6l6 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



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ble part of the Cortlandt estate, is but half a mile north of New York 

 city, and lies almost entirely on elevated ground, from portions of 

 which most beautiful views reward the visitor. Jerome Park lies just 

 south of it, and the magnificent Central avenue is not more than a 

 quarter of a mile distant. 



A broad avenue named Van Cortlandt, has been opened through the 

 Park, and the most elevated portion has been set aside for a park within 

 a park. Fronting on this enclosure which has been named Stevenson 

 Park, are most beautiful villa sites, containing from ten to forty city lots. 

 Oloff Park has as its boundaries, three important and ancient roads ; the 

 old Albany Post Road, the old Boston Post Road, and the road from 

 Yonkers to William's Bridge and Westchester. In addition to these and 

 Van Cortlandt avenue, referred to above, Gouvenure avenue, Stevenson 

 avenue and Lesler place, have been laid out within the limits of the 

 park. 



The Central Park Commissioners, who have done so much to beau- 

 tify and improve the upper portion of New York Island, now have, 

 by act of the Legislature, supreme control over this part of Westchester 

 County — and by opening Central avenue and Grand Boulevards, draining 

 low grounds and providing water supply for the future inhabitants, will 

 soon make this part of the county approximate in value to the most 

 valuable lots up town; and, secondly, it is very confidently predicted 

 that before many years, the business part of the city will be in the neigh- 

 borhood of the Harlem river. With Hell Gate cleared of its obstructions, 

 the last obstacle to the change in the course of shipping will be re- 

 moved. 



It is believed that then, ships, instead of entering by way of the Bay will 

 come by way of Long Island Sound, and have their wharves near and 

 along the Harlem River; that the latter will be made a grand ship canal 

 through which communication with the Hudson and inland towns will 

 be made. Already the late far-sighted Commodore Vanderbilt, has a 

 railroad chartered — and we believe, under contract — which is to connect 

 Spuyten Duyvil on the Hudson with the future port at the other end of 

 Harlem River. 



Jacobus van Cortlandt, the first of the name who enjoyed this estate 

 was the second son of the Right Hon. Oloff Stevensen van Cortlandt, 

 a native of Cortlandt in Holland, who came out to this country in the 

 military service of the Dutch West India Company, and grandson of 

 the Right Hon. Steven van Cortlandt a lineal descendant of the ancient 

 Dukes of Cortlandt or Courland. Jacobus married in 1691 Eva 

 Philipse daughter of the Hon. Frederick Philipse of the manor of 



