Yesterday was my wife’s birthday. We’d already celebrated the day before, but she didn’t feel like staying home so we decided to take the dog for a walk. I know the places to walk better than she does so the decision was up to me. At first I thought of going to Little Stony Point (where she’s been before), but then it occurred to me that she’d never been to the Old West Point Foundry Preserve. As it turned out I was glad that we made this choice.

The old administration building is the only remaining building and as we approached it I had a feeling that something was different. Had they cleared away some trees so the view was better? Was it a different season so I could see the building more easily? And then it hit me: in previous visits the cupola was on the ground in a small wooden shelter while it was being worked on. Now it was back on top where it belonged.

Above you can see before and after pictures. The one on the left was taken during my first visit in April 2014 and the one on the right yesterday (i.e. March 31, 2016). What a difference! Now this magnificent old building seems complete.

This was a very pleasant surprise. I often hear about old buildings being demolished, but it’s rare that I hear of one being restored like this. I must admit that when I’d seen the cupola in its shelter during previous visits I rather cynically thought that that was where it would stay and that the restoration would never take place. I’m so pleased that this was not the case.

Closer view of the restored cupola.

I’ve posted about the foundry before in:

A few black and whites from the West Point Foundry Preserve
The Old West Point Foundry

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