ABOVE: ENTRANCE TO THE TRAIL

Halsey Pond Park is a 30-acre scenic and tranquil area that is located in Irvington, NY. Nestled between a golf course and private residences, it’s a peaceful oasis drawing families and dog walkers alike. The park is touted as Irvington’s best kept secret. Halsey Pond Park is open to village residents for passive recreation activities. New York State fishing license required for fishing (catch & release). Halsey Pond Park is open from dawn to dusk. The park is managed by the Irvington Recreation & Parks Department.

A wide 1/2 mile long crushed stone path circles the scenic pond, passing old stone walls, a dam, and the Beltzhoover Teahouse that overlooks the pond. A haven for birdwatchers, on any given day, you may see ducks, geese, herons, cormorants, warblers or even an Osprey.

Rochroane castle was built between 1902 and 1905 for Melchior S. Beltzhoover, an oil and cotton magnate from Natchez, Mississippi. The 44-room stone castle, once part of a 200-acre estate overlooking the Hudson River, was designed by Arthur. J. Manning, a New York City architect who also lived in Irvington. The stone was quarried from the land upon which it was built. This “Rhine castle” featured a spectacular stained-glass window by Louis Comfort Tiffany that depicted the Hudson River view as seen from the castle.

Benjamin Halsey bought Rochroane castle in 1927 and renamed it “Grey Towers.” After Halsey’s death in 1956, his widow began donating portions of the estate to the Immaculate Conception Church, ending with the mansion itself in 1976. Gutted by fire a few months later, the mansion and 38 acres were sold to a developer who, in 1980, deeded Halsey Pond and its folly, sometimes called Halsey Teahouse, to the Village of Irvington in exchange for permission to remove Rochroane/Grey Towers and subdivide the rest of the property.

Beltzhoover Teahouse, the last remaining structure of the once-grand estate, is a little turn-of-the-century castle, with an open hexagonal tower featuring gothic arched windows and a roof terrace overlooking Halsey Pond.

Neglect and years of deterioration threatened the survival of this rare historic architectural resource. Beltzhoover Teahouse was preserved through the initiative and support of concerned citizens, the Village of Irvington Trustees and Irvington

Landmarks Preservation, Inc.

A Plaque reads:

Beltzhoover Teahouse on Halsey Pond

Largest remaining structure of “Rochrome”, the 200 acre Belzhoover Estate built in 1905. Melchior Beltzhoover was “President” of Irving ton from 1904 to 1916. The Halsey family owned a portion of the property from 1927-1976. The pond area became village land in 1980.

From 1994 to 1997 many citizens volunteered their time, expertise, and craftsmanship to save the structure. Preservation of the Teahouse was financed equally by private donations and Village funds.

Irvington Landmark Preservation, Inc.
1997

THE DAM AND THE POND

THE TEAHOUSE – EXTERIORS

THE TEAHOUSE – INTERIORS

BELTZHOOVER RESIDENCE AS IT ONCE LOOKED

Taken with a Sony RX10 IV

Above: one of the entrances to Halsey Pond Park.

Almost exactly 10 years ago (March 2014) I visited Halsey Pond Park in Irvington, NY. Since so much time had elapsed, I decided to go again. I’d read the park had been under threat and had possibly even disappeared. I decided to see if this was the case.

My plan was to make my way to Ossining Metro North Station and take the train down to Ardsley. From there it was about a thirty-minute walk to the park. I figured I might get a few pictures along the way. After checking out the condition of the park I thought that instead of walking back to Ardsley I would instead walk back to Irvington (a little farther north) where I would get a train back to Ossining and head home.

Taken with a Sony RX10 IV