The Abbey Inn and Spa

by Posted in Buildings/Structures, Landscapes Leave a comment
abbeyinnandspa-1-of-10

I while ago I went with a friend for a drink at “The Abbey Inn and Spa” in Peekskill, NY.

Its website describes its history as follows:

With its views over the Hudson River Highlands, Fort Hill was a key lookout post for George Washington and his army during the Revolutionary War; in 1902, it became home to a convent and chapel, established by the Episcopal Sisters of Saint Mary. The nuns moved elsewhere in the Hudson Valley in 2003, and developer Martin Ginsburg lovingly restored the abbey and its chapel into The Abbey Inn & Spa – a luxury hotel with 42 rooms and suites, a farm-to-table restaurant, a luxurious spa, and over 65 acres to explore. The chapel offers a unique venue for important occasions, and a peaceful English garden provides space for quiet contemplation. Lovingly restored and meticulously designed, our hotel pays homage to its historic heritage while offering contemporary amenities and world-class service to each and every guest. All of us at The Abbey Inn and Spa are thrilled to be part of this exciting transformation, and we’re eager to share it with you.

  • Constructed in Peekskill, NY from 1872 – 1963, The Abbey Inn is the oldest Episcopal Religious Community in the United States still in existence
  • The first convent was built in 1876. It was three story wooden building conceived by architect Henry Martyn Congdon (1834 – 1922) who designed numerous Episcopal churches during his career, mainly in the Gothic Revival Style
    Congdon returned in 1896 to build the external main chapel (Higlands Ballroom), completed in 1902, with a Cornerstone (cornerstone room) that reads “Magnificat anima mea dominum” or “My soul magnifies the lord”
  • In 1902 a bell weighing 1,000 lbs and manufactured by the Meneely Bell Company of West Troy, NY was installed in the belfry which is still in place today
  • The Chapel’s altar was made of various kinds of marble, and seven statutes of saint surrounding it were put in place in 1893
  • Joseph Sibbel, a noted ecclesiastical sculptor (1850 – 1907) created the central statue representing the Virgin Mary and the Holy Child, St. Michael “Angel of Passion,” and St. Gabriel “The Angel of Passion and Praise” and donated a Roosevelt Organ that was installed in 1894
  • In 1902, St. Mary’s school was beginning to be built made of granite found at the Mount Gabriel site.
  • In 1908 a granite three-story house also designed by Congdon was built for the convent’s resident chaplains (the first of these occupants was Reverend Father Maurice Cowl. (Now private home of local doctor)
  • Site sits adjacent to the City’s Fort Hill Park which includes Revolutionary War era artifacts as Peekskill was a scene of historic 3-day Revolutionary War battle

It’s a nice place and the view is spectacular. I’ll certainly go again.

abbeyinnandspa-2-of-10

abbeyinnandspa-3-of-10

abbeyinnandspa-4-of-10

abbeyinnandspa-5-of-10

abbeyinnandspa-6-of-10

abbeyinnandspa-7-of-10

abbeyinnandspa-8-of-10

abbeyinnandspa-9-of-10

abbeyinnandspa-10-of-10

More infrared

by Posted in Flowers, Landscapes, Nature, Photography, Trees Leave a comment
falseinfraredinchilmark-1-of-7

Almost a year ago (doesn’t time fly!) I documented my attempts at Infrared photography. See:

The above focused on black and white infrared photography and I was quite pleased with the results.

I also tried so-called false color infrared photography (See: First attempts at false color infrared photography). Frankly the results were terrible. I didn’t get it; didn’t understand properly how to do it; and didn’t like it much.

However, I can be quite persistent, and I vowed to try it again, so the other day I went out into some nearby woodland (actually it’s right across the road from my house) to try again. This time I was better prepared. I’d bought a book; watched YouTube tutorials; read articles etc. I was hoping for better results than the last. I wasn’t disappointed. My preparations seem to have helped. Of course, this type of photography is not to every one’s taste, but I rather like the way the pictures came out.

For more examples of this type of photography take a look at my website, here.

The first link above: Trying out Infrared Photography – Exploring the Options describes how I came to the camera I’m presently using for infrared photography. I love it, but it’s still a ten-year-old camera with a very small, low-resolution sensor. I bought it because I didn’t know if I’d enjoy infrared photography and I didn’t want to spend a lot of money until I was certain that I would want to continue with it. I’m now sure that I will and plan to acquire a newer, higher resolution camera with a larger sensor. More on that later.

falseinfraredinchilmark-2-of-7

falseinfraredinchilmark-3-of-7

falseinfraredinchilmark-4-of-7

falseinfraredinchilmark-5-of-7

falseinfraredinchilmark-6-of-7

falseinfraredinchilmark-7-of-7

Taken with a Sony F828 and fixed Zeiss 28-200mm f2-2.8

Pocantico River

by Posted in Landscapes Leave a comment
pocanticoriver-1-of-4

I’m a volunteer at the local historical society (The Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough Historical Society), which is situated on the lower level of the building that also houses the Briarcliff Manor Library, the village Recreation Department, and the Vescio Community Center. A bike/walking path (actually a spur of the North County Trailway) passes right by our building and goes into the village. I often walk along this path into the village. The path runs alongside the Pocantico River. One day, while walking by the river I noticed the patterns that the flowing water was making. They caught my interest and so I took a few pictures.

pocanticoriver-2-of-4

pocanticoriver-3-of-4

pocanticoriver-4-of-4

Taken with a Sony RX100 M3

From Rockwood Hall to Sleepy Hollow – Lunch at the Bridgeview Tavern

by Posted in Landscapes, People Leave a comment
bridgeviewtavern-1-of-1

It was a rather warm day and after walking for some time I was tired; my feet were sore, and I was thirsty and very hungry. My walk had taken me to the bottom of Beekman Ave. in Sleepy Hollow just a block or two from one of my favorite hangouts: The Bridge View Tavern. It has a good selection of beers, food which is decent if not spectacular (fairly typical put style food in fact), a cozy atmosphere and a nice view across the Hudson to the Tappan Zee Bridge. I found myself wondering, however how long the view would last. The restaurant overlooks a former General Motors Assembly Plant. When that facility was demolished in 1999, it left the River View Tavern with a broad, unobstructed view of the bridge. However, the site is now being developed and buildings (condominiums) are popping up all over it. I imagine it won’t be too long before you can’t see the river at all.

From there, refreshed if a little sleepy, I headed home.

Taken with a Sony RX100 M3