2,174 Comments for Bennett School for Girls

Buy white spray paint because most walls are white and spray paint over it to match the wall. I actualy did this once to an abandoned complex near my house. Sadly the security guard had the wrong impression.

Probably one of my most favourite hallways to...get across!
This shot gives it quite a bit of justice!

I could frame this picture and put it on a wall. Beautiful, beautiful phtograph!!

You took the words right out of my mouth, Fiona. The first thing I thought of when I looked at that shot.

Such victorian beauty!! I just love older houses. You can have your dry-wall. When they knock this place down, I don't want to know about it.

Some of these shots just take my breath away! Oh, how I wish I could explore these places!

I HATE SPRAY PAINT!

Now that is a real creepy picture! If someone would accidentally fall down there; who would know?

I said this before and I'll say it again, why do they let buildings or whatever else just sit there and fall apart and then when or IF they decide to TRY to fix it up it's,"Oh, this will cost too much." I just never understood that. Something this magnificent will someday begone forever.How much more housing do we need; or should I say NEW housing? A building like this would make BEAUTIFUL apartments!

in 1991 the estimated cost of renovation
was over 15 million dollars, and that included donations from major corporations to be secured by the
founder of Friends of Halcyon Hall, who
shall remain nameless. this person
was tireless in his efforts yet was
unable to succeed in the, shall we say,
"climate" that exists in millbrook on this issue. the cost of demolition alone was
estimated at $8 million dollars, but that
probably included all that freakin stone,
which apparrently is now is "off the table"
in any current demo scenario. also alot of the cost of either demolition or
renovation is comprised of asbestos
and lead,as in containment , abatement
or removal. in any event you are looking
at, in today's numbers, millions and millions of dollar just to destroy the place. vandals could do it much cheaper,
doncha think? one thing is certain, it
will be a big fat contract for some company to demo this irreplacable
piece of history. ironically it could end up being awarded to a family business that
is descended from the original stone
masons and craftsmen who built it.
the irony is murderous....

thank you anna, i'd love to see a photo
of the stanley hotel, i wonder if it at all
resembles halcyon or mohonk.

thank you, what was your dad's
connection to halcyon / bennett?

the stanley hotel is in colorado

thank you, it really was the heart of
Millbrook for many years.it is true, alot
of the laborers who built this edifice
came from abroad. specifically the stone
masons, almost all of whom worked
for Mead & Taft, of Cornwall on the Hudson, who were the principal
contractors on Halcyon, as well as many,
many other structures in Millbrook. There
was so much work for these talented craftsmen that many stayed here, built
homes and thriving businesses of their
own. for me to label them as laborers is
almost an insult, they were really like
artists. one hopeful note: the rezoning
of the bennet /halcyon property includes a mandate that the STONEWORK of
halcyon must be preserved regardless
of whatever else is demolished. this
almost makes no sense, but it is a
consolation that at least this aspect of
these workmen's craft will endure in some form...

So, Pat, you're a Millbrookian? You know, the loss of this building is wrong on so many levels for the town of Millbrook. They were hugely dependent upon Bennett for many, many years - all those rich girls spending money in their little "shoppes." A good number of the original workers who created Halcyon were brought tho this country specifically for the construction of Halcyon. Now, Millbrook is home to Antiques and a haven for the "rich and famous." Just makes my blood boil - good luck with your project on Mr. Ware...