Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Plantlife of Doodletown
Within the remnants of houses and the eerie graveyards, Doodletown has some interesting plantlife. It's full of trees, such as, American birch, sugar maple, American elm, and flowering dogwood. There are bushes, including, black rasberry, witch hazel, and blueberry. There are also vines, herbs, and many other plants. So if you're interested in plants and nature hikes you should visit Doodletown.
To learn more about them, follow the "Hiking Doodletown" link at the top of the page.
To learn more about them, follow the "Hiking Doodletown" link at the top of the page.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Doodletown- Essay
Doodletown is an abandoned ghost town in the northern corner of Rockland County. The Palisades Interstate Park Commission bought many small parcels of land over sixty years and eventually turned it into a state park. Doodletown has been called many names over the years including Clarksville, Mountville, and Montville.
Doodletown was settled in 1762 and the last family moved out in April of 1965. The last remaining building was the stone school house which remained as a shelter for hikers until it was torn down in 1980 due to vandalism.
The word “doodle” is supposedly derived form the Dutch words “dead valley”. Another legend states that during the Revolutionary War while British troops were marching through Doodletown they sang “Yankee Doodle” to mock the inhabitants.
In the 1640’s, the June family immigrated to the new world from Europe and settled in Stamford, Connecticut. In their fifth generation, Ithiel June Jr. moved to the area we call Doodletown and purchased several hundred acres from the Tomkins family who were already living there. In 1777, the British used Doodletown passages to flank Americans in the Revolutionary War. Hikers still use those 1777 trails today. Americans who fought in the Revolutionary War got veterans bonuses in the form of land grants in the Doodletown area. This further expanded the town known as Doodletown.
There is almost no recorded history of this town from 1780 to the 1860’s. In 1865, the “growing hamlet” (a small town) became part of the new town of Stony Point. The town thrived through the 1880’s with a riding bridge and a thriving railroad. In 1887 a new school was built and in 1889 a new church was added. These buildings were added because of the growing population in Doodletown.
In 1890, plans were made for tourists and viewing: a suspension viewing bridge and a grand spiral railroad cutting through Doodletown. Unfortunately, both plans failed and construction stopped. However, in the 1890’s an amusement park was built around a mansion, in the town, that was used as a hotel. Its name was Iona Island Picnic Grove.
With much construction and a growing population, many citizens left town in search for new jobs and opportunities. Historical records of Doodletown were made in 1902. The author also wrote that the citizens liked the town more when it was quiet and remote and thought the constructions wouldn’t flourish for long.
In 1900, the Gray family bought a parcel of land and made a splendid, grand, mansion overlooking the river. In 1907 there was a severe drought which caused John Stalter to lay down pipes for running water. This source of underground pipes and water was known as Stalter Spring. In the 1900’s, many people living in Doodletown had to work out of town for a living because jobs and businesses were depleting.
From 1913 to 1937, new services were acquired and buildings made. For example the steamboat service, hotels, bridle paths for horse riding, and new roads around Doodletown. In 1910, the park commission started buying parcels of Dooldletown’s land for a state park. In 1918 the park was expanding right into resident’s back and side yards! The commission kept buying parcels of land through the 1940’s. Some homeowners sold their houses because they needed money during the Great Depression.
After the Great Depression, Doodletown started using new technology such as gas-fueled generators, space heaters, cook stoves, new lighting and heating facilities, and more. Doodletown was a very social community that held worship services and church-sponsored dinners and socials regularly.
School was the center of children’s social life in the mid 1900’s. If they weren’t at school, kids would ride bikes, listen to the radio and phonograph, play with neighbors, read books and watch TV. Kids could also roller skate in the Kanawauke roller rink, which, unfortunately, burned down in 1952. During the summer children would play in the “Ten Foot” (the town swimming hole.)The Anthony Wayne Recreation Area opened in 1955 with programs that taught the children how to swim in the Wayne pool.
With the start of World War II, many men were being drafted from Doodletown and many people left the town. In 1946, thanks to Louis Salit, all of Doodletown received electricity. In the late 1950’s, the town started to decline. The churches and schools closed as students went to the new Buckberg School in Tomkins Cove. In 1962, all land was bought except two cemeteries and buildings started to be demolished for the state park. The once thriving town was then nothing except faint traces of its former self.
Doodletown is a wonderful hiking experience in the northern corner of Rockland County. Not many people know about this ghost town or the hike. A woman who lived in Doodletown, Elizabeth Stalter, gives a tour every year. She wrote the book "Doodletown" that has the largest amount of information of any source. You can still see stone walls, steps to non existing homes, and the two graveyards. Relatives are still allowed to be buried in the two cemeteries. Doodletown is an interesting, educational, and historic site for anyone who feels like taking a walk back into history.
Doodletown was settled in 1762 and the last family moved out in April of 1965. The last remaining building was the stone school house which remained as a shelter for hikers until it was torn down in 1980 due to vandalism.
The word “doodle” is supposedly derived form the Dutch words “dead valley”. Another legend states that during the Revolutionary War while British troops were marching through Doodletown they sang “Yankee Doodle” to mock the inhabitants.
In the 1640’s, the June family immigrated to the new world from Europe and settled in Stamford, Connecticut. In their fifth generation, Ithiel June Jr. moved to the area we call Doodletown and purchased several hundred acres from the Tomkins family who were already living there. In 1777, the British used Doodletown passages to flank Americans in the Revolutionary War. Hikers still use those 1777 trails today. Americans who fought in the Revolutionary War got veterans bonuses in the form of land grants in the Doodletown area. This further expanded the town known as Doodletown.
There is almost no recorded history of this town from 1780 to the 1860’s. In 1865, the “growing hamlet” (a small town) became part of the new town of Stony Point. The town thrived through the 1880’s with a riding bridge and a thriving railroad. In 1887 a new school was built and in 1889 a new church was added. These buildings were added because of the growing population in Doodletown.
In 1890, plans were made for tourists and viewing: a suspension viewing bridge and a grand spiral railroad cutting through Doodletown. Unfortunately, both plans failed and construction stopped. However, in the 1890’s an amusement park was built around a mansion, in the town, that was used as a hotel. Its name was Iona Island Picnic Grove.
With much construction and a growing population, many citizens left town in search for new jobs and opportunities. Historical records of Doodletown were made in 1902. The author also wrote that the citizens liked the town more when it was quiet and remote and thought the constructions wouldn’t flourish for long.
In 1900, the Gray family bought a parcel of land and made a splendid, grand, mansion overlooking the river. In 1907 there was a severe drought which caused John Stalter to lay down pipes for running water. This source of underground pipes and water was known as Stalter Spring. In the 1900’s, many people living in Doodletown had to work out of town for a living because jobs and businesses were depleting.
From 1913 to 1937, new services were acquired and buildings made. For example the steamboat service, hotels, bridle paths for horse riding, and new roads around Doodletown. In 1910, the park commission started buying parcels of Dooldletown’s land for a state park. In 1918 the park was expanding right into resident’s back and side yards! The commission kept buying parcels of land through the 1940’s. Some homeowners sold their houses because they needed money during the Great Depression.
After the Great Depression, Doodletown started using new technology such as gas-fueled generators, space heaters, cook stoves, new lighting and heating facilities, and more. Doodletown was a very social community that held worship services and church-sponsored dinners and socials regularly.
School was the center of children’s social life in the mid 1900’s. If they weren’t at school, kids would ride bikes, listen to the radio and phonograph, play with neighbors, read books and watch TV. Kids could also roller skate in the Kanawauke roller rink, which, unfortunately, burned down in 1952. During the summer children would play in the “Ten Foot” (the town swimming hole.)The Anthony Wayne Recreation Area opened in 1955 with programs that taught the children how to swim in the Wayne pool.
With the start of World War II, many men were being drafted from Doodletown and many people left the town. In 1946, thanks to Louis Salit, all of Doodletown received electricity. In the late 1950’s, the town started to decline. The churches and schools closed as students went to the new Buckberg School in Tomkins Cove. In 1962, all land was bought except two cemeteries and buildings started to be demolished for the state park. The once thriving town was then nothing except faint traces of its former self.
Doodletown is a wonderful hiking experience in the northern corner of Rockland County. Not many people know about this ghost town or the hike. A woman who lived in Doodletown, Elizabeth Stalter, gives a tour every year. She wrote the book "Doodletown" that has the largest amount of information of any source. You can still see stone walls, steps to non existing homes, and the two graveyards. Relatives are still allowed to be buried in the two cemeteries. Doodletown is an interesting, educational, and historic site for anyone who feels like taking a walk back into history.
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