THE TOWN OF GREENBURGH. 285 



stone of the present chapel school was laid in August, 1852, and the 

 building opened for divine service in May, 1853. On the nth of June, 

 1864, the enlarged church building was consecrated by Bishop Potter. 



Immediately in the vicinity of Dobb's Ferry, and contiguous to the 

 river, is the residence and estate of James A. Hamilton, Esq., son of the 

 Hon. Alexander Hamilton. The house which commands a fine view of the 

 river, contains among other valuable family relics, the original portrait of 

 General Washington, painted by Stewart for the Hon. Alexander Hamil- 

 ton ; after his death it remained in the possession of Mrs. Hamilton, 

 upon whose decease it passed into the hands of her son — the present 

 owner. The Hamilton estate formerly belonged to the Odell family. 

 Jonathan Odell, father of the destinguished Colonel John Odell, was re- 

 siding here in the Autumn of 1776, when the British army, after retiring 

 from White Plains, encamped in the neighborhood. 



The enemy, upon their final retreat to New York, arrested Mr. Odell 

 and four of his neighbors as prisoners of war. On their arrival in the 

 city, they were consigned to the provost. Here four of them died of 

 poison, said to have been administered in their food. Jonathan Odell 

 escaped through the kindness of a friend, who daily brought him pro- 

 visions. Each of the sufferers had sons in the Continental army, which 

 was the cause of this inhuman treatment. 



Bordering the river in the same vicinity, about two miles south of 

 Tarrytown, a winding lane leads to Sunny Side, the residence of the Hon. 

 Washington Irving. "There is scarcely (observes Mr. Downing,) a 

 building or place more replete with interest in America than the cottage 

 of Washington Irving, near Tarrytown. The legend of Sleepy Hollow, 

 so delightfully told in the sketch book, has made every one acquainted 

 with his neighborhood; and especially with the site of the present build- 

 ing there celebrated as the 'Van Tassel House,' one of the most secluded 

 and delightful nooks on the banks of the Hudson. With characteristic 

 taste, Mr. Irving has chosen this spot — the haunt of his early days, since 

 rendered classic ground by his elegant pen — and made it his permanent 

 residence. The house of 'Baltus Van Tassel,' has been altered and 

 rebuilt in a quaint style, partaking somewhat of the English cottage 

 mode, but retaining strongly marked symptoms of its Dutch origin. The 

 quaint old weathercocks and fmials, the crow stepped gables and the 

 hall paved with Dutch tiles, are among the ancient and venerable orna- 

 ments of the houses of the original settlers of Manhattan, now almost 

 extinct among us. There is also a quaint keeping in the cottage, and 

 grounds around it, that assists in making up the chain of the whole ; the 

 gently swelling slope reaching down to the water's edge, bordered by pret- 



