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published by Tappan Zee Historical Society Rockland County, Orangeburg, New York

Vol. 8 No. 4 October-December 1964 DUNDERBERG By J. R. Dunham Laird The Hudson River, one of the most beautiful and interesting of all the rivers in America, flows from the majestic Adirondacks southward to the Atlantic, guided in its course by several groups of mountains. One of these groups of mountains is known as the Hudson Highlands. Rising from the flatlands that enclose the Newburgh Bay area, they narrow the waters so that the river becomes deep; and they funnel the winds so that they become gusty and unpredictable, and often roar through the mountains, and the region is famous among boatmen and river people for the sudden onslaught of storms. Particularly is this true of the winds funneled and confined by that section of the Highlands be­ tween Anthony’s Nose on the east, Bear Mountain on the west, and a mountain to the south that our early Dutch forebears called Donder Berg, or Thunder Mountain. Here in summer one may often see the storm brooding. The Goblins Washington Irving in his legend of The Storm-Ship, poking fun at the early Dutch navigators, states: “The captains of the river craft talk of a little bulbous-bottomed Dutch goblin, in trunk hose and sugar- loafed hat, with a speaking trumpet in his hand, which, they say, keeps the Donder Berg. They declare that they have heard him, in stormy weather, in the midst of the turmoil, giving orders in Low Dutch, for the piping up of a fresh gust of wind, or the rattling off of another thunder­ clap. That sometimes he has been seen surrounded by a crew of little imps, in broad breeches and short doublets, tumbling head over heels in the rack and mist, and playing a thousand gambols in the air, or buzzing like a swarm of flies about Anthony’s Nose; and that, at such times, the hurry-scurry of the storm was always greatest.” The early Dutch navi­ gator would find little changed if he were suddenly to return to Donder Berg. The Revolutionary Period Narrowing Dunderberg’s history to the period of the American Revolution, we find that the mountain played a fairly important role. It was crossed by the Continental Troops of General Wayne and by the British troops under Sir Henry Clinton. It was from part of this moun­ tain that General Washington and General Wayne planned the recap­ ture of Stony Point from the British. It was July 1, 1779 that the British under Sir Henry Clinton captured the fortification at Stony Point from the Continental Army. The American garrison was small and the posi­ tion was taken without bloodshed. Stony Point, together with a small installation called Fort Fayette on the opposite shore at Verplank’s Point, later also captured by Sir Henry, controlled the lower entrance to the Hudson Highlands. Stony Point, situated upon a high rocky pen­ insula, practically an island at high water, was considered next to im­ pregnable. Washington, in his deliberations, was cautious but the im­ petuous “Mad Anthony," scorning all obstacles, made his renowned statement to General Washington: “Sir, I’ll storm hell if you will only Goblin of Donder Berg From the Museum Collection plan it." Washington gave his permission, and Wayne stormed and recaptured Stony Point on July 15, 1779. However, Sir Henry rein­ forced Fort Fayette, the Continentals were not able to retake it and Stony Point was ordered abandoned. The ordnance and stores were removed and the fort destroyed. The ordnance was placed upon flat boats for removal to West Point. One flat boat with ordnance aboard was sunk by the HMS Vulture [the ship that later played a part in the Arnold treason] off the point of Dunderberg. A Tale of Fraud On the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Chart 282, there appear two small parallel lines, just off the point of Dunderberg as it extends eastward into the stream of the river. These parallel lines in­ dicate a treacherous, sunken obstacle of some sort. They actually mark the spot where the remains of a coffer dam, built in the middle of the 19th Century, lay hidden. This dam marks on old Dunderberg a tale of fraud which, in this day, is hard to believe. An iron cannon had been brought to the surface of the river through some accident. An enterprising person conceived the idea that this can­ non was from a vessel sunken at this spot in a storm, and that the vessel was none other than that of the infamous Captain Kidd. Furthermore it was claimed that a long auger had penetrated the surface of the sub­ merged vessel and "pieces of silver brought up in its thread." This au­ ger was exhibited and the story believed. Money was raised, a coffer dam built, pumps set in motion and the work of looking for the supposed treasure ship with its bulging hoard of silver and gold went on for months. Finally all hope failed and all that remains of the venture are ruins of the coffer dam as shown on Chart No. 282. It is without doubt that the cannon that caused all the speculation was one of the pieces that were being transported from Stony Point to West Point by a flat boat when sunk by the Vulture. The Spiral Railway In 1889 a Company was organized under the General Railroad Act of the State of New York, called The Dunderberg Spiral Railway. The President was a Mr. James Morgan; the Treasurer, Mr. Henry J. Mun- ford; and the Secretary, Mr. David L. Proudfit. It had a capital stock of $750,000 and First Mortgage Bonds of $600,000 to ‘‘run for thirty years, with interest payable semi-annually at the rate of 6 per centum, per annum, and secured by Deed of Trust conveying to the Holland Trust Company, 7 Wall Street, New York, as Trustee, the entire assets of the company now held or to be acquired.’’ It was planned to build an incline railway in two stages, from the foot of Dunderberg, at the level of the West Shore Railroad, to the top. At each stage there was to be erected an engine house and various ap­ pointments to run the incline. Also at the second stage end, an area of about twenty acres, there was to be a hotel, observatory, a restaurant, and water tower, the ‘‘whole tract being arranged as a park or picnic ground with the usual accessories for pleasure and profit.” A dam was contemplated across a gorge about one-third the way down the mountain that would have formed a beautiful lake and reservoir. The cars of the incline railway would be shunted by their own gravity back to the start­ ing place, a distance of about twelve miles, by means of a long spiral railway. Various points along this return route were to be laid out for picnic purposes. The rolling stock of the company initially was to consist of one locomotive, fifteen open passenger cars, two closed passenger cars, four coal cars, two flat cars, one box car, and a multitude of smaller items. It was figured that 2,500 people could be hauled up the mountain each hour. In the Prospectus of the Dunderberg Spiral Railway it was pointed out that this plan had been successfully worked by Messrs. T. L. and H.J. Munford in the “Switch-back Railroad” of Mauch Chunk, Penn­ sylvania and in view of the tremendous population in New York City and environs the Dunderberg enterprise should be a very successful financial venture. Work was started in 1890 and collapsed in early 1891. The ruins may still be seen by anyone who wishes to climb Dun­ derberg. Many grades of the spiral return are in evidence and there is a tunnel about 100 feet long that would have been part of the incline railway. The Twentieth Century After the collapse of the Dunderberg Spiral Railway venture, old Dunderberg returned pretty much to its natural condition as first view­ ed by Henry Hudson in 1609. At the close of the first World War, the government anchored a number of decommissioned merchant vessels in the water south of Dunderberg. They were finally junked. At the end of the second World War, the government anchored the Reserve Mer­ chant Fleet at this same spot. These vessels are kept in fair condition. One doesn’t hear of the little Dutch Goblin of Donder Berg any­ more. Merchant vessels and pleasure boats ply the Hudson now in great numbers. They enter the confines of the Highlands in confidence and in awe of its wonders. But when the storms break and the winds howl, and the thunder peals off the mountain side, how many think that probably “Mien Heer of Donder Berg,” is shouting orders to his imps for a “fresh gust of wind, or the rattling off of another clap of thunder —and at such times when the hurry-scurry of the storm is at its greatest.”

The Tappan Zee Historical Society has in its possession two $1,000 bonds of the Dunderberg Spiral Railway, presented by Mr. William Feeney, formerly of Haverstraw. They are on display at the museum in Orangeburg.

OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES [Year indicates expiration of term as trustee]. Blauvelt Edwin D. Miller '65 George R. Sharpless ’66 Vice President Vice President Mrs. H.L. Niederauer '67 Piermont Arthur W. Tallman '67 Congers *Dr. J. R. D. Laird ’65 Pomona Mrs. A. R. Thompson ’65 Nanuet Richard J. Narducci '67 South Nyack William H. Hand '65 Vice President Frank W. Kraus ’67 Mrs. William A. Owens ’67 New City *Charles Myneder ’67 Stony Point Charles H. Hoole '66 Vice President Vice President Nyack *John R. Zehner '67 Suffern James F. Stoner '65 President Dr. G. James Veith '65 Orangeburg *Mrs. Joseph G. Dodge '65 Thiells Daniel deNoyelles '66 Pearl River *Ralph C. Braden '66 2nd Vice President Vice President Upper Nyack *R. W. D. Jewett '66 Robert Knight '66 1st Vice President Peter V. Okkerse '66 W. Haverstraw George W. Rhine '67 George W. Rene ’66 West Nyack Mrs. R. J. Terwilliger ’66 Treasurer Secretary *Executive Committee

Wilhelmina R. Brush Harold T. Larsen Membership Secretary Librarian Mrs. George W. Gray Mrs. Edwin D. Miller Hostess Accessions G. Vincent Kenyon Caroline Venturini Assistant to Treasurer Hostess Vincent Westborg Custodian Robert G. Wheeler Henry Stebbins Irving Maidman TENTH ANNIVERSARY DINNER On September 24th the Society celebrated the tenth anniversary of its founding at a dinner at the St. George Hotel in Nyack. The guest of honor was Irving Maidman. He was presented with a painting of the museum building, the work of Howard Miller, and with a commemorative scroll executed by Mrs. George Rhine containing this inscription: WHEREAS through his generous public spirited co­ operation the Tappan Zee Historical Society has been permitted to occupy its temporary headquarters on Kings Highway, Orangeburg, New York since October 1958, BE IT RESOLVED that this scroll is presented to

IRVING MAIDMAN in grateful appreciation of his kindness and good will on the occasion of the Society's Tenth Anniversary of its charter as an educational corporation and the Fifth Anniversary of the opening of the Orangeburg Museum on July 26, 1959. By order of the Board of Trustees. John R. Zehner President Mr. Maidman, in a brief speech acknowledging the tribute, assured the Society that it could continue to occupy the museum property until a permanent-museum was established. Robert G. Wheeler, speaking on "A Curiously Persistent Tradition,” traced the idea of a museum, as man has conceived it, from its origins more than two millenniums ago, and from this persistent idea showed the inward strength of our movement for a museum equipped to interpret the past of this County. Henry Stebbins served as toastmaster. Among the guests were Le- land R. Meyer and J. Erwin Ferine, trustees of our sister organization The Rockland County Historical Society. THE LIBRARY Harold T. Larsen, of Blauvelt, has undertaken the organization and cataloguing of the library at the museum. In a report to the president, he has outlined a system under which historic books, brochures, pamphlets, documents and manuscripts are being indexed in depth. A system of key words is used to enable the student or researcher to find “what’s inside” the mass of printed matter. Although the library is at present modest in size, it continues to grow and Mr. Larsen’s approach is providing a systematic foundation for its growth. Those who would like to participate with Mr. Larsen in this work are invited to contact the Society, or Mr. Larsen directly at EL 8-4488.

To join the Society, send your name, address and annual dues of $2.00 to George W. Rene, Treasurer, c/o Marine Mid­ land Trust Co., N. Middletown Road, Pearl River, N. Y.

MOSELLE RIVER CROSSING On October 18th Maj. Gen. Raymond E. Bell U.S.A. [ret.], spoke at Society Headquarters. Twenty years ago, General Bell was in command of the regiment that spearheaded the crossing of the Moselle River. He has written a brief description of the battle, which has been placed in our library. After a week of rain, with the river 54 inches over its banks, the Americans crossed on November 7, 1944 at 4 a.m. The flood was a bless­ ing, as it enabled the troops to avoid thousands of land mines laid on the east bank of the river. After the initial assault a floating bridge was con­ structed, only to be destroyed by a direct hit of the enemy. A later bridge stayed in place, and after furious action the Germans were swept from their positions. General Patton called this action one of the greatest river crossings in history and the bloodiest battle in which the Third Army had participat­ ed. As a result of the engagement, General Bell was awarded the Distin­ guished Service Cross.

*

IN MEMORIAM

Mrs. G. A. Allen Helen Gilchrest DATES TO REMEMBER January 18th A panel program on Suffern history. Gardner Watts, Monday moderator. At the Washington Avenue School, Suf­ 8:15 p.m. fern. February 25th Theatre Benefit at Antrim Playhouse. “Kill Two Thursday Birds,” a mystery play. Ticket Chairman, Mrs. Niles 8:30 p.m. M. Davies, CO 8-7020. Or buy tickets at perfor­ mance. $2.50 each. March Meeting at New City. Details will follow.

COVER PICTURE The cigar store Indian shown on the cover is a bit unusual. It is a squaw, not the customary brave. She is on loan to the Society’s museum by Edward Traverson of Nyack, whose family has owned her since 1910. The squaw’s first job was that of a sidewalk superintendent in front of a tobacco store in Nyack. Her talent and industry—as well as her friendly and expressive face—assured her advancement, and in time she became the all-weather hostess for Traverson's Market. The corn held in her hand is traditional. She is known as Erica the Corn Lady, affectionately named after Mrs. Erica Davies who supplied corn to the Traverson Market. When the first local corn of the season was delivered, several ears would appear in the squaw’s hand to advertise its availability. She was the butt of many pranks. Her amazed owner found her at times directing traffic in the Nyack streets or planted on the banks of the Hudson River in rapt contemplation of its wondrous flow. Her wander­ lust was finally curbed by a chain fixed to the store front, and there she remained until her emancipation was decreed by a village ordinance for­ bidding any object to be kept beyond a merchant’s property line. The wooden Indian came into vogue as an emblem of the tobacco purveyor in the late 19th century, when craftsmen who had carved the proud figureheads of clipper ships sought a new avenue of expression—and livelihood. Tobacco was indigenous to the Indian and he became its na­ tural symbol.

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Nyack Pearl River [2 Branches] Blauvelt Tappan