Dutchess County Historical Society Yearbook Vol 046 1961

Cross Taconic Parkway, up Jackson Road and a right turn onto Hosner Mountain Road. There is a silver ledge here ( shown on 1868 map) but it is not rich enough to be worked. On Henry Livingston's 1798 map of the Town of Fishkill this area is designated "Shuffle Hook." Why? No markers for next two miles. Elton Bailey and Son farms.

32-L There are many dirt, or root, cellars on Hosner Mountain in which the mountain families stored provisions against the winter months. One is to be seen here. Just beyond is a pile of rocks where once there was a tollgate. Turn right on Rushmore Road 100 yards to 33-R Entrance to Mr. and Mrs. Victor Nelson's property and the "Looking Rock." Mr. Nelson requests, "please drive slowly, low gear."

34-L Thomas Wright farm. Here he raised ten children early in the 19th century. Note dirt cellar on right. The Fishkill Plains Boy Scouts will direct parking just beyond the barn. Fresh cider from Mr. Morgenthau's orchards will be served at "Looking Rock," also cookies made by the Fishkill Plains Girl Scouts and EFHS members.

When we leave "Looking Rock," we will return to Hosner Mountain Road and turn right. At Cherry Lane we turn left. Note the fields enclosed by stone walls. The many mountain farms through which we have passed must have looked this way before they reverted to woods.

35-L There are a number of small, old mountain farm houses along here but most of them have been modernized. This 200-year old dwelling has been marked because, with the exception of dormer windows, no major changes have been made. Many of the original shrubs are around the house, such as a moss rose, cinnamon rose and a Hiawatha rose. Owned by Miss Marie Hughes and Miss Gladys Sheridan since 1927.

At fork (in road, keep straight ahead on Leetown Road, left again onto Route 52, and left down Stormville Mountain.

36-R Van Anden white oak. No one knows how old this tree is; it measures 19 1/2 feet in circumference three feet above the ground. It was, no doubt, a healthy young tree when General George Washington and Sybil Luddington passed this way during the Revolutionary War, this being the main road between Fishkill and Fredericksburgh (now Patterson).

Take the first black-topped road to the right into Stormville.

37-R Stormville Fire Company. Fire house built almost entirely by volunteers. Started 194-9, interior completed 1951.

Stormville. The history of this town is long and interesting but the hour is growing late and only a small bit of its history can be told. Originally the area was homesteaded by great-grandsons of the immigrant Storm ancestor, Dirck Storm. Until fairly recently it was a busy place with a busy hotel, a two-story school, railroad station, blacksmith shop, cobbler's shop, a chapel, cooperage, a creamery, as well as the stores and postoffice we see today. Several original Storm homes are still to be seen, two marked.

38-R Wooley House. Local legend says that Mary, of Mary-had-a-LittleLamb fame, lived in this house, although it has been refuted. Too bad! It is a nice story. Raymond Storm, in Old Dirck's Book, 1949, says the poem was written by the great-grandaunt of a former resident of this house and that the aunt lived in New Hampshire.

39-R Homestead Farm. This property was bought from Madam Brett by Isaac Storm in 174-3. The original deed, signed by Madam Brett, hangs in the parlor. Isaac Storm built the house shortly after the property was acquired and, although some changes have been made, most of the original house remains. Ten generations of Storms have lived here. Residence of Mrs. Diana Adriana Tucker.

40-R Storm n Lake Farm. Built about the same time as the Homestead Farm.

Renovated 1908-10. Childhood home of Raymond Storm, author of Old Dirck's 27