1 3 HISTORY OF THE COUXTV OF WESTCHESTER. 



i Manufactory of Cotton-gin Saws ; and Brandreth's Pill Factor} - . 

 Four weekly newspapers are issued from this place, entitled the The 

 Hudson River Chronicle, The Republican, The Standard, and The Reg- 

 ister. 



A number of handsome residences adorn the higher grounds of the 

 village. Among others maybe noticed the mansion of the late Maj. Gen. 

 Aaron Ward,' 1 who for a number years represented this district in Congress, 

 and also that of Mr. H. J. Baker. General Ward holds a part of the patri- 

 monial estate which covered nearly the whole southern portion of the 

 village, his father the late Moses Ward, Esq., 6 having been one of the 

 original purchasers under the commissioners of forfeitures in 1785. At 

 this early period there were but three dwelling houses in Sing Sing, one 

 of which (an old stone mansion, used as a fortress to defend the settlers 

 against the Indians," ) was the residence of Mr. Ward. This family 

 descends from Richard Ward of Fairfield, Connecticut.' 3 ' Gen. Ward's 

 residence is a fine bnilding of Sing Sing marble, presenting a neat Ionic 

 portico to the river, with wings on either side. The interior is embelished 

 with several excellent pictures by native artists, viz., Falls of Niagara. 

 by Yanderlyn ; St. Nicholas, by Weir ■ Boy hoeing corn, by Mount ; 

 Village of Sing Sing, by Havel ; Gipsey Girl, by Freeman ; View in 

 New Hampshire, by Doughty ; Girl and Child, by Chapman. The 

 family portraits are by Ames, Vanderlyn, and Gilbert. 



One of the most striking features of this hilly region is the romantic 

 ravine (already alluded to) intersecting the village ; both sides of it are 

 bounded by steep acclivities covered with a luxuriant growth of hemlock 

 and spruce, and near its mouth the banks rise to a height of one hun- 

 dred feet above the bed of the stream. In the vicinity of Brandreth's 

 mill the Croton aqueduct crosses this ravine by means of a handsome 

 arch constructed of solid masonry, in the most durable manner. The 

 space between the abutments is 88 feet, and the rise from the bottom 

 of the creek is about 100 feet. So securely were the foundations of this 

 noble structure laid, that upon the removal of the uprights the whole 

 work settled but one inch. It was erected under the superintendence 

 of Mr. Young, engineer of the works ; commenced May, 1838, and com- 

 pleted October, 1S40. 



Near the village landing are situated the green-houses of C. F. Klun- 

 der, the florist. In the vicinity of Sing Sing the shores of the Croton 



a During trie last war with Great Britain General Ward held a captain's commission in the 

 United - ice, and at the close of it conducted a battalion of TOO British prisoners 



from Pittsfleld, Massachusetts, to Canada. 



urd married a niece of Col. Samuel Drafce of the Continental army. 

 c The old stone fortress stood a little cast of Mr. K. K. Forster s dwelling house. 

 d Sire Eas'ctiester, p. 159. 



