Sunday, July 14, 2013

Day 272 July 13 Washington Irving's Sunnyside

 
We had lunch at Bridge View Tavern today.  This is the oldest tavern in town and the story is told that JD Rockefeller tried to buy it because he didn't believe in drinking, smoking, dancing and didn't want it in Sleepy Hollow.  But, the townfolks told him NO.  Don't know about Jr's beliefs but Nelson had lots of socializing.....so the story goes....
 
Burger and Beer
 
 
Down on the waterfront
 
 
In 1835, Washington Irving bought a two-room Dutch stone house on the banks of the Hudson.  You know he is the author of such classics as "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle" 
Anyway he expanded and remodeled the house, adding Tudor-style clustered chimneys, Dutch stepped gables, Gothic windows, and a Spanish tower.
Irving also made the grounds more pictureque, planting trees in carefully chosen locations and creating hills, a pond, and a meadnering stream with a waterfall.
Today, both the house and grounds have been restored to look much as they did in the 1850s.
 

 
The pond....well not very pictureque
 
 
We walked the trail
 
 
Captain leading the way
 
 
bridge crossing
 
 
Wisteria vine that Irving planted still blooms each spring
 
 
On the Hudson River
 
 
Spanish Tower for guests
 
 
Separate for family and staff
 
 
Kitchen yard
 
 
Ice House w/o electricity  keep ice all summer long
 
 
Pictures of the Grounds.....none allowed inside
 
 
 
 
 
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