Ithaca, New Yqi.1X
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TOMPKINS COUNTY PUBLIC Ubkak 312 NORTH CAYUGA STREET 21 YQI.1X. ITHACA, NEW ITHACA, NEW YOBr \a*$q below. frequented of the glens, in and around Ithaca, is the into the basin a hundred and fifty feet During Ithaca Gorge, which lies about three-fourths of a mile the hewing out of these steps, a workman accidently with north-east of the centre of the city. By following out fell down the precipice to the chasm below, yet place the name of Aurora street to the north, we come to a neat little out injury, thus, gaining for this bridge, spanning Fall Creek, from where is caught the first glimpse of the finest cascade of all, the ''Ithaca Fall." It is a foaming cataract, 150 feet in height and just as broad, with cliffs towering a hundred feet above on either side, the water circling round a dark eddy at its base,it winds in a tranquil,romantic course through the leafy groves of the plain, murnmringly continuing its journey to the lake. It is the second largest cataract in the State,nearly equalingin height the Niag ara Falls, and surpasses in every respect the Trenton Falls and the cascades of the Genesee. It is a tremen dous scene, with its immense volume of water pour ing over the jagged rocks in a snow-white and flowing veil and is indescribably beautiful. Just beyond the bridge there is a pretty little lodge guarding the en trance to the Gorge, from which a more charming view of the falls can be obtained. Following the walk winding along the almost perpendicular hillside, the ascent of which is at first steep and tortuous, a short M'GRAW-FXSKE MANSION. Tumble." "Johnson's While. still following this path, and ascending a long stairway cut in the solid rocks, we stand on the brink of a precipice more than three hundred feet higher than the point from which we started, and a few feet further on we have another similar picture to the. one we first saw, or "Forest Fall," " Ithaca only it is not so high or wide as the Fall." It is sixty feet, and is appropriately named from the densely wooded sides of the ravine. Passing through a thicket of pines,our path then descends into the bowels of the gorge, and following this along the bed of the stream, the next bright scene is presented Fall," by the "Foaming thirty feet high, the steep banks of which are romantically lined with cedars and Fall," hemlocks. Next in turn we. find the "Rocky RESIDENCE OF C. D. STOWELL. where the water rushes along in a tumultuous torrent See J. C. Stowell & Son. and pours down a distance of fifty-five feet into a third amphitheatre. Over the stream a little above turn brings the visitor to a shady and delightful nook, Rest," a place to he and appropriately named, "The colossal basm is dream the summer day awav. This high and is more than two hundred and fifty feet cast from the made almost black by the shadows from the cedars the steeply sloping walls and covering across. The grandest feature face of the rockv wall Fall" of the view is the "Ithaca itself, lying directly describe its in front No pen can adequately beauties, camera picture no painter's brush or photographer's with the naked eye to its charms, but must be seen the most be fullv appreciated, for it is indisputably the walk beautiful of them all. Following Avmding and summit around the midway between the pool come upon another terrace, semicircular walls, we obtained. *rom this from which a finer full view is aouind the amphitheatre, place the path leads us -1 xl T" through the trees w CORNELL LIBRARY. thicklv shaded at all times, a id as it bounds down the carrh glimpses of the wate rock)' a staircase, of swinging foot-bridge is suspended on wires ragged Avail. Then ascend g tall, creel: wav rt. h a plateau on a hwel. where the quietlv winds its romantic about twenty slams, we v sale the a s; u]e- bee cliff's and how fr<" and are cor :)letely fascinated, line; leafy -s, with 1 lie talis, Glen.' rives tin name of "Sylvan N<-a izina- awful it at the water a: X takes the t-.-ip sa down ITHACA, NEW YORK. ing the end of this glen, we take to the bed of the in scenic effects. To get a good view of the Falls from with a high of rock stream, ledge jutting out in front below you take a path made in solid rock, "coliseum," partly partly of us and enter the a perfect amphi an easy slope, to the bottom of the ravine, then by a theatre of immense proportions of overtower- and one the most winding path through a grove up to the ing wall of rocks. These rocks rise four hundred feet, where the water falls in a single leap 215 feet, break ing into a beautiful silvery veil, on either side. In height of rocks and wildness of scenery this glen far surpasses the well-known Watkins Glen. To gaze upward at the sky, from the depths of this Ravine, is to awaken emotions foreign to the ordinary surround ings and associations of mankind. To descend from the glare and heat of noonday, by gently circling and guarded pathways, to the awful stillness and cool of this ancient river bed is to effect a transition words cannot make understood. In all ways the contrast afforded by this resort with the ordinary life of monot ony and routine is its chief charm. In the immediate neighborhood attention is directed to the "Upper Ravine" in which is situate the famous " Tocally a Bowl" " Devil's Punch ; the Gun Factory of 1812 "; a " The Spring of Undine in the main ravine ; the a " Gothic Door opening grandly on the right and the a " Lady of the Mist sitting meditatively nearthe foot of the matchless Falls. ENFIELD GORGE. A drive of between six and seven miles from Ithaca brings one to the head of this gorge and the beautiful ITHACA FALLS. valley from which the ravine opens was evidently the Used of the Cascadilla by courtesy School. See page 15. bed of an ancient lake. A small chamber curiously hollowed out by nature, to resemble a huge, old-fash important features of the Gorge, and at last we stand ioned square fire-place, is a short distance within the iii amazement at that wonderful gazing truly cascade, defile in the cliff on the rig;ht. The most prominent listening to the thundering and roar of "Triphammer Gorge" Falls," Fall" feature of "Enfield is "Lucifer which, until it becomes deafening. This fall gets its when you behold, makes one shrink back in amaze- name from the heavy beating, as of a mighty pulse, clearly distinguishable in the midst of the mighty uproar. I TAUGHANNOCK FALLS, of celebrity throughout Central New York, is upon the west shore of Cayuga Lake, nine miles from the City of Ithaca, the site of Cornell University. This region has long been noted for its magnificent scenery, the scenery of the Lake alone equalling Lake George, and the Gorge, four hundred feet deep, with the rocks rising perpendicular that height, for a inile on either side. The Falls making a single leap of two hundred and fifteen feet, and breaking from the top into a veil," "pendant, snowy combined with the scenery of the upper and lower ravines, are said by hundreds who have visited Switzerland, to surpass anything they have ever seen. No words, however, can convey a just idea of the commingled beauty, grandeur and sublimity. The pencil has made the attempt, but has sadly failed to do it justice. It well repays a trip across the State. It makes a charming resort to heated and crowded city people, and Mr. H. D. Freer, of the Ithaca Hotel, has recently purchased the Taug hannock House which he has reconstructed through healthful out, and it is now one of the most and at LUCIFER FALLS. summer homes to be found in the State. The tractive Used by courtesy of the Cascadilla School. See page 15. table of the house is supplied from its own exclusive vegetable garden with the choicest of products. ment, for you find yourself on the very brink of a Taughannock Glen is beautifully wild and romantic, mighty precipice over which the creek pours its the ages divided as it is by the Falls, during past, into waters to break in foam on jutting rocks, and finally each from two distinct parts widely differing the other to take a desperate plunge into a great basin 140 feet ). ITHACA, NEW YORK. below. Directly facing the first leap of the falls, the GLEN WOOD pa. li descends rapidly to the bottom of the ravine. Is reached by a four-mile sail on the lake or a drive wikto the stream can he crossed to the generally op of five miles over the hills from Ithaca and is a most posite side and the most view of the entire j striking delightful location for a summer residence. On either fall is obtained. About "275 feet above, tree-crowned side the hills slope from the level of the lake to a cliffs appear and the water climbs to meet the clouds height of about 150 feet. On its way to join the " in front. Cascades of conceivable form and " every waters of the lake a brook runs through the Glen height, and narrow channels which deep sometimes and at a distance of 3o0 feet progress is barred by a conceal in their rumbling depths the I in its fiercely .running | high precipice.