DOBBS FERRY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Fostering an awareness and appreciation for the history of Dobbs Ferry and all the people, noted and humble, who transmitted the good things of the past The to the present and the future. Ferryman If these walls could Star The Mead House... Dr. John On the street where speak... struck... Our beautiful Mead House Cochrane you live... A child who grew up in Did you is available for you to host Have you Did you ever wonder how Dobbs Ferry during the know that your next holiday party, heard of this the neighborhoods and 1950s reminisces about Lawrence wedding, baby shower, unsung hero of streets of our village came to the “ magical” house he Olivier, meeting or event. Please the American be named? Meet a town lived in on Colonial considered by some to be come see all we have to Revolution? He travelled forefather and learn about Avenue and the the greatest actor of the offer! with Washington’s army to his remarkable act of civic wonderful people and 20th century, learned to Dobbs Ferry and made a philanthropy that impelled events that took place fly on our humble shores? remarkable contribution to the village to name several there. Pages 1, 2 & 3 Pages 7 & 8 the war. streets in his honor. Page 6 Pages 4 & 5

Volume XXV, Issue No 2 Winter 2012 UP, UP, AND AWAY IN DOBBS FERRY WITH MOVIE LEGENDS LAWRENCE OLIVIER & VIVIEN LEIGH

If you are reasonably familiar with Dobbs Ferry history, or have read The Ferryman, you are probably aware that a seaplane base existed at the village waterfront during the late 1930s and 40s. You may also have learned that the two most prominent frequenters of the base were Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, who took flying lessons here in 1940. Riding the crest of a wave of theatrical success as well as public acclaim, the two were pursued by hordes of adoring fans wherever they appeared.

One question which has always intrigued me, however is: What impact did their experience in Dobbs Ferry have on their later lives? Did they use their flying skills, or was the whole experience simply a frivolous adventure? With a little research, I discovered some interesting answers.

There is evidence that Olivier appeared to have a serious intent in pursuing piloting skills. That June (1940) Belgium and Holland had been overrun by the Nazis; the Scandinavian countries were under attack, and France seemed about to go under. There was a widespread feeling that even England was endangered.

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THE FERRYMAN RALD STATESMAN, YONKERS, N. Y„ MONDAY, JULY 22, 1940 and high walls of property owners July 4 Celebration cluded Richard Braun. Jack Stittler. Thief Escapes VillagJuly e1940, Erase Oliviers line (left)d both preparessides of the for"blind his" pilot’s test in DobbsJoan Ferry.Rogers, Charlotte Schwenker, Legion Post Votes corner. Held, Though Late Alice Halliday. Barbara Parrilll, Al- Several weeks ago the Village exander Ramondelli, Matthew Pil- Aid To Kemmerer Police Cordon 'Blind' Corner Board obtained permission from the KINGSBRIDGE—A July 4 chil- jiere, Robert Austin, Howard Myron. flying lessons. In otherpropert words,y owners toOlivier level the beganwalls At this time, fellow actress Katherine CornellAn appropriatio n to help de dren's program of the Patriotic ] James Donleary. Joseph Costelli. and the Intersection was widened I Walter Rogers, Joan Monroe, Helen hospital expenses of Joseph In Eastchester Dangerouseriouss flightTuckaho traininge by approximatelbefore comingy 20 feet. to Society of offeredVan Cortland thet Par couplek took ' O Shea her, Glori housea Spanutin at sSneden’s and Vir- merer , county commander of 'U**''| American Legion, who was Injured Intersection Eliminated Drivers of school buses and other place Saturday at the park after • ginia Duffy. House Looter Dashes Dobbs Ferry. motorists had complained to the bands and Landingparades had crowde as ad refuge.the This was ideal, as recentlthe y in an automobile mishap, board that they were unable to see was voted at the annual outing of children's contests from the Inde- ALTO SET AFIRE To Safety Through TUCKAHOE—One of the village's the northbound traffic on White couple’s relationship had begun to emergeBodenstab-Thoma as s Post, American dangerous traffic hazards was elim- pendence .Day docket. EASTCHESTER-A short circuit Legion. Saturday, on the lawn of Nearby Underbrush Plains Post Road inatedWhether Saturday whe orn wor notk o nOlivier the envisioned leading anThe societsomethingy was founded bscandalous.y Cap- tin the ignitio Eachn cause wasd a fire married in an Fran kto Palmer' s home, 138 Rossiter widening of the Rose Avenue-White HART RE A URNS HOME Avenue. tain Millard J. Bloomer of Ri*er- ! automobile operated by Wilson Gll- EASTCHESTER- Surprised In the PlainsRAF Post Roasquadrond intersectio nin wa defenses EASTCH ofT /TE hisR — homeland, S u p cr visor he dale, whosanothere aim Is to promotperson,e safe | andchrist ohad,f 52 Laure inl effect,Place, Ne wabandoned Ro- Thirty member s and guest* we*% jet of ransacking a house at 15 completed. Charles S. Hart returned Saturday present. Vice-Commander Thomas' celebrations. | chelle, yesterday on Manchester Winding Lane last night, a thief Parwast of th ine intersectiofact terrifiedn lies in afteofr flying.spending a However,week at a nationa hel both spouses and children. W. Sullivan was chef at a barbecue. dashed into surrounding underbrush Tuckahoe and part in Bronxville Elks convention in Touston. Texas. The Riverdale prize winners In- | Road. There was only slight damage. Mr. Palmer was chairman. md escaped a cordon of Eastchester was determined to conquer his fear. police. The man had entered the home of Unfortunately, he demonstrated little in the At Sneden’s, Olivier glanced across the river., A. L. Neary by breaking a first-floor window in the rear. He was fright- way of skill. As Donald Spoto, in his spied the seaplanes taking off and landing at ened away by the appearance of & neighbor, Margaret White of 1 Dog- biography of Olivier tells us: Dobbs Ferry, and saw an opportunity to wood Lane who heard the noise of breaking glass, police said. complete his flying instruction, which had The house was vacant ovef the “Olivia de Haviland saw him narrowly miss weekend while the Neary family was Huge Improvemenbeen interrupted. t in on a trip. Police were unable to determine at once if anything had several planes in midair, and before he had been taken from the house. The man bolted from the building completed his two hundred hours of I came across no record of Olivier’s progress and raced toward White Plains Post Road. Responding to Mrs. White's instruction that year, he had smashed into at Dobbs Ferry. Evidently, his flights up and call were Patrolmen Edward Tier- ney, George Speidell and Albert three landed aircraft and caused damage ten down the Hudson were relatively accident- Bodnar. The policemen searched through times at landing fields from Monterey to San free and he acquired enough flying hours to the woods but were unable to locate the man. described as of dark com- Diego. Vivien was sick with worry, for he was gain a license. plexion, dark hair, medium height gnd slender. He was wearing a blue certainly among the worst fliers in history; short-sleeve shirt. What about Vivien? She is recorded as going The theft of two automobile just as he was a reckless driver, taking wheels and tires from cars in the 2 aloft only once, and spent the rest of the time parking yard of the Slwanoy Coun- chances as he did on stage.” (Olivier insisted try Club Saturday night was re- on the ground, anxiously awaiting Olivier’s ported to police. on doing his own stunts on stage as well as in Louis Mangano of 260 South Sec- safe return. ond Avenue, Mount Vernon, reported films). the loss of a wheel, a tire and an automobile Jack were taken from his automobile. Louis LaManna of . „ (Staff Fhotoi One odd note: It was a tradition at the Dobbs 156 Wallace Street, Tuckahoe. re- A STAR TAKING WING. Laurence. Olivier (left), motion picture After filming in Hollywood, Olivier and ported the loss of a wheel and tire actor. Is shown with his Instructor, Robert Tinay, as he prepared for Ferry base for new graduates to host a dinner from his car. his flyer's test Saturday at the Westchester Private Flyers' base in Leigh went to New York, where they planned Slwanoy Country Club omcials re- Dobbs Ferry. for the entire group (known as the ported someone had gained en- to appear together in their own stage trance to the caddy house Saturday. Westchester Private Flyers, Inc.). This was to A small qiianlty of candy was taken production of Romeo and Juliet. Among fans in and the cigaret machine was Olivier Takes Test As Flyer, take place at The Village Tavern in Dobbs smashed. 8New6 York, there was great excitement. The Hopes To Help Britain In Air films Wuthering Heights and Rebecca, both Ferry. At the last minute, Olivier and Leigh Holy Name Society ducked out, leaving the remaining newly- Screen Star Completes Course At Dobbs Ferry— featuring Olivier, had been revived and lines Holds Yearly Outing 84 Expects To Practice Between Hftllvwood Scenes were forming around the block. Meanwhile, emergent pilots to host the event. A HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON —About 90 persons attended an annual out- spokesman for the couple claimed that they ing of the Holy Name Society of St. DOBBS FERRY—Laurence Oli- Mr. Olivier has been taking fly- Gone With the Wind was still showing at the Matthew's Church Saturday after- vier, British star of stage and screen, ing instruction here for the past had been “called to Canada.” noon at Uniontown Field. i who took his private flyer's test month from Kay Holmes of Yon- 8Rivole2 Theater. Richard Neely, chairman, was as-Onj S a t u rSeptember d a y morning at th3,e 1939,seaplane Britainkers and Rober declaredt Tinay, officia warl in- sisted by John Sasklewicz, Walter base of Westchester Private Flyers, structors at the base. Winrow, Jack Maher, Michael S. againstInc., here, Germany.announced tha tLaurence ulti- Mr. Olivieandr Vivian,was one of alongsix tyro Maher. James Craig, William mately he expects to become an in- flyers to pass the written and flight Sheehy. Peter Carrie and William withstructo rDavid for the Roya Niven,l Air Forc receivede of examination thes newson Saturday while. Th e Ramsey. Great Britain. others were: August Rabe of 27 82 weekendingAfter completing onhis testa boat, given offHillsid Catalinae Drive. Yonkers Island.; Dr. Leo by Department of Commerce In- Donaldson and Willard Helwig, both Depot Candy Device Olivierspector Jame becames Pettigrew, profuselyMr. Olivier of Tarrdrunk,y town; gotPatric kinto Presto an o( Rifled In Tuckahoe rowboatannounced tha andt he an wentd Vivien amongLeigh, New theYork Citothery and Williaboatsm Proud - who have been staying at Sneeden's foot of Irvington. 78 TUCKAHOE—W o r k i n g directly shouting,Landing across “Thisthe river, iswer thee leav end- – you’re all across the street from police head- ing for Hollywood that night. He MAN HURT IN FALL quarters, a thief smashed a window finishedsaid he expect –s drinkto begin upwork andin a enjoyLosing hiyourselvess balance whe n– he in the Tuckahoe station of the New stepped on a stone while crossing new film, either "Cvran1 o de Ber- York Central Railroad Saturday it’sgerac all" or over!”"Captain Hornblower." Momingside Avenue at Fairview 76 night and rifled a penny candy During the next three months, Street, John Lynch, twenty-six. of machine. while he Is working on the film, 56 Orchard Street, gashed his head A. L. Wallace, station agent, told he hopes to get in 200 hours in the on the curbing early yesterday. Four police the intruder broke a window Theair. h eother said, afte boatersr which he thinkingwill be the drunk was on the west side of the station. qualified as an instructor. He said stitches were taken in cute over the 74 Only a small amount of change was Ronaldhe did not Coleman,know whether h ea woulwell-knownd left eye at Stactor,. John' s Riverside taken from the machine, police said. launchedbe assigned to aCanad complainta or England to. Hospital the .harbormaster who demanded an apology from the 72 bewildered Coleman.

1 <.\yThere was no immediate call on the part of !£-, 70 London for Britons living abroad; in fact, it was hoped that citizens such as Olivier and Leigh wouldi§£!£* remain5 in Hollywood, 68 representing their country through the medium of film. Olivier, however, must have felt a twinge of guilt as well as a call to 66 prepare himself for duty. Thus, while acting in the films Waterloo Bridge and Pride and 61 Prejudice, and spending the nights rehearsing Shakespeare with Vivien for a forthcoming A recent donation from Carleton R. Garey, Jr. to our archives shows the seaplane base theatrical production, Olivier would rise 6at2 the waterfront in Dobbs Ferry circa 1940. Notice the train station ( largely each morning before dawn and race to the unchanged) in the background and look at all those vintage cars! Cloverm»| mamtm* Field in Santa Monica where he took TO measure the quality of a gasoline, no hocus-pocus is needed. Above, at left, is the pre-improvement "mark" of GULF NO- 2 THE MEAD HOUSE 12NO ELMX —fo STREETr years DOBBSone of America' FERRY,s NEWbest premiuYORK m 10522 gasolines. There is a scientific test that shows the comparative anti-knock The DOOR that leads value of any motor fuel. „ But hang on to that hat again as you look at the other figure I It shows how much GULF NO-NOX has been lifted over its old to resultfal saving The shorter figure above represents the former "mark" in that high. And when you consider that the old NO-NOX was knock- test of GOOD GULF, one of the best regular-priced gasolines proof under all normal driving conditionsr-that was no easy im- in America. But . . . hold your hat! The taller figure shows you YOUR first step in saving will be through (hat door at provement to make! # # # No. 16 South Broadway. Your second step will he to make the precise improvement in the NEW GOOD GULF, now a deposit and get your name on a hank hook. After that steppedup tremendously. What superb performance this power- NO REGULAR GASOLINE—NOT ONE- it is a mere matter of slipping a hill between the folds of your bank book and coming to deposit. packed fuel will deliver in your modern, high-compression engine! CAN COMPARE WITH GULF NO-NOX! The average individual knows the Value of saving—then decides to save up some money and deposit it in a savings account-^-but something cornea along to interrupt his good resolve. rpr r | "21 Way* to Save Money " - T h i s helpful booklet . If you realize that you should be saving money then come I I1L.L • j y o u r * for the asking at your local Good Gulf straight to the savings bank and begin! g dealer's. Get your*, at the Sign of the Gulf Orange Di»c! YONKERS SAVINGS BANK '6 SOUT£USJZft£ DXfAY Better try these Better Fuels

Member »f Ihf Mtjtnai mm 'avltift Bank Inmranre fund THE FERRYMAN

that he had been assigned to the Navy Air Arm rather than the RAF. The air arm was comprised of an assortment of men eager to serve, but lacking the highest flying credentials. Olivier’s specific duty was to take trainees on trial runs in antiquated biplanes.

On the first day, eager to demonstrate his expertise, Olivier leaped into an open cockpit, started the engine and prepared to take off. However, he had neglected to wait until the chocks were removed from the wheels. The plane spun crazily in a WE WANT TO half-circle and crashed into an adjacent aircraft, destroying both planes. Olivier’s THANK YOU! There may be another reason for their reputation as a pilot never quite sudden departure. At this time, Olivier recovered from this setback. In response to the call for and Leigh were flat broke. They had sunk heroes in the last Ferryman, all their funds into the production of Subsequently, following a series of Romeo and Juliet, hoping to capitalize on disasters in which no less than five many villagers joined the Society their fame as film actors. At this period, aircraft were destroyed in seven weeks, at the Hero level and English actors looked down on movies as Olivier was grounded and given the task nothing more than a means of making of packing parachutes. contributed extra funds to help money. Greatness could only be achieved on the stage. However, the task of trying Finally seeing the light, Olivier, with the us meet the critical need to to mount a full-scale production, as well blessing of the War Office, requested restore our gas service. as perform as its stars, left the couple permission to return to the stage and screen. stressed out and exhausted. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL! Their performances on stage were flat. In In retrospect, it seems that Olivier’s an opening performance, Olivier was experience in Dobbs Ferry represents his Now that the foundation below supposed to leap over Juliet’s wall. Too last attempt to involve himself in the exhausted to complete the leap, he clung affairs of ordinary men. “Once the glassed in porch of the to the wall in desperation. Mercifully, the demobilized, he never again sought Mead House has been alert stage manager brought down the temporary release from his art, nor did he regard it as less than his sole reality.”3 strengthened, that space will be This was a lesson Vivien Leigh had available for special exhibitions learned long before. and general use. Sources for the article: However, the need to recruit Spoto, Donald. Laurence Olivier, a Biography New York: Harper Collins, 1992 more heroes is great! Be a part

Vickers, Hugo. Vivien Leigh, a Biography Boston: Little, of this groundswell of public Brown, and Company. 1988 support. There are so many Yonkers Herald Statesman. Saturday, July 13, 1940 exciting and interesting events

Footnotes: coming up this year. 1 Vickers p. 118 Be a part of the action, join us! 2 Spoto p. 150 3 Ibid p. 163 BECOME A MEMBER WRITTEN BY LARRY BLIZARD TODAY ON THE WEB AT curtain. The play closed shortly after and WWW.DOBBSFERRYHISTORY.ORG the couple lost their $48,000. The American public obviously preferred Heathcliffe and Scarlett O’Hara of film to or mail your $50 check to us at: the tense and fatigued Romeo and Juliet 12 Elm Street in real time. Dobbs Ferry, New York 10522 Disconsolately, the couple went back to England. To his dismay, Olivier found

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The Honorable David Ogden Bradley was born in 1827. He came from a ON THE STREET family that traced its ancestry back to 1640. His ancestor was John Ogden, a Pilgrim, the first of his line in America. WHERE YOU LIVE... David O. Bradley became a lawyer in 1850 in Dobbs Ferry. He purchased his home, Palavista in 1865 (now the Memorial Park wading pool). His Have you wondered about the name of the streets in many roles,nationally and locally, are as follows: Dobbs Ferry? • acted as guard at Abraham Lincoln’s first inauguration as President Here is the story of a few of them. • President of the Village of Dobbs Ferry BY MADELINE BYRNE • Member of the Board of Education • In 1868 was a delegate to the Republican National Convention • In 1872 was a candidate for Congress • In 1879 elected as Member of the Assembly • He helped build the Andre Monument in Tarrytown and the base of the Washington/Rochambeau monument in Dobbs Ferry • Founded and was President of the Tarrytown National Bank • President of the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Corporation

He had two wives, Elizabeth Neeley with whom he had a daughter, Elizabeth. Elizabeth went on to become a doctor and build the 3 stone homes in Ogden Park. With his second wife, Cornelia Fitch, he had 4 children. He died in 1895 and was buried with his second wife in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

D. O Bradley had vast holdings of property in the village. With a gesture not seen today, he donated the land for the Dobbs Ferry Hospital on Ashford Avenue. In another deed, he gave the land to the village to create the roads around the hospital, South Washington and Bradley Avenue down to Ogden Place.

Sources : Ogden Family in America... (1640-1906) Lawrence Van Alstyne and Charles Burr Ogden 1907

As the saying goes, “ the more things change, the more they stay the same.” The streets of Dobbs Ferry are still under construction ! Look at these great photos we found in our archives. Some date back from the 1910s and document the early paving of our local roads . Can you recognize where these shots were taken? Notice the cobblestones. You may recall at one time seeing some patches of the these old stones “peeking” in spots from under our current day blacktop.

4 THE MEAD HOUSE 12 ELM STREET DOBBS FERRY, NEW YORK 10522 THE FERRYMAN

Above on the right is a excerpt from the legal document dated October 13, 1885 where David Ogden Bradley deeded his property on Ashford Avenue to the village for the sum of $1.00 (This is the property and surrounding streets where the hospital stands today.) What a guy! What a deal ! A copy of the map below accompanied the contract. Notice the three areas where it states “STREET DEEDED TO VILLAGE FOR PUBLIC USE”.

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Surgeon to Washington by Morris H. Saffron DR. JOHN COCHRAN (New York: Columbia Press, 1977) PHYSICIAN, SURGEON, AND HERO OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION After the war in Albany, he opened a had left. New hospitals had to be medical practice and married Gertrude, a established quickly. As he wrote to move that cemented his connections to Charles McKnight, Surgeon General of the several prominent Hudson Valley Middle Region, “Should we come to families. Gertrude’s mother was a Van operate seriously against New York, Cortlandt, her sister-in-law a Van which may be the case in a short time, it is Rensselaer and her daughter would more than probable your services may be marry a Livingston. But life in Albany wanted a while in the Field, especially if proved too restrictive for the couple so there should be a prospect of many they moved to south to New Brunswick, wounded.” (p. 127) In another letter from New Jersey in 1763. There he continued Dobbs Ferry, he complained about the his practice and began to advertise a new difficulty of getting supplies from West service--providing small pox vaccinations. Point, “The Enemy have some ships of A book, recently donated to the Historical Small pox, a deadly scourge in the Force as far as some Miles above Society, gives a vivid picture of the life of American colonies, was just beginning to Tarrytown which impedes us much in one of the little known heroes of the be avoided using vaccination. Cochran’s getting our stores and supplies down the American Revolution, Dr. John Cochran experience with this process would prove river. They burned a large House last (1730-1807). Appointed Director General invaluable to George Washington who night on the West Side of the river.” (p. 129). of the Hospital of the United States, decided early in the war to require his Cochran was responsible for establishing troops to be vaccinated. Much of his time in Dobbs Ferry was and maintaining military hospitals and spent imploring government officials for traveled often with Washington’s army, In November, 1776, when British troops more support for the hospitals. To the even coming to Dobbs Ferry during the invaded New Jersey, Cochran sent his treasurer, Robert Morris, he wrote that he July-August encampment in 1781. family to safety in Pennsylvania and had six vacancies that would be joined Washington’s forces as a volunteer, detrimental “for should we have an active The son of Scotch-Irish immigrants, providing medical care. He drafted plans Campaign, the number of Hospital Cochran was born in 1730 in Chester for the organization of the army medical Physicians and Surgeons would be very County, Pennsylvania, possibly in the department that were submitted to inadequate to the service. . . .For God’s tavern that his father kept. Though formal Washington and in April 1777, he was sake, help us as soon as you can. Most of education was not always available in that commissioned Physician and Surgeon our officers have not received one shilling part of rural Pennsylvania, John and his General of the Middle Department. As of pay in upwards of two years.” (p. 129) brothers were fortunate to attend a school such he was responsible for massive small He also suggested to Thomas Bond, Jr., opened by the Reverend Francis Alison pox vaccinations at Valley Forge. By who sent medical supplies from who was said to be the finest Greek October, 1780, he became the Chief Philadelphia, “Could you not by scholar in America. Alison conveyed his Physician and Surgeon of the Army. Advertisement be able to procure a passionate love of freedom to his students Quantity of old linen from the good —three of whom later were signers of the Though Cochran generally seems to have Ladies of your City. I was obliged after Declaration of Independence. For his been stationed wherever Washington’s the last Skirmish when fifty men were medical education, John moved to troops were, there was one notable wounded to give every sheet I had in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania where he was exception. In the fall of 1778, Lafayette, world but two to make Lint etc. I dread apprenticed to Dr. Robert Thompson. on his way home to France, fell ill, with the thoughts of an action when we have it high fever and chills. Washington not in our power to relieve the distresses At age twenty-five, as his apprenticeship ordered Dr. Cochran to devote himself of the unfortunate.” (p. 132) was ending, Cochran joined a Lancaster entirely to Lafayette’s care. He nursed the regiment as a surgeon’s mate when the Frenchman until the fever left, then When Washington left Dobbs Ferry, French and Indian War (1756-63) broke accompanied him from Fishkill to Boston Cochran did not accompany the forces to out, knowing that battlefields were where a healed Lafayette sailed back to Yorktown but rather left provision for that important places to hone surgical skills. France to help persuade the French king hospital to the Middle Region Surgeon. His regimental service eventually took to dispatch French army units to America. For the remainder of the war, he him north to the fighting around Fort continued to operate from New York, Ticonderoga where the home of Philip In July, 1781 when French and American pressing Congress to provide more Schuyler had been hastily converted to a forces met in the encampment around supplies for the battlefield hospitals and hospital. There he met Gertrude Schuyler, Dobbs Ferry, Dr. Cochran came along to caring for veterans disabled in the Philip’s recently widowed older sister, establish hospital facilities for the fighting. When the war ended, he retired who was serving as a nurse and would impending confrontation with the British to New York City. He died in 1807. later become his wife. army. The situation was dire. Many of his doctors, unpaid for the last two years, BY MARY S. DONOVAN

6 THE MEAD HOUSE 12 ELM STREET DOBBS FERRY, NEW YORK 10522 THE FERRYMAN

a gardener’s room, a library, 6 of our price range. My dad, Hubert IF THESE WALLS bathrooms, 5 bedrooms, a butler’s Luckett, had gotten a promotion from pantry, and a laundry room with photographer to technical editor at COULD SPEAK... soapstone sinks. The formal dining Popular Science Monthly, but still room had a big picture window with a probably made no more than $7500 a 72 COLONIAL AVENUE magnificent view of the Hudson. The year. My mom had just recently gigantic living room had a fireplace started her social work career, and big enough to roast a pig in. The most of her meager salary was BY JIM LUCKETT garage could hold 4 cars. The sun absorbed by the household help they porch was big enough to house a had to hire to take the place of a stay- “A Unique Transformation” was the sailboat (and later did). Acres of at-home mom. What were we doing headline on the 1910 New York Times grounds extended from Palisade Ave. looking at this mansion? article reporting conversion of the J.D. to Southlawn Ave. with lawns, woods, Flower estate’s barn into a residence. terraced gardens, two driveways, a Miraculously, we did buy the house, When I recently came upon that old tennis court and a tennis house. after a long negotiation to bring the headline while web surfing, I thought, price down. In the end we got the "You got that right!" I grew up in that Just as exciting to my young-boy’s house and about a half acre for house at 72 Colonial Avenue, Dobbs mind, the place was a wreck. The $35,000. The seller kept most of the Ferry, witnessing and taking part in house had been vacant for 3 years. grounds, to be sold later for five house many stories that could run under that Windows were broken, paint and lots. headline. wallpaper were peeling, plaster was cracked, the grass was 3 feet tall, and Then came months of work at night The year was 1957 and I was 7 years the rooms were filled with mountains and on weekends to make our future old when the real estate broker of intriguing junk. I had no doubt that home habitable. With the rest of the showed us the vacant dilapidated my dad could fix all the broken stuff, family helping, my dad fixed the mansion. My imagination exploded and I would help. Building and fixing broken windows, patched the plaster, with the possibilities of what life could things with Dad was my greatest joy. replaced the kitchen counters, wired be like in such a place. The basement up the basement with additional had room for every imaginable type of Named "Southlawn," the estate was outlets for his tools, and repaired workshop and a barroom for parties. built circa 1868 by Robert Olyphant plumbing. We all painted and papered A rotting wood staircase beneath a and served as a summer home first and swept and scrubbed. basement hatch led to a spooky sub- for Olyphant, then William Cole, basement. The entry hall had a grand Elliott Shephard and lastly John We learned that the horses had been staircase with a Palladian window at Flower, a banker and brother to former kept on the first floor, not the the landing. There was a maid’s room, governor Roswell Flower. An 1881 basement. When we cut into the floor County Atlas shows the outlines of the structure we could see the 2-inch-thick main house (now 106 Magnolia tongue-and-groove subflooring that Drive), the barn (now 72 Colonial), supported their weight. The top floor, and a pond (now the Colonial Springs where the family bedrooms were, had pool). Around 1910, a land developer been the hayloft. When we cut into the purchased the 60-acre estate, put in first-floor ceiling to get at pipes or streets and utilities and subdivided it wires, flakes rained down our heads -- into lots for resale. The developer ancient oats that had sifted down converted the barn into a residence, through the floorboards above. and the New York Times for August 28, 1910 ran a photo of this "unique For the next 32 years, 72 Colonial was transformation" in "Hastings." (The the Luckett family home. It gradually developer was named The Hastings also became an unofficial youth drop- Company, apparently leading the in center for the community. The doors Times to jump to a wrong conclusion were never locked and the doorbell Jim Luckett and his grandmother Adelia Luckett about location). was rarely used . You didn’t call with 72 Colonial Ave. in the background, circa ahead, you just showed up, walked in, 1960. The wide columns of the front porch were later removed after Jim hit one of them with the “Mom, Dad can we buy it? Please!” I and made yourself at home. family car while learning to drive at age 12. pleaded. The house was way out

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THE MEAD HOUSE 12 ELM STREET DOBBS FERRY, NY 10522 NEWSLETTER DESIGN: ROBIN COSTELLO CONTACT US BY PHONE : (914)-674-1007 EMAIL : [email protected]. ON THE WEB: WWW.DOBBSFERRYHISTORY.ORG

There were projects going on in the Vladzia Mashke rented two rooms, basement workshops, photos being where she gave lessons several days a developed in the darkroom, endless week. bull sessions at the kitchen table, and For the frequent parties. We kids grew older and went away to college, but kids kept coming to the My parents divorced in 1962 and my house. The cast party for the high Brides mother moved out. My dad school play was held there in 1966 remarried, bringing his new wife The Mead House when no child in the family was offers an Dorothy Bell (“DB”) and her son Terry still living at home. We took time off affordable, Dyke into the family. Both DB and from college, moved back, and new elegant, private Hubert were great listeners and chapters unfolded in the house. We space for your wedding, rehearsal dinner, treated youngsters as equals. Kids filled the driveways and garage with came to spend time with them, as cars we were driving or tinkering with bridal shower or family gathering. much as with the 4 kids living in the or both. Terry housed his rock-n-roll This historic home features manicured house. Conversations ranged over band there for a time. My sister grounds, wrap around porch and a every imaginable topic – physics, the Arleigh drove a truckload of lumber spacious parlor, living room, kitchen and stock market, the war in Vietnam, down there from her new place in politics, women’s rights, race, dining room. Decorated in period style, we Canada so she could use the shop also offer folding chairs and tables and language, auto mechanics, music, equipment to cut the tricky angles of many amenities to suit your celebration literature, computers, art, etc. The the geodesic dome home she was needs. Come see what the community has dictionary in the kitchen, and the building. My brother Dan held the just discovered. We have so much to offer, encyclopedia, maps, and world globe 25th reunion of Dobbs Ferry High in the library were all frequently School class of 1962 at the house. DB so affordable, so close to home! consulted. Two foster children (one died in 1980, and Hubert then married Contact us for an appointment at official, one unofficial) were taken in Nancy McCarthy of Dobbs Ferry. 914-674-1007. at different times. Russian pianist Shortly before his death, my father remarked that I seemed to share one of his great joys in life--creating Did you know we are non-profit environments in which others could organizaton which relies on membership thrive. I had never thought of it that way. But now I could see that thread dues and donatons t stay in existnce? running through so much of what he If you appreciat receiving tis newsleter, had done. His service on the Dobbs Ferry school board and village board Won’t you kindly show it by becoming a of trustees, his years as Editor-in-Chief become a member of te Societ? at Popular Science, his service as Commodore of the Tarrytown boat We have important work left t do - and club, and, most of all, the atmosphere One of the projects that emerged from the he fostered at that house at 72 we need your help. Your actons show us basement workshop at 72 Colonial Ave. was the “Flying Cart” designed and built in 1960 by Colonial were all about creating how you value te work we do. Hubert Luckett (far right, at the controls). Jim environments that nurtured unique Luckett is riding it and Arleigh Luckett, his sister transformations of people. Help us make Histry ! is the tallest of the children in the background.