2,174 Comments for Bennett School for Girls

She still has the power to fascinate. I’ve never been, but I saw a photo at a ruinporn site. Thousands of photos and pages of history later, I’m still immersed in this place. Plop me blindfolded anywhere in Halcyon and I’ll know where I’m at. I’ve even purchased a Black Swans and a Swans record from eBay. My wife thinks I’m nuts, but I’m just doing the architecture archeology while it’s still in the light. Anybody got a decent campus map? The ones already posted are low resolution scans and I can’t always tell what’s what :)

Still there in 2018. I think, anyway. Finding 2017 pictures and no news of demo or collapse. I’m still trying to figure out if there was a penthouse machine room, or the elevator motors and shieves are in the basement.

Thank you so much pat ratchet all info.
+ Congratulations to book anytime soon, come May/June 2018.
Wish great success for you now. Is exciting.
Yes - this whole Event moves us all very much.

oh, thank so much Motts! That means a lot to me. And Wanderer, we are in the same boat, all of my old ruined stomping grounds everywhere
in Millbrook are...now something else, if not gone. Mostly gone, it seems.

But the old girl is still there, who would have thought it?

No matter what the hell I've said, I still want to kind of see Halcyon Hall
stick around for as many more sunsets as it's destined to be.
cheers, all- pwr

Thanks for the update and congrats on your book!!

Still standing (mostly) April 2018. Dining room paneling is gone.

The paneling is gone now. Far as I know the Hall is still standing April 2018.

so how long before destruction don't care about their plans where will I go when this happens maybe I will be too *&^$% old to wander anymore

PS-I've teased it before but my book "TOWN & COUNTRY: THE ARCHITECTURE OF JAMES E. WARE & SONS" is on track to be
out between May & June 2018. It will be available on Amazon,
under the Hudson House imprint. Thanks Motts, for my shameless self promotion, but to everyone else too for all of your interest, encouragement, and enthusiasm.
Cheers-Pat

Hello all, been awhile. Halcyon still stands, though it sags a bit more every day. The recent news is that most of the legal hurdles to
the demolition of the HALL have been overcome, specifically the issue of easements between the condominium complex and what will be the
new park replacing the old college. A new pool and tennis courts will
be located closer to the condos, supposedly on the footprint of the old
chapel, which will be torn down, sadly.
It is the sacrificial lamb in a deal that satisfies the condo complex
that their prior property rights from c. 1984 are protected, and public
usage of the new park will not infringe on their privacy. The chapel
itself was a white elephant in real estate terms, functioning primarily
as a bit of a visual buffer between it and the hulking mass of Halcyon.
I am unsure of its' state, but it's probably not so hot. Besides
Exmoore and my old Nursery School, it was the only other survivor of
the original campus buildings.
An attractive [c.1927 ?] Tudor style building, it is more cottage than church, really. Likely by the Boston Architects Allen & Collens, it matches the series of wings on Halcyon proper they designed.
They were responsible for the majority of buildings on the Vassar College campus. [ But it is possibly by the Poughkeepsie architect Edward Smith?]
So the chapel will be swept away in Halcyon Hall's wake. But the lemonade from lemons is that this project can move forward. It's sad
to seem to be happy about it finally coming down, but I believe in preservation. At this point , as it stands, it is in the way of the projected
protection and retention of it's massive stonework, ostensibly.
The stonework should be a cornerstone of this park. I envision
the terrace filled in, or perhaps even a covered loggia. From the perspective of this plan, the public would at least enjoy some fabric
of the past up close, which is denied them currently in it's neglected
entirety.
Preservation of as much stonework as possible was mandated by
order of New York State courts in previous scenarios. I am optimistic that it is a priority for the resolution of this historic locale.
The story for Millbrook is larger. The Thorne Building in the village has
long threatened to become another ruin like Halcyon. A grand 1894
Beaux Arts monument, it has finally been proposed that it be restored
for use to the community, as a cultural center. It is proposed that the
popular bandshell nearby be relocated to the new park proposed for
the Bennet campus, thereby opening that area for parking for the
new Thorne center.
Their does seem to be a lot of sense here. Both parcels are administered by the Tribute Gardens foundation. My proposal to
convert the old rail line at the northeast edge of the Bennett campus, to a mini-rail trail connecting it to the Village Green and the Tribute Garden proper is the key to linking up these developments in a high concept, low impact way. In my admittedly biased opinion. Stay tuned.


It is a very interesting development. They have done their homework, I'm certain. Their is something redemptive in Halcyon's passing now.
It's inevitable disappearance, now opens the door for saving another local treasure, while it's site will remain a tribute to Halcyon's master
Italian stonemakers, in addition to providing a more spacious lawn for bandshell concerts. The site will become once again a community resource, for the first time in over four decades. It is a happier ending
than anyone could have imagined just a few years back.

Their is vocal frustration at the slow pace of events. I implore anyone
interested for their patience and assure that this will all be worth not only the wait, but the considerable temporary dislocation that occurs
with transformative projects of this kind.
I would also posit that this proposal, which will largely be the gift of
the Thorne family, is beyond a gift horse, more like a Pegasus Unicorn,
flying in on a freakin rainbow. This is a fantastic scenario. I applaud it,
considering what was proposed here not long ago. It has gone from
a definite negative [ hundreds of condominiums as the price for demo-ing Halcyon] to at least a neutral [loss of Halcyon, remediation of site]
to a positive [Sympathetic historic stabilization, reclaim of a large
lawn for community recreation and performance, stabilization of surrounding property values, compliance with health and building codes, resolution of long gerrymandered sewer and electrical infrastructure throughout the parcel, resolution of the long overdue
tax bill on the property [courtesy of Thorne, by the way] satisfaction and respect for its' neighbor's rights,and a renewed pride in the entrance to the village, represented by something tangible, inviting, and accessible.] Bravo.
But more than that, Halcyon Hall wwould be the angel, whose fall to ash
will allow rebirth of the grand Thorne building, whose chartering as a school necessitated the incorporation of the Village of Millbrook in 1895. I'd like to think of it as her fourth and final Act. I.Hotel. II.Girlschool. III. Cautionary Preservation Tale. and now IV: Sacrificial
Donor to Saving a Sister Architectural Wonder. That's a turn of events
it takes a rare imagination to conceive let alone make happen, but it
seems to be underway. I hope people will be patient, as it will take
some time, and be a bit messy at first, as these things are. But this is
a pretty good ending.

As much as I still like to look at this place as long as it stands, sad as it is.
Best to all, I will try to post if I hear more. I wonder what Halcyon looks like after this winter? Haven't seen...
ok pr

not much difference but everYtime after i leave the old girl falls apart - not going in Oct but headed to Ireland and Scotland where there are REAL castles nice hearing from ya Stax

Howdy People from the land down under.Man it's been awhile since I got on and checked the blog.Wanderer how was ur trip to see Bennett.Will have to go and check all Mottses later stuff.Hope you are all well..Cheers.

do u have pics ?? they were okay in Oct looks like the committee is taking time in deciding what to do I yawn waiting the newspaper is long gone so can't were u droning Bennett ?

I'm happy to see this forum is still alive! Not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but both courtyard dormers have collapsed. I ran into the security guard because they were doing police training in Carroll Hall and my drone was distracting them. Very nice guy, he said it was fine to fly after they left which was 4pm.

well another year frittered away waiting for progress---- see ya in '18