Transcript of one of two handwritten documents in pencil by James A. Simpson extolling the proposed Wittenberg Mountain House
The
Wittenberg Mountain
House Site
This site is situated from five to 4 miles from the depot on the Ulster and Delaware R Road and is twenty four miles due west from the City of Kingston and is known by the importance and numerous gentlemen visitors from all parts of this state and can safely said above all other locations to be the popular mountain house site 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 the mountain if mood(?)s and the old _(?)_ expression can be used: it is the god of all the Catskill mountains. Its height is over four thousand (4250) feet above tidewater and near the top is a large spring but how it get there? Geologists say the world breaths hense (sic) then the expansion of the bowels of the earth and then the powerful contraction forces the water through its chambers and up its narrow pumps tree incessantly to the top. Weather (sic) this school of geologist is correct or not the writer is unable to say, but 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 and fitted up splendidly say one thousand acres of land from its plateau ground. 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 and a portion of which is ready made for a wagon at an expense of $800. 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 has not space, but only add length two miles. West (?) one mile cross from top to top of ridge is sloping very steeply into the tunnel bottom very narrow and is above 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 glary sight to behold. We now wind our way on the top on east side facing East Branch of the Neversink Stream to get an easy grade. Here we have magnificent view to all points of compass - due east so far as the eye may permit Connecticut State, it surroundings, Dutchess Co., etc good view of the City of Kingston. It looks small with naked eye, but the inhabitance of which it is said has large hearty(?). Shokan looks splendid. In passing our eyes up Ketcham Stream it finally looks as if it were nearly under our feet; and about a half mile south is the Peekamouse Mountain at base of which heads the Rondout creek. About a half mile S. West is Slide Mountain. Those two mountains are easy of access from the mountain house site. Due west can be seen Big Indian Delaware Co. etc ; N East can be seen 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 and Wittenberg Tunnel brook and all of which including the Rondout Creek abound with fish (Trout) so the location for a mountain house cannot be questioned knowing the easy & convenient access to all the surrounding country. Green County has its road through stony clove & deep hollow notch, Shokan up the Ketcham stream and crossing portion of lot no. 8 Div. 1 and making connections with the woodland mountain house road north side of Wittenberg. Sullivan Co. up the east branch Neversink creek cross base of Slide Mountain and make connection with woodland mountains house road on east side of Wittenberg so all parties cannot but be pleased with the location. All will have their _(?)_ advantages being so very central.
James A. Simpson
Only copy. Written for the Freeman to be printed & sent to Mr. Van Wagoner, Freeman__ , Kingston NY. Mailed this day July 6, 76.*
* It is not known if this letter was ever published.
Click here to see a slightly altered version he sent to his sister.