Warwick Historical Papers Volume 6, Part 2

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This is an article on Bellvale. It was part of a series of articles on the villages and hamlets in Warwick Township published in 1950. This is a transcription of that article that appeared in the December 13, 1950 edition of the Warwick Valley Dispatch. The photos are of poor quality because they come from photocopies from microfilm. I post them because they were part of the original article. All is used with permission of owner.

WARWICK TOWNSHIP COMMUNITIES IN 1950
BELLVALE

By rights, Edgar Houston should be writing this story. For no one can extol the virtues of Bellvale liked the belove Ringmaster of the Bellvalle Circus (Photo 13). Most everybody who heard the Ringmaster goes away convinced that no place but Bellvale (Photo 1) has such fertile farms and green fields, such pictureque surrounding mountains , such breathtaking views, such handsome men and beautiful women. We can't describe it as the Ringmaster can blut we'll attempt to portray in pictures and words a bit of its natural beauty, traditions and charm.

Motorists who traverse the state highway between Warwick and Greenwood Lake, on which Bellvale is located, often pause by the dam of the former sawmill pond (Photo 2) delighted with the glimpse of the verdant woods and the splashing waters of Long House Creek (named for a long, narrow log structure which stood near the site of the Bellvale church and in which a tribe of Indians lived.) In the early days of the communtity, the dam supplied power for some of the many mills that flourished here. Many of us remember the pond as a weedy but wonderful place to swim - you could always hike here for a dip if you couldn't get to Greenwood Lake. Now dredged, cleaned and beautified, it graces one of the scenic entrances to Cascade Park, popular mountain development in which many city residents have erected cabins, and year-round homes.

Center of the communtiy is the post office and well stocked general store (Photos 3 and 4) operated by Arthlur Quackenbush for the past 40 years. Here residents pause to read letters and local papers or try their skill on the store's famed checkerboard. Here is another of the few remaining country general stores . Here one can do his shopping chat with his neighbors about all the local doings and expound his theories for solving the world's ills. In a rural peaceful community, it's hard to believe that the world has ills, that there are wars going on. Perhaps the world knows more of serenity of life without hurry, of the communal fellowship of a friendly country store.

There's a real "little red school house" in Bellvale (Photo 5). All Bellvale students now attend school at Warwick but the quaint red brick building was in use from 1879 until this year. We've often been told that George F. Ketchum, founder of the Dispatch, fell in love in that little red school - the shiny red apple he had brought for the teacher going to Squire Wilson's fair young daughter, Evelyn, instead. Schoolday romances, pranks or a beloved teacher are often recalled by Bellval residents - old and young. Modern schools offer better equipment and wider fields of training to our youngsters, but none leave more cherished memories than "the little red school."

The present Methodist Church building (Photo 6) is relatively new one, built to replace the original structure which burned January 17, 1940. But it has all the historic dignity of the original building and its simple services today recall those of the old circuit riders who rode between Bellvale, Sugar Loaf and Chester, the same circuit that exits today with one pastor, the Reverend Kenneth Sprague, administering to each. The church story goes back almost a century to 1852 when trustees met and started a subscription to build a church. On February 11, 1853, it was resolved to build the church on the lot given by Samuel Wilson. The cornerstone was given by David Stevens and laid by Rev. J.B. Wakely of New York City. Mrs. Elizabeth Wilson, wife of David Wilson, gave the bell and the altar rail was a gift from Henry Wisner, having been made from apple tree wood grown and fashioned on the Wisner farm. The parsonage was built in 1870.

A State Education Department marker (Photo 7), secured through the efforts of the Historical Society of the Town of Warwick, will help to acquaint young members of the community with the history of Bellvale. This one, near the lower village bridge, reads:

"Site of
IRON FORGE
Built 1745
Closed About 1750 by
Crown Order Forbidding
Manufacturing of Iron
Implements in Colonies
(Bellvale)"

From No.2, Part 1 of the Warwick Historical Society Papers we learn of the dedication of this marker May 26, 1933, and of an address made by Chairman Octavious Applegate in which he told how Laurance Scauley in 1745 built a tilt-hammer forge for working on pig iron, the only mill of its kind in the state. The making of iron implements was forbidden by the Crown, one of the many restrictions that led to the Declaration of Independence, but Scrauley took the chances of his seclusion in this valley to go beyond the two inch limitation in iron sheets and his forge was closed in 1750. Chairman Applegate noted that, according to Headly, tweny-five years previous, the ruins of the hearth, the raceway and pit for the wheel and the mudsill of the dam was still visible.

The Thomas Powell home (Photo 8) is typical of two things - the many fine old home of Bellvale and the interesting indurtries that once hummed busily in the valley. In this building Philip T. Smith carried on his organ reed manufacturing business. It is said that some of the reeds, designed by Mr. Smith, were used in the organs of the Fifth Avenue Cathedral, St. Paul's M.E. Church and the Brooklyn Tabernacle. In addition, there are visible and historical records of other enterprises including the saw, flour and woolen mills of Daniel Burt, built around 1760; Bellvale's first store establshed by Stephen A. Burt in 1815; a harness cutlery manufacturing business conducted by Abijah Peck on the Floyd Quakenbush place about 1800 and supplying American armies in the War of 1812 and the Hiram Flagler chair factory which existed in 1840. Some of the chairs are at present in the Fred Houson home. One of these chair manufacturing businesses was on Mount Peter and was operated by John DeG(?). These chairs were made of maple from the Wildcat Swamps and when finished were taken to New York City for sale. Furniture was made on the Wisner place by John G. Schroder. Some of this furniture is in the Wisner home at present.

Horseradish was once raised for commerical purposes by William Clark. He grew it on what is now the Fred Houston farm and ground and bottled it at his home, now the Purcell place. Daniel Sayre built a mill to grind "Land Planter" from Planter rock brought from France. This product was to have been used on the ground now, but proved to be unsucessful. The mill was later used as a grist mill.

Hoop poles were made in three different places - by Cooper DeGraw near the millpond, on the place now owned by Miss Edna Sayer (this was run by Stephen A. Weymer and his son), and at the Harry Quackenbush place. The identity of the latter manufacturer is unknown.

There was at one time a still in Bellvale. The business was legal at that time (about 1850) and the still was used commercially. The pond used to provide the water power is still on the Dr Houston farm. The still made peach brandy, since peaches were as numerous as apples are now. It closed because growers could get better prices for their fruit elsewhere.

A sleigh manufacturing plant was run by Nathaniel Wright in the early part of the nineteenth century, the sleighs taken to New York as soon as the first heavy snowfall came . There was also a blacksmith shop, two carpet weaving businesses, charcoal manufactoring, and several lime kilns.

Two of the communtity's stalwart older residents are pictured in Photos 9 and 10 - Miss Emma Wisner, Bellvale's oldest inhabitant and member of one of the original families of the area and Dan Horton who lives next to the store and is known affectionately as "The Pioneer.'' It is a familiar sight to see him sawing firewood about his place. Having helped make their community's history, Bellvale elders are proud of its traditions and love dearly the land on which they have abided so long as no other spot on earth. Thus is the life of a communtiy stabilized and enriched. To them also, one is indebted for much knowledge of interesting things of which no record or landmarks exist.

In a pupil's history essay we find much information of this sort, as well as the one of the curious legends of which every neighborhood boasts. For example, "There is a legend told of an Indian chief from the Long House who upon his death, was buried sitting upright on a horse. He was buried in the Indian burying ground which is on the Wisner farm. Miss Emma Wisner tells us how she and her brother, as small children, dug faithfully but were never rewarded by finding the Indian chief" and "To the right rear of the pond up on the bank there is an old graveyard which belonged to the Nobel family. Miss Emma Wisner says can remember a woman being buried in that graveyard when she was a child" and "The Wisners have in their possession a bill of sale for two slaves sold to their family in the year 1819."

Bellvale is one of the few small communities to have its own newspaper. John Croker (Photo 11) owns one of the few complete volumes of "The Rising Star," published monthly during the year 1889 by John B. Bradner, editor, at a subscription price of 25 cents per year. Among other things, it brought readers social notes, family histories, Lehigh & Hudson timetables including Stone Bridge stops, wedding and obituary notes and poetic tributes to the beauty of the community and to Bellvale boys who were wounded and killed at the battle of Chancellorville.

The Benjamin Sayer homestead at "Sayrevill" (Photo 12) is close to the site where a small block house or fort cabin used to stand. Writing for Historical Papers, the late Mr. Sayer said, "Just when the log house known as the fort cabin was built is unknown, but it was some time between 1712, when the first settlement was made in the Warwick valley, and 1760...Daniel Sayer occupied the fort cabin for many years but in 1783 built the stone house just west of it. The cabin remained standing for a number of years thereafter and the well was only partially filled up when I was a boy. The fort cabin was built with a projecting upper story with loop or post holes through the floor through which the defender could shoot down of the besiegers who might gain the protection of its walls and thus prevent their burning the cabin which stood in the southeast corner of my yard - near the stream, about two hundred feet east of the stone dwelling house and fifty feet north of the highway. There were also two smaller log cabins on the opposite side of the road. The fort cabin was to furnish refuge for all three families in case of attack."

And now we come to the Ringmaster again and the famed Bellvale Amateur Circus presented each year by the Bellvale Epworth League for the amusement of Bellvale residents and its neighbors. In early summer, Bellvale folks put their heads together to think up clever new antics and from then on rehearsal schedules are posted at the Quackenbush store. In August the big event takes place. Lately the show has been held on Arthur Quackenbush's hilltop lot where the audince can view the scenic beauties that Ringmaster Houston so eloquently describes. As familiar as his top hat, cane and boots and his growing praises of Bellvale are the Ringmaster's warning to stay seated during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner lest a sudden shift of weight bring the bleacher fans to grief. Tom Powell's spirited peddling of ice cream and pop is another unforgettable part of the scene. All in all, its a delightful event in which just about everybody in the community has some part.

Community pride and enthusiam is as strong in Bellvale today as it was in the days of "The Rising Star." Somebody once came up with a slogan that residents still love to repeat with a twinkle in their eye, "It's Bellvale Ag'in the World.."

Col. V.A. Wilder

Col. Wilder is not a native of Warwick. He was born in Maine in 1844 and came here in the late 1880's. He bought the 200 acre farm of the late John M. Burt and enlarged and remodelled the house. This is currently the Chateau Hathorn on Route 94. Donald Clark, County Historian, in 1976, puts Col Wilder as the original owner, but I think it goes back beyond the 1880 date that he cites. I think this is the date of the enlarging and remodelling. Mr. Clark also cites E.G.W. Dietrich as the architect, who also did the Reformed Church and many other homes in this style and date in Warwick.

This is a transcription of an article published in the Warwick Valley Dispatch, dated March 30, 1927. Used with permission.

COL. V. A. WILDER LAID AT REST

Col. Victor A. Wilder, gentleman, scholar, died at Suffern, N.Y. Thursday, aged 83 years. Col. Wilder was living with his only son, Donald, at Suffern, moving there last fall.

Col. Wilder was the son of M.A. Wilder and Mary Stevens Wilder, and was born at Dennisville, Maine, July 1st, 1844.

He came to Warwick in the late eighties and leased the Wisner estate known as "Robin Brae" for a year, the Campbell residence in the village for a year, and then bought of the late John M. Burt his 200 acre farm on the New Milford road; remodelling and enlarging the house and making a beautiful estate there. For about five years Col. Wilder held title to the 5000 acre tract including Wawayanda Lake. Several years later Mr. Wilder sold his residence and some 12 acres to Mr. Howe, retiring to the farm house nearby. Following adverse decisions in several expensive litigations for coal lands in West Virginia, Col. Wilder sold his Warwick farm home and moved to California and later to Arizona, where he was interested in silver mines. But owing to the increased infirmities of age and the delicate health of Mrs. Wilder, both longed to return to Warwick, and about two years ago "coming home again."

Col. Wilder's wife, Lilian, daughter of Runsom Macdonald and Marcin A. Evans died last June. He is survived by one son, Donald, of Suffern, and one sister, Miss Agnes, of Nantucket, Mass.

Col. Wilder's life was rich in experience. He serverd with the 44th Massachusetts Infantrly during the Civil War, and was an honered and beloved veteran. He was a man of intense nature, warm in his friendships and dislikes, valiant and fearless in his faith. Politically a Republican, he served that party in town politics with all the ardor of his personality. He was a fine public speaker, and for many years no public gathering was quite complete unless Col. Wilder made an address. He was a deep student of religion, and at one time gave a series of addresses at the Warwick Refromed Church on "Why I am a Christian." These were keenly followed.

In his early youth Col. Wilder travelled alone on horseback to the coast, a trip which in itself must have brought much joy to him.

The body was brought to Warwick for burial and on Saturday at one thirty o'clcok furneral services were held at the Reformed Church, of which he was a member. The Rev. Taber Knox, his pastor and friend, officiated.

Mr. Knox selected as his text, 2d Samuel, 3rd - 38: "Know ye not that a prince and a great man is fallen this day in Israel."

Mr. Knox said Co. Wilder was his beloved friend, one who had been closer to him than any other man, and having thur revealed unto his pastor the intermost thoughts, hopes, and aspirations of his soul, Mr. Knox had loved him for his sincerity, his honestly, his zealous devotion to what he believed to be right, and withal for gentleness and courtesty and innate chivalry. Mr. Knox related how, some 30 years ago, Col. Wilder came to accept and devote himself to the Christian faith, to which he had adhered steadfastly.

The Warwick Valley House

This is an article published in the Warwick Valley Dispatch, dated December 7, 1977. I didn't use the photo from the article because the quality was really poor. I used a scan of a postcard that I own, which is postmarked 1908.

Taken from the Warwick Valley Dispatch May 6, 1903 edition.

WARWICK VALLEY HOUSE, E.F. Ryerson, Prop.
NOW THE DISPATCH BUILDING

"One of the four good hotels that have made Warwick famous for many years as a good town to stop in. The present owner, E. F. Ryerson, of "Uncle Ed," as he is familarly called, purchased the property of Manning F. TenEyck in 1887 for $10,000. Mr. Ryerson has extended full as much as the original cost in improvements and additions since that time, and now has the satisfaction of owning one of the best located and best equipped country hotels in the State. There are 42 rooms in the house including 24 bedrooms. The appointments throughout are modern and up to date. Last year a new dining room and kitchen
was added to the main floor, in the rear, with several new bedrooms above, at a cost of over $3,000. The house is lighted with electricity, has a modern steam plant, hot and cold water throughout, and is connected with the Warwick Valley telephone lines. The bar and cafe is a convenient and neatly kept affiar, under the supervision of Mr. Richard Ryerson and the barber shop on the main floor, conducted by Mr. Albert Wright, is a convenience alike for the quests of the hotel and the public generally.

"The Valley House has a pleasant location facing Oakland and Railroad Avenues and overlooking the pretty park of the L & H. On the south side is the handsome lawn and residence of Mr. W. H. Chardavoyne, a view of which is obtained from the dining room. The rooms are cool in summer and will no doubt be in good demand to accommodate the many people who still want to spend the summer in Warwick. "Uncle Ed" is to be congradulated on building up such a fine property and it is the hearty wish of the DISPATCH that he may live long to enjoy and entertain others at the comfortable, home like hotel."

The Nanny Farm Boarding House

This was published in the Warwick Advertiser, May 25, 1899.

New Milford Fire of 1900

This a transcription of an article published in the Warwick Advertiser, dated March 29, 1900. There is some confusion as to the date of the New Milford fire. I run into 1898 and 1900. I can't find any newspaper evidence of a fire in 1898; neither paper has a complete microfilm record for that year. I would guess an article on a fire in 1900 would mention a previous fire two years previous. This article doesn't mention a previous fire. My quess is that people writing about the fire may have got the date wrong.

BIG FIRE AT NEW MILFORD

Nearly Half of the Village Burned to the Ground - No Means of Fighting Fire.

The little village so long called Jockey Hollow, and more recently, New Milford, about a half mile from the station of New Milford, on the L. & H., was nearly destroyed by fire last Thursday. The fire was discovered about noon in the upper part of the store of the postmaster, Benjamin Scott. The room was blazing fiercely at the time and the the flames were soon spreading out to each side for the buildings adjoining.

Mr. Scott discovered the fire from the opposite side of the street, and ran in to put his books, stamps, etc., in the safe, taking the mail pouch and keys out to another house. On returning the fire had broken into the lower room and he was compelled to flee with very few things. His safe proved defective and the stamps, postal cards, etc., were destroyed, and his books so near ruined that but a few pages are legible.

So rapid was the spread of the fire that little was saved from the store or the hotel, kept by James McCann, on the south side, which was separated only by a partition. On the other side of the store was the hotel sheds and barn, which was soon in flames. Next, on the north, came Scott's house and then Mrs. Sloan's house, each of which in turn caught fire and was burned to the ground. The flames also reached across the street, taking another house belonging to Scott's property, filled on one side with hardware and other store goods and occupied by a Mr. Springer's family. To these the fire was continued. The store and postoffice, the hotel, with its barn and sheds, and the three dwellings destroyed, make about one-half of the little village. The Labar hotel, the tannery and blacksmith shop, the little church and the old grist mill, with a few dwellings farther separated, are about all that is left.

The Emil Kunath house, about 75 feet away from the hotel, was saved by careful work, being favored by the wind.

How the fire started is not clearly stated. Some claiming that it came from the store room first, others that it started in the chimney in the hotel, which was joined to it. But as contridicting this, we are told that a Mr. Moore, who roomed in the hotel where the chimney went up. went into his room and saved his clothes after the alarm had been given from the store, and found no fire there.

There was no appartus to put out the fire with, although the stream was close. The firemen from this village, four miles distant, were ready to go as individuals to join the bucket brigade, but had no pumping apparatus.

Scott loses heaviets, and will probably have nothing left, although insured for near $4,500. His real estate was heavily mortaged and had cost him over $3,500.

McCann had contracted for the hotel for three years to cancel a second mortgage claim, which he held. The insurance carried will probably not more than pay the first claim.

Pine Island School, 1927

This is a photo published in the Warwick Valley Dispatch, dated December 3, 1952. This is a newspaper photo saved on microfilm, not the best quality. If original photo is still available, let me know and a much better copy can be made. Used with permission.

The Warwick Institute

This is a transcription of an article from the Warwick Valley Dispatch, dated January 3, 1940. Used with permission.

The Old Warwick Institute
by Hylah Hasbrouck

Mrs. Frank Holbert has given to the High Street school a photograph of the origanal Warwick Institute built in 1852 and replaced in 1894. A few years ago a High School senior in writing the history of the Warwick school included a picture of the apartment house on Wawayanda Alley as the original institute preceding the one now standing on High Street. Mrs. Holbert thought it a shame that young people should grow up not knowing how the firtst building looked and where it stood. It was built to be a private day school for boys on land belonging to the Old School Baptist Church. The Church people still maintain their right to go across the eastern side of the grounds for their baptismal ceremony in the creek. When the present building was constructed, work was begun back of the old one. At first, part of the old was moved to its present site, in the alley and after the school year was completed the front part was moved making the second "tenement house" as it was then called. The school year of 1892 - 93 must have been a hard one on teachers and pupils with windows covered by scaffolding and workmen pounding and sawing. Mrs. Holbert has a photograph of the old building which Mr. Williams copied, slightly enlarged. This she put in an old-fashioned black walnut frame and asked that it be put in the High Street school so that children can see it and be told what building it is. It is now hanging in the lower hall opposite the front door.

This clear and splendid photograph stirs memories in the minds of those attending school in the old building. The following may be a starter for reminiscences to be followed by others so that personal contacts with the old building may be saved.

The front entrance had two doors leading into a vestibule. The faculty used the one on the right, the boys the left one. The girls always used the door at the side toward the rear. The primary grades used this side door or went up and down an outside stairway that was in the back as most of the primary classes were in the back upstairs rooms. A first grade class was in the basement in the back. This room was not like a cellar room but even with the ground with windows on two sides. Here Mrs. John J. Vander Voort began her teaching career and established that reputation as a first grade teacher known throughout the community. During her later years of teaching, she was a successful principal in a large grade school of (?)ohoes teaching the seventh grade as well but it is a beloved first grade teacher that the folks of Warwick remember her. Over the vestibule, was a room used for Miss Hannah Craig for her music classes. The front room at the right upstairs, was Miss Julia Reed's. Miss Reed was the teacher who could knock education into the heads of her scholars if anyone could. It is recalled that Blanche Muth Bingham said to her, "I never could learn." Miss Reed, as quick as a flash, replied, "You could but you wouldn't."

Mr. Alexander G. McAllister was a bachelor princical. Two of the teachers were madly in love witih him and children giggled and twittered when these lovesick marms taught with heads turned to catch a glimpse of their hero. If a child told one of them something of his whereabouts. that child was the teacher's pet for the day and received special attention. Mr. McAllister turned another way, however, and married Miss Anne Holly. He was an outstanding principal and his scholars remember him with respect and affection. One day he punished a boy severely, the father thought unjustly. At noon, the father came with a horsewhip held behind his back and asked to see Mr. McAllister. He stood outside the door and as Mr. McAllister appeared gave him a lash with the whip. A hand-to-hand struggle followed which the children watched as it was before school time. They stood speechless, scared-to-death. Fearing their teacher was getting the worst of it, Burt Martin stepped forward asking if he could help but Mr. McAllister said no he could manage. Later in the afernoon, Mr. McAllister went to every room and apologized that such an unhappy incident had happened and asked the children not to talk about it.

A later principal was William D. Smith who was followed by Louis W. Hoffman, the last principal in the old building. Miss Lansing had the sixth grade grade in the front room at the left. She became Mrs. Hoffman. A Miss Terwilliger had a third or fourth grade in the back corner and Miss Amelia Nichols a second grade above her.

Miss Kate J. Beebe was the fifth grade teacher in the back left hand corner room. A fire started in the cellar one afternoon. Since the old frame building was a perfect fire trap, the whole town rushed to High Street in great excitement. The children were marched out with no fuss and no panic. The fire was more smoke than blaze and was soon over. But on little after getting out went back in to gather up her belongings. She remembered seeing Miss Beebe standing in front of her cupboard lifting books from the shelves so that they could be saved. She told the little girl to go out and stay out. The mother of that wondered why her youngster should be the last one to walk out of the building and that mother was told she had been out but went back. When Miss Beebe retired and her desk and cupboards were cleared, papers were found belonging to her former pupils who were then married folks with children of their own. Miss Beebe had such a love for children she could not bear to destroy their work. Mr. Mayham said he never saw Miss Beebe teach her whole class at once. She was always helping a small group. Since this is the modern and newest way of teaching, she was years ahead of her time. Other teachers in the building were Rowena Herrick (Mrs. Ferdinand V. Sanford) and Miss Carrie Wisner.

Near the Institute was a private school kept by Mrs. Hornby and her sisters the Misses Benedict. This was quite a popular boarding school for girls, students coming from other places. One, Lillie Beebe of Middletown, is remembered as being a beautiful young woman, vivacious and attractive. Many years later, she married Charles G. Pierson.