Westchester 417 



all trees of that variety in this vicinity within the last ten 

 years. 



On the west side of Westchester Creek, the principal road- 

 way, leading from the borough-town through the middle of 

 the township is the Eastchester Road, which is mentioned in 

 NicolTs grant of the Ten Farms as the "Westchester path." 

 Before the days of the Oostdorp settlers, it was a trail, or path, 

 used by the Siwanoys. It passes along the meadows of the 

 creek to the higher ground along their edge and crosses the 

 Boston Road at Corsa Lane (Eleventh Avenue), Williams- 

 bridge. From this point, the Coles Road followed the East- 

 chester Road. It crosses the Bronx and Pelham Parkway; 

 and it was not far from this spot that the Americans had an 

 outpost to prevent the enemy from crossing at the head of the 

 creek in October, 1776. A great deal of the material taken 

 from the Jerome Park reservoir was used for filling in the 

 meadows in this vicinity. Beyond the Eastchester Road is 

 the Williamsbridge Road, passing to the north of the Morris 

 Park race-track ; on the south of the track is the Bear Swamp 

 Road leading to Bronxdale. 



Bronxdale was like West Farms on a small scale; as, having 

 been a milling village strung along the Boston Road in the 

 early part of the last century, the substantial stone cottages 

 and houses stood until 191 1, when they were all removed out 

 of Bronx Park, being either demolished or taken to other 

 sites. Robert Bolton established a bleachery near where the 

 Boston Road crosses the Bronx River about 1820, and for 

 many years a successful business was conducted here. The 

 little village was about a mile above West Farms, but the com- 

 munity of interests made them virtually one settlement. 

 Bronxdale is connected with Williamsbridge by the White 

 Plains Road ; but this section is so sparsely settled and devel- 

 27 



