2,174 Comments for Bennett School for Girls

Pat Ratchet ,, again I sooo appreciate all your info. If it must come down and I think it must for safety at this point. I truly hope someone can document the demolition. Just maybe there will be other hints exposed about the construction and life of the old hotel. THANKS

on another note, HJ Davison, Jr's "Godey's Ladies Book" was among the major publications that launched
the meteoric career of Evelyn Nesbitt, in the guise of The Gibson Girl.

The world's first supermodel, [ and I would posit,the world's first true Celebrity]
Nesbitt was considered the most beautiful woman in all of NY. One of the many
muses of architect Stanford White, their affair would later result in White's murder,
shot by Evelyn's insanely jealous husband, the cocaine-crazed Harry Thaw, during
a burlesque dinner/floorshow in the rooftop aerie of the original Madison Square
Garden,designed by Stan White himself. Multiple layers of irony there,eh?

yeah i love that drone footage, and all the other tresspasser documentation,
vicariously.
but- There is a huge new Crackdown on Any tresspassing here! My sept 13 post,speculating on laxness now that Halcyon is completely boarded up, should
not have been interpreted to mean it is ok to Climb the Fence, Or Enter the Building.
[That would be against the law!] [cough]
Admiring/photographing from the legal boundary seems to not be a problem,was my point.

In any event, several people have recently been arrested for Tresspassing. The State Police are
authorized to ARREST ANYONE who interlopes here. On speed dial. Understandably. This place has been the biggest F%$^∈ free-for-all exploration site since 1977! That is all over,
now that there is responsible ownership and a viable, promising plan. I would hate to see anyone else get in trouble,
be careful folks. Do not go in! Esp. now that remediation is commencing.Your not
missing a thing,believe me.It is also hyper-dangerous. This summer alone has seen some
cumulative collapse throughout the entire facade. It is one king-hell of a mess,and
that's ALL! But continued, feverish interest has compelled new measures.

It is going to be harder now even if you want to tempt fate. A taller fence is going to
be erected.It will now be topped with barbed wire.Surveillance of the site is now
coordinated between the adjacent condominium complex,the foundation that bought
the parcel,and the State Police,as well as overlapping local law enforcement.
Halcyon's popularity on the internet specifically is being cited as among the reasons for heightened vigilance,as adventurers try to capitalize on the last-chance thrill, now
that it is confirmed to come down. This is nothing less than should be reasonably
expected, as indications are that the movement here is in the scope of months and
years,but certainly not a decade before the campus is rehaped into a [terraced?]
park.

So the show here is over kids. Enjoy the footage that exists. I myself prefer that over
the undisputable danger, bronchial infection,and likely arrest for misdeameanour charges
that are specifically not going to be easy to plea down. They are quite serious,and
if an example needs to be made, they will make one...or TEN! So stay the hell out.
Pat Ratchet sayz so. And no one's even paying me to say that,dammit!
[We need to change THAT!]

But like moths to the flame,some people will still try,to defy,or provocatively challenge
reasonable boundaries. IMHO to enter here now,indicates a juvenile rebel compulsion,
in fact a self-sabotaging one. But I will reserve judgement,because the imperative to
adventure is among the most noble and American of traits.Only,don't Teddy
Roosevelt yourself into jail and/or a hospital.And certainly not Over THIS Place!!!

Everyone be safe. All the people working on the site,too. ok

the travis keyes video is a dream for us who were unable to trespass

Wanderer, Yes there are several drone videos. I think all were created by Mr. Travis Keyes. Some are under Halcyon Hall/Bennett school, some are only under Bennett. I think the one listed as Bennett is the final product, I am not sure. Add Travis Keyes to your youtube search. LPN

it's a fabulous tribute to the old girl but how do I get it on my computer to put on a disc- there is another "drone" video look it up a bit shakey but good

Pat Ratchet, Thank You! I appreciated all the info and interesting background info. A movie or a novel indeed! "Godeys Ladies Book" Was referenced in "The Little House" books," Laura Ingalls Wilder", writes about reading the book when considering a dress design.
Has everyone seen the Bennet School on youtube shot with a "Go Pro Cam" on a drone? It was posted by Mr. Travis Keyes. Pat Thanks again for the info. LPN

some people always land on their feet !!

wanderer,enjoy your visit,Millbrook is so nice this time of year.
LPN, the semicircle was just an open verandah,before it was glassed in.

Henry J Davison,II was like his father,somewhat of a Renaissance man,but a bit more
an affable charlatan. Lawyer, talented engineer, in the gas,chemical, and mining
trades. Known as a bold,even reckless investor, his losses always somehow reversed
upon the next windfall deal. Determined to outshine all of his neighbour's
country houses[probably his father's the most] he concieved the hotel as the only
way to affordably outbuild Millbrook's other hilltoppers. A clever conflation,he spent
a million dollars on Halcyon Hall. It was the same amount he had paid to acquire
Godey's Lady Book magazine,called the Vanity Fair of the 1890's.

The magazine succeeded. The hotel did not. Barely a year after it opened,Davison
foreclosed,originally to Mead & Taft,the builders whom had never been paid in full.
It struggled along as a hotel till about 1905,but without the Davisons. Despite his
spendthrift habits ruinous consequences, Davison, [a personal friend of Winston Churchill's,] was said to have taken it all in stride. He and his wife moved into a small
cottage in South Millbrook,naming it "Bagatelle." [little jewel,little treasure]

There is a kind of minor-key Citizen Kane narrative in his story arc,for sure. But it sounds to me like Henry J certainly understood Fun.
In any event the late 19thcentury uniquely produced these kind of wildboys, by
the thousands.The second generation of post industrial revolution wealth,these
were characters out of central casting, any of there lives enough for a novel. Or
a movie...

celeste- contact the board after Oct 10- I may be able to help I am going to be there Oct 5-9

Give me photos of cleared brush on west wing side T.T

I feel like this page is the best place to post a couple of questions. What was the 1/2 oval area just left of the turret? I have not yet researched James E. Ware the Architect, I know from here that he was the /or one of the architects for Mohonk Mountain House. What do we know about H.J. Davidson the man that had the hotel built. Researching him is difficult search engines think I want "Harley Davidson". If someone knows more would appreciate the info. Thanks!!

thanx--- Pat am excited to see it soon-can't imagine it's finally happening slow but sure

strolled across the front lawn early last night...

much of the rest of Halcyon's foundation walls have been cleared away of brush and
overgrowth now. Very stark looking, but revealing.All windows accessible from the
ground floors,and a bit above,have been sealed with plywood. That is a whole lotta
windows. It does emphasize the interesting fenestration throughout, though.
It seems they are serious now about preventing entry. A responsible approach in terms of insurance,code compliance, and demonstration of intention to do things by the book

In some windows it looked like plywood is the only thing holding the window frames together!

contrastingly,i don't think they are so adamant about chasing away onlookers,
photographers, admirers, or flaneurs such as yours truly, with confidence that the site
is now [more] secure from the liability of tresspass.
In any event,i imagine Halcyon Hall as we recognize it has probably seen it's last summer.
Everyone be safe.

Saddened to hear, that work has begun on her & time is running out on the old gal.