^outh oi thi ouin of ine r v JountainA The Historical Society of Rockland County
Vbl. 44, No.l January-March, 2000
Hay Cutting at the Eagle’s Nest, Clarkstown Country Club
Pierre Bernard and the Clarkstown Country Club
A Millennium Story IN THIS ISSUE
Pierre Bernard and the Clarkstown Country Club...... Page 3 The author, Grace Gordon, a resident of Tappan, was born and bred in Rock land County. She has worked on a number of local history projects and was the archivist, commissioned by Pierre’s niece-in-law, Dr. Viola Bernard, for the numerous cartons containing Clarkstown Country Club papers, photographs and artifacts.
A Millennium Story...... Page 19 Prophets, forseeing major disasters or the end of the world, have been capturing the imaginations of followers and the attention of the press for a long time. This story was transcribed from microfilms of the Nyack Evening Star and the Nyack Evening Journal in the New City Library by Marianne B. Leese. Thank you to our reader, Marshall Hornblower, who spotted an article about this story in The Washington Post.
COVER PICTURES. Front Cover: hay cutting at the Eagle’s Nest, Clarks town Country Club, Nyack, New York. Back Cover: CCC elephants perform ing. All of the photographs in this issue are from the collection of the Historical Society of Rockland County.
SOUTH OF THE MOUNTAINS (ISSN 0489-9563) is published quarterly by the Historical Society of Rockland County, 20 Zukor Road, New City, NY 10956; telephone, 914-634-9629; fax, 914-634-8690. Single copy price is $2 plus 75 cents postage and handling.
While all efforts are made to ensure accuracy in the articles, the society assumes no responsibility for opinions and conclusions expressed or implied by contributors.
© 2000 The Historical Society of Rockland County All rights reserved
Executive Director: Sarah E. Henrich Editor: Marjorie H. Bauer Senior Historian: Thomas F.X. Casey Consulting Editor: Marianne B. Leese Senior Historian Emeritus: John Scott
Printing by Ramapo Graphics, Pearl River, New York
2 Pierre Bernard and
The Clarkstown Country Club
by Grace Gordon
laced squarely on the crest of a at a given moment. He was extremely knoll overlooking the Hudson perceptive and crafty, and not much River in South Nyack is a hand got past him. One of his early disci Psome stone and stucco building, whichples once said of him: “If you want to boasts a history so colorful it has fool Oom, try to fool God first.” His become a legend in Rockland County. interest in yoga was genuine and It was built in 1931 as the home of the intense, and although he often exploit Clarkstown Country Club, brainchild ed its use for his own gain, he always of Pierre Arnold Bernard, a character believed in the value of its practice even more colorful than his creation. and he was, for all his life, a teacher Because of his controversial lifestyle and spokesman for its benefits. Pierre Bernard, also known as Oom Although Bernard would answer the Omnipotent, has been in and out any question on yoga or Eastern philos of public scrutiny for the entire 20th ophy eagerly and expansively, he hard century. The first reports of his activi ly ever gave true, factual information ties appeared in the San Francisco regarding his personal life and his fami newspapers in 1900, while only last ly, preferring instead to fabricate, year a website was created in his embellish or mislead. He often claimed, name. One reason for this continuing for instance, that he was educated in interest is the fact that Bernard, a pio India and held degrees from three uni neer in this country in the field of versities there. Actually, he never set yoga, was the first Westerner to estab foot in the country and the degrees lish an organized method of teaching were honorary, and of somewhat dubi yoga and Eastern philosophy on these ous origin. He frequently stated he was shores. Another reason is the man born in Chicago and traveled much of himself. Bernard was a fascinating the country in his youth, when actually individual with a long and checkered he was born in Iowa and lived there for career, which included riches and most of his early life. notoriety as well as disgrace and Bernard was born on October 31, imprisonment. 1876 in Leon, Iowa and given the Bernard was a very intelligent name Perry Baker. Three years later and complex man, with many facets to his parents, Kittie and Erastus Baker, his character, good and bad. He could were divorced and when Kittie mar be genuine or devious, brutally honest ried J.C. Bernard, a barber from Leon, or artfully deceptive, cruel or compas young Perry took his stepfather’s sionate—whichever best fit his needs name. “Perry” was later changed to
3 Pierre, no doubt for effect. Not much and exercises, called hatha yoga. He is known of his very early years, but promoted these methods as a form of perhaps the most important event of self-cure for various ailments and his adolescence was his meeting up advertised for students. Bernard with a man called Sylvais Hamati, a trained a few of his followers as teach Syrian, it is said, who was a practition ers and with their help was able to eke er of Tantrik yoga and a guru of sorts out a meager living. to a few pupils in the Midwest. By his While he was operating these own account, the young Iowan had schools, the young Bernard began already developed an interest in East efforts to found a Tantrik Order in ern philosophy and religion when he America, with Hamati’s help at first. met Hamati in Lincoln, Nebraska and He worked diligently on the West became his pupil. He studied with Coast to this end, forming lodges in Hamati for at least six years and was San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Taco associated with him on the West Coast ma, and other cities in the Northwest, for longer than that. evidently gathering enough adherents One of the disciplines of Tantrik and benefactors to keep the order yoga, and other forms of yoga as well, going. He moved his operations fre includes mastering elaborate exercises quently and at each new place, for controlling involuntary bodily func Bernard would establish a Tantrik tions such as breathing and heart rate. lodge, recruit new members, leave dis Diligent in his studies, Bernard ciples in charge and move on. Initia became proficient at such feats as tion into the Tantrik sect involved a breath control to the point of simulat great deal of cryptic and arcane rigma ing death, and mind control, or self role. Initiates were made to take a hypnosis, to eradicate pain. He used vow of secrecy regarding its rituals, to these skills to impress and, as a way to swear allegiance to the order and to earn a living, staged demonstrations to sign an elaborate oath to this effect in recruit pupils who would pay to learn their own blood. them. In one of these demonstrations, he wove long needles in and out of the flesh of his cheeks and tongue and showed that, through self-hypnosis, he did not bleed and felt no pain. In another, he appeared to be in a death like state as he slowed his breathing and heart rate to a barely perceptible ■ m. ?V - point. First in San Francisco and then in other cities in California and the Northwest during the first decade of the century, Bernard listed himself as a physician —despite having never even attended high school. He estab lished schools, which he called temples of learning, for instruction in breath ing and mind control techniques as well as for lessons in yoga postures Pierre Bernard with his everpresent cigar
4 Bernard was successful in his months and was released only when endeavors on the West Coast—success charges were dropped because the two ful enough, anyway, to announce the girls had disappeared. Gertrude Leo, establishment of the first Tantrik one of the accusers, was part of the Order of America. He filed all the nec West Coast entourage which followed essary papers to legitimize the order Bernard to New York and was, she and wasted no time proclaiming him said, lured to the East Coast on the self its founder and chief primate. promise that she would become his In 1908, Bernard decided to move nautch girl, meaning his Tantrik wife. his operations to New York. Arriving Zelia Hopp was a student/patient at with a small entourage of men and the sanitarium, being treated for a women, he rented furnished rooms and heart ailment. There was some jeal small apartments in Harlem and mid ousy between the two girls, both of Manhattan. He allied himself with one whom he promised to marry. Believe it or two doctors, never discouraging the or not, both appeared to be enamored idea that he was one himself, and of Bernard, this much older, balding, established what he called sanitari financially insecure man. It must have ums, where he and his aides would been that whatever he lacked in looks offer medical and physical assistance, he more than made up for in spellbind coupled with yoga instruction, to reha ing charisma. bilitate the afflicted. For one hundred When the girls disappeared, some dollars in advance, one could enroll in say they fled because they were terri his course of treatment, and after a fied of revenge by their captor, others four week trial, the enrollee’s money that they had made the whole thing up would be refunded, it was promised, if to get even, and were frightened of he wasn’t satisfied. being found out. We may never know Bernard and some of his followers how much of their story was valid, why were running one or two of these sani they vanished, or even if Bernard had tariums and beginning to become anything to do with their disappear somewhat successful at it when disas ance, but it did result in the charges ter struck. A series of events occurred, being dropped and Bernard being which were to plague him all his life, released from jail. irreparably damaging his reputation When the story broke, however, with the press. Late in the evening of every newspaper in New York had a Monday, May 2, 1910, his sanitarium field day, filling column after column on West 74th Street was raided by with lurid details provided by the two police on a charge of abduction brought young women. The tabloids made much by two young girls, Gertrude Leo and of the story, with banner headlines and Zelia Hopp. Both still in their late full-page spreads including photographs teens, they told many lurid stories and sensational accounts of how this about Bernard, claiming he was really slippery scoundrel, Oom the Omnipo presiding over a love cult, and that tent, corrupted the morals of young they were held captive at his place women. That title of Oom appeared for against their will. Bernard was arrest the first time in these newspaper arti ed and held on $15,000 bail —a huge cles, and the reporters never let it go. sum for that time. Failing to produce Bernard later blamed the press for giv bail, he was imprisoned pending trial. ing him this unsavory name, but the He remained in jail for almost four young girls in the case claimed it was
5 Bernard who told them to call him is evidence that she was in Leonia to Oom. The "omnipotent" was probably finalize a divorce from her first hus an invention of the press. band, Alphonse Chariot, whom she After this fiasco, the press never married in Mexico at an early age and again took Bernard seriously, except who was then in New York, languish for the Nyack papers, and when his ing in the Ludlow Street jail for non name was mentioned, it was usually payment of alimony. with derision or sarcasm. He was a Learning of the school in Leonia favorite target for wordplay and gen and having an interest in the occult, erated headlines such as these: THE Blanche showed up there and decided GREAT FUSS AND FUME OVER to enroll. Although still young, Reiss THE OMNIPOTENT OOM, from True was shrewd and world-wise, a Magazine-, WEIRD ECHO OF THE charmer, who was quick to recognize MYSTERIOUS EPIC OF OOM, from events which she could turn to her the Sunday Mirror Magazine-, THE own benefit and profit. No doubt she GURU OF NYACK, from Town and saw such an opportunity in Bernard’s Country, PIERRE BERNARD, OOM operations and wanted to participate THE OMNIPOTENT, PROMOTER in what appeared to be a promising AND SELF-STYLED SWAMI, DIES new field offering innovative and from The New York Times. Worse yet, unique methods for self-help, a field the articles appearing under these headlines were more often than not inaccurate, misleading or simply invented by lazy reporters who plagia rized each other and preferred embell ishment to searching out the truth. The factual errors printed about this man are legion. Bernard’s fortunes suffered con siderably with the notoriety brought by the abduction case, but with time the coverage abated and the unsink- able Oom was able to carry on his work. His sanitariums —now called schools —prospered, and he acquired many new students, who obtained real benefits from the breath control, yoga exercises and mental discipline he and his disciples taught. In 1913, Bernard established a yoga school in Leonia, NJ, and it was here that Blanche DeVries came into the picture. Her birth name was Dace Melborn Shannon, but she had several aliases and at the time was calling herself Blanche Reiss. She was born in Adrian, Michigan and grew up there, coming to New York in her late Blanch DeVries as a young woman, in a teens to build a singing career. There promotional shot for her singing career
6 as popular then as it is now. She decid her own, at 16 East 53rd Street, a ed to throw in her lot with Bernard, fashionable address in Manhattan. It swapping singing for yoga, and became was here, thanks to DeVries, that a diligent and compliant student. their enterprise began to really flour When Bernard closed operations in ish. She recruited wealthy students Leonia a year later and moved back to from important families: the families New York, DeVries went with him. of W.K. Vanderbilt and B.F. Goodrich One of the schools Bernard had became two of their most lucrative established in New York was a yoga sources of income. Over the course of school for women on East 54th Street, time, her student roster also included run by two female disciples who came Sunny VonBulow, Marjorie Merri- with him from the West Coast. Using weather Post, Ethel Barrymore, Jen what she had learned in Leonia, nifer Jones, Claire Bloom, Frederick DeVries joined the staff in teaching March, Rebekah Harkness, Helena yoga exercises to women. It was here Rubenstein and others equally rich that Dace Melborn Shannon aka and famous. Some of her yoga pupils Kathryn Chariot, aka Blanche Reiss, were referred to Bernard for addition became Blanche DeVries. Always the al study in Eastern philosophy, while opportunist, she developed a talent for their male relatives and friends were attracting wealthy women students, also referred to Bernard’s establish who, oiled by much flattery and praise, ments for exercise and rehabilitation. would recommend other wealthy Their joint venture into yoga and self- friends to the school. No doubt recog help was doing very nicely and to nizing this talent, Bernard within a some, apart from the press, Bernard’s few years set DeVries up in a school of reputation had acquired a new dimen sion of respectability. By 1918, their fortunes had improved enough to consider expan sion. Bernard conducted summer i met. i iim< classes in Westhampton, and DeVries was hired to give yoga lessons at a school called Riverhook in Upper Nyack. Riverhook was an academy for young girls run by an Episcopal nun on the property now occupied by the Nyack Field Club. When DeVries came out to teach yoga to the young ladies at Riverhook, it was her intro duction to the Nyack area. The summer of 1918 was a busy 'U ''*<4 one for Blanche DeVries and Pierre Bernard, but they managed to squeeze in time for a wedding in Richmond, Virginia on August 27. The marriage, like most everything else in their per sonal lives, was kept a secret. They told no one, not even their families or Blanche DeVries’s yoga school closest friends, and it remained at 16 East 53rd Street in Manhattan unknown for years.
7 I
Rossiter House
When Riverhook School closed in sion on North Broadway. Hugh 1919, DeVries and Bernard, recogniz Maxwell had sold the property to Van- ing another potential for profit, decid Wyck Rossiter, a New York Central ed to expand operations to include Railroad executive, shortly after the Nyack, where they could spread out turn of the century. Rossiter built the and provide a recreational country set mansion on Midland Avenue, now ting for their wealthy New York stu owned by the Nyack Field Club, dents. When they moved to Rockland around 1909. County they dropped terms like sani When Bernard leased the proper tarium and yoga school, and became ty in 1919, he called his own enter instead a country club. Bernard was prise the Braeburn Country Club. no longer called Oom by his followers, Rossiter House and one or two smaller but was known as P.A., Doc, or Doctor houses on the Midland Avenue portion Bernard, even though he wasn’t one. of the property were used as living In the summer of 1919, Bernard quarters for Bernard and DeVries and leased property known as the Maxwell staff, and Braeburn House on North Estate, a large piece of land compris Broadway as guesthouse for members, ing seventy-three acres and running who came out from New York to relax from Midland Avenue in Upper or to participate in the various activi Nyack, down along Castle Heights ties of the club. Avenue to North Broadway. On the Rossiter House was an eighteen property were several small buildings room, three story, stone and stucco and two large ones: the Rossiter house house, with extensive grounds on Midland, which had been the home adorned with gorgeous trees, shrubs of Riverhook School, and the Braeburn and wide lawns. Braeburn House was house, a beautiful old red brick man a stately three story, red brick man
8 sion containing some thirty rooms on Money was coming in faster than ever, North Broadway. It had a rather and after less than a year of leasing the romantic reputation. Built in 1835 — property, Bernard bought the entire supposedly by a French pirate —with Maxwell estate in January, 1920. bricks imported from France, the walls Three-quarters of the purchase price of were three and a half feet thick, and about one hundred thousand dollars legend has it that a smugglers’ tunnel came from Anne Vanderbilt, second once led from the cellar, under North wife of W.K. Vanderbilt, who, along Broadway, to the banks of the Hudson. with her two daughters, were students The property boasted four champi of DeVries and members of the club. onship tennis courts, left over from 1920 was a very busy year for earlier days when the premises was Bernard, and a profitable one. On May known as the Nyack Country Club and 1, with the help of Mrs. Vanderbilt and was one of the stops on the circuit of other well-heeled members, he the Eastern Lawn Tennis Association. acquired another large property, the Many tennis greats of the time played Bradley estate, home of S.R. Bradley, a there, including Bill Tilden. local utilities man, which consisted of When Bernard first came out to thirty-nine and a half acres and nine Nyack, he maintained his operation in buildings on Highland Avenue in New York City as well, aided by a few South Nyack. The Braeburn Country local disciples, including DeVries who Club remained at the Maxwell proper continued to manage his prized cash ty for the two years it took to renovate, cow, the women’s school for yoga. repair and refurbish the Bradley house
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Bradley House
9 and its auxiliary buildings. When Between 1920 and 1922, DeVries they moved the club to the Bradley completely refurbished and redecorat property in May, 1922, Bernard ed the interior of the Bradley house changed its name to the Clarkstown and Bernard relandscaped the proper Country Club. After the move, the ty with many trees and shrubs. The Rossiter house and other buildings on stables and coach house were made Midland Avenue were rented out to into a theater and lecture hall. A few club members and guests as the mem of the smaller buildings were turned bership grew. into rental properties for members During World War II, when while others were recreated as the money wasn’t coming in as it once had, business office, a club shop, a coffee Bernard leased Rossiter House to the house and staff housing. Bernard Nyack Junior School, a private school cleverly created an indoor swimming for boys. Subsequently it was used pool by digging the earth out from briefly as an Orthodox Christian under the existing plate glass green church. Bernard subdivided the prop house on the estate. By February, erty in the 1950s and sold the North 1922 the work was completed and the Broadway portion to the Upper Nyack club moved into its new quarters in School District, which demolished the May. During its nine year stay at the beautiful Georgian mansion known as Bradley house, the club flourished and Braeburn House and built the Upper saw a large increase in wealthy and Nyack Elementary School in its place. influential members, who made sub Bernard sold the twelve and a half stantial financial donations. acre Rossiter portion on Midland Bernard became so prosperous he Avenue to the Nyack Field Club in acquired two additional large proper 1954, a year before he died. ties during the 1920s, both of which were first purchased by members of the Vanderbilt family. Anne Vander bilt’s two daughters from a previous marriage, Margaret and Barbara Rutherfurd, had derived great benefits from Bernard’s teachings and were loyal and generous members of the club. Margaret and her then husband, Paul Dukes, bought the Duryea estate, and when they decided to move to Europe, turned it over to Bernard. The Duryea house was a lovely two story, white clapboard residence with spacious grounds and gardens, located just a few hundred yards north of the Bradley house. DeVries and Bernard moved into the Duryea house, which they called the Farmhouse, in Septem ber, 1926, and they lived there until their separation in 1941. Bernard sold the Duryea estate property to the Nyack School District in 1954, a year Blanche DeVries in yoga position before he died, and the Farmhouse
10 ‘i
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The Farmhouse was used as its administration offices the value of this stock, if any, or that for many years. Unfortunately, it Bernard ever bought any of it back. eventually suffered the same fate as Bernard kept the Moorings until the Braeburn house—it was razed to his death and it was eventually trans make room for school expansion. ferred to Blanche DeVries as part of The other large property acquired- his estate. Blanche and her sister, by Bernard in the 1920s was the Moor Franci, then lived at the main house ings, an estate of six acres of riverfront before moving into the Lodge, which property on North Broadway in Upper she renamed the Song House. Ulti Nyack. It contained a large house of mately all the property was subdivided sandstone and brick that faced North and sold off except the Song House, Broadway, and two other houses near where the sisters lived together until er the river called the North and Franci died. Blanche lived on there South Cottages. Also on the property and maintained ownership of the prop was a converted garage called the erty, which became part of her estate Lodge. The Moorings was bought by when she died on September 4, 1984. Barbara Rutherfurd Hatch, younger As money continued to flow in, daughter of Anne Vanderbilt, in May, Bernard decided to build a new club 1924 and was deeded to Bernard house on the Bradley property. The eleven months later. Bernard was a club remained at Bradley House dur notorious manipulator of his followers’ ing construction of the new building, fortunes, and there is little doubt that which was located to the northeast of these properties were bought by the Bradley House, closer to the road. Ruthurfurd girls at his instigation and Construction started in 1930 and by later acquired by him with little or no the autumn of 1931 they were able to money involved. Often, Bernard’s move into their new quarters, which devotees would willingly and gener they called the Eagle’s Nest. With ously accept stock in the Biophile large donations from wealthy patrons Club, his real estate holding company, and income from his vast real estate in lieu of cash. There is no record of holdings, Bernard had money to burn,
11 rooms and suites for guests, all with baths and with provisions for maids or nannies. The third floor contained two large dormitories, as less expensive accommodations, one for men and one
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12 in many areas, so while they were hav ing all this fun, they could console themselves with the thought that, rather than following a hedonistic way of life, they were continuing on a path of self-improvement. Lessons were given in yoga, acrobatics, horseman ship, gardening, canning, domestic sci ence, music and dance, to name but a few. Members attended lectures and educational movies and had access to Bernard’s library of thousands of vol umes. Emphasis was always placed on health and on the learning experience. The club motto was “A place where the V'.. f" s philosopher may dance and the fool is provided with a thinking cap and where the many between may find fun, health, and a wiser way of life.” • .-l; Bernard maintained a large menagerie on the grounds. He always afiHBim claimed that animals were well worth Belltower and gardens at the Eagle’s Nest studying, because they had better breathing and living habits than coming back. Many theatrical perfor mances, circuses, bazaars and holiday parties were held at the club. Mem bers played billiards, badminton, ten nis, baseball and other sports; they hiked, picnicked, boated on the Hud son and swam in the pool. Birthdays were celebrated with grand parties; simple barn dances and lavish mas querade balls were given with equal enthusiasm. Members ate delicious food, enjoyed excellent entertainment and danced until sunrise to live music. They played cards and saw movies. The social aspects of the club were extraordinary. Lifelong friendships were made there and more than a few marriages. Members established close bonds as they weekended and sched uled their vacations there, spent sum mers and holidays or lived on the prop erties, rented to them by Bernard. Members were also provided with learning opportunities and instruction Pierre Bernard aquaplaning on the Hudson
13 honey bear), a dwarf stallion, a rare Canadian golden eagle, Chinese geese, peacocks, swans-and of course the famous elephants, which at one time numbered nine. These performing ele phants played a large part in the annu al circus put on by the Clarkstown Country Club and were often employed by other shows and circuses around the country and in Canada. Whenever you speak with people who remember the era when the club flourished in Nyack, they always mention first, with a nos talgic smile, the elephants. DeVries was a creative thinker and a great organizer. She was responsible for the smooth running of the club and its many recreational activities, while Bernard was more the philosopher and teacher-the guru Roman Proske, the animal trainer at the CCC, with the bull chimpanzee who, through his vast knowledge of yoga, Eastern philosophy and reli humans did. This menagerie included, gions, saw to the educational side. at one time or another, nine tigers They were a good pair, these two, com (five Bengals and four Sumatras), sev plementing each other in many areas. eral lions and two lion cubs, a llama, a Besides being a place of yoga, fun bull chimpanzee, several species of and entertainment, the Clarkstown monkeys, a coati mundi (Mexican Country Club became known as a
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Baseball team in drag at the Clarkstown Country Club Pierre Bernard is at the far left
14 Clarkstown Country Club elephants Long-time South Nyack residents remember the elephants roaming free in the woods place of recovery and reparation, exercise and fresh air, and lessons in where, for instance, a spoiled, self- self-discipline. Bernard’s methods were indulgent rich kid, starting off on the unique for that era and though you see wrong path, could be straightened out them now at places like the Betty Ford and made to see the error of his ways. Clinic, Bernard was practicing these It wasn’t just for kids, either. Many disciplines in the 20s and 30s, long an adult miscreant was shown the before their present popularity. benefits of a lifestyle that included less A large percentage of financial alcohol and more yoga. Self-discipline support for the club came from grate was Bernard’s watchword, although he ful relatives of those rehabilitated at didn’t always apply it to himself when CCC, who made large donations and it came to cigars or women. Bernard generous annual contributions. Mrs. had a way with words that could be Anne Vanderbilt was one of those extremely convincing. His speech was grateful parents. She was concerned sometimes ungrammatical and often about her daughter, Barbara, a some peppered with slang, but he could talk what troubled young lady, who, lack the birds out of the trees, and he could ing goals, enthusiasm or ambition, be forceful and persuasive. He was was given to moods of depression and very good at convincing bad boys and indolence. DeVries and Bernard girls to mend their ways. The rules for worked out a program for Barbara, these convalescents were: clean your which included the methods listed ear own room, make your own bed, do your lier as well as lessons in domestic own laundry, obey the rules, be chores and everyday practicalities. accountable for your mistakes and This was no easy task. Barbara was take responsibility for your actions. very spoiled and lazy, never having to The regimen included good nutrition, do anything for herself and never good breathing habits, a great deal of wanting to. A letter written by Bar-
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The club’s beloved elephant, Old Mom, helping with the construction of the Sports Center bara to her mother in September, 1924 such delicacies...errands, memorizing will show to some degree the effect of and music. To be still more specific, I Bernard’s disciplinary tactics: am on the mat at 7:30 every morning. Of course, what will make this part of Darling Mother: ...For the first my real character is repetition. I time in my life I have made a definite know that this means hard work for and practical change in my mode of me in the future. DeVries can show living. Having already got such bene me the way but I have to put in the fit from the change, I simply marvel time and effort. No one can do this for that it was not made possible at least me. I seem to be talking a lot about two years earlier. I am here living at myself but I do want you to under the Bradley in a modest one-room stand what I am trying to do. compartment but [have] a very exten Have you had a pleasant summer? sive and varied plan of action for each When are you coming back? Soon I day. DeVries is personally conducting hope. By the time I see you again my my entire program, physical care, middle name will be Efficiency and my training and plan of action for some first name Vitality. And now, Mummy time to come. A short list of my activi dear, I must skip. Lots of love and ties will show you that I must be many thoughts. Devotedly, Babs resigned to start from the bottom up, knowing it is after all the shortest way Remarkably, this rehabilitation to the top. process was taking place at the same My day includes cooking lessons, time all the recreational activities typing, business, meaning being were going on. Everyone, including responsible for all my material assets, those being rehabilitated, was having keeping books, accounts, etc., organi a ball! It was a unique concept that zation, mantra, dish washing and all drew many famous people to the doors
16 of the Clarkstown Country Club. Some Longfellow, was a regular here and used the club as a hotel, some joined, studied yoga with Bernard for three some lectured, some taught. Actors, years. The playwright, Augustus authors, musicians, scientists —they Thomas, who wrote The Witching Hour all came. Lee Tracy joined the club the and sixty-four other plays, was a mem year he appeared on the New York ber and rented a house on club proper stage in a gangster play called Broad ty for his family vacations. There were way. Leopold Stowkowski spent his many others. three-week vacation there and liked it The club carried on in this opulent so much he joined the club. He once fashion throughout the ‘20s and most played the fiddle for a barn dance at of the ‘30s, but then things started to Braeburn House while Bernard did the slip. The decline really began in 1933 calling. Francis Yeats-Brown, author when Bernard lost a fortune building of the popular Lives of a Bengal Lancer the Sports Center, a large athletic field and holder of Britain’s Distinguished in Central Nyack, where Waldron Ter Flying Cross, was a member, as was, race and a housing complex now stand. for many years, Hamish McLaurin, When baseball and boxing failed to author of the widely read treatise, provide the income necessary to meet Eastern Philosophy for Western Minds. expenses, he spent more money turn Another member, Henry Gold- ing the place into a dog track, only to mark, the engineer who designed the find that, just two days after the track locks of the Panama Canal, spent opened, dog racing was outlawed in much time at the club. Edmund T. New York. One might consider this Dana, professor of philosophy and financial disaster the beginning of the grandson of Henry Wadsworth end for the Clarkstown Country Club
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Franci and Blanche at Song House
17 because the money drain significantly and it gradually deteriorated to the emptied its coffers at a time when point where it appeared run-down and income was beginning to dwindle. seedy. To worsen things considerably, Bernard’s last years were spent in Bernard and DeVries were quarreling financial wrangling and struggling to more than usual toward the end of the maintain some semblance of the life he 30s, and began pulling in opposite once knew, although his holdings were directions, each with his own clique of in receivership and his tax debt was defenders. There was a great deal of enormous. He sold off the Maxwell conflict because Bernard thought estate properties and the Farmhouse a DeVries was too extravagant, especial year before he died, but kept the Moor ly in her theatrical productions. He ings and the club property. Bernard was also beginning to delegate more and DeVries were totally estranged for and more authority to another woman years before his death, with great ani at the club, elevating her status above mosity between them. They communi DeVries’s, a situation which Blanche cated only through DeVries’s sister, could not tolerate. Although they were Franci, but gradually toward the end successful in concealing the acrimony of his life Blanche and Bernard for a while, it became obvious to the reached a sort of detente. members that the club was not the Although he probably made a new peaceful, happy place it once had been. will after he and DeVries separated, it Membership fell off and when, late in was, curiously, never found. When 1941, DeVries left the club and took up Bernard died on September 27, 1955, residence elsewhere, the decline was a his will dated 1925 was the one that rapid one. The advent of World War II, was probated. In it, everything was which had a sobering effect on all left to DeVries. Pierre Bernard is Americans, added to the downhill slide. buried at Rockland Cemetery in Bernard tried to run the place Sparkill, his plot adjoining that of Gen alone, still giving lectures and trying eral John C. Fremont. to recruit new members, but the club just wasn’t as exciting as it once was, and the shortage of income hampered Author’s Note: The papers, photographs him considerably. Taxes were very and artifacts of the Clarkstown Coun high on his extensive real estate hold try Club archive were part of the estate ings, and although he was renting out of Blanche DeVries. The executrix of many of the properties, as well as rent her estate was Dr. Viola Bernard, the ing rooms and apartments at the club former Viola Wertheim, a member of to the general public, the income was the club in her youth, who married not sufficient to cover his expenses. Pierre Bernard’s nephew, Theos Lack of funds prevented him from Bernard, and who donated the archive properly maintaining club property, to the historical society.
The Historical Society of Rockland County is planning an exhibition in the museum on Pierre Bernard and the Clarkstown Country Club, scheduled for February through May, 2001.
18 A Millennium Story
Excerpts from the Nyack Evening Star and the Nyack Evening Journal December, 1908
PROPHET SPANGLER MAKES A PROMISE—-If Prediction Fails This Time He’ll Quit the Business.—-BIG CROWD EXPECTED HERE—“Saints” Will Congregate on South Nyack Hill as Well as Those of a Curious Nature.
There is at least one good feature in connection with the prophecy as to the end of the world made by Leo J. Spangler, the great American seer, which is that if the York (Pa.) grocery store man makes a mess of things this time he will cease promulgating his prophetic visions. Glory be! During the past few days Spangler has been distributing circulars contain ing a synopsis of his ideas and inviting the general public to climb to the hill in South Nyack and congregage with the saints on Sunday next, when, he declares, the world will be no more. Hundreds of visitors are expected in Nyack on the Sabbath, some deluding themselves with the belief that they are saints and others with fifty-seven brands of curiosity in their make-up, all anxious to participate in the festivities. Local merchants will not be benefitfed financially as they observe the day by closing their stores on the Sabbath. But the Erie will get its share of business....
—Nyack Evening Star, Wednesday, December 23, 1908
THE ORB ROLLS ON BUT SPANGLER, THE MODERN ISAIAH, MAKES QUICK GETAWAY—His Followers Vainly Listen for Destroying Angel’s Blast- -CROWD GOES TO CEMETERY
It was the opinion of three hundred persons who followed three of “Profes sor” Lee J. Spangler’s saints from the Northern Railroad station to Oak Hill cemetery on Sunday morning that the long promised end-of-the-world was an event in a lifetime. There is no doubt that it constituted a chapter in the life of those who participated in the big show. The only disappointment experienced was the nonappearance of the great seer himself. It was like a thrilling melodra ma without a villain...and the reason is that there appears to be a warrant out for his arrest. Sometime near midnight on Saturday Spangler, who had heard about the warrant, told Mrs. Henrietta Murdock, the high priestess of the saints who gathered in Nyack, to await the rolling up of the sky like a scroll, that the Lord had called him and that he was going right up to heaven in advance of the general cataclysm. Then he went right out of the back door of Mrs. Murdock’s house and over a back fence. Later Mrs. Murdock announced that if the earth had not come to an end or if Prophet Spangler in the flesh did not return to Nyack, she was going to become an infidel and remain such to the end of her days....
19 A half hour before the arrival of the 10:03 o’clock train residents of the place strolled toward the station in twos and threes. Seated in the waiting room were Mrs. Murdock, Mrs. John Phillips, Mrs. Carrie Smith and her year-old baby in a go-cart, all waiting for the arrival of saints. The women wore white dresses, white hose and canvass shoes. On the head of two were white tam-o’-shanters; the youngest had a piece of white lace carelessly thrown about her neck. The baby, too, was attired in white and was covered with a white robe. There were no saints aboard the train and the three women started slowly toward the cemetery.... They proceeded across the railroad tracks to Franklin street, down Franklin street, up DePew avenue, through the latter thoroughfare to High avenue and thence to the cemetery lane.... All along the line of march timid women peeped at the strange procession from behind curtains. Some opened the windows and doors and others, with their husbands and children, stood on the porch with a strange smile upon their faces. No explanations were sought. They had read the newspapers and although they had laughed at the absurdity of Spangler’s prediction they realized that part of the show, at least, was to be enacted.... Residents of the side streets through which the procession passed left their homes and swelled the crowd. Skaters on the ice pond foresook steel runners and augmented the curious followers. The leader halted near a monument on which was the name Abrams. She put her hand on the granite stone and said: “Here lie the prophets. We are now on holy land.” ...A small terrier and mongrel were walking about. The mongrel looked at the hind legs of the terrier and suddenly he decided that as the world was com ing to an end it was his last chance for a fight. He jumped on the terrier and sank his teeth in one hind leg. Another mongrel joined them and the three irreverent canines fought as though they desired the last big dog fight on earth to be the principal topic of conversation in Mars after Spangler and his followers reached there. -Nyack Evening Star, Monday, December 28, 1908
It soon became apparent to [Cemetery] Superintendent Halstead that the crowd in the cemetery would prove an annoyance, as many were walking over graves and otherwise doing damage; so he went to the saints in white and asked them to leave the grounds. This they at first declined to do, but after repeated requests they changed their minds and came back to town.
-Nyack Evening Journal, Monday, December 28, 1908
A special to the New York World from York, Pa., says that Lee J. Spangler, the “prophet,” has returned to his home in that city and that his wife, who doesn’t subscribe to his eccentricities, received him as though nothing extraordi nary had happened and he is now living in extreme quietude..... The “prophet” still believes that the moon will change to blood and that the world will be destroyed, but he isn’t quite sure when all this will take place. He is going to prophecy some more as soon as he gets rested.
-Nyack Evening Star, Tuesday, December 29, 1908
20 ROCKLAND COUNTY HISTORY MONTH
he Rockland County History Month Blood, hosts) with stories of otherworldly kick-off and reception took place at presences. At the Snyder house (Kay and the historical society on Friday, Octo John W. McNally, hosts), docents informed Tber 1. An “after hours” reception from 5:30us about that exquisite house’s history, and to 7:00 was highlighted by a special evening storyteller Billie Ballou read from a book of tour of the East Meets West exhibition, letters of the Tenure family in the Fergu- which featured colorful ceremonial cos son-Tenure farmhouse (John and Kathy tumes, jackets, wedding dresses and textiles Hartmann, hosts). Linda Zimmerman told from Middle Eastern regions, with items ghost stories at the Brick Church Complex from the Palestine Heritage Foundation’s Cemetery (Historic Society of the Reformed Munayyer Collections. Trustee and Rock Church of West New Hempstead, hosts), land County Historian Thomas F.X. Casey and the history of the Onderdonk-Wilder ushered in the 1999 History Month celebra house (Barbara and Arthur Shufelt, hosts) tion, and Office Manager Myra Starr “rang was narrated by Joyce DeSousa. In the the bell” for history. Martinus Onderdonk house (Susan Mitchell The 1999 Historical House Tour on and David Howells, hosts), actor and musi Saturday, October 2 had people shivering cian Tom France charmed everyone with his with delight. The self guided tour, called stories and ballads. Ramapo Houses and Burial Grounds: At the reception outside the Sherwood- Ghosts, Legends and Lore, featured a cross Cuculo house, architect and historian Win section of early homes, churches and ceme ston Perry Jr. presented his plans for the teries that date from when the Town of restoration of the historic property, owned Ramapo was young. by Robert Benmosche. All present toasted In this scenic area, a selection of the generous hosts and the house tour spon architectural styles, mainly Dutch-Ameri- sors: Lydecker Realty Corporation, Strasser can were seen. In a departure from our and Associates, Inc. and United Water New usual house tour format, each site was York. interpreted with local stories and light Telling the tale of Naut Kanniff, the hearted tales of the supernatural. Histori witch of West Nyack, is traditional before an Bob Knight held forth in the 18th centu All Hallows Eve, especially as the story is ry Eckerson-Meyer house (Ted and Susan told by Colette Guilbert at the Jacob Blau- velt House. Children and adults gathered round to hear the tale on October 28 and to enjoy the traditional refreshments —apple cider and ginger creams. On October 17 the annual cruise, Hops and History on the Hudson, carried a capac ity crowd on the historic river boat MV Commander. The crowd listened to histori cal anecdotes about the river towns by John Wort, former owner of the vessel, and tasted flavorful ales and lagers from the Mountain Valley Brew Pub of Suffern. It was the per fect way to spend an autumn afternoon.
-by Erin Martin
Win Perry at the Sherwood-Cuculo house
21 WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS October-December, 1999 Deborah Butler, New City* Margaret A. Malloy, Mr. & Mrs. James Dator, Salisbury, NY* Mahwah, NJ Mr. & Mrs. Richard May, Nyack Joseph & Charlene Donnan, New City Robert C. Roman, Pearl River Diana Erzen, DeGraphics, New City Abbe Schimmel, Monsey Dr. John & Rita Fogelman, Lisa & Richard Sloane, Pearl River West Nyack Joe & Joyce Stedge-Fowler, R. Terri Harris, Chestnut Ridge New Hempstead James Kempton, Nanuet William G. Klein, Rye, NY Centurian Barry P. Koch, South Nyack Sanders Properties, Inc., Nyack Lillian Lopez, West Haverstraw *Gift
A gift membership in the Historical Society of Rockland County is a year-round reminder of your thoughtfulness.
______IN MEMORIAM______October-December, 1999 Elinor Alison Malcolm McKesson Arthur Ackerson Donald Tapley Ludwig Dedel+ +A memorial gift has been made in this person’s name and has been entered into the Book of Remembrance.
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To the Editor:
I want you and Greg Huber to know how much I enjoyed reading about the Dutch barns of Rockland County. My wife, Barbara, and I lived in Pearl River for almost 40 years and saw some of the barns as we drove around the county. We admired them, but we had no idea about the building techniques and the significance of the shapes of the barns. The article was so comprehensive and clearly written that now we have a much better understanding of the history and development of barn styles in the Rockland area. The historical background of Dutch settlement and develop ment of farming areas in the metropolitan area at the beginning of the article was helpful as well.
Thank you, Jerry-Pierre Conques Lafayette, Louisiana
22 The Historical Society of Rockland County gratefully acknowledges the continued financial support of its many members and friends.
As we enter the 21st century we ask you to consider the future of your historical society through special gifts and bequests. Such gifts ensure that your support will carry the museum and its programs into the future for the next generation. It is these gifts that keep on giving through wise investment and security in the society’s restricted endowment fund.
We have been able to accomplish so much with your support in the past. Your support today is as important for the future. Thank you.
Yes, I’m interested in making a special gift to the Historical Society of Rock land County. Please send me information on the museum’s planned giving program on how to: ___include HSRC in my will ___make a gift of appreciated real estate or stock ___arrange to receive income for life through a gift of cash or appreciated stock to HSRC.
Please contact me to discuss these options at telephone #______between the hours of______and______.
___I have already remembered the Historical Society of Rockland County in my will or in other long term financial plans.______(name)
THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1999-2000
The Hon. Alfred J. Weiner, President, Thomas F.X. Casey, Patricia D. Cropsey, Danforth W. Toan, Hemu Aggarwal, Lawrence Codispoti, Vice Presidents, Don ald M. Karlewicz, Treasurer, Shirley H. Young, Secretary, Alan Denker, Ira M. Hedges, Sheldon Horowitz, Ruth Krell, Hector May, John Panebianco, Joseph Schleimer, Caroline Tapley, Debra Thomas, Jimmie Warren, Eleanor Wilson, Herbert Zlotnick.
STAFF
Sarah E. Henrich, Executive Director, Kimberly Beach, Curator, Christopher Kenney, Educator, Myra Starr, Office Manager, Erin Martin, Director of Public Affairs, Rita Daly, Membership Secretary, Luis Perez, Caretaker, Bing Leung, Custodian.
23 THE ANNUAL MINIATURE AND DOLL HOUSE EXHIBIT RAFFLE PRIZE WINNERS (values are in parentheses)
Bing Leung: 1st prize, doll house donated by John Bruckler ($500) Kendri Saari: 2nd prize, log cabin quilt ($200) Steven Brunwasser: 3rd prize, cross stitch piece ($100) donated by Chuck Meyer JP Dusza: 4th prize, gift certificate ($35) donated by Basset Flowers, New City Holly Hyde: 5th prize, gift certificate ($25) donated by My Doll House, Nyack Mr. Korin: 6th prize, gift certifcate ($25) donated by Cropsey Farm, New City Charlotte Ramsey: 7th prize, gift certificate ($25) donated by Cropsey Farm, New City Ms. Gasparrini: 8th prize, historical society doll house furniture ($100) Peggy Brown: 9th prize, historical society books ($50) W. May Eckerson: 10th prize, historical society museum shop gifts ($25) Peggy Brown: 11th prize, historical society museum shop gifts ($25) Edith Loeb: 12th prize. Landmarks Map of Rockland County ($15)
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institu tion and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to the county. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a full-service history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House. Basic membership, which includes mailed copies of South of the Mountains, is $30 family, $25 individual, $20 senior citizen (over 65) and student (to age 22), $100 and up businesses. The Historical Society of Rockland County gratefully acknowledges support from Arts Fund for Rockland, a project of the Arts Council of Rockland. The society is also sup ported in part by the County of Rockland and the New York State Council on the Arts.