Peter Ostrander

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  • in reply to: Riverdale’s Last Two Dairy Farmhouses #2880
    Peter Ostrander
    Participant

      Two quick points to note:

      1)West 259th Street was originally named Rock Street St. The present Con Ed  new high pressure gas project is finding this out the hard way.

      2) Also note the first floor street level in the old photo as compared to the present day photo.  The installation of sewer mains in the early 20th C. Necessitated the raising of the street level.  But not as drastic as on Corlear and Tibbett Ave down in Kingsbridge.

      in reply to: A Couple of Spuyten Duyvil Artists #2795
      Peter Ostrander
      Participant

        Small world as I came across a book on American art and came across this photo that includes two of the artist in this thread standing together in 1907.   William Sergeant Kendall and George Willoughby Maynard both members of the National Academy of Design. Both with a connection in art and both living in the Bronx at the turn of the 20th Century.

        GW Maynard  top at left and Kendall top 2nd from right.

         

        in reply to: Johnson Ironworks Corporate Office #2793
        Peter Ostrander
        Participant

          Believe the location of the iron railing in foreground of the 1915 photo indicates it was taken from the Godwin Island bridge that once ran parallel to Broadway at 230th Street over the old Spuyten Duyvil creek at that time filled in.  Today the bridge would have been  from Dunkin Donuts south across 230th St  to SW corner and Marble Hill houses.

          in reply to: Johnson Ironworks Corporate Office #2788
          Peter Ostrander
          Participant

            Public records show it was built 1910 but most early building land records dates  are suspect  so could have been  used by johnson foundry at one time.

            in reply to: A Couple of Spuyten Duyvil Artists #2743
            Peter Ostrander
            Participant

              A Few other local artist two of which were members of the Kingsbridge Historical Society(KHS).  Charlotte Livingston (1898-1991) was an early members and later trustee of the KHS.  She studied at the Art Student league and National Academy of Design where she met her future husband. She was also admitted as a member of the SalmagudiClub first class of women artist. Charlotte mainly painted in water colors and her style is very much like her contemporary mentioned, Georgina Klitgaard. Charlotte painted the painting below in 1919. It’s a view looking south on Giles Place Bronx towards Fort Independence Street. 

              Of   interest is the house at lower right which belonged to one of her teachers GW Maynard. Charlotte was a student of a nationally known artist, George Willoughby Maynard (1843-1923) a painter and  muralist(library of Congress and Boston’s Trinity Church) and National Academician and teacher. Below is an example of his work entitled “Mermaids Pool” 1912.

               

              The other Kingbridge Historical Society member was  Francis vanderveer Kughler (1901-1970) who was born in Kingsbridge. A professional artist known for landscapes and portraits. He was a president of the Salmagundi Club. Below is a painting titled “Bronx Park 1938” which captures a  spring day in the Bronx. 

              Kughler’s  landscape style was very  similar to Ernest Lawson who painted locally and who is a topic for another time.  An early portrait painting  by Kughler was of his  girl friend and later wife, Charlotte Livingston painted in 1932.

              in reply to: Valentine Hill and the Grand Reconnaissance #2705
              Peter Ostrander
              Participant

                Regarding the cannon balls fired in Amer Rev.   Unlike to day’s cannon the velocity of those used in Amer Rev were slower but still deadly.

                At a distance those soldiers who were being fired at could actually see the cannon balls almost like slow motion.  Many times they could not get out of the way as they were still traveling very fast. There is a good description of cannon fire in the book, The Day is Ours by William Dwyer and the battle of Trenton.  He describes the American troops shooting cannon balls down the streets of Trenton at the Hessian’s  with cannon balls bouncing and taking off heads and legs of those in the line of fire.  It is also shown similarly and graphically  in Mel Gibson’s  move, The Patriot   much of which was based on historical facts. It has a scene showing cannon fire in an open field and cannon balls bouncing and hitting soldiers.  Here is a link to the movie scene.  Please be aware it’s rather graphic.

                https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=The+patriot+movie+cannon+ball&view=detail&mid=5C2CBFA58A5776007A9E5C2CBFA58A5776007A9E&FORM=VIRE

                in reply to: Time Marches on in Kingsbridge #2649
                Peter Ostrander
                Participant

                  This comment is regarding the children marching in the photo above.  The date is Friday June 9 1916.  Notice the flag the children are carrying in the first row across the bottom.  Its the flag of the Bronx . The lead in to a small  NY Times article of June 10, 1916  states “A holiday was declared in all factories and schools in the Bronx yesterday for the fifth annual celebration of Bronx Day. The day was observed with pageants and parades by schools and other public institutions.”

                  in reply to: Henry Hudson Park”Historic Signage/ Team Effort #2538
                  Peter Ostrander
                  Participant

                    The bronze plaque for Fort #1 shown was originally attached to the Munchenheim mansion under a 1st floor south facing window across from the Monument. The Schievier Nursing Home planted a large bush in front of the plaque blocking its view  and subsequently removed the plaque.  When asked by the KHS  about the plaque  Schievier  assumed  no knowledge of what happened to the historic plaque removed from their house and on their property.   The KHS , as it had back in 1950 against Robert Moses and the Berrien-Johnson house, asked Schievier would they consider using some or part of the historic and oldest house in Spuyten Duyvil for a historical museum and for use by the KHS and other community groups.  The house was built about 1840-50s byt the Strang family of Westchester and in 1994 was the oldest house in Spuyten Duyvil. Schievier replied they were going to do repair on the house at the time it was used to sell 2nd hand cloths and thrift shop.  A while later in 1994 they wrapped the house in protective material subsequent to its destruction.  The KHS asked if we could do a archeological survey after they had torn down the house and this request was turned down by Schievier.  Worse part of this whole loss was that the Federal Government gave Schievier funds to build an addition to the hospital and build a parking lot over the site of Fort #1 / Munchenheim mansion.

                    in reply to: Stella D’Oro Bakery Article #2468
                    Peter Ostrander
                    Participant

                      Same name Zambetti but different family.  They may have been related but I am not sure.  The last owner of the Gardener’s Cottage was John Zambetti.  John started as a young man working for Albert Wheeler a local surveyor.  He later took over the business.  His father was John Zambetti a local builder in Riverdale who built  the War memorial Bell tower at 239th St and Henry Hudson Pkwy.

                      in reply to: Stella D’Oro Bakery Article #2453
                      Peter Ostrander
                      Participant

                        The smell was Anisette toast to be exact.  Today it’s the Yonkers treatment plant.  Ah progress. !

                        in reply to: Putnam Railroad – Crowdsourcing a Question #2416
                        Peter Ostrander
                        Participant

                          I have to assume there are other pictures on the page of the book as the description doesn’t match what is shown.  The bottom photo is definitely 231st st as you can see the curve of Albany Crescent and the apartment house at upper right. Or as you said they may not have paid attention or weren’t familiar with the area.  Good photos  in any case.

                          in reply to: Putnam Railroad – Crowdsourcing a Question #2414
                          Peter Ostrander
                          Participant

                            I believe all 4 photos are taken from the 231st station location, that is east of Broadway and just west of Albany Crescent down to where the old Putnam rails are still located.  The Major Deegan today is to the East of these Putnam rail tracks,. This area may some day,  maybe even in our life time, be the location for the  day lighted Tibbetts Brook.

                            Looking South #1 looking SE and  #2 looking south West.  Looking North are #3 and # 4,  #3 looking NW and #4 looking NE.  The south bound stair case was still there in the 1960s,  for the old Putnam  south bound station. It was boarded off but easy to climb over. It was a safe place you could  drink beer before you turned 18.

                            in reply to: Riverdale Park Archeological Project (1989) #2411
                            Peter Ostrander
                            Participant

                              Thanks for posting the Riverdale Park Study a good source.  The issue with creating a map or list of archealogical sites is how to protect from ‘pot hunters’.   Those that would just dig private and public lands to find artifacts to keep personally.  They do not document or photograph their finds and we all loose.  This actually happened with Valerie De Carlo’s archeological lead digs in Riverdale Park.  There was a person who lived  here in Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil to be specific who when the articles were written up in the Riverdale Press went out at night and weekends with his shovel and just dug and ripped apart the professional dig sites totally ruining the sites He once came to a Society talk and mentioned what he had found.  I reported his activity to Valerie but there  wasn’t much she or Parks Dept could do unless they caught the person in the act.  So there is a concern with publishing  specific historic archeological sensitive sites  unfortunately. The good news/bad news  is that most site have been built over or destroyed by other activities.

                              Attached is a photo  of an archeological survey back in 1988 the KHS sponsored.  Valerie DeCarlo is 2nd at left, next is author  Michael Cohen, Fordham Univ professors Roger Wines and Alan Gilbert  3rd and 2nd at right and I’m the last at right.

                               

                              in reply to: Adriaen Van Der Donck and the Wiequaeskecks #2410
                              Peter Ostrander
                              Participant

                                Its not documented where Adriaen vander Donck (AVD) died but generally thought he was killed by Indians on his farm by natives from further up north. The local Indians having moved south to the city and those from upstate did not know vander donck. Its likely his wife was in their New Amsterdam house. If she was on the farm she too would have been killed or captured. We do know she soon remarried and sold the Patroon lands.  Nick and I attended a book lecture few years ago in which the author of a new book on AVD stated he was killed at his farm house along with 2 mill workers. His farm home was located approx 50 ft south of todays Van Cortlandt mansion front door.  My personal theory is that he was buried where the Kingsbridge Burial ground is located.  The site being a burial site continued to be used as one by the Tippetts and Berian families who followed AVD aS owners of the lands and later used by the community. For those not familiar with vander Donck should know he was the first lawyer in New Netherlands and a foe of Pieter Stuyvesant . Two books of interest are 1) AVD own 1655 book on this area ‘A Description of New netherland’ and 2)Russell Shorto’s great book. ‘ Island in the Center of the World’  about AVD and New Netherlands.

                                 

                                in reply to: 1921 Birds-eye View of Spuyten Duyvil & Kingsbridge #2398
                                Peter Ostrander
                                Participant

                                  Forgot to mention that the location of the dog run was the original location of the Ewen mansion show above. There is a black stump like rock nearer to the path that is a relic of the Ewen estate. It is actually a petrified tree remnant that was once used as a garden ornament on the Ewen estate.
                                   

                                   

                                  in reply to: 1921 Birds-eye View of Spuyten Duyvil & Kingsbridge #2397
                                  Peter Ostrander
                                  Participant

                                    Ewen Park provides one with an expansive view of  Kingsbridge and Kingsbridge Heights.  The park unfortunately is almost vertical  which makes for great sleigh riding in winter and rolling down in summer. The  only real flat section of the park, which was once the best location for picnics and such, was selected as the prime  location for a city parks dog run. Go figure.

                                    Peter Ostrander
                                    Participant

                                      Interesting article but time will tell.  Back in early 1990’s there was talk and effort for upgrading the old Putnam RR line for a walk and bike trail.  Last year 25yrs later they finally blacktopped the old Putnam rail line trail.  A bit earlier in mid 1980’s there was talk and community meetings for a Greenway trail along the Hudson River along Spuyten Duyvil and Riverdale.  Last time I was down at the river, actually just last week,  there is still  no Greenway trail.  This is not a knock against those who still work towards the Greenway trail, been there done that,  but this is NYC.  If the City administration and our elected officials want something it can happen and sometimes fast.

                                       

                                      Peter Ostrander
                                      Participant

                                        Hi Zach – just to clarify and give proper credit Nick provided the initial photos and created the changing map for this forum item.

                                        The photo I attached of 234th St and Tibbetts brook is from the KHS photo collection.  The photo(s) were donated to the Society in the 1960s by a family who lived in the area at the time.

                                        The house in your photos at the bottom of the hill was at that time owned by the Ewen family whom the park today is named after.  A larger Ewen home was located further up the hill on the only flat space in this hillside park that is today a dog run.

                                        A word from the sponsor -The Kingsbridge Historical Society would greatly appreciate if anyone reading these forums and have photos or items to donate they would be greatly appreciated by the Society. Regarding photo’s digital copies are welcome if you would rather not donate the actual photos.

                                        Peter Ostrander
                                        Participant

                                          Great photos on the draining of Tibbetts brook tributary and raising of Broadway.  Few additional facts that might be of interest.

                                          1)       The first photo mentions a church steeple.  This was the original St Stephens church that was used from 1878 to 1898. The present day St Stephens was opened in 1898.  It was  for the 50th anniversary of the new St Stephens that the KHS founder (Rev Dr William Tieck) wrote his first book, “God’s House and the Old Kingsbridge Road”.

                                          2)       The changing map from old to new present day  is a great visualization of our area, thanks Nick.   I wanted to just point out that the Tibbetts Brook is at the left in blue on the map yet the photo’s of the twin drainage tunnels are on Broadway.  What is not always known is that Kingsbridge was once known as the Island of Kingsbridge or native term Paparinemin.  The Harlem River in the past use to flow north through today’s Target Shopping center and the Marble hill housing then it would flow west at 230th St and under the Kings Bridge, continue west to Riverdale Ave where it would meet up with Tibbetts Brook and  both would flow  south through today’s Kennedy H.S. school complex around the then Johnson foundry and west  out to the Hudson River.  But It was during high tide and rain storms that part of the Harlem River would also flow north along Broadway and meet Tibbetts Brook about 238th st which formed the Island of Kingsbridge.When not high tide or flooding the low lying area of Broadway was wet and swampy.  It was due to this problem of tidal flooding that the twin drainage pipes were installed along Braodway  to correct and create more usable land, drain the swamp like areas, rid the village of mosquitoes and set the stage for the right of way for the planned IRT subway.  The Tibbetts Brook continued to flow as shown on the map to at least 1915 when Tibbetts too was slowly filled in and diverted into drainage pipes.  Tibbetts Brook today still flows south from Van Cortlandt park south under Corlear and Tibbett Ave past 230th St and under Kennedy H.S. to meet the Harlem River and out to the Hudson all through buried drainage pipes.

                                          August 1910  234th St view south west with Tibbetts Brook  

                                          in reply to: 1833 View of Spuyten Duyvil and Inwood Hill #2328
                                          Peter Ostrander
                                          Participant

                                            Interesting find never seen it before.  The quality of the landscape drawing is well done and typical of the period. The foreground is a good rendition of Inwood.  The house on the Spuyten Duyvil hill not too sure.  I looks sort of like the Berrian house (later Berrian-Johnson house) with the porches and chimneys and number of floors. But it differs in the proportions as it looks too tall and an extra (middle)  window in the gable end.  Also the angle drawn on the hill looks be more SW facing rather than more southerly of the Berrian   But the location would be about right.  Perhaps the artist was better at landscape drawing than rendering architectural buildings.  The De Rahm nursery new to me.  But it might have been short live owners. Needs more research but good find.

                                             

                                            in reply to: Photos from The Great North Side #2196
                                            Peter Ostrander
                                            Participant

                                              In 1874 what is today the Western half of the Bronx, back then Lower Yonkers, Westchester County was annexed by NYC and became the 23rd and 24th Wards of New York City.  The 23rd was the lower western half (Morrisania etc) while the 24th Ward included Kingsbrige,Spuyten Duyvil, Riverdale.  As teh 23rd and 24th Wards were north of Manhattan they were referred to as  the Great North Side.   In 1898 NYC was consolidated and included the 5 boroughs we know today.  The whole area we know today as The Bronx was created.  Years ago there was  a North Side Savings bank on w 231st north side of street just west of the Major Deegan who offered a commemorative plate depicting historic sites around Kingsbridge to people who opened a new account.

                                              in reply to: Gotham’s Only Licensed Woman Cabby #2192
                                              Peter Ostrander
                                              Participant

                                                The Riverdale library and Neighborhood Assoc is the present day Riverdale Neighborhood House. It was founded in 1872 by Grace Dodge as a lending library for workers. Next year 2022 will celebrate 150 years.

                                                in reply to: September 27, 1909 – Dedication of the Henry Hudson Memorial #2181
                                                Peter Ostrander
                                                Participant

                                                  Stephanie – thanks for providing the link to photo’s of the Mansion. There are some very interesting photos not seen before of the mansion and grounds.

                                                  in reply to: September 27, 1909 – Dedication of the Henry Hudson Memorial #2175
                                                  Peter Ostrander
                                                  Participant

                                                    Today it’s unfortunate that the view of the Henry Hudson Monument is obscured by the large Schervier apartment building. If one is driving north over the Henry Hudson Bridge it is very hard to see the monument. Back about 1994 the Muschenheim mansion (circa 1840) was still standing. It had a bronze historical plaque celebrating the fact that it built upon the American Revolutionary Fort #1 built in 1776.. But mysteriously the plaque was removed and a large bush was planted covering where the plaque once was mounted.  When I asked the administrator of Schervier she had no idea what happened to the plaque. Funny how that happens.   Then the old mansion was wrapped by building material.  Again when asked I was told they were going to repair the roof and there was also an asbestos concern.  Months later the oldest home in Spuyten Duyvil and perhaps Riverdale was torn down and the society was not allowed to do any archeological investigation of the site.  Shades of the recent demise of Fort #2.  Unfortunately historical preservation has little support or interest in Riverdale.

                                                    Losing the mansion was a big lost but worse still was the fact Federal funds were used to help build the new Schervier assisted elderly apartments and destroy the Revolutionary Fort site. The site of the mansion is today a parking lot. Shades of Joni Mitchell “Don’t it always seem to go, That you don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone, They paved paradise put up a parking lot”.   Yes they did and the building today   blocks the view of the Henry Hudson Monument.  When I asked the then Community Board 8 chairman why the site was picked he was honest in stating they he had no idea that it would block the view of the monument.  He apologized and wish they had better information when the building planning was discussed.   Worst still was what I had found out later. The building was originally planned to be built further west. The land west of the present building slopes heavily downhill. If the building was built where it was originally planned it would not have interfered the view of the monument by not being directly behind the monument. But some in the community didn’t want the building down closer to Palisades and their homes. They had enough influence to have the building sited further east to Independence Ave. Where today it block a clear view of this historical monument.

                                                    in reply to: New York Marble Cemetery and Inwood Marble #2159
                                                    Peter Ostrander
                                                    Participant

                                                      Yes its the same Inwood Marble.  Veins of it can be found in Riverdale.  Have not read of it being quarried here but small quantities might have.  But the real large deposits and quarries was found in upper Inwood/Marble Hill.

                                                      Scattered around the lime kilm above 232nd street at the parks edge over the RR tracks can be found large amounts scattered  likely from the early lime manufacturing process.

                                                      There were large deposits east of the Riverdale ridge basically east of Broadway in the area what today is the Van Cortlandt parade grounds.  It was the glacier action that wore down the soft Inwood Marble and gave us the Van Cortlandt Parade grounds we know today. The hard Bronx gneiss is what was left after the glaciers and form the Riverdale ridge and Van Cortlandt ridge where Vault Hill was built.  The late  Sydney Hornstein the geologist emeritus of the Mus of Nat History had a saying regarding our local rocks that “the Bronx is Gniess and Manhattan is full of Schist”.

                                                    Viewing 25 posts - 26 through 50 (of 102 total)