422 The Story of The Bronx 



Right on the boundary line of the city, on the White Plains 

 Road, is situated what is left of the old Penfield estate. The 

 large, comfortable-looking old mansion was an object of in- 

 terest to all the passengers to the terminal of the Union Rail- 

 way Company at 242d Street ; and the mansion possessed an 

 air of dignity that age only can produce. Unfortunately, the 

 house was almost destroyed by fire on the morning of May 13, 

 1 91 2. In view of the building of the subway extension to this 

 point from West Farms, and the growth to be expected from 

 this section in consequence, the early demolition of the house 

 to make way for "flats" was to have been expected. 



The height of the hills above the river valley is well shown 

 at East 233d Street, the northern boundary of the cemetery. 

 There was formerly a very dangerous crossing of the Harlem 

 tracks at the Woodlawn station on this street, but in January, 

 1905, the bridge over the tracks was completed and opened. 



Mundy's Lane is a part of the boundary line between the 

 Borough and Mount Vernon; it is an ancient road leading from 

 Hunt's Bridge in the Mile Square to the Kingsbridge (Boston) 

 Road, leading to Eastchester. The Kingsbridge Road, an 

 ancient highway dating back to 1673, takes us through Eden- 

 wald to near old St. Paul's, Eastchester, though over the city 

 line. Here is the old Seton estate, through which runs Rattle- 

 snake Brook, upon which there was formerly a mill. The 

 site of the old mill is in a narrow and picturesque gorge where 

 the water has a descent of about thirty feet in two falls, to 

 which the name of Seton's Falls has been given. It has been 

 for several generations a favorite place for a stroll, or for pic- 

 nics by the inhabitants of the neighborhood. In the spring, 

 the dogwood blossoms whiten the woods, and through the 

 whole year the ground is carpeted with all kinds of wild flowers 

 in their turn, as nature here has full sway and has been but 



