Transcript of 2nd of two handwritten documents in pencil by James A. Simpson extolling the proposed Wittenberg Mountain House

Copy sent to sister Elizabeth*

Wittenberg Mountain

House Site

This site is situated some five miles from the depot on the Ulster and Delaware R Road and is about twenty four miles west from the City of Kingston and is known by the inhabitance and numerous gentlemen visitors from various parts of this state to be the popular mountain house site and can safely said above all other acceptable locations upon which will be erected (a) suitable house so soon as the proper and necessary arrangements can be made.  This has now become a conceded fact. Knowing as we do this mountain if the expression can be used: it is the king of all the Catskill mountains. All it advantages to be considered. Its height is over four thousand feet above tidewater & easy grade for road & near the top is a large spring. But how it get there?  Geologists may know. The writer only adds the water is there anyhow. And upon its extreme height is about six acres quite level, smooth and covered with heavy coating (of) moss. And a short distance down from the top can be had & fitted up splendidly a large number (of) acres of land from its plateau grounds. It being full of natural jotting places and covered with timber and well natured. A bridle road is already cut out from bottom to top & a portion is ready made for a wagon. Distance from woodland stream (is) between two and three miles to top. In traveling this road up to a certain point you are at the extreme head of a splendid tunnel or hollow call the great Wittenberg Brook Tunnel, the full details of which the writer have not space. But only add length two miles West(?) one mile cross from _?_ to top of rise sloping very steeply into the tunnel.  Bottom very narrow and is above fifteen hundred [1500] ft deep in it winds its way down small stream which abounds with fish (trout) and on looking down upon the tops of the trees makes a splendid view glary sight to behold. We now wind our way on the top on east side facing East Branch of the Neversink Stream to get easy grade. Here we have magnificent view to all points of compass – can be seen Connecticut, Massachusetts Vermont, New Hampshire states,  Dutchess Co.,  City of Kingston and all other surroundings. Shokan looks splendid. In passing our eyes up Ketcham Stream it finally looks as if it were nearly under our feet or at an agle of 75 (degrees) and is about one thousand feet below us and about a half mile south is the Peekamouse Mountain at base of which heads the Rondout creek & about a half mile South West is Slide Mountain. Those two mountains are easy of access from Wittenberg Mt.. Due west can be seen Big Indian, Delaware Co. etc; N East Green Co. & all its surroundings and the following streams have their existence(?) and support from this mountain house location. Viz, Cross Mountain Stream, Ketcham Hollow Stream, East Branch Neversink Creek, portions of Woodland Creek, Lost Clove stream and the great Wittenberg Tunnel brook and all of which including the Rondout Creek abound with fish (Trout) the location for a mountain house cannot be questioned knowing the easy & convenient access of rapid transcend to all the surrounding cities & thoroughfares.  The location being so central & Twenty Thousand [20,000] people can be cared for in the heated portions of the season if properly constructed and managed.

& Visitor

*letter apparently sent to his sister Isobel Elisabeth Simpson married to George F. Cross.