A pond

April 22, 2023 by Howard Dale Posted in Around the Neighborhood, Buildings/Structures, Landscapes Leave a comment

This pond is the subject of my latest photobook. It includes these pictures and others taken in the past. I can’t usually get to the other end of the pond because in other seasons it’s too overgrown. But at this of year I was able, with some effort and numerous scratches from the many thorny bushes to reach the far side.

In the introduction to the book I write:

“The subject is a sad, lonely looking pond. What makes it interesting is that it’s on the site of the former Briarcliff Lodge, a luxury resort in the village of Briarcliff Manor, New York. The Lodge was a notable example of Tudor Revival architecture, and was one of the largest wooden structures in the United States. It was also the first hotel in Westchester County. Walter William Law (the founder of Briarcliff Manor) had it built on his estate, and the Law family owned it until 1937. When the lodge opened in 1902, it was one of the largest resort hotels in the world. It hosted presidents, royalty, and celebrities, and was the scene of numerous memorable occasions for visitors and local residents who attended weddings, receptions, and dances in the ballroom and dining room. For a long time, the lodge was situated among other businesses of Walter Law, including the Briarcliff Farms and Briarcliff Table Water Company.

In 1933, the lodge ended year-round service and housed a “health-diet sanitarium” until the Edgewood Park School for Girls began operation there from 1937 to 1954. From 1936 to 1939, the lodge was run again as a hotel in the summer months while the school was closed. From 1955 to 1994, The King’s College used the lodge building and built dormitories and academic buildings. Abandoned and unmaintained after 1994, the Briarcliff Lodge was destroyed in a catastrophic fire between 2003 and 2004 (Adapted from Wikipedia).”

It’s said that this was once the Lodge’s swimming pool. Local legend has it that if you were to dive to the bottom you’d find tiles.

Trees overhanging the pond.

Downed tree branch.

Signs of the past – A flood light.

Vine covered tree.

Another vine covered tree.

More signs of the past – a forgotten bench.

View from the other end of the pond.

Tree Roots

Tree Shadows.

Taken with a Fuji X-E3 and Fuji XF 10-24mm f4

Dead tree with rock outcropping

April 22, 2023 by Howard Dale Posted in Black & White, Nature, Trees Leave a comment

This was also taken quite close to my house. I liked the juxtaposition of the two trees, the one in the foreground very much alive and the other one probably dead (although you can never be sure until it’s time for the leaves to come out). I rather hope it is dead, because I find it interesting without leaves. The branches almost look like limbs reaching up to the somewhat threatening sky.

Taken with a Fuji X-E3 and Fuji XF 10-24mm f4

Another bridge

April 22, 2023 by Howard Dale Posted in Black & White, Buildings/Structures Leave a comment

This small bridge is quite close to the larger bridge in the previous post. I’ve taken pictures of this one too – but not many, and those in black and white. These are the first that I’ve taken in color.

I really like this one. The larger bridge is impressive, but somewhat boring. There’s much more going on with this one: the brook falling over rocks; small pools; old fallen trees; gnarled tree roots with rocks seemingly growing out of them etc. I also find it amazing that although the picture conveys the impression of a burbling brook in the woods, it’s actually only a very short distance from a busy road.

It’s also more of a mystery. While it’s clear that the larger bridge was built to carry the road up to the mansion, I haven’t got a clue what the purpose of this bridge was. It’s really small, only large enough to carry a person (or an animal? or a small cart?). Clearly it allowed passage from somewhere to somewhere else, but why?

I guess I’ll probably never know.

Taken with a Fuji X-E3 and Fuji XF 10-24mm f4

That bridge across the road – Again

April 22, 2023 by Howard Dale Posted in Around the Neighborhood, Buildings/Structures Leave a comment

I’ve posted about this bridge before. It’s close to my house and carries what was once was the main road to a magnificent mansion (It still exists. See: A wealthy man) over Sparta Brook. I’m somewhat fascinated by the bridge and go to it fairly frequently to take pictures.

What’s a little different about these pictures is the viewpoint from which I took them. Look at the first picture, which shows the approach to the bridge. I usually take the photographs from the left side of the bridge, and indeed some of these (the second and third) are taken from that viewpoint.

However, the fourth and fifth pictures are taken from the right side of the bridge. I don’t think I’ve taken any from this angle before. Things look much more cluttered from here as a lot of debris (e.g. fallen trees) has accumulated.

Taken with a Fuji X-E3 and Fuji XF 10-24mm f4

A short walk along Route 9 in Dobbs Ferry – War Memorial

April 7, 2023 by Howard Dale Posted in Buildings/Structures Leave a comment

When, in January, I posted pictures of my walk along Route 9 in Dobbs Ferry I somehow missed this one. It stands in front of the High School/Middle School. I don’t think there’s anything special about it. I haven’t been able to uncover any information about it. I took the picture because it was somewhat interesting and it was there. At some point in the future it might not be.

Taken with a Fuji X-E3 and Fuji XC 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 OSS II