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Vol. 6: Memories of Mount RossA Hamlet in the Town of Pine Plains2003 |
§12 Mt. Ross in the News
"New School". Red Hook Journal, Feb. 18, 1988 from Nov. 25, 1881 issue.
"Henry Bentley of Philadelphia, native of Mt. Ross, presented new school to school authorities. Cost $3200. Mr. Bentley left Mt. Ross a poor boy but has been successful in business, being a large owner of telephone stock. Building is 24 x 36, will be used as school, lyceum, library and public hall."
We are reminded by Mr. Hermans that Isaiah Ross helped Charles Clinton run the north boundary line of the Little Nine Partners Patent which covered approximately the present towns of Milan, Pine Plains and Northeast. Ross was an assignee of Robert Mompesson, one of the original owners of the land. The author wondered, as did others, whether Isaiah was Thomas’ son or brother, and was Thomas actually a Baron, or had he just assumed the title.
He also suggested that the mills were built at the time of the Revolution. He mentioned saw and grist mills and the perhaps more notable woolen mill. Prior to 1806, wool carding and fulling machines were installed (Fulling is the cleaning, shrinking and thickening of cloth by moisture, heat and pressure). This work at the mill was done by hand, and apparently well done for customers came from as far away as Clinton.
Mr. Hermans included in his article the common question: When was the exact closing date of the Mt. Ross Mills? Were they ‘demolished’? His research was as fruitless as ours has been!
Mr. Hermans mentioned later activities: “A house built in the early 1820’s now stands across the road from the burial ground, but it is not known whether the Ross family ever lived on that site (now Behls). The hill in back of the house was known as Mutton Hill in early times, originally owned by the Indians. He also mentioned the ‘Old Huckleberry Train’ connecting Silvernails and Rhinecliff, freight and mail trains making four trips a day. The Post Office was in the railroad station as well as the telegraph, all operated by the same person.
"Mt. Ross Post Office was established December 14,1826, with Jeremiah Conklin as postmaster. Discontinued March 6,1830, it was re-established September 20, 1870, with postmaster George L.Wright. It was operated in the only store, Wright and Guernsey’s. On May 15, 1920, the post office was discontinued."
We now have one major question: How was the mail handled between 1830 and 1870? Our ‘Memory’ people assure us that the post office was, indeed, located in the railroad station ‘when they were kids’ until home delivery commenced in the 1920’s.
"Summer Homes". Vacation Spots, P.R. & E. RR Publication, 1898.
"Mount Ross, Dutchess County, NY. Twenty miles back from the Hudson, and two miles from Silvernails Junction with the main line, in a farming locality.
"George W Wolcott…Farmhouse. At station. Accommodates 25. Adults, $6.50 per week. Children, $3. Good hunting and fishing in season.3
"Mrs. Charles L Carroll… Farmhouse. One-quarter mile. Accommodates 6. Adults $6.00 per week. Table well furnished with fruits, vegetables etc. Good roads and fine scenery.4
"Peter H Piester…One mile. Accommodates 16. Rates $4.50 to $8 per week. No Children taken. Finely shaded lawn, extensive yard, croquet, lawn tennis, free livery attached. Excellent fishing and hunting. Write for further particulars.5
"J.E. VanTassel… Farm house. 500 feet from station. Accommodates 25. Adults, $4.50. Children under 12, 2.50. Nice stream of water, good boating, bathing and fishing."6
"Doctors Recalled". Register-Herald, 50th Year Celebration Issue - 1957.
"Dr. Jacob I.H. Davis settled in Mt. Ross in 1821 and in 1834 moved to Pine Plains, practicing until his death in 1851.
"Dr. Charles E. Cole, native of Pine Plains, son of Dr. P.S. Cole, with whom he studied, attended lectures at Bellevue, and in 1872 commenced practice at Jackson Corners and Mount Ross."7
"Some… Businesses". Register-Herald, 50th Year Celebration issue.
"About the year 1760 Ezra Bryan came to this country from Germany and bought a farm at Shekomeko and built a shop for the manufacture of a mill for winnowing chaff from grain."8
"Out of the Past". Register Herald, 9/14/1995 Betty Abrams.
"Bulls Head 9/13/1895: Henry Bentley of Philadelphia died at his summer home here. During his lifetime, he accumulated a fortune of about three million dollars. He was a man of warm and generous impulses and dispensed charity with a lavish hand. A few years ago he erected at his own expense and presented to the district the beautiful public school building at Mount Ross. That hamlet being the place that he was born and raised."
"Out of the Past". Register Herald, 5/30/1996 Betty Abrams.
"Mount Ross 5/30/1945: David Gardiner has created an interesting rendezvous of his hundred acre farm on Mt. Ross Rd. His ‘Stage Door Farm’9 which officially opens for business this weekend, features a pleasant and leisurely spot to go for weekend dinners which are featured on Saturdays and Sundays. The opportunity is given to linger around the grounds, resting, or if a bit of activity is desired, one may play miniature golf, badminton, or croquet."
"An Era Ends". Poughkeepsie Journal, 3/1975 R. Douglas.
"Almost without notice an era of public service has ended on the Mount Ross Road in Pine Plains. In February, Dick Muller sold his last gallon of gasoline and locked the doors of his service station. The bridge adjoining his property, a focal point of the neighborhood, will also have its lights turned out this month."
Notes:
(Click the << symbols to return to the text — or use your browser's BACK button.)- << This article, from which we borrowed several interesting comments, was written by Walter Hermans whose great aunt Margaret was born in 1838, in Mt. Ross as were her children. Walter’s son, Dick, lives today in the village of Pine Plains and is a contributor to this booklet. -Ed.
- << This article, one of a series of “Why” publications compiled in 1994 by Margaret Herrick, covered the history of Mt. Ross as we have done, but in mini-form. However, the author included interesting information on the expansion of the local post office. -Ed.
- << Current owner: Carl Popp
- << Melius Bently House
- << Current owner: Elsohn
- << Former Hazel Glenn House
- << Helen Cole Netter’s grandfather -Ed.
- << In 1990 Dr. Jack Duxbury donated one of these small mills to our Historical Society and said that he was told that it came from the mill at Mt. Ross when it closed. -Ed.
- << Now Elsohns -Ed.
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The Huckleberry Line
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Table of Contents |
We Remember Mount Ross (1)
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The Little Nine Partners Historical Society P.O. Box 243 Pine Plains, NY 12567 USA |
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