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May
20th, The Beacon City Council and Mayor Clara-Lou Gould
issued this proclamation declaring this year as
the Anniversary Year
of the Mt. Beacon Incline Railway
PROCLAMATION
CENTENNIAL YEAR
1902—2002
MOUNT BEACON INCLINE RAILWAY
WHEREAS, the City of Beacon is situated
at the northern gateway of the Hudson Highlands, with the Hudson
River, an American Heritage River as its front porch and the historic
Mount Beacon, from which it gets its name as its backdrop, and;
WHEREAS, Mount Beacon at 1,539 foot
above sea level commands a view on clear days of distant mountain
ridges in Pennsylvania and the skyline of New York City and also
displays its namesake city in its perspective to the area, a view the
experts from the Countryside Exchange recommended that every school
child should be required to see, and;
WHEREAS, 100 years ago Weldon Weston and
Henry George of New Hampshire fulfilled their vision of a mountaintop
resort where tourists and residents could view the vistas of our
beautiful Hudson Valley, by constructing a railway, designed by Otis
Elevator Co. of Yonkers, at a total cost of $165,000.00, and;
WHEREAS, that railway, called “the 8th
Wonder of the World” and a “feat of engineering genius” opened on May
30, 1902 with more than 1,100 fares sold on that holiday, with a cost
of $1.00 for a return trip excursion from New York City by steamboat,
ferry, trolley and incline, and;
WHEREAS, 1,100 rode the incline during
the first day, and an average of 60,000 riders per year with over
110,000 riders in 1927 the banner year, and;
WHEREAS, the Mount Beacon Incline
Railway Society has a vision of restoring this important part of
Beacon’s History, to allow present day visitors to enjoy the
magnificent views,
NOW THEREFORE, I, Clara Lou Gould,
Mayor, on behalf of the City of Beacon do hereby declare this the
Centennial Year of the Mount Beacon Incline Railway and encourage all
our residents and visitors to join in the events planned for the year,
beginning with a hike on May 25th and a evening of
reminiscences at an anniversary party on May 31, 2002 at the Howland
Library to celebrate the importance of Mount Beacon to our history,
its scenic beauty and the inspiration it has provided artists
throughout the years.
There was enthusiastic applause from the
audience and Council table. Andy Chiusano accepted the honor.
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