Photographs and thoughts on photography and camera collecting
Taken near Harbor Square in Ossining, New York.
I often see lots of seagulls by the Hudson, but I didn’t realize that pigeons also seem like these “beach-like” areas. You can see them in the second and third photographs.
Westerley Marina Inc. is in Ossining, NY not far from “The Boathouse” restaurant that has featured in a number of my posts.
Originally this was a factory where Tobin crafts (24′ sea skiffs) were produced. It’s been in operation since 1959. In 1963 Tobin Craft won the Long Island marathon race.
The Marina offers the following services.
They do extensive fiberglass repairs as well as painting.
They are also a Certified Sealand Repair Center!
Taken with a Sony RX100 VII.
I was taking the train to meet some friends in New York City. I have a choice of two stations: Ossining and Scarborough. They’re both about the same distance from my house. When we were commuting into the city for work, we always used Scarborough, largely because we were entitled to village parking.
However, of late I no longer need the parking, so I tend to use Ossining more, as the facilities are better: places to sit, wait, have snack, have a drink, access to taxis etc. Scarborough has none of this.
On this occasion I chose to go to Scarborough.
It was a strange day: reasonably clear by the station, but extremely hazy over the river. It was so bad that at times you could barely see the other side of the river.
I thought I might get some decent photos. Here are the results.
Taken with a Sony RX100 VII
Situated on a rise right next to the Cold Spring Metro North Station and the Hudson, this picturesque chapel has an amazing view across the river.
According to the restoration website (which also has some interesting old pictures).
Like most American stories, ours begins with immigration. Of the multitudes who came to our shores between 1820 and1860, a third were from Ireland. For those who gained employment at the West Point Foundry in Cold Spring, a chapel was established to serve them and their families. Foundry owner Gouverneur Kemble donated land and funds for what would be the first Catholic church north of Manhattan.
On the banks of the Hudson River, in the heart of the Highlands opposite West Point, The Chapel Restoration is a national historic landmark, built in 1833 in the Greek Revival style.
Fifty miles north of New York City, across from Metro North Railroad Station and within walking distance of the charming 19th century village of Cold Spring, the chapel, which has no religious affiliation, hosts the renowned Sunday Music Series and Sunset Reading Series.
A beautiful and serene setting for weddings and other private gatherings, such as christenings, commitment ceremonies, renewal of vows and memorials, it is also a place of repose and contemplation for visitors to its grounds offering spectacular views.
Originally known as Chapel of Our Lady, The Chapel Restoration, Cold Spring, New York, was built in 1833, in the Greek Revival style.
Abandoned in 1906, it was a charred, weather-ravaged ruin until its restoration in the 1970s.
It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1996, with funds from the estate of Hugh Holt, a balcony based on the original was built and a tracker action pipe organ custom-built by George Bozeman was installed.
The chapel also has a Steinway Grand Piano, once owned by the Livingston family.
…
Its designer was another immigrant, a 19-year-old from England, Thomas Kelah Wharton. Built in 1833 of locally made red brick covered with stucco, the chapel was in the Greek Revival style, then in vogue. Its columns were of the Tuscan order, a simple, unfluted version of the Doric, whose supreme expression is the Parthenon in Athens.
Contemporary press describes a festive dedication, September 21, 1834, with people arriving by boat. A large choir performed, along with a band from West Point, “whose notes might be heard in the recesses of the mountains,” for dignitaries of church and state.
The foundry went on to become a major producer of Civil War armaments. Test firing greatly damaged chapel walls, and Captain Robert P. Parrott, then in charge, paid for repairs. Victorian additions altered the building’s integrity, and the coming of the railroad cut it off from the life of the town. Abandoned in 1906, it fell victim to the forces of nature and time. Ravaged by fire in 1927, it was a ruin until 1971, when, in the words of The New York Sunday News, “A Methodist, a Lutheran, a Jew, a Presbyterian or two, a scattering of Episcopalians and a handful of Catholics,” including actress Helen Hayes, came together, to buy it from the Archdiocese and undertake its restoration.
The work was overseen by architect Walter Knight Sturges, and the chapel was dedicated as an ecumenical site in 1977.
Taken with a Sony RX10 IV.
According to Civilwaracademy.com
The Civil War Parrott Rifle was a groundbreaking artillery innovation that significantly influenced the tactics and outcomes of the American Civil War. Renowned for its enhanced accuracy and extended range, this rifled cannon transformed battlefield engagements and siege warfare.
The Inception of the Parrott Rifle
The Civil War Parrott Rifle emerged from the innovative mind of Robert Parker Parrott, a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army officer. After resigning from the military, Parrott became the superintendent of the West Point Foundry in 1836. His exposure to artillery manufacturing and engineering expertise led him to address the limitations of existing cannon designs.
In 1860, Parrott patented his rifled cannon design, which ingeniously combined affordability with advanced technology. His invention arrived at a crucial moment, just before the outbreak of the Civil War, positioning the Parrott Rifle as a significant asset in the impending conflict.
Design and Technological Advancements
The Parrott Rifle was distinguished by several key innovations that set it apart from traditional Civil War artillery.
Rifled Barrel Innovation
The introduction of rifling—a series of spiral grooves inside the barrel—allowed the Parrott Rifle to impart a stabilizing spin to its projectiles. This spin greatly enhanced accuracy and range compared to smoothbore cannons, enabling gunners to hit targets with unprecedented precision.
Reinforced Breech Mechanism
Parrott addressed the issue of barrel strength by reinforcing the breech—the rear part of the cannon where the explosion occurs—with a wrought iron band. This reinforcement allowed the cannon to withstand higher internal pressures, reducing the risk of catastrophic failures that were common with cast iron cannons of the era.
Specialized Projectiles
Parrott designed projectiles specifically for his rifle. These shells featured expanding brass rings or sabots that engaged the rifling grooves upon firing. This engagement ensured a tight seal (known as obturation), maximizing the propellant’s force and improving both range and accuracy.
Many Parrott rifles were made at the West Point Armory in Cold Spring, the ruins of which can still be seen (See: West Point Foundry).
For more information see the Wikipedia article on the Parrott Rifle.
Taken with a Sony RX10 IV.