19th century: Conservation Saw Kill (Hudson River)

lower falls, montgomery place, milbert

in 1820s, saw kill s lower gorge subject of works notable artists. jacques-gérard milbert produced lithograph, , alexander jackson davis painted janet livingston enjoying scene while in process of designing montgomery place house. marquis de lafayette made point of visiting when stopped see janet montgomery on return america in 1825.

louise livingston, along robert donaldson, neighboring blithewood estate later became campus of bard college, purchased land on saw kill in 1841 prevent extraction , factory development (an existing mill @ creek s mouth demolished; of remains extant).

they feared losing pristine quality of river noise, loss of natural landscape, , factory worker intrusion. hunting considered disruption of peace , safety quality of living wealthy landowners. nevertheless, practice remained commonplace 20th century.

livingston , donaldson connected properties trails , footbridges on stream. small wooden pavilions built allow visitors take in beauty of stream. legal agreement between them 1 of earliest such land-conservation covenants in american history.

donaldson , livingston preserved stream s picturesque lower portion between estates

in 1860s theodore roosevelt s family rented small estate near montgomery place several years, spending summers there. explored lower saw kill, @ 1 point canoeing around mouth , adjacent bay, finding fascinating both aesthetically , scientifically, according letters wrote nanny in new york. of biographers credit experience lifelong interest in conservation , land preservation.