Sarah Gibbs Underhill, Kerhonkson, NY
 

The first time I came to a Clearwater Revival (an annual music fest sponsored by Hudson River Sloop Clearwater) in 1985 my eye was caught by the “Underhill Ave.” exit sign where I was to turn off for Croton Point. This was my first inkling that the sense of homecoming I felt at Croton had roots that went back further than my connection with Clearwater. The better I get to know the Point, the more I appreciate its unique natural and human history. Croton Point has many stories to tell, and one of them – an ongoing one – is ours.

Located in the lower Hudson Valley on the river’s eastern short, Croton Point (earlier names for it were Senasqua, Teller’s Point, and Sarah’s Point) has been owned by Westchester County since 1924. Happily, it is no longer being used as a county landfill and all traces of that unfortunate land use are now cleaned up. The Croton Park we know today is an idyllic and beautiful spot surrounded on three sides by the river’s bays where Hudson Valley residents can enjoy the natural surroundings. Our family history of the Point begins 200 years ago.

In 1804 Croton Point was purchased by a Quaker gentleman named Robert Underhill (my great-great-great-great- grandfather, but who’s counting). Along with his brothers Joshua and Abraham, he operated a grist mill on the Croton River and he began to cultivate vineyards on the southern slopes of the point. His 250 fertile acres yielded crops of watermelons, apples and grapes for the New York City market. During the War of 1812, when shipments from southern states were under attack, old Mr. Underhill shrewdly planted huge fields of watermelons and had a fleet of cargo sloops (the Hudson River Sloop “Clearwater” is a replica of these) waiting off the point for the crop to ripen. The melons were in great demand in New York City at this time, and could get there without harassment from the British Navy.

William A. Underhill Brickyard, Croton Point, NY

His sons Richard and William inherited the property, dividing it between them. William concentrated on developing a brick industry around which grew the Village of Croton Point. Bricks with his initials, “W. A. U.”, and others with the very un-Quakerly self-promoting cryptogram “IXL” (not a proper roman numeral, but rather a claim that he “excelled” at making bricks) may still be found on the beaches at low tide. These were used to build the brick barns which still stand, a three-story barn for fruit and a large carriage and horse barn as well as a brick schoolhouse for the children of the employees of the brickyard and the farm.

Two vaulted brick wine cellars, still in excellent condition, were built into the hillside to store wines from the extensive vineyards. There is a growing interest in the community in having these brick buildings restored and researched as an historical archaeological site. A 21st scentury use for the wine cellars which I considered while camping in the park on a crowded weekend would be as fallout shelters in the event of a terrorist attack on the nearby Indian Point nuclear power plant. Rather than get stuck in gridlock traffic, I told my kids we should all meet in the wine cellars thoughtfully provided for us by our family. Fortunately, we did not have to do this.

Dr. Richard T. Underhill, b. 1802, the vintner and proprietor of the southern part of Croton Point, had discontinued his medical practice in New York City to take up residence out on the tip of the Point. He built an Italianate villa there in 1846 as his residence which he christened “Interwasser”. In 1850 four English yew trees were planted in front of this home and I can imagine his brother William, of the IXL word-play, having a lot of fun with the term “U’s yews”.

Today few traces of the house remain; only a few Ashlar marble foundation stones peeking out of the ground, and an old stone hitching post. I pitch my tent on this site during the Clearwater festival and enjoy the site inhabited by my forebears. Cooled by river breezes and with wonderful views of the Hudson (more so in the winter when the leaves are off the trees), it is still a spectacular spot. The four yew trees are still standing, and have grown to heights of 60 to 100 feet. Since this species can live to be up to 1,000 years old, I have undertaken the task of tending to their health (see press release below). An unpublished but formally written historical account left by an Underhill descendant in the Westchester County Historical Society collection describes “Interwasser” thus: “Ashlar marble quarried at (nearby) Sing-Sing and cut by prison labor formed the basement while the upper portion was stuccoed brick. Over the front door was a tower room enjoying extensive views up and down the river. It was another large and commodious house given to hospitality and one of the show pieces in the county. Visitors from far and near were attracted to the Point houses, as traditions and letters bear ample testimony. Among the many assets of the place were shad fishing and crabbing, duck shooting and hunting, boating and skating, together with the wonderful gardens and orchards and all permeated with the most cordial atmosphere.”

Steamshovel at William A. Underhill Brickyard, Croton Point, NY

Another account (possibly by the same author, James Wood, b. 1870, as narrated to his grandson Jim Wood of Braewold, Mt. Kisco) describes “My Brothers and Sisters’: “Abby… married William A. Underhill of Croton Point. He was a son of Robert Underhill, son of Isaac and brother of Caleb, and therefore a first cousin of Mother. His brother… Richard T… was a New York City doctor and afterward owned the “End of the Point”, and never married… William A. inherited [under what terms I never knew] the Point homestead. He was successful in the brick business and with the vineyard of Catawba and Isabella grapes… Dr. Underhill had vineyards also, but never brickyards. Both vineyards and brickyards were profitable. Having an ample income they dispensed a most generous hospitality. The house was generally filled with guests who always admired and loved their hosts. Abby was queenly, and William A. very lovable. Their children were Elizabeth, Stephen, Mary and Phoebe. Elizabeth never married and became quite hard of hearing She was a pleasant conversationalist. She it was who said, “The Psalmist said, ‘While I mused, the fire burned’, but while I mused, the fire went out!” It was the delight of my boyhood to spend considerable time at Croton Point.”

Bricks from the Underhill Brickyard were also used in 1855 to construct “Surwood” (later called “Evergreen”), a home of the John J. Wood family in the Mt. Kisco complex known as the “Woodpile”. This home was designed on the same lines as “Interwasser” and still stands and is occupied today.

WEBMASTER NOTE: Sarah Underhill has spearheaded a special campaign to save the 4 yew trees at the "Interwasser" site. Anyone interested in contributing to this effort can contact The U’s Yews Project, c/o Underhill, 1150 Berme Rd., Kerhonkson, NY 12446

CROTON POINT

Marian F. Graves (1957)
(Excerpts, see the complete article Here.)

In 1804 the whole area (of Croton Point) consisting of some 250 acres was purchased by Robert Underhill, owner of the flour mills along the Croton River. The land was fertile and Mr. Underhill became a prosperous farmer. The story is told that during the war of 1812, he planted eighty acres of watermelon in order to supply the New York market which had been cut off from its normal supply in the south because of the British patrol. Another successful undertaking was the raising of castor beans. It is also said that at one time the growth of mulberry trees was encouraged with the idea of promoting silk wormculture.

After the death of Robert Underhill, his two sons, Dr. Richard and William A. Underhill, divided the property and each developed a successful business. Dr. Richard, although trained as a doctor of medicine, gave up practice in New York to devote his time to agricultural pursuits. He became known as one of the leading agriculturalists of the country, and the producer of the famous Croton Point wine. In 1865, the Times described Croton Point wine as "decidedly the best and safest beverage that ladies can offer their callers on New Year's Day."

Underhill Wine Vaults, Croton Point, NY
(Ruins of these vaults are still visible today at Croton Point Park.)

Dr. Underhill carried on numerous agricultural experiments and at one point developed a yellowish green grape which came to be known as the Croton Grape. In spite of the high quality of the fruit and its valued flavor for wine it did not become a popular grape because the vine was difficult to grow except in a certain type of sandy soil. The fruit was first exhibited by Stephen Underhill, nephew of Dr. Richard, in 1868.

Brick Yards

William A. Underhill confined his energies to the northern section of the Point where a village grew up around his brick yards. The brick yards started about 1830 and were among the thirty-four brick yards alongthe Hudson in the Town of Cortlandt in the eighteenth century. Joining him in his business was his brother-in-law, Richard Talcott, a machinist and later his son-in-law and Richard Walker who assumed responsibility for the transportation of the bricks.

Advertising for the bricks stressed "their fine edge and durable qualities" and "extra large brick for the Cube Trade - hard, smooth and strong - produced in the steam brick works at Croton Point on the Hudson." Many of the bricks were marked with the makers initials W.A.U.

In the days when there was a village at Croton Point, access to the Point was over the hill along the north side of the Point. The bridge over the railroad was known to local residents as the Kissing Bridge. Most of the people living on the Point were associated with the brick industry; there was a store, a school, tavern, and other facilities for a small village. Maps of the area in 1880 show the existence of several streets, mostly in the area of the present parking lot.

About 1900 the Underhill holdings on Croton Point passed into other hands. The supply of clay was exhausted. The Village no longer prospered. During World War I it appeared that the Point would become the site of enormous factories. Fortunately, it finally became the property of Westchester County and its development as a public recreation area began in 1924.

Boarding House for workers and other buildings, William A. Underhill Brickyard, Croton Point, NY

A village grew up around the brickyards. There was a store, a school, tavern, and other facilities for a small village. Most of the streets were in the area of the present-day parking lot. The buildings pictured are used today for maintenance facitities at Croton Point Park.

From New York at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition,

"W. B. Underhill Brick Co., Croton Landing"

Excerpt from Scharf's History of Westchester County, Volume 2, Chapter V, Cortlandt, page 419; published in 1886:

Croton Brickyard Owners & Operators:

John W. Frost (1830)
(father of Cyrus and Orrin Frost)

John Cox (1840s)

Francis Larkin and Marcus L. Cobb
(George D. Arthur & Co.)

The Croton Brick Company
(James Stevenson Van Cortlandt)

The Croton Landing Brick Co. (1882)
(Robert Ray & Schuyler Hamilton)

George & Eliza A. Morton
John MORTON

Anchor Brick Company (1890)
(Gertrude Hamilton)

Underhill Talcott Brick Co.
W.A. Underhill Brick Co.
William A. Underhill, Richard Talcott (Underhill's brother-in-law)
(W.A.U., IXL),

F.W. Beers map showing the location of the Anchor Brick Co., Francis Larkin and Van Cortlandt's Croton Brick Company
Just to the left of Anchor, right on the Hudson River is "W.E. Tallcott & Co., Mfrs. of Brick Macry."
(map source: David Rumsey Collection, Cartography Associates)

William E. Tallcott had several patents on brick-making machinery. Click the dates to see drawings & descriptions:

Feb 8, 1881

Aug 10, 1886

Nov 21, 1887

Sept 11, 1888

F.W. Beers map showing the location of the William A. Underhill Brick Company on Croton Point
(map source: David Rumsey Collection, Cartography Associates)

  Abram Hyatt & Co. have sold for Elihu Frost,
property belonging to the Croton Brick Company,
situated at Croton-on-Hudson, consisting of
442 acres having a front of over three-quarters 
of a mile on the Hudson River and running to the
New York Central and Hudson River Railroad tracks,
and extending from the north shore of Croton
Point to Croton Landing for $125,000 to M. B.
Wilson of this city. 

From the NY Times, Sept 1, 1890:

A MYSTERIOUS SHOOTING

From St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, "Our History:"

From History of Croton-on-Hudson by Adam Stone:

1804 -- Robert Underhill purchased 250 acres of Croton Point for farming.

1829 -- death of Robert Underhill; his sons Dr. Richard and William inherited the land. Richard raised grapes, apples and roses on his 85 acres and William manufactured bricks on his 165 acres. Richard built a mansion called Interwasser near the southern tip of Croton Point.

1883 -- there were 13 brickyards operating between Croton Point and Verplanck making 64,000 bricks a day.

c. 1912 -- Point Pleasant Park was opened at the southern tip of Croton Point. Visitors could picnic on the lawn of the Interwasser mansion.

1915 -- when the clay supply was exhausted, the Underhill brickyard closed.

Picnicing on the Lawn at Interwasser, Croton Point, NY

ROBERT UNDERHILL by Joshua Underhill (from the Underhill Society Essay Contest) The Croton River flows into the Hudson just south of a wealthy promontory called Croton Point.  Several large landowners owned all the land on or near Croton Point and the river.  Seeing its strategic value, Robert Underhill, an entrepreneur of his time, began to invest himself in the land that would help him develop a small empire. A man’s success can be summed up by his actions.  Robert Underhill made his first move towards success by leasing water rights below a dam built along the river just above the Hudson.  Along with the water rights, he purchased Croton Point, and in so doing, acquired the land base which he used to parlay into other businesses.  Among these interests, he built a grist mill along the leased water rights, then began an apple orchard and award winning grape orchards.  Robert and his family were early leaders in this country’s wine industry.  In fact, Croton Point became the first commercial winery in the United States.  Robert Underhill and his sons achieved acclaim as cultivators of grapes and in the development of wine cellars.  Wine industry experts agree that no family produced as many prominent individuals as the Underhills.   New York State is currently rebuilding the wine cellars as tourist attractions. These enterprises made Robert an extraordinarily successful businessman.  After lower Manhattan was destroyed by a fire, there was high demand for brick to rebuild.  Robert Underhill seized the opportunity by manufacturing bricks in a new firm, Underhill Talcott Brick Co. Robert had the support of his children in running his businesses.  One son raised grapes on the point, while others helped operate the flour mill.  Son George founded a mercantile company bearing his name in New York. Robert Underhill’s success was due to a combination of strategic investments and the industriousness of he and his devoted family members.  The Croton River provided them with the means to transport products by water into New York City.  Robert Underhill seized opportunities and used them to make a business profit.  His fairness, entrepreneurship and hard work are the very traits that lead to success today.

From: THE HUDSON from THE WILDERNESS TO THE SEA by Benson J. Lossing Virtue & Yorston : New York 1866 THE Van Cortlandt mansion ... is clustered with historic associations. It was the summer home of the master, whose town residence was a stately one for the colonial times. There, at early, as well as at later, periods, the wealthy and the high-born of the land frequently assembled as guests. From its broad piazza the famous Whitefield preached to a large audience upon the lawn. There, in 1774, Governor Tryon, and Edmund Fanning, his secretary, came on a mission of bribery to General Van Cortlandt, who had espoused the cause of the colonists. They offered him lands and titles for his allegiance to the crown, but they were refused. Under that roof the illustrious Washington was a frequent guest when the army was in that vicinity; and the parlour was once honoured by the presence of the immortal Franklin. There may be seen many mementoes of the past: the horns of a stag killed on the manor, when deer ran wild there; the buttons from the yager coat worn by one of the captors of André a box made of the wood of the Endeavour, the ship in which Cook navigated the globe, et cetera. On the morning after my arrival, accompanied by Mrs. Van Cortlandt, I rode to the village of Croton, a mile distant, to visit one of twin sisters, who were ninety years old in August, 1860. On our way we turned into the cemetery of the Van Cortlandt family, upon a beautiful point of land, commanding an extensive view of the Hudson southward. A little west of the cemetery, at the neck of land which connects Croton Point with the main, stood the old fort or castle of Kitch-a-wan, said to have been one of the most ancient Indian fortresses south of the Highlands. It was built by the Sachem Croton, when he assembled his parties for hunting or war. In a beautiful nook, a little cast of the site of the fort, on the borders of Haunted Hollow, is the Kitch-a-wan burying-ground. Around this locality hovers the memory of many a weird story of the early times, when the superstitious people believed that they often saw, in the groves and glens there, the forms of the departed red men. They called them the Walking Sachems of Teller's Point. We visited one of the twin sisters at Croton, Mrs. Miriam Williams. Her memory of long-past events seemed very faithful, but the mind of her sister had almost perished with age. They had both lived in that vicinity since their birth, having married and settled there in early life. Mrs. Williams had a perfect recollection of Washington, when he was quartered with the army near Verplanck's Point. On one occasion, she said, he dismounted in front of her father's house, and asked for some food. As he entered, the twins were standing near the door. Placing his hands upon their heads, he said, "You are as alike as two eggs. May you have long life." He entered with her father, and the children peeped curiously in at the door. A morsel of food and a cup of cold water was placed upon the table, when Washington stepped forward, laid his hand upon the board, closed his eyes, and reverently asked a blessing, their father having, meanwhile, raised his hat from his head. "And here," said Mrs. Williams, pointing to a small oval table near her, "is the very table at which that good man asked a blessing." From the little village of Croton, or Collaberg Landing, I rode to the dwelling of a friend (James Cockroft, Esq.), about two miles northward, passing on the way the old house of Tellar (now Moodie), where the incident just related occurred. Accompanied by Mr. Cockroft and his neighbour, J.W. Frost, Esq., I climbed to the summit of Prickly Pear Hill (so called from the fact that a species of cactus, called Prickly Pear, grows there abundantly), almost five hundred feet above the river, from which may be obtained the most extensive and interesting views in all that region. From no point on the Hudson can be seen, at a glance, such a cluster of historic localities, as from this eminence. Here Washington was encamped in 1782, and made this pinnacle his chief observatory. At one sweep of the vision may be seen the lofty ranges of the Highlands, and the Fish Kill Mountains, with all the intervening country adjacent to Peek's Kill, Verplanck's and Stony Points, the theatres of important military events during the war for independence; Haverstraw, where Arnold and André had their conference; Teller's Point, off which the Vulture lay, and from which she received a cannonading that drove her down the river; King's Ferry, where André crossed the Hudson; the place of Pine's Bridge on the Croton, where he was suspected; Tarrytown, where he was captured, and the long wharf of Piermont, near Tappan, where he was executed. All of these, with the villages on the eastern shore of the Hudson, from Cruger's to York Island, may be seen from this hill. Before it lies Haverstraw Bay, the widest expanse of the Hudson, with all its historic and legendary associations, which limited space forbids us to portray. Here the fresh and salt water usually contend most equally for the mastery; and here the porpoise, a sea-water fish, is often seen in large numbers, sporting in the summer sun. Here, in the spring, vast numbers of shad are caught while on their way to spawning places in fresh-water coves; and here, at all seasons, most delicious fish may be taken in great abundance. All things considered, this is one of the most interesting points for a summer residence to be found on the Hudson. WEBMASTER NOTE: Lossing makes reference to "Collaberg Landing" an old name for Croton. According to Wilson's Illustrated Guide to the Hudson River it was at "Collaberg Bay, north of Teller's Point and about thirty-three miles from New York, the grade of the original Hudson River Railroad (was) raised so as to permit all access to the river from the brick-yards at that place....This (was) done by the construction of five bridges, sustained by permanent stone abutments." (http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=moa;cc=moa;idno=aav8375.0001.001;size=l;frm=frameset;seq=17)

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES:

Effort Launched to Protect History of Croton Point

WOOD v. UNDERHILL, 46 U.S. 1 (1847)

Croton Park History

SOURCES CONSULTED:

Croton-on-Hudson Historical Society
http://village.croton-on-hudson.ny.us/Public_Documents/CrotonHudsonNY_WebDocs/HistoricalSociety/CrotonPoint
http://www.westchesterarchives.com
http://westchestergov.com/parks
http://www.westchestergov.com/recordcenter/IncorporationPersonalNames.asp?pageNum=V Incorporation Records, 1876-1914
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9B00E4D91639E433A25753C1A9609C946297D6CF&oref=slogin
http://nynjctbotany.org/lgtofc/nycrtnpt.html
http://www.stacroton.org/history.html
http://www.fullbooks.com/New-York-at-the-Louisiana-Purchase-Exposition8.html
http://www.underhillsociety.org/essay.htm
http://www.google.com/patents?q=tallcot+brick
http://www.hudsonriver.com/halfmoonpress/stories
http://www.justia.us
http://www.davidrumsey.com
http://quod.lib.umich.edu
http://www.threerivershms.com/hudsonch17.htm