“Northgate” is the name of the Edward J. Cornish estate on Mount Taurus in Cold Spring, NY (Hudson Highlands State Park). Occasionally groups of people — with permission from NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation — will go to the estate and clean off some of the vines (but not all).
Map: Area of estate on Bing Maps
Link: More information
These residences/cottages were constructed in the 1940s and 1950s. The property was originally owned by the Musillo family, which is the name of the road now. A few more buildings were originally on this property (as evidenced by the old sketch of the property). These properties were photographed in 2010; by 2012, they were completely demolished.
Franny Reese State Park is located in Highland, Ulster County, NY. According to the Franny Reese State Park Master Plan and Environmental Assessment dated December 2008, “Ruins of at least seven former structures and historic buildings were identified on-site including two cistern buildings, a main residence or hall, several outbuildings, stone cottage, and a windmill. Each structure exhibited varying levels of deterioration, and some are collapsed. The windmill, though still standing, appears unstable and its structural stability appears to be significantly deteriorated. However, despite deterioration, these cultural resources add inherent value to the property as remnants of past human occupation and land use.”
Link: Map and information about the park
The Brockway Brick Beach is located in Fishkill along the eastern shores of the Hudson River. A brick manufacturing facility was formerly located in the area. Bricks now found along the shore were discarded during brick operations.
Below are pictures of the former Miron property in Ulster, NY on Ulster Avenue, just north of Route 209. In 2013/2014, the area was being redeveloped.
Map: Location on Bing Maps Bird’s Eye view
I had the opportunity to photograph a disused farm property at 53 Salt Point Turnpike, Poughkeepsie, NY. It stands out among the modern development around it. A railroad once passed along the northern border of the property, but the railroad bed has now been converted to a rail trail. I was excited when the owner of the property showed me an old photograph that showed a train traveling along the railroad, and also an old photograph showing a house that formerly sat at the top of a hill on the property.
The owner told me an interesting story about the house at the top of the hill: In the depression era (and prohibition era), the house was rented out to some gentlemen. One day the people left and the property owners went into the house to see what its condition was. They discovered that the renters had removed most of the floors and ceilings of the three-story house so as to place a gigantic distillery that was taller than two stories. Needless to say, the house was no longer rentable and eventually it burned down. Now only stone remains are left.
Map: Location on Bing Maps Bird’s Eye view
This Hoe Bowl (a local chain of bowling alleys) is located on Violet Avenue in Poughkeepsie, NY. I do not know how long it has been vacant.
These are pictures of one street of cottages in the abandoned town of Tahawus, NY in Essex County. The town was created around the mining industry that began in the area in the mid-nineteenth century. The final operation of the mines was in 1989. The town has since then become abandoned.
The land on which the homestead sits was sold in 1759 by Christopher VanBommel to Johannes Abraham Fort. The house was built either by the Van Bommel Family between 1742 and 1759, or by Johannes A. Fort about 1760. Johannes Fort’s son Major Abraham (1750-1822) was locally prominent in the Revolutionary War and also lived in the house. The land was a working farm and included orchards and gardens. The Fort Family is buried in the Fort Family Burial Ground located across Route 9.
Several others have owned the house since the Forts, including IBM. Find more information about the preservation of this structure here.
Map: Location on Bing Maps Bird’s Eye view
Bannerman Castle is located on Pollepel Island in the Hudson River across from Fishkill, NY. The “castle” was a storage building for surplus ammunition, uniforms, and the like until sold, which was the business of the Bannermans. The island contains more than just the “castle” — it was also the summer residence of the Bannermans. The island is now part of the Hudson Highlands State Park. “Hard hat” tours are run on the island, including a boat ride out to the island.
Link: About Bannerman Castle
