrepont, the original owner, whose prominence as a State and national politician in the years after the Civil War (U.S. Attorney General) distinguishes him as one of the most significant individuals to reside in the area. The estate remains a private residence.
Cedar Crest, on lower Snake Road, was the country seat established by John M. Toucey, General Manager of the New York Central Railroad in the late nineteenth century. The house is constructed of stone in a tudor-revival style. In recent years it has served as a rehabilitation center for young women addicted to drugs and is known as the Walter Hoving home.
Mandeville House, located on Lower Station Road, is one of the oldest residences in the Garrison area. The original house was reputedly built in 1735 on part of the Philipse patent. The location of the residence placed it at the hub of early transportation routes in the Hudson Highlands, a major intersection on King's Highway with easy access to the major overland route between New York City and Albany and with access to river landings and a route inland. In 1852 significant alterations were made in the Gothic style by the architect Richard Upjohn, who lived in the residence for over 25 years. Its many owners over the years changed the style of the structure, and it has evolved from Gothic through Dutch Colonial to its current style of Colonial Revival. The main significance of Mandeville House is the intact nature of its early first story plan and the continuum of style and features. The residence also has historical significance for its association with the architect Richard Upjohn and as a Revolutionary War Headquarters for General Israel Putnam which was visited by George Washington.
Montrest, located above Cold Spring near the junction of Lane Gate Road and Moffet Road, features a farm complex in a landscaped setting, dating from 1868. This includes a clapboard main house, outbuildings, stables and carriage house. The estate was originally designed as a summer residence but was converted into a permanent residence in 1947. It is a distinctive example of a Victorian country estate which has evolved into a comfortable and informal example of its style and type, distinguished from strict interpretations of the picturesque revival. The large and rambling main residence is situated with dramatic views of the Hudson River and Breakneck Mountain.
Moore House, built in 1867, is a rare example of farm worker housing. The modest architecture and simple plan show the distinctive characteristics of the type and period of construction.
Normandy Grange, built in 1903, was originally owned by Evan Dick while the nearby Dick's Castle was being constructed. The estate consists of a stone and stucco residence, with accompanying gatehouse, barn and carriage house in a landscaped setting. The buildings are a significant example of Norman style architecture, retaining their original condition. The unusual form and style were consistent with their builder's eccentric architectural taste, as illustrated in Dick's Castle.
The Sloan Estate, "Oulagisket", comprised of a clapboard and stucco house, carriage house, cottage, shop, stables and barn, was completed between 1864 and 1900. It is a fine example of a large-scale Italianate estate. The wooded hillside setting of the estate overlooks the Hudson River. The estate was the home of Samuel Sloan, who rose from railroad worker to President of the Hudson River Railroad and later, the Lackawanna Railroad. After his death the estate passed through family members to Vassar College, which used it as a horticultural center. The estate was too costly to maintain, however, and it was auctioned off with deed restrictions to protect the integrity of the design and setting of the overall estate. Oulagisket is significant because of its architectural distinction and its association with one of the area's most prominent citizens. The large stone Italianate estate is the most significant example of its type, period and method of construction in the Hudson Highlands.
Plumbush, located off NY Route 9D, is a composite of three distinct units based around Plumbush Farm, now a restaurant. Built for Robert Parker Parrott in 1850, the property is significant as the home of the Superintendent at the West Point Foundry and the inventor of the Parrott Gun, a weapon which changed the nature of warfare and opened the way for large barrelled guns and exploding projectiles.
Rock Lawn and its associated Carriage House were built in 1852. The two story brick residence was constructed to a design by Richard Upjohn for Henry White Belcher, owner of the Garrison and West Point Ferry Company which linked Garrison Landing to Highland Falls. In the latter 19th century the residence was owned by Congressman Hamilton Fish, Jr. Set in 12 acres of landscaped grounds, the main residence is classical in form and relates most closely to the Italian Villa style. It is one of the most important estate structures in the Hudson Highlands and one of only three buildings and the only Italian Villa associated with Upjohn in the SASS.
St. Philip's Church in the Highlands and its associated Rectory and Sexton's House are located off NY Route 9D. The current buildings, completed in 1861, are located on the site of an earlier church destroyed during the Revolutionary War. The present Gothic Revival granite church was designed by Richard Upjohn. The church complex is significant because of its architectural importance and its association with Richard Upjohn, who is buried in the adjoining churchyard.
The Walter Thompson House and its associated carriage house were completed in 1883. The main house is an impressive example of Tudor Revival and provides views of the Hudson River. Originally built for the Reverend Walter Thompson, Minister of St. Philip's Church in the Highlands, the residence is now used as a religious retreat. The building is the most significant Tudor Revival residence in the Hudson Highlands. Its carriage house is also a private residence.
The Wilson House, built in 1854, is a small Gothic cottage style dwelling. The clapboard residence with excellent detailing is the best example of its type in the Hudson Highlands.
Woodlawn, located on NY Route 9D, was designed by Richard Upjohn for William Moore, a New York City businessman. The two story brick residence was completed in 1854 and modified over the years as the estate developed. The building is an important Gothic Revival structure and a fine example of Upjohn's work. Other significant structures on the site are the stable, hay loft and ice house. The estate was a summer residence until 1927 when it was purchased by the Malcolm Gordon School.
The presence of wildlife provides ephemeral characteristics. Contrasts of an ephemeral nature are to be found in the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic character of the landscape composition, as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area.
Recent developments of large homes in the middle of old farm fields have broken with the traditional development pattern of the subunit. This has reduced visual quality, but the resulting developments are not discordant features in this well-preserved and immaculately maintained subunit. There are no other discordant features visible.
C. Views
Views from the subunit vary significantly within the subunit. The hillside estates offer extensive views of the Hudson River, Constitution Marsh and Island, West Point, Highland Falls and the broad meadows and settlements on the lowland. Views from the low-lying land are more constrained and tend to be directed across the meadows and up to the surrounding mansions set against the backdrop of peaks and rolling upland of the Hudson Highlands. Views from the Hudson River are of the wooded bluffs along the shoreline and the steep wooded upland dotted with estates. The historic estates have a strong presence and serve as major focal points in the landscape.
III. Uniqueness
The Garrison Four Corners subunit is unique. The location and arrangement of numerous well-preserved historic estates is unique in the Hudson Highlands and is a feature uncommon in the State and region. The collection of villas of many periods and wide ranging architectural styles is also unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
The land ownership pattern of large holdings and the low density development scattered throughout the subunit restrict public accessibility to the Garrison Four Corners subunit. Public accessibility is mostly limited to NY Route 9D, the Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway, which bisects the subunit, and the extensive network of local roads within the subunit. These are generally lightly-travelled and offer some spectacular vistas of the Hudson Valley. The subunit is also visible from the Hudson River and the passenger trains and forms both the middleground and background in views from subunits on the western shoreland of the Hudson River, notably from West Point.
The waterfall and ravine on Indian Brook are accessible to the public as part of the Constitution Marsh Sanctuary owned by New York State and managed by the National Audubon Society. They can be reached from Indian Brook Road. Parts of the Castle Rock Unique Area on the slopes around the Castle Rock estate as well as the Osborn Preserve portion of the Hudson Highlands State Park around Sugarloaf Hill provide considerable opportunities for public access in the southern part of the subunit. Some of the estates, notably Boscobel, are accessible to the public.
The Arden Point property has been purchased by the Open Space Institute. Thirty four acres of waterfront in this parcel, located in the adjacent HH-18 Manitou Marsh subunit, have been acquired by the State of New York and will be added to the Hudson Highlands State Park. Upland portions of this property are located in this subunit, including the Highlands Country Club which is open to the public.
V. Public Recognition
The Garrison Four Corners subunit receives very positive public recognition within the Hudson Highlands. NY Route 9D, the Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway, is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. The historical and architectural significance of the subunit is recognized through the inclusion of twenty major structures and their associated estates on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, most as part of the Hudson Highlands Multiple Resource Area.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Garrison Four Corners subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it is of high scenic quality. The subunit features an unusual variety of many positive landscape components, notably the many and varied historical structures laid out in a clear and unified pattern, with farms and settlement on the low-lying meadows and estates on the wooded hillsides. The contrast between formal, cultivated and wild landscapes is marked. The subunit is generally free of discordant features. The location and arrangement of numerous well-preserved historic estates within the subunit is unique in the Hudson Highlands. The subunit is accessible from local roads, the Hudson River, passenger trains, the Constitution Marsh Sanctuary, parts of the Castle Rock Unique Area and the Osborn Preserve, and is visible from subunits on the western shorelands of the Hudson River. The subunit is recognized through the designation of NY Route 9D as a Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law and through the inclusion of twenty structures and their estates on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, most as part of the Hudson Highlands Multiple Resource Area. The subunit is free from discordant features.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Fort Hill subunit is located on the eastern flanks of the Hudson Highlands, east of Garrison Four Corners. The western boundary of the subunit follows NY Route 403, Cat Rock Road, a common boundary with the HH-15 Wallace Pond subunit, north from its intersection with the New York-Albany Post Road, NY Route 9, which it follows to its intersection with the 300 foot contour and the Hudson River viewshed. The subunit then follows the 300 foot contour, north to its intersection with Philipse Brook Road and the viewshed of the Hudson River, a common boundary with the HH-20 Garrison Four Corners subunit. The eastern boundary is the coastal area boundary, following NY Route 9, the New York-Albany Post Road, running from the junction of NY Route 403, Cat Rock Road, north to the junction with Travis Corners Road. The northern boundary of the subunit follows Travis Corners Road and Philipse Brook Road to its intersection with the 300 foot contour and the Hudson River viewshed, a common boundary with the HH-22 Nelson Corners subunit. The subunit is approximately 2.25 miles long and one mile wide. It is located in the Town of Philipstown, Putnam County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheet number 4 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is composed of Fort Hill, a massive rounded hill reaching an elevation of 850 feet. The steep western face of Fort Hill provides the backdrop for the NY Route 9D corridor and the meadows and estates of the HH-20 Garrison Four Corners subunit located to the west. Mature woodlands of deciduous and coniferous trees cover this nearly undisturbed hill. The recreational landscape of part of the Garrison Golf Club contrasts with the woodlands. The Philipse and Travis Brooks are water features in the subunit.
B. Cultural Character
Land use in the subunit includes a portion of the Garrison Golf Club, scattered residential development along Cat Rock Road and the Catskill Aqueduct. The subunit provides the backdrop to the historic hamlet of Garrison and its many estates and is an important landmark in the Hudson Highlands.
The significance of the Frederick Osborn House, designed by Hall Pleasants Pennington and completed in 1920, has been recognized by listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. It is a two story stone residence with ornate towers, gables and arches. This distinctive example of the rustic revival style features contrasts between the irregular pattern of uncut pink granite and the regular patterns of the buildings' design features. The residence is situated in a woodland landscape and commands a wide south vista overlooking the Hudson River and the United States Military Academy at West Point. The house was built for Frederick Osborn, a grandson of William H. Osborn and a successful businessman and politician who was appointed Brigadier General in charge of morale during World War Two. The rambling eclectic residence incorporates Gothic and Italianate details and it is significant for its architectural contribution to the Hudson Highlands. It is an important part of the group of monumental residences situated on the ridgeline of the Hudson River viewshed.
The Walker House is also listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. It is a clapboard chateau which was a summer house on part of the original Sloan Estate. Completed in 1890, the building is now a year-round residence. The residence is significant for its Queen Anne style, rare in the Hudson Highlands.
Fort Hill is the site of the Continental Army's North Redoubt during the Revolutionary Wary. Traces of earthworks survive at this heavily wooded site.
The mature woodlands constitute an extensive wildlife habitat, and the presence of wildlife provides ephemeral characteristics. Contrasts of an ephemeral nature are also to be found in the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic character of the landscape composition as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area.
The subunit is generally well-maintained. A gravel mine located off Travis Corners Road is a discordant feature, but this is not intrusive and does not impair the overall scenic quality of the subunit.
C. Views
Views from the Fort Hill subunit are partially restricted by the topography and woodlands. Where open views are available, they are extensive and have a strong composition of positive features. Focal points include the Hudson River, West Point, Garrison and its estates, and the surrounding peaks of the Hudson Highlands.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit is not unique. The landscape is common to the Hudson Highlands region.
IV. Public Accessibility
The land ownership pattern of large holdings and the low density development scattered throughout the subunit restricts public accessibility in the Fort Hill subunit. Accessibility is limited to local roads within the subunit. The subunit is visible from adjacent subunits and from subunits on the western shorelands of the Hudson River, notably from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Part of the North Redoubt estate has recently been acquired by the Open Space Institute. This property includes trails which will be opened for public access in the future, increasing the opportunities for public access.
V. Public Recognition
The Fort Hill subunit is recognized by the public as a landmark in the Hudson Highlands and is an important background to the estate landscape of the HH-20 Garrison Four Corners subunit. The recent purchase of part of the North Redoubt estate by the Open Space Institute is a recognition of the scenic and historic quality of the subunit. The historical and architectural significance of the subunit is recognized by the inclusion of two residences on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Fort Hill subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it is of high scenic quality. The subunit exhibits a strong composition unified by a massive rounded hill, cloaked in mature woodlands. The hill is an important backdrop of landscape in this section of the Hudson Highlands. The subunit is accessible from local roads and is visible from subunits on the western shorelands of the Hudson River. It is recognized as a landmark in the Hudson Highlands. The historical and architectural significance of the subunit is recognized by the inclusion of two residences on the State and National Register of Historic Places and the recent acquisition of the North Redoubt property by the Open Space Institute.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Nelson Corners subunit is located on the eastern flanks of the Hudson Highlands, east of Garrison Four Corners. The southern boundary of the subunit follows Travis Corners Road and Philipse Brook Road from NY Route 9, the New York-Albany Post Road, to its intersection with the 300 foot contour and the Hudson River viewshed, a common boundary with the HH-21 Fort Hill subunit. The western boundary of the subunit follows the viewshed of the Hudson River north from its intersection with Philipse Brook Road to its intersection with NY Route 301, the Cold Spring-Carmel Road, a common boundary with the HH-20 Garrison Four Corners subunit. The eastern boundary is the coastal area boundary, following NY Route 9, the New York-Albany Post Road, running north from the junction with Travis Corners Road to the junction with NY Route 301, the Cold Spring-Carmel Road, at McKeel Corners. The northern boundary of the subunit follows the coastal area boundary along NY Route 301, the Cold Spring-Carmel Road, from McKeel Corners to its intersection with the viewshed of the Hudson River. The subunit is approximately 4 miles long and 0.75 miles wide. It is located in the Town of Philipstown, Putnam County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheets, numbers 3 and 4, for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is composed of rolling hills with elevations of up to 800 feet. The steep-sided Cat Hill is dominant in a diverse topography with many hilltops and valleys. Wetlands, ponds and streams, including Indian Brook and Philipse Brook, are water features in the subunit. The vegetation is a mix of mature woodlands, wetland species, meadows, the formal recreation landscape of a golf club and landscaped lawns.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit features a wooded landscape. There are scattered clusters of residences along local roads, including some recent development. The numerous structures are mostly screened by the topography and woodlands. The southern part of the subunit is dominated by the extensive recreational landscape of the Garrison Golf Club. The Catskill Aqueduct runs through the subunit. The 18th century narrow, unpaved public roads, flanked by mature trees and boulder stone walls, are maintained in a manner which preserves their historic scenic character.
The presence of wildlife provides ephemeral characteristics, and contrasts of an ephemeral nature are to be found in the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic character of the landscape composition as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area. The subunit is generally well-maintained. A gravel mine located off Travis Corners Road and the Town Dump located off Lane Gate Road are discordant features, but they are not intrusive and do not impair the scenic quality of the subunit.
C. Views
The subunit is located outside of the Hudson River viewshed, and direct views of the river are unavailable. Views within the subunit are primarily of the surrounding hillsides. The woodland and topography restrict the breadth of these views. Nearby peaks are positive focal points in the dramatic wooded backdrop of the Hudson Highlands.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit is not unique. The landscape is typical of the Hudson Highlands region.
IV. Public Accessibility
The land ownership pattern of large holdings related to the low density development scattered throughout the subunit restricts public accessibility to local roads in the Nelson Corners subunit.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition of the Nelson Corners subunit is limited to local residents.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Nelson Corners subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it is of high scenic quality. The subunit features a variety of positive scenic components including rolling uplands; the peak of Cat Hill; streams ponds and wetlands; woodland and meadows. There is a contrast between the woodland coverage which unifies the subunit and the formal open recreational landscape of the Garrison Golf Club. The subunit is publicly accessible via local roads. There are no discordant features visible.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
HH-23 Constitution Marsh Subunit
I. Location
The Constitution Marsh subunit is located on the east shore of the Hudson River south of the Village of Cold Spring. The western boundary runs along the base of the wooded bluffs that border Constitution Marsh, following the 20 foot contour to its intersection with Foundry Brook, a common boundary with the HH-20 Garrison Four Corners subunit. The boundary crosses Foundry Brook and continues to follow the 20 foot contour to the northern extent of Foundry Cove, a common boundary with the HH-25 Cold Spring subunit. The railroad tracks form the western boundary, in part a common boundary with the HH-24 Constitution Island subunit. The subunit extends across the Hudson River and shares a common boundary with the HH-4 West Point Military Academy subunit on the western shorelands of the Hudson River. The subunit is approximately 2 miles long and 0.5 miles wide. It is located in the Town of Philipstown and the Village of Cold Spring, Putnam County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheet number 3 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
This subunit is composed of wetlands, marshes, creeks, coves, tidal flats, and bordering upland areas. The marsh developed as a result of the changing course of the Hudson River caused when glacial ice, unable to follow the original sharp turns of the river created by fault zones, carved new channels and left the old channel to silt up, forming a tidal marsh. Foundry Brook, Indian Brook and Philipse Brook are the main streams which drain into the marsh. The extensive marsh contains several meandering streams, areas of open water, tidal flats and a distinctive pattern of drainage channels. The channels were created by Henry Warner, owner of Constitution Island in the mid 1800's, in his attempt to grow wild rice in the marsh. The vegetation is a rich mix of marsh plants, hedgerow and woodlands. Foundry Cove and Constitution Marsh are separated from the Hudson River by the railroad tracks, which run through the subunit on a causeway. The edges of Foundry Cove form a wetland fringe area.
B. Cultural Character
Constitution Marsh is a much-valued wildlife area with large populations and varieties of fish and wildlife. A large section of the subunit is owned by New York State and managed as a wildlife sanctuary by the National Audubon Society. Few structures exist in the subunit.
Just to the south of the Village of Cold Spring is the site of the West Point Foundry. The historical and architectural value of the site has been recognized through its listing on the National and State Registers of Historic Places. Ideally located for industrial activity, the site had many natural advantages including river transportation, water power, timber and iron ore and proximity to the defenses at West Point. Continuously occupied from 1817 until recently, the site contains a continuum of industrial archaeological remains and exhibits remains of structures and changing industrial processes. In the mid-19th century the site consisted of an iron foundry, a brass foundry, a gun foundry, boring mill, pattern shops, machine shops, boiler shops, a turning shop, coal house, store, pattern houses, fire house, a carpenter shop, a weigh house and furnaces. Several additional industrial buildings were added at the turn of the 20th century.
Little remains of this once-thriving industrial area. The foundry is now an important archaeological site. The dams that provided water power are still visible on Margaret's Brook, and the docks, wagon roads and railbeds are still identifiable. Building foundations and sections of walls are visible, and the remnants of industrial activity, including slag, ashes, rusted metal and old machinery mounts, are present throughout the area. The main remaining intact structure is the large, two story brick office building which is in a badly deteriorated state.
The West Point Foundry Association was among the most significant industrial enterprises in the United States during the 19th century. Considered in the mid-century to be the largest industrial establishment in the nation involved in the manufacture of iron and brass, the foundry produced a wide-ranging variety of products,including steam engines, ship engines, iron building fronts, industrial machinery, sleighs, bells, propeller shafts, garden furniture, and the pipes for the Croton Aqueduct and water mains for New York City, Boston and Chicago. The parts for the first two railroad locomotives produced in the country were manufactured in the foundry and assembled in the finishing shop. The foundry's main fame came from armament manufacture, notably the production of the Parrott gun which revolutionized modern warfare. The foundry plant expanded to meet the increasing demands for armaments around the time of the Civil War, and the foundry's growth was accompanied with a corresponding growth in the village as the work force increased. Employment averaged over 500 people during its eighty years of operation, peaking at over 1000 during the Civil War.
In 1899 the West Point Foundry Association sold the property to the J.B. and J.M. Cornell Iron Company. They ceased operation in 1911, after which time the plant was used by several manufacturing enterprises including a nut and bolt factory, a dye works and a cotton company. The site remains derelict, although there have been plans to redevelop the site as a large marina and hotel complex.
The Marathon Battery factory which operated on nearby Kemble Avenue from 1952-79 has left a harmful environmental legacy in this subunit. Discharges of pollutants from the factory into the cove and marsh, including cadmium, cobalt and nickel, have created a serious hazardous waste site. Much of Foundry Cove is now a Federal Superfund site, and major remediation work will be undertaken.
The presence of wildlife provides ephemeral characteristics. Contrasts of an ephemeral nature are also to be found in the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic character of the landscape composition as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area.
The subunit is generally well-maintained. There are no significant discordant features within the subunit, although the railroad tracks and associated utilities are a prominent landscape feature and detract from the visual quality of the subunit.
C. Views
Views from the subunit are extensive. The views of the Hudson River are somewhat contained by bends in the river. Access into the marsh by canoe and from a boardwalk provides spectacular views of the subunit and surrounding subunits. Views from the Hudson River are of the wooded bluffs along the shoreline and the steep wooded upland dotted with estates. There is a balanced composition of many positive scenic components set against the background of the peaks of the Hudson Highlands. Several very prominent focal points are fully or partially visible. These include the West Point Military Academy, Constitution Island, Dick's Castle, Boscobel, Eagle's Rest, Storm King, and the surrounding peaks of the Hudson Highlands.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit features an extensive tidal wetland. This is a scenic component that is unique in the Hudson Highlands and rare on the Hudson River.
IV. Public Accessibility
Much of the Constitution Marsh subunit is owned by New York State and managed as a wildlife sanctuary by the National Audubon Society, offering public access to the marsh from Indian Brook Road. There is a small interpretative center on the edge of the marsh and a network of trails leading to a boardwalk in the marsh. The National Audubon Society leads guided canoe trips into the marsh and tidal flats. The subunit is also visible from the Hudson River, the passenger trains that run through the subunit, the overlooking estates, some of which are open to the public, and from subunits on the western shoreland of the Hudson River, notably from the United States Military Academy at West Point and local roads.
V. Public Recognition
The Constitution Marsh subunit is widely recognized as a landmark on the Hudson River and is valued as an important scenic and wildlife habitat area. The architectural and historical significance of the old West Point Foundry site is recognized in its listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Ninety three acres of the old West Point Foundry site are now an archaeological site, with the abandoned Victorian office building the major visible landmark.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Constitution Marsh subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it is of high scenic quality and features an extensive area of tidal marsh and flats surrounded by steep wooded slopes. The variety of scenic components includes open water, streams, marsh and wetland vegetation and a woodland edge. These have distinctive contrasts in form, line and texture. The marsh is a unifying component. Much of the subunit is in public ownership, and a trail system and boardwalk provide access into the marsh. The subunit is also visible from the Hudson River and surrounding subunits. The subunit is a unique and valued landscape feature in the Hudson Highlands, and the marsh is known as the middleground in views from West Point. The foundry site is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. There are no discordant features.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
HH-24 Constitution Island Subunit
I. Location
The Constitution Island subunit is located adjacent to the east banks of the Hudson River south of the Village of Cold Spring. The western boundary runs along the railroad tracks, a common boundary with the HH-23 Constitution Marsh subunit. The subunit extends across the Hudson River and shares a common boundary with the HH-4 West Point Military Academy and the HH-3 Contemporary West Point Military Academy subunits on the western shorelands of the Hudson River. The subunit is roughly circular in shape with a diameter of 0.75 miles. It is located in the Town of Philipstown, Putnam County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheet number 3 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is a rolling, wooded island in the Hudson River. The original channel of the Hudson, following a fault zone, was established east of Constitution Island. Later, glacial ice, unable to follow the sharp turns, carved a new channel to the west of the island, leaving the present landform as a feature in the river. Along with West Point, Constitution Island creates a narrow bend in the river. The island protrudes into the Hudson River and features many small points and coves. It is covered with mature mixed woodlands with occasional clearings.
B. Cultural Character
Constitution Island was granted by the Crown to the Philipse family during the mid-18th century. It was originally known as Martaelaer's Rock and later renamed Constitution Island. The island was historically a strategic site for controlling passage north during the Revolutionary War. In 1777 the British took control of the island and its fort for a three week period. In 1778 the island was further fortified as the location of a chain stretching from West Point to the island to halt the northward progression of the British forces, but the strength of the chain was never tested in warfare. Remains of these fortifications, known as Fort Constitution, are still visible along the rocky shore frontage.
In 1863 Constitution Island was purchased by Henry Warner and became the home of the Warner sisters, two noted authors of the 19th century. The island was given to the government by Margaret Slocum Sage, a noted philanthropist who purchased the island from the Warners. The terms of the gift provided for the maintenance of the island and house "as is forever". The Warner House is preserved as a living museum by the Constitution Island Association along with the Anna B. Warner Memorial Garden.
The presence of wildlife provides ephemeral characteristics. Contrasts of an ephemeral nature are also to be found in the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic character of the landscape composition as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area.
The subunit is part of the United States Military Academy at West Point and is well-maintained. It is used for limited social, educational and recreational activities.. There are few structures on the island, and no discordant features are visible.
C. Views
Views from the subunit are extensive, reaching along the Hudson River and to the surrounding mountains which form a backdrop to the island. Views from the Hudson River are of a low wooded island set against the steep wooded upland, dotted with estates. Many significant focal points are visible in the viewshed including the historic core of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Storm King Mountain, Constitution Marsh, the Village of Cold Spring and numerous estates on the hillside to the east.
III. Uniqueness
The large wooded island is unique in the Hudson Highlands and is a clearly distinguished landform.
IV. Public Accessibility
The Constitution Island subunit is part of the United States Military Academy and has limited public accessibility. Seasonally, the Constitution Island Association offers weekly tours of the Warner home, the Anna B. Warner Memorial Garden and the Revolutionary War ruins. The subunit is visually accessible from the Hudson River and from the passenger trains that run on the edge of the subunit. It is a prominent focal point in the views from surrounding subunits, notably from local roads, locations at West Point, the Village of Cold Spring, the mansions and estates on the hillsides in the Town of Philipstown and the scenic and heavily visited NY Route 218 on the flanks of Storm King Mountain.
V. Public Recognition
Constitution Island is a National Historic Landmark, listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, and is recognized by the public as a landmark on the Hudson River. The island is valued for its role in the Revolutionary War.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Constitution Island subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it is of high scenic quality. The subunit features a large wooded island adjacent to the eastern shore of the Hudson River, and a varied topography of low rolling upland and a shoreline configuration of small points and coves. The sharp break between woodland and water at the river's edge provides a contrast in line, texture and form. The subunit is unified by its dominant woodland coverage. Such a large wooded island is unique in the Hudson Highlands and is a clearly distinguished landmark. Constitution Island is part of the United States Military Academy, and limited public access is provided to the island through tours of the Warner Home, the Anna B. Warner Memorial Garden and the Revolutionary War ruins. The subunit is recognized by the public for its historical significance dating from the Revolutionary War, the basis for its designation as a National Historic Landmark. There are no discordant features visible in the subunit.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Cold Spring subunit consists of the Villages of Cold Spring and Nelsonville, located on the east bank of the Hudson River. The southern and eastern boundary of the subunit runs along the 20 foot contour from the northern extent of Foundry Cove to its intersection with Foundry Brook, a common boundary with the Constitution Marsh subunit. It then runs north along Foundry Brook to NY Route 301, the Cold Spring-Carmel Road, a common boundary with the HH-20 Garrison Four Corners subunit, and follows NY Route 301 to the intersection with the coastal area boundary, which it follows to its intersection with the boundary of the HH-26 Hudson Highlands State Park. The northern boundary of the subunit is the southern boundary of the Hudson Highlands State Park, a common boundary with the Hudson Highlands State Park subunit, which it follows from Little Stony Point to its intersection with the coastal area boundary. The subunit extends across the Hudson River and shares a common boundary with the HH-2 Storm King subunit on the western shorelands of the Hudson River. The subunit extends approximately 2 miles northeast from the Hudson River up the Foundry Brook Valley and is between 0.75 and 1 mile wide. It is located in the Town of Philipstown, Village of Cold Spring and the Village of Nelsonville, Putnam County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheet number 3 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The topography of the Cold Spring subunit is composed of a flat waterfront area along the shores of the Hudson River, Foundry Cove and a low protrusion into the Hudson River. Beyond this the subunit rises gently to the sloping valley hillsides on the flanks of Bull Hill and along the valley of the Foundry Brook. The vegetation of the subunit is a mix of mature street planting and woodland. The Hudson River is the main water feature in the subunit, and Foundry Brook runs along the southeastern boundary.
B. Cultural Character
The Cold Spring subunit features a tightly-knit settlement with a strong locational and historical relationship with the Hudson River. The Village of Cold Spring occupies the lowland adjacent to the Hudson River and rises up the hillside to the Village of Nelsonville, situated on the southern flanks of Bull Hill.
The Village of Cold Spring is significant in the history of the Hudson Highlands. It was settled in the early 19th century as a small riverfront center built around the major local industrial activities of mining and a large foundry. Early settlement focused on the shoreline and grew around the historic Main Street which today leads through a small valley and the historic village center directly to the river's edge, ending in a small wharf and docks.
An early plan for the village was established by Frederick Phillipse. Lots were sold for the development of the riverfront area, resulting in the orderly development of the community. The existing land-use pattern of commercial and public buildings along Main Street, with residential side streets and larger estates above on the hillsides, is a direct result of the implementation of this plan.
The West Point Foundry, sited mostly in the adjacent HH-23 Constitution Marsh subunit, was established in 1817. By the mid-19th century, it had become the largest foundry in the United States. Cold Spring grew around the foundry into the commercial and industrial center of the Hudson Highlands. The main growth in the village took place between 1830 and 1870 when the basic arrangement of the original plan for the village was developed through infill along the existing streets and new subdivisions. In 1848 the Hudson River railroad was laid, running through the lower portion of the village and separating the upland and waterfront areas. The character of the village changed after several severe fires during the late 1800's. Rebuilding yielded the shop fronts that still characterize the village. In the 1890's many street trees were planted, a public water supply installed and electric street lighting introduced.
Today, Cold Spring is a picturesque village which has maintained and restored many of its historic structures, including the Chapel of Our Lady, built on the shore of the Hudson in 1828. Some large estates have been replaced by public buildings, parkland or residential subdivisions; but Main Street and its adjacent residential areas retain their traditional character, a mix of residential, retail and commercial activities. The village's historic waterfront buildings are especially significant in their visual relationship to the river, and the riverfront park and bandstand provide a focal point against the backdrop of West Point and the western Hudson Highlands.
Cold Springs's greatest assets are the historic character of its constructed elements, the small town character of its life-style and the highly scenic quality of its setting in the natural environment of the Hudson Highlands. The significance of many structures, most visible from public roads, has been recognized through their listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places as part of the Hudson Highlands Multiple Resource Area. Included in the listing are industrial, commercial and residential properties and two historic districts, the details of which are outlined below.
The Cold Spring Historic District is concentrated along the axis of Main Street, a predominantly commercial street with some municipal, religious and residential structures. Parts of the adjoining residential streets are also included in the district with distinctive examples of the full range of styles, building types and construction methods spanning over a century of growth. The oldest parts of the village are found between the river and the railroad. The early street configuration remains. Although the area is now distinguished by 19th century structures, the character of the landing has been maintained. The commercial core of the village is an eight block section of Main Street. Architecturally, the village is an eclectic mix of frame and brick structures of various scales and styles with many varied features and design details from the many building periods.
At the junction of Main Street, Morris Avenue and NY Route 9D is St. Mary's Episcopal Church and an impressive grouping of Second Empire homes. These wealthy homes exploited the vistas available from the higher elevations above the village. Also in this part of the village is a collection of more middle-class residences. Two other distinctive neighborhood areas can be identified within the historic district. Kemble Avenue, south of Main Street, contains a significant row of duplex workers' housing built for laborers at the West Point Foundry; and adjacent to the railroad is a residential neighborhood which reflects the impact of the railroad on village life. The Cold Spring Historic District contains approximately 225 structures of varying types, periods and methods of construction.
The Cold Spring Historic District is significant for its architectural and historical associations as a planned settlement related to the growth of the adjacent West Point Foundry. The different periods of growth and prosperity of the foundry influenced the accompanying increase in the size of the village. The village also exhibits the legacy of the prosperous and paternalistic society associated with this part of the Hudson Highlands.
The Village of Nelsonville, stretching up the hillside above Cold Spring, has a mix of historic properties. The First Baptist Church of Cold Spring, completed in 1833, is the only frame church of distinction in the Hudson Highlands. It is the oldest church in the Town of Philipstown and has been in continuous operation within the same structure since its formation. The church retains its original design and is one of the most architecturally significant buildings in the Village of Nelsonville. Other structures listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places as part of the Hudson Highlands Multiple Resource Area are the Fish and Fur Club, the Hustis House, the Italianate residence at 3 Crown Street, the clapboard residence at 249 Main Street, the H.D. Champlin and Sons Horseshoeing and Wagonmaking shop on Main Street and the elaborately decorated J.Y. Dykman's Flour and Feed Store.
The West Point Foundry, most of which is located in the adjacent Constitution Marsh subunit, is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The historical significance of the foundry is discussed in more detail in the narrative of the Constitution Marsh subunit.
The Marathon Battery factory which operated on Kemble Avenue from 1952-79 has left a harmful environmental legacy in this subunit. Discharges of pollutants from the factory, including cadmium, cobalt and nickel, entered the Hudson River at an outfall pipe on the Cold Spring pier, creating a serious hazardous waste site. This is now part of a Federal Superfund site, and major remediation works will be undertaken.
Active industrial uses once occupied much of the waterfront in the subunit. Today only two major parcels of the village are used for light industry. The former Marathon Battery plant is now a warehouse and storage yard, and the waterfront pier is partially used for oil storage and distribution.
Contrasts of an ephemeral nature are to be found in the subunit. The bustle of an active village center enhance the scenic quality of the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhances the aesthetic character of the landscape composition as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area.
The subunit is generally well maintained. There are no discordant features visible, although the railroad, the waterfront pier used for oil storage and distribution and some recent commercial development in the eastern portion of the village detract from the overall scenic quality of the subunit.
C. Views
The Villages of Cold Spring and Nelsonville are oriented along an east-west road that rises inland away from the Hudson River and affords many residences a river view. Views down Main Street, framed by the buildings and street trees, are directed to the Hudson River, while the surrounding Hudson Highland peaks provide the backdrop to the village. Storm King Mountain to the north is visible from many locations in the subunit; and the steep slopes of Crows Nest, directly across the Hudson River, are dominant in views to the west. Views from the river are of the historic waterfront, including the docks, wharf, residences and the restored Chapel of Our Lady, and of Main Street rising up the wooded hillsides of the subunit. There is a strong composition of many scenic components with many interesting focal points, including the numerous and varied structures located on the estates which dot the wooded hillsides of the adjacent HH-20 Garrison Four Corners subunit, and the peaks of Storm King and Crows Nest and the United States Military Academy at West Point on the western shorelands of the Hudson River.
III. Uniqueness
The location of such a large historic village on the shores of the Hudson River is unique. The development of the village as an industrial center rather than the typical Hudson River pattern of development based around a commercial waterfront is unique in the region. The subunit is also unique in combining a very historic and well-preserved riverfront village center with some of the Hudson River's most dramatic topography.
IV. Public Accessibility
The Cold Spring subunit is accessible from the Hudson River, NY Route 9D and many local streets. Passengers on the railroad trains also catch a glimpse of the village. Metro North trains stop at the Cold Spring station. The three acre waterfront park, with its bandstand, small dock and grassy areas, is heavily used by the public and provides spectacular views of the Hudson River and the surrounding uplands of the Hudson Highlands. There are plans for the restoration of the dilapidated municipal dock to once again allow passenger vessels to stop at Cold Spring, increasing public accessibility to the subunit. The park is the focus of public waterfront activity for the region around Cold Spring and is one of the most accessible public spaces on the Hudson River in Putnam County. The subunit is visible from NY Route 218 on the west bank of the Hudson as it hugs Storm King Mountain and from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
V. Public Recognition
The scenic and historic values of the Cold Spring subunit are well recognized. The Village of Cold Spring is known for its collection of shops and restaurants. The architectural and historical significance of the Village of Cold Spring as one of the best preserved 19th century townscapes in the Hudson Region is recognized through the inclusion of the Cold Spring Historic District and the West Point Foundry site in the Hudson Highlands Multiple Resource Area, listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Ninety three acres of the old West Point Foundry site, situated primarily in the Constitution Marsh subunit, are now an archaeological site, with the abandoned Victorian office building the major visible landmark. The Village of Nelsonville has nine properties included in the Hudson Highlands Multiple Resource Area listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Cold Spring subunit is included in the Hudson Highlands SASS because it is of high scenic quality. There is much variety in the physical and cultural components of the subunit, including variety in the topography, vegetation and the many building styles. The subunit is unified by the tight, historic pattern of development in the two villages. The built areas of the subunit contrast with the rugged Hudson Highlands landscape that surrounds the villages, and there is a contrast in line, form and style among the numerous structures. The location of such a large and well preserved historic village on the shores of the Hudson River is unique. The development of the village as an industrial center rather than the typical Hudson River pattern of development based around a commercial waterfront is unique in the region. The subunit is accessible from local roads, the passenger trains, the waterfront park, the Hudson River and from surrounding subunits. It is well recognized as an historic village on the waterfront situated in a dramatic setting. The historical and architectural value of the subunit is recognized by the inclusion of the Cold Spring Historic District, the West Point Foundry, and nine properties in the Village of Nelsonville in the Hudson Highlands Multiple Resource Area listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. There are no discordant features in the subunit.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
HH-26 Hudson Highlands State Park Subunit
I. Location
The Hudson Highlands State Park subunit is located south and east of the City of Beacon and stretches south to the Villages of Cold Spring and Nelsonville. The southern boundary of the subunit is the southern boundary of the Hudson Highlands State Park, a common boundary with the HH-25 Cold Spring subunit, which it follows from Little Stony Point to its intersection with the coastal area boundary. The eastern boundary of the subunit is the coastal area boundary, which follows the boundary of the Hudson Highlands State Park to its intersection with the Dutchess-Putnam County line, which the subunit boundary then follows along the ridgeline until the county line turns easterly. The subunit boundary then follows the ridgeline to Clove Creek and Interstate 84. The western boundary of the subunit follows NY Route 9D north from benchmark 14 to its intersection with the boundary of the City of Beacon, a common boundary with the HH-27 Dutchess Junction subunit. The subunit boundary then follows the coastal area boundary along the city line to its intersection with the Central Hudson power line which it follows northeasterly to the Fishkill Creek. The boundary then follows the creek to Interstate 84, then follows Interstate 84 easterly to Clove Creek. The subunit extends across the Hudson River to the high water mark on the western shorelands of the Hudson River, in part a common boundary with the HH-2 Storm King subunit. The subunit is approximately 7 miles long and between 1 and 2.5 miles wide. It is located in the Town of Fishkill, Dutchess County, the Town of Philipstown and the Village of Nelsonville, Putnam County and the Town of Cornwall and the Village of Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, Orange County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheets, numbers 1 and 3, for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is composed entirely of steep wooded mountains reaching elevations of up to 1600 feet, the highest peaks in the Hudson Highlands. Mountains included in the subunit are Sugarloaf Mountain, Bull Hill (Mount Taurus), South Beacon Mountain, North Beacon Mountain, Bald Hill and Lambs Hill. The northern slopes of the Scofield Ridge and Breakneck Ridge comprise much of the subunit. The rounded upland summits run together to form a distinctive ridgeline which marks the northern boundary of the Hudson Highlands. In places the mountains plunge down to the shore of the Hudson River and, with surrounding subunits, create part of the glacially-formed fjord of the Hudson Highlands. The subunit includes the Hudson River and the Fishkill Creek. Several streams, including Breakneck Brook, Wades Brook, Gordons Brook, Squirrel Hollow Brook and Dry Brook run through the subunit to meet either the Hudson River or Fishkill Creek. Two reservoirs are located in the subunit. The Beacon Reservoir is located high in the hills between North and South Beacon Mountains, and the Melzingah Reservoir is located north of Sugarloaf Mountain on Gordons Brook. Woodlands dominate these steep mountains with a mix of mature deciduous and coniferous trees. The Hudson River shoreline is generally gently curving, with two small wooded promontories at Little Stony Point and Breakneck Point. There is a sandy beach on the northeastern shore of Little Stony Point. The physical character of the subunit has been much altered through the effects of quarrying, notably on Bull Hill, Breakneck Ridge and Little Stony Point, that lasted from the early 1800's into the 1960's.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit includes the main body of the Hudson Highlands State Park, an extensive woodland habitat managed as public wildlands. It is generally well maintained. There is scattered residential development on the hillsides above Beacon, to the east of NY Route 9D and along the Fishkill Creek. During the Revolution, redoubts were established on the high summits of the subunit and were used as signal posts. Ruins of a large estate can be found on the western flank of Bull Hill. The Catskill Aqueduct, built in the early 1900s to carry water from the Ashokan Dam to New York City, crosses the subunit.
A significant feature in the subunit is the abandoned Mount Beacon Incline Railway. Designed by the Otis Elevator Company of Yonkers in 1902, the railway was built to provide easy access up the west side of North Beacon Mountain, enabling patrons to enjoy the panoramic vistas of the Hudson Highlands. The railway was 2,364 feet long with a 64 degree incline over its rise of 1,540 feet. It was reputed to be the steepest cable railway in the world. A cluster of buildings was developed at the summit of Mount Beacon, including the power house; the Beaconcrest Resort hotel, which was destroyed by fire in 1928; and a casino/club, destroyed by fire in 1981. The power house is the only surviving structure on the summit. The incline railway is significant in the history of engineering and recreation in the Hudson Highlands. As one of the prime amusements capitalizing on the scenic qualities of the Hudson Highlands, the railway, which enjoyed seventy years of successful operation, is also significant for its contribution to the public appreciation of the region. Although the supporting structures have disappeared, the railway retains its essential integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship.
The presence of wildlife provides ephemeral characteristics. Contrasts of an ephemeral nature are to be found in the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic character of the landscape composition as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area.
Quarrying operations were once widespread in this area of the Hudson Highlands, threatening its scenic value before the State acquired the land for the Hudson Highlands State Park. Evidence of abandoned quarrying operations and a pumping station are minor discordant features in the subunit and do not distract from the scenic value of the area.
The Scenic Hudson Land Trust has acquired 926 acres of Fishkill Ridge at the northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands. The property will be managed and made available for limited public use as a unit of the Hudson Highlands State Park.
Radio antennas located on the summit of North Beacon Mountain are discordant features in the subunit.
C. Views
Views from the ridgelines and summits of the subunit are extensive and include both peaks and shoreline, although they are frequently contained by the woodland cover. Long views are afforded up and down the Hudson River Valley and to the east and west, to the City of Beacon below, to Bannermans Castle and across to Storm King, the City of Newburgh, the Town of Cornwall and the Catskills. Views from the Hudson River are of Breakneck Ridge, the sandy beach and wooded promontory at Little Stony Point and of the steeply rising wooded uplands. Several positive focal points are in view including Storm King Mountain, notably as seen from the public beach area at Little Stony Point; Pollepel Island and Bannermans Castle; and the Village of Cold Spring, all set against the backdrop of the Hudson Highlands. Views of distant sprawling development in the Towns of New Windsor, Newburgh, and Fishkill as well as the Cities of Newburgh and Beacon detract somewhat from the overall visual quality of the viewshed.
III. Uniqueness
The collection of wooded peaks and the long undisturbed wooded ridgeline within the subunit are unique in the Hudson Highlands.
IV. Public Accessibility
The Hudson Highlands State Park subunit is accessible from NY Route 9D, local roads, the passenger trains that run along the shore of the Hudson River and from the Hudson River. All along NY Route 9D and on local roads in the subunit, informal parking areas and trail heads serve both the shoreline and mountainous areas, providing access to the Hudson Highlands State Park. These trails include Little Stony Point and its popular beach area, Breakneck Trail, Washburn Trail, Lake Surprise Road and the Catskill Aqueduct Tunnel Path. The Beacon Range in the north of the subunit, although mostly privately owned, is crossed by many trails developed by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. Many spectacular views of the Hudson Highlands are available from these trails. The subunit is visually accessible from surrounding subunits and features in views from Constitution Island, the United States Military Academy at West Point, the scenic overlooks on NY Route 9W and NY Route 218 on the flanks of Storm King Mountain, and from trails in the Storm King State Park. The subunit is significant in views from outside the Hudson Highlands SASS, notably from the Town and Village of Cornwall, Sloop Hill, the Town of New Windsor, The Town and City of Newburgh, the City of Beacon and the Beacon-Newburgh Bridge.
V. Public Recognition
The Hudson Highlands State Park subunit is valued as extensive and undisturbed mountainous wildlands. The subunit forms the eastern portion of the northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands. The historical and engineering significance of the Mount Beacon Incline Railway has been recognized through listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Hudson Highlands State Park subunit has high scenic quality. It features a diverse and dramatic topography unified by a long, undisturbed wooded ridgeline, a scenic component that is unique in the Hudson Highlands. The subunit is accessible as part of the Hudson Highlands State Park and is visible from local roads, the Hudson River, the passenger trains and from adjoining subunits. It is recognized as part of the northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands. There are a number of minor discordant features in the subunit, but these do not impair the overall scenic quality of the subunit.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
HH-27 Dutchess Junction Subunit
I. Location
The Dutchess Junction subunit is located on the east side of the Hudson River, south of the City of Beacon. The eastern boundary of the subunit follows NY Route 9D north from benchmark 14 to its intersection with Grandview Avenue, for the most part a common boundary with the HH-26 Hudson Highlands State Park subunit. The northern boundary of the subunit runs from the northern shorelands of Denning Point to the Conrail tracks and along the Conrail tracks adjacent to the Fishkill Creek, following the coastal area boundary as amended by the City of Beacon, to the intersection of the tracks with Wolcott Avenue. The boundary then follows Wolcott Avenue to its intersection with Simmons Lane, which it follows to the property line of Lot #6054-13-036494 and onto the Craig House property. The boundary then follows an imaginary line through the Craig House property at a distance of 400 feet from the Fishkill Creek to South Avenue and along South Avenue to Grandview Avenue. The subunit includes the Hudson River, sharing a common boundary with the HH-28 Pollepel Island subunit adjacent to the eastern shorelands and extends across to high water mark on the western shorelands of the Hudson River. The subunit is approximately 3.5 miles long and between 0.25 and 1 mile wide. It is located in the City of Beacon and the Town of Fishkill, Dutchess County and in the City of Newburgh, the Towns of New Windsor and Cornwall and the Village of Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, Orange County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheets, numbers 1 and 2 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
This subunit is comprised of the flat and gently sloping shorelands of the Hudson River which give way to the gently rolling hillside below the steep mountains of the Scofield and Breakneck Ridges in the Hudson Highlands State Park subunit. The vegetation is a mix of wetlands, woodlands, meadows and orchards. The shoreline curves gently with a moderate variety of shoreline indentation and elevation. There is one large cove created by Denning Point, a low, wooded, sand peninsula. The Fishkill Creek, which features a short section of rapids, meets the Hudson River at the cove, creating a rich estuary of marsh, tidal flats, and shallows. Wade Brook and Gordon Brook cross the subunit.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit includes a largely undisturbed bank of the Hudson River, separated from the upland by the railroad. NY Route 9D, the Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway, runs along the eastern boundary of the subunit. The subunit features several parcels of the Hudson Highlands State Park, a scattering of residential development, a trailer park and one small hamlet center, Dutchess Junction. Located around the hamlet during the mid to late 19th century were a number of active brickworks. Denning Point was the site of successful brickyards, and a derelict industrial building is a reminder of the point's industrial past. The former Hammond Brickyard lies between the railroad and the river, to the south of Denning Point.
The hamlet was once the junction of the Hudson River Railroad with the Dutchess and Columbia Railroad. The hamlet's historic settlement pattern can be seen in the farmland/woodland relationship, although the recent sprawling pattern of residential construction has modified this and detracts from the overall scenic quality of the area.
Dutchess Manor, a residence and carriage house built in 1889 and converted to a restaurant and residence, is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The two story Second Empire style brick house was part of the estate of Francis Timoney who owned the complex of brickworks in the area. Dutchess Manor is significant for its picturesque details and is one of the most architecturally distinguished residences of its type and period in the Hudson Highlands. Its association with one of the areas most prominent brick manufacturers, a significant local industry, adds further importance to Dutchess Manor.
Another significant building within the subunit is Tioronda, an impressive Gothic Revival villa. Originally built in 1859 as a residence, the building is now a sanitorium. Tioronda is eligible for listing on the State and National and State Registers of Historic Places. The building is significant for its mid-19th century estate architecture and as an example of the work of Frederick Clarke Withers.
The presence of wildlife provides ephemeral characteristics. Contrasts of an ephemeral nature are to be found in the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic character of the landscape composition as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area.
The subunit is generally well maintained. Recent urban development and the railroad tracks are minor discordant features, although they are mostly screened within the landscape and do not detract from the scenic quality of the subunit.
C. Views
The subunit offers unobstructed views of the Hudson River and Fishkill Creek. Interior views are limited by vegetation and topography. Views from the Hudson River are of the low, wooded coastal shorelands; the gently rising uplands; Denning Point and the mouth of the Fishkill Creek. These features are set against the dramatic backdrop of the Hudson Highlands, notably the North and South Beacon Mountains, Sugarloaf Mountain and Breakneck Ridge in the adjacent HH-26 Hudson Highlands State Park subunit. Positive focal points include Denning Point, Bannerman's Castle on Pollepel Island, and distant views of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge and Sugarloaf and Storm King Mountains. Views of the large, sprawling communities of Newburgh, New Windsor and Cornwall detract from the visual quality of views across the Hudson River.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit is not unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
The land ownership pattern of large land holdings and low density development scattered throughout the subunit restricts public accessibility to the Dutchess Junction subunit. The subunit is accessible from NY Route 9D, local roads, and the Hudson River and is visible from the passenger trains that run along the shoreline. The subunit is also visible from the uplands of the adjacent HH-26 Hudson Highlands State Park subunit; the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge to the north; from Newburgh, New Windsor and Cornwall; and from subunits on the western shorelands of the Hudson Highlands SASS, notably from the scenic overlook on NY Route 218, the Old Storm King Highway. Denning Point and the Hammond Brickyard site are part of the Hudson Highlands State Park and offer potential for informal access to the Hudson River.
V. Public Recognition
The Dutchess Junction subunit is recognized by the public as part of the northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands. The historical and architectural value of Dutchess Manor has been recognized through its listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Denning Point has recently been acquired by New York State for its scenic and habitat values.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Dutchess Junction subunit has high scenic quality. It features a variety in and contrast between many positive landscape components including rolling wooded upland, a low wooded point, the Fishkill Creek and its confluence with the Hudson River and a mix of vegetative cover. The subunit is unified by topography and woodland coverage. The subunit is accessible from local roads, and the Hudson River and is visible from surrounding subunits on both shores of the Hudson River. The subunit is recognized as part of the northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands SASS. The historical and architectural value of Dutchess Manor has been recognized through listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Denning Point has recently been acquired by New York State in recognition of its access, scenic and habitat values. There are some minor discordant features in the subunit, but these are screened from view and do not impair the scenic quality of the subunit.
HUDSON HIGHLANDS SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Pollepel Island subunit is located in the Hudson River near the east shore, just north of Breakneck Point. The subunit includes the Hudson River, sharing a common boundary with the HH-27 Dutchess Junction subunit on the eastern shorelands, and extends across to the high water mark on the western shorelands of the Hudson River. The subunit is small, measuring approximately 800 feet in diameter. It is located in the Town of Fishkill, Dutchess County and in the Towns of New Windsor and Cornwall and the Village of Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, Orange County. Consult the Hudson Highlands SASS map sheet number 2 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is a small, wooded, rocky island in the Hudson River. The Hudson River is 1.5 miles wide at this point, and the island is situated less than 250 yards off the east shore. The island has steep rocky banks and breakwaters.
B. Cultural Character
Pollepel Island has a long history which goes back to the early Dutch farmers and the sea captains who thought the island was haunted by evil spirits, reputed to have caused the great storms that frequent the Highlands. The island played a strategic role in the Revolutionary War as the site for a line of "chevaux-de-frise", ingenious shallow water obstructions designed to disrupt navigation.
Now the island is dominated by a large, Scottish-inspired ruined fortification known as Bannerman's Castle, which lends the island its popular name as Bannerman's Island. The architectural and historical significance of Bannerman's Castle has been recognized through listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The castle was built at the turn of the century as an arsenal until an explosion in 1920 caused extensive destruction to the building's interior.
The castle continued to be used as a storehouse until 1967 when it was sold to the State to form part of the patchwork of the Hudson Highlands State Park. The building remained intact until a major fire in 1969 left the current ruins. The facade remains standing as a dramatic landmark visible from Storm King Mountain, Hudson Highlands State Park and the Town of Cornwall. It is an impressive structure which dominates its small island setting.
The presence of wildlife provides ephemeral characteristics. Contrasts of an ephemeral nature are to be found in the subunit. The dramatic effects of varying weather conditions enhance the aesthetic character of the landscape composition as storms, cloud formations, snow, mists, fog and the varying level and direction of sunlight all provide contrasts in line, shape, texture and color, enhancing the contrasts to be found in the area.
There are no discordant features in the subunit.
C. Views
Situated at the northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands, the island offers panoramic views of the river in all directions, including such positive focal points as Storm King Mountain, Bull Hill, and United States Military Academy at West Point. Views from the Hudson River are of the rocky wooded island and ruined castle set against the background of the wooded uplands of the Hudson Highlands.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit is unique in the State. It contains the only "castle" on the Hudson River.
IV. Public Accessibility
The Pollepel Island subunit is part of the Hudson Highlands State Park, but public access to the island has not been developed. The subunit is visible from the Hudson River, the passenger trains that run along the eastern shoreline of the Hudson River, NY Route 9D, and the Storm King Highway as it rounds Storm King Mountain. The subunit is also visible from outside the Hudson Highlands SASS, notably from the Town of Cornwall, the Village of Cornwall-on-the-Hudson and the Town of New Windsor.
V. Public Recognition
The Pollepel Island subunit is recognized by the public for its historic and symbolic significance. It constitutes a key feature in the northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands and is a landmark on the Hudson River. The historical and architectural significance of the subunit is recognized by the inclusion of Bannerman's Castle on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Pollepel Island subunit has high scenic quality. There is a strong contrast between the natural features of the wooded island and the dramatic structure of the ruined castle. The remains of the castle on the rocky island are a unique and contemporary reflection of the "picturesque" quality of melancholy ruins evoked in the paintings of the Hudson River School. The subunit is part of the Hudson Highlands State Park, although public access has not been developed. It is visible from the Hudson River, the passenger trains and from local roads on both sides of the Hudson River. The subunit is recognized by the public as a key feature in the northern gateway to the Hudson Highlands and as a landmark on the Hudson River. The historical and architectural significance of the subunit is recognized by the inclusion of Bannerman's Castle on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The subunit is free from discordant features.