Archive of historical photos previously posted on homepage
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Among the many well-to-do and famous who attended Peekskill Military Academy were sons of international heads of state. One of them was Affredo Calles, the son of the 1920's President of Mexico. In this late 1920's photo Alfredo (left) is in formation with his company participating in the daily military training drills.
This 1923 photo of the Bear Mountain Bridge was taken the year it opened. The official caption read: World's Largest Suspension Bridge Photographed from the Air: This unusual aerial snapshot of the recdently completed Bear Mountain Bridge shows the entire structure that spans the Hudson River at Peekskill (N.Y.). The transpontine thoroughfare is part of the state highway system and has opened a new passage for motorists between the east and west banks of the famous Hudson stream.
Presently there is a major Rt. 9 bridge replacement project in Peekskill by the NY State DOT. One of the 4 bridges being replaced is the Central Avenue Bridge. At left is a 1930 photo of the "Central Avenue Viaduct" or the "Briarcliff-Peekskill Parkway Cut-Off" as it was also known when it opened at the time of the photo. The Parkway was built by the Westchester County Park Commission, of which Peekskill's own Hon. Cornelius Pugsley was a member. Also in the photo is the Main Street bridge, which is being replaced as well. In the background is Mt. St. Gabriel, a.k.a. Fort Hill, that contained St. Mary's School and Convent which became the basis for the "Facts of Life" TV show.
This photo is of the William Nelson Home that was located at the corner of Nelson and Main Streets. Nelson was a lawyer and US Congressman who served with Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln's stop in Peekskill on February 19, 1861 was due to Nelson's request of his old friend.The home eventually became Peekskill's first municipal building when it was purchased in 1898. It remained the village's governmental home until the new City Hall was built in 1936. Standing in front of the building is Judge Joseph M. Fox, who was the Village Trustee that made the original motion in 1898 to purchase the home for the village.
This circa 1930's photo is of the press room for the Peekskill Evening Star. The Star was the daily newspaper that was published from 1922-1985, when it was purchased by the Gannett Newspaper Company. By the end of its existance the Star had a daily circulation of approximately 11,000. The building at 824 Main Street still stands. The paper had many notable writers and contributors. Among them were longtime Sports Reported Ray Lapolla (for whom Lappolla Little Leagues is named), Colin T. Naylor who also wrote many books on Peekskill history as well as a young cub reporter Gabe Pressman, who went on to national news reporting.
The Franklin Street School was erected in 1902 and stood at the corner of Franklin and Smith Streets.Once Woodside Elementary School was opened the Franklin Street School was no longer used and fell victim to the wrecking ball in the 1970's.Today this area is a City of Peekskill Neighborhood Park.
This circa 1900 photo shows an Army infantry encampment at Camp Smith in the foreground with the City of Peekskill and Peekskill Bay in the distance.The first regular encampment at Camp Smith began in July of 1882. From that point on the area was used as a major training facility for US troops with many regiments receiving their traing here before going off to war. The first such unit was the 15 NY (now the 369th) before heading to Europe in WWI. The Camp has undergone a number of improvement over the years and is presently in the midst of major construction projects and continues to be a valuable and important training facility.
This 1890 map is a follow up to the last photo we posted showing a 1907 view of the "Craig Mansion" on the Mount Florence property, now known as Chapel Hill Estates.The map shows the entire property as it appeared over 100 years ago. You will notice the Craig Mansion as the ceneterpiece of the property. At the top of the map you will see Hudson Avenue as it heads down toward the river and to the left is Maple Avenue.
This 1907 photo shows the "Craig Mansion" on the Mount Florence property now known as Chapel Hill Estates. It was built in 1865 by Daniel H. Craig, an entrepreneur who owned a news service using carrier pigeons. He later became a correspondent for The Associated Press. He built the Italianate-style house in the country for his daughter, Florence, who suffered from tuberculosis.The site, which Mr. Craig called Mount Florence, was acquired for $32,000 by Marshall Lefferts, a colonel during the Civil War, who was president of a number of early telegraph companies. In 1874, the Craig estate was sold to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, and they began calling it Mount St. Florence. Girls from 12 to 16 were referred to the school by the Welfare Department of the City of New York.
The nuns built other structures on the site for the school, some of which still stand. But the Craig house, which fell into disrepair late in the 20th century, was taken down in 2001.
Circa 1910 photo at Peekskill waterfront showing a steamboat docked at the Peekskill Landing site, then known as the "Center Dock." Note St. Mary's Convent and "Fort Hill" in the background.
This photo shows Chauncey M. Depew receiving a birthday cake from his associates on his 93rd birthday (April 23, 1927. Depew was a well known Statesman, orator and railroad magnate. To learn more about Chauncey Depew visit www.ontopicwithjt.com and watch the show highlighting his fame and accomplishments.
This 1911 photo shows the latest line of motorcycles being sold at George Sorensen's shop on South Street in Peekskill. The building stood where the present Washington Street Extension road now exists. This and three other structures were torn down as part of the "Urban Renewal" movement of the 1960's and 1970's.
The Peekskill Motor Inn on the end of Main Street was originally the site of the Hotel Bel-Aire from 1947-1955. Only one of the 3 fieldstone buildings remain that were purchased by Helen and Ralph Bianco from the Sisters of St. Mary's to create the hotel. The main building had 10 rooms for rent, 2 dining rooms and a kitchen. In 1955 the property was sold to Farber Whitman developers who tore down 2 of the buildings to create the Peekskill Motor Inn. Special thanks to the Bianco's daughter Carol Renza for supplying the photo and the background information.
Photo showing the laying of the Corner Stone for the "new" Elks building on Brown Street in Peekskill. Dated Tuesday, September 23, 1902.
This photo is a of a brand new Atlantic Service Station on North Division Street at the corner of Parkway Place. It is now a modern Sunoco station. The photo was taken on October 14, 1958 when a gallon of gasoline cost 30 cents. Notice the vintage cars and streetlight.
The NY Titans became the NY Jets in 1963 when owner David "Sonny" Werblin moved the team's training facility to Peekskill Military Academy. They remained in Peekskill until 1968 leaving just months before winning the Super Bowl. This photo was taken on what is now Torpy Field. This was a World Wide Photo taken in July of 1966. The original caption read: "New York Jets' football star Joe Namath gets powdered by actress Phyllis Newman as Richard Adler watches the operation. Namath is making his acting debut in the ABC-TV musical called Olympus7-000."