Harmon Hats - Everybody Needs 'Em! This piece discusses a vintage advertisement for Harmon Hats that appeared in the October 1949 issue of Outdoorsman magazine. The ad promoted "zelan treated" all-purpose sports hats priced at "$5.45," featuring "ge…

History Underfoot A homeowner in Harmon showcased Croton Point bricks integrated into their porch flooring, many bearing the stamp "WAU" (William A. Underhill's initials). These well-preserved bricks, worn by over a century of use, represent the ind…

You Can Expect Immediate Benefits The article examines a 1917 Goodyear Cord Tire advertisement campaign featuring the Nikko Inn. These ads appeared across prestigious publications including the Atlantic Monthly, The New Country Life, Travel, and For…

Underhill Bible - on eBay! A seller on eBay offered a bible bearing the bookplate of Abraham I. Underhill, one of three brothers who established a flour mill on the Croton River in 1792 under a Van Cortlandt family lease. The bible contained handwr…

Winter on the Hudson River This piece draws from Benson John Lossing's 1866 classic The Hudson, from the Wilderness to the Sea, documenting a strikingly different winter landscape along the Hudson River compared to modern times. Lossing describes a…

'Twas the Night Before Christmas in Sing Sing This article explores the connection between Clement C. Moore, author of the famous Christmas poem, and the village of Sing Sing (now Ossining), New York. According to historical records, Moore "had onc…

Ice Boating on the Hudson River This post serves as a follow-up to an earlier article titled "Winter on the Hudson River." It features a historical postcard depicting an ice boat in action on the Hudson River, dated around 1910. The postcard was cr…

Hudson Valley Echoes, Issue #2 This post presents the second issue of Theodore J. Cornu's hand-drawn and hand-lettered self-published journal, Hudson Valley Echoes. The publication is described as "extraordinary" and represents Cornu's artistic cont…

Van Cortlandt Manor in Miniature The New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show featured a miniature replica of Van Cortlandt Manor crafted entirely from natural materials. This rustic version was "made entirely of plant parts such as twigs, bar…

A 1924 aerial photograph taken by a Manhattan map-making firm purports to document evidence of submarine activity in the Hudson River near Croton Point. According to Ellen NicKenzie Lawson's book Smugglers, Bootleggers and Scofflaws: Prohibition and …

This piece presents a detailed historical map illustrating Croton's appearance in 1872, sourced from the County Atlas of Westchester New York by J.B. Beers & Co. During this period, the village—known as Croton Landing—consisted primarily of residenti…

The Mystery of the Underhill Bible The Westchester County Historical Society acquired a significant historical artifact—a Bible bearing the bookplate of Abraham I. Underhill, one of three brothers who established a flour mill on the Croton River in …

Hidden in the Trees This article examines a Hudson River School painting by Sanford Robinson Gifford titled "Hook Mountain, Near Nyack, on the Hudson" from 1866. The work depicts a westward view from southern Croton Point and contains a subtle histo…

Map of the Hudson River Line Steamers, 1883 This post features a historical route map depicting the Hudson River Line steamers Albany and Chauncey Vibbard during the era of steamboat travel. According to the New York State Education Department, the…

A Van Cortlandt Manor Treasure - on eBay! The Westchester County Historical Society (WCHS) acquired an important historical document: a 22-page notebook from surveyor George W. Cartwright. The journal documents his detailed survey of Van Cortlandt M…

New Croton Dam Spillway This historical piece showcases a photograph of the nearly completed New Croton Dam's spillway, captured during construction before water typically flowed over it. The image comes from the George P. Hall & Son Photograph Coll…

What's Cookin' at the Mikado? A vintage menu from the Mikado Inn in Harmon showcases dining options from the 1930s era. The establishment offered Spring Lamb Chops for $1.50, Filet Mignon Mikado for $3.00, and a Porterhouse Steak for two priced at $…

Little Nemo in Sing Sing This post celebrates a remarkable 1910 comic strip sequence featuring Winsor McKay's innovative work. The artist created a storyline where Little Nemo and companions accidentally land at Sing Sing Prison after returning from…

Quaker Bridge, circa 1914 This post features a historical postcard depicting Quaker Bridge, published around 1914. The card was created by Frank L. Simone, a notable publisher of postcards featuring Croton area scenes. The specific postcard shown is…

New Croton Dam, circa 1907 This post features a vintage postcard depicting the nearly-completed New Croton Dam, also known as the Cornell Dam, photographed around 1907. The dating is based on the postcard's "undivided back" format, which was standar…

The Purdy Homestead on Quaker Ridge Road The article highlights the Purdy homestead on Quaker Ridge Road in Cortlandt, featured during the 18th Annual Croton Arboretum Garden Tour. The 23-acre estate showcases the deep historical roots of the Purdy …

Mikado Inn "Real Photo" Postcard, circa 1920 This post showcases a "real photo" postcard of the Mikado Inn in Harmon-on-Hudson from around 1920. The establishment invited visitors to "take a stroll in the beautiful Japanese gardens" and enjoy either…

A Sharp and Palpable Difference In a previous post, the authors displayed two advertisements from 1917 for Goodyear Cord Tires featuring detailed pen-and-ink drawings of Nikko Inn. These promotional materials appeared in various magazines including …

Croton's First Train Station This article presents a historically significant photograph of Croton's inaugural train station, circa 1849. The station was constructed in 1849 and situated on the river side of the tracks, positioned across from what i…

Bethel Cemetery Gateway This piece presents a rare 19th-century photograph of the entrance to Bethel Cemetery and Chapel in Croton-on-Hudson, part of a collection documented by filmmaker and historian Ken Sargeant from the Ossining Historical Societ…

Harmon Shops of the New York Central Railroad This historical post showcases photographs and technical documentation of the Harmon Shops, a major railroad facility in the Hudson Valley region. The author presents images from 1907, when the shops wer…

Harmon, the New City This article examines a circa 1906 photograph showing surveyors working along tracks at the Harmon Shops, revealing fascinating historical details beyond the main subjects. The most striking background element is a sign reading…

New Croton Dam Site Map, 1892 This piece features a contract drawing for the New Croton Dam located at the Cornell Site, dated May 2, 1892. The map's most compelling aspect extends beyond the dam structure itself. Instead, the document reveals "buil…

On October 11, 1842, former President John Quincy Adams discovered he had overlooked multiple invitations to serve as a distinguished guest at the Croton Water Celebration. His diary entry documented this oversight: "on turning over my letters recent…

October 14, 1842 - "Thousands to celebrate the Croton Dam and fresh water for NYC" A first-person account from Julia Lawrence Hasbrouck's diary describes the Croton Water Celebration in New York City. The diarist noted it was "a happy day for New Yo…