A Walk on the Wild Side

Lithograph, West Point Ferry at Garrison’s Landing

A Lithograph of the West Point Ferry at Garrison's Landing, NY. Rare hand-tinted lithograph published circa 1858 with the original frame and wavy-glass. Descended within Cold Spring, NY family. Another copy is in the collection of the NY Historical Society. Work Size: 16" H x 21.75" W. Framed Size: 19.5" H. x 25.25" W. x 1.25" D. Weight: 6lbs

Depicts the earliest extant building in the district which is the 2 1/2-story home of Henry White Belcher, owner of the Garrison and West Point Ferry Company. His home, sided in brick on the first story but shiplap above, dates to 1800 and occupied by the Belcher family until late in the 20th century. The boat house marks the place where Harry Garrison established his chartered ferry service between Garrison and West Point in 1821. In the book Garrison's Landing by Jean Saunders, she says that one ferryman had told her there had been a ferry between West Point and Garrison fifty years before the Revolution. Those visiting West Point would often cross the river because the accommodations were better on the east side. Jacob Mandeville's house about a mile from the ferry was used to billet officers during the Revolution. That house still stands and is maintained as an historical site. Jean Saunders wrote that Joseph Mead who married Garrison's daughter Phebe built a dock, residence and store at that site in 1825. Henry White Belcher, ancestor to the late Taylor Belcher of Garrison, was a retired wholesale grocer who built seven buildings at the landing between 1849 and 1859. Taylor Belcher's father Colonel Belcher ran the Garrison and West Point Ferry Company and the Garrison Coal Company located at the landing and lived in the "ferry house" which may have dated from 1787. The "ferry house" was owned by the Belcher family until 1997.

Condition: Very good, laid down, minor foxing, overall toning and some light discoloration

The experience using Live Auctioneers was very good. You need to register with the auction house two to three days in advance. Once registered your requested bids will be confirmed after a review of your registration documents. During the sale if you have left bids they will be automatically exercised. You can also follow the sale item by item and bid online. That was how I participated and it was interesting.

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