Harmon, the New City

This article examines a circa 1906 photograph showing surveyors working along tracks at the Harmon Shops, revealing fascinating historical details beyond the main subjects.

The most striking background element is a sign reading "Harmon, the New City" on a distant hill—advertising what developer Clifford B. Harmon called "the most important and extensive suburban development in the history of New York." This signage exemplified his innovative marketing approach targeting Hudson River line passengers.

Another significant detail visible in the photograph is an exposed sand dune near where an upper parking lot now stands. This dune represents remnants of a massive sand and gravel extraction project that occurred over nearly a century. The flat land comprising the entire Harmon Shops facility was created through removal of substantial amounts of earth from what was once the "neck" of Croton Point. Much of this landscape has since disappeared.

The article references previous posts about Harmon's marketing campaign, including "Selling Harmon," "Cannon Ball Time to Harmon," "Newly Married Folks Buy . . . at Harmon," and "What Does Everyone Want? Land."