Denning's Point Hike: Walking The Rise & Fall of American Grandeur During the Industrial Revolution to the Jazz Age

Look at the bald eagle perched above you. The Wiccappee Indians saw them too. Stand on the clay and rock of the beach and watch the tide, George Washington and Alexander Hamilton did as well. Tucked away and easy to bypass, Denning's Point is as filled with as much history as it is with dense, diverse nature. Take in the breathtaking scenery and terrain of this 1.2 mile circuit trail, and take your time to inhale the vast history of it as well.

Denning's Point

The Nuts and Bolts of the Denning's Point Hike

You can park in the parking lot off of Denning's Avenue and take the little connector dirt road to the overpass going over the railroad and onto the point. You can also access the trail via the Madame Brett connectors or the Klara Sauer Trail. The point is actually a peninsula that juts out into the Hudson River, and is the northern-most point of the Hudson Highlands state park. It’s a flat hike that is full of native and invasive species of flora and fauna. The most common of these invasive include water chestnut, which blankets huge swaths of the river around the point, buckthorn, Asiatic bittersweet and swallowwart. You’ll also find, as you pass several old abandoned buildings, a multitude of tree species from maples to cherry and apple, as well as shrubs of honeysuckle, sumac and tastier varieties like black and elderberry, autumn olive and more. If you are into foraging, be sure to look out for wild ginger, burdock, garlic mustard, field garlic, asparagus, thistle, strawberry, milkweed, St. Johnswort and much, much more! One could open an apothecary just on the bounty around Denning's Point. (While on the beach, try and find remains of an old cider mill for Pippen apples, the apple orchard once maintained here for “Fishkill champagne”!). And don’t forget about the bald eagles-the park is a nesting place for them, and is actually closed during the late fall through winter months to protect their nesting periods. 

The trail forks just past the large abandoned factory. You can take either loop, and both will run course along the river, eventually opening up to gorgeous views of the Hudson, the highlands, and Newburgh. The rocky beach area has a near deserted Island feel and is a delightful respite from the dense wooded trail area where you can relax to the lapping sounds of water and rays of sunshine. The 1.2 mile loop is a fairly even grade, though getting down to the beach area is a little steep, but well worth it. Allow for an hour at least to take in all the nature and scenery. 

The History of Denning's Point

Archeologists have found evidence of inhabitants as far back as 4000 B.C. in this outcrop on the Hudson River. The Hudson River historian, Arthur Adams had pointed out that Wiccapee and Shenandoah Indian tribes had used it as burial grounds. And the history only gets better from there. The site was initially part of the large Rombout Patent, the large land purchase by Frans Rombouts and the Verplank family from the Wappinger Indians. The daughter of Mr. Verplank, Catharyna, built a grist mill just off the point in the beginning of the 18th century after marrying a Roger Brett. After he passed, Madame Brett in the middle of the century, sold the land to Jacob de Peyster, who renamed it DePyester’s Point and built on it. During the American Revolution, the point became and eastern terminus for the war efforts. General Washington was said to have walked the point himself and spent time on conducting war business there. It was an important part of the transportation and strategic planning for the Patriots. So important in fact that Alexander Hamilton actually rented one of DePeyster’s homes on the point, and wrote the precursors to The Federalist Papers while here! One can imagine, with the types of men Washington and his generals were, that they perhaps picked, or even introduced some of the edible shrubs and herbs around the hike, although a local trail leader suggests that a renown female horticulturalist introduced several plants. Shortly after the war in 1785, Washington Staffer, Adjutant-General William Denning purchased the land and built his own mansion, “Presqu’ile” on 45 acres of the southern point.

William Denning's mansion built on 45 acres on the southern point.
Photo Credit: Jim Heron sharing his knowledge on Beacon Citizen.

A century later, after turnover from a bankrupt railroad, the site was converted to a brickworks factory and fanciful homestead by Newburgh resident Homer Ramsdell. In your traverses around Beacon, you might have found bricks labeled “DPBW,” (or Denning's Point Brick Works).

Bricks from the Denning's Point Brick Works.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

At Presqu’ile, all the splendors (and eventual downfalls) of the pre-industrial antibellum age were experienced by Emily Denning Van Rensselaer et al, with the sweeping lawns and elegant parties. But amid this grandeur, Ramsedell, or “Old Man Tardy” as he was known to some, cleared a third of the point for clay and sand to make his bricks. Soon the point was swarming with industry and immigrants (some of whose relatives still live in Beacon today) and Emily Van Rensselaer left but the brickworks was going steady (eventually pulling out of the point in 1939). Several decades after Emily left, in the 1920’s, the estate was in ruins having been vacant, then settled by brick-worker families, then vacated again. But that didn’t stop the point from being an attraction. 

The 1920’s and 30’s were a buzz-worthy time for the point. Thousands of locals and travelers came to Denning's Point to swim in the brackish waters and enjoy Sunday music and a lively resort. Ferries would motor guests across the river from Newburgh, and coaches would haul picnic-goers from all over. On a typical weekend day, the little beach would be packed with sunbathers and partygoers, often dancing away to live music. So much so, that the little park was called “The Coney Island of Dutchess County.” 

(Source: Beacon Revisted, by Robert J Murphy, Denis Doring VanBuren)

After exchanging company hands for the next handful of decades (a construction paneling company, Durisol, and a pin ticket manufacturer called Noesting), the point was eventually purchased by the State of New York in 1988. In 2003, then Governor George Pataki chose the site for a new research facility, Rivers and Estuary Center, now Beacon Institute's Center for Environmental Innovation and Education. To learn more about the remarkable history of Denning's Point, check out Denning's Point, A Hudson River History by Jim Heron. 

Extend Your Stay on the Trail…

Expand the 1.2 mile loop by continuing on to the Klara Sauer Trail along the river once you exit the point. This trail will bring you out to Long Dock Park. Or you can turn right from the trailhead when heading over the train tracks to the parking lot to traverse the new Dave Miller Connector trail that marries Denning's Point to Madame Brett Park and on to the waterfront. My wife and I typically do the whole loop, starting from Tioronda and continuing on to Madame Brett, the connector and do the entirety through Denning’s Point to the waterfront which is a great way to see the beautiful, historic rim of Beacon!

Denning's Point perfectly encapsulates the great and often turbulent narrative of America, from the Native Americans, to Henry Hudson, the American Revolution; from the Federalist grandeur and antebellum culture to the rise and fall of industrial America. The remarkable diversity of plant species and gorgeous river views will certainly help you appreciate the history even more.

Please welcome back contributor Dylan Price, a writer/filmmaker and avid outdoorsman who moved to Beacon with his wife from Washington D.C. They were attracted to Beacon for the unique mix of nature, art and food. Dylan will continue to explore and share the more historical aspects of our local trails for our Hiking Series.

Candlelight Vigil to Protect The Hudson River From PCBs If GE's Cleanup Stops

From Schuylerville to Pier 63 in Manhattan, Scenic Hudson is hosing a Candlelight Vigil to encourage GE (General Electric) to continue the clean-up of our most treasured natural and economic resource: The Hudson River. Says the EPA: "During a 30-year period ending in 1977, when EPA banned the production of PCBs, it is estimated that approximately 1.3 million pounds of PCBs were discharged into the Hudson River from two General Electric (GE) capacitor manufacturing plants located in the towns of Fort Edward and Hudson Falls, New York. In 1984, 200 miles of river, between Hudson Falls and the Battery in New York City, was placed on EPA’s National Priorities List of the country’s most contaminated hazardous waste sites."

Oftentimes taken for granted as a river to boat on, or a river to gaze upon from a highrise apartment in New York City or from the mountains of the Hudson Valley, the Hudson River was once an economic engine, as well as a major mode of transportation and war strategy during the Revolutionary War, which is why Newburgh was the headquarters of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, as well as a very wealthy town for industries who shipped between Newburgh and New York City (which...honestly may have contributed to the pollution of the river). The economy thrived during a time of high shipping, which is why so many of the philanthropic names you see on streets, parks, buildings and librarys are related to wealthy families with shipping businesses. Not to mention its history with the Native New Yorkers before Dutch and British settlers came here and renamed it.

GE was ordered to clean up the Hudson River in two phases, the second of which we are in now, which may be coming to an end, despite "leaving behind millions of pounds of heavily contaminated sediments that eventually will flow past Beacon and Newburgh," according to Scenic Hudson.

Tonight, in a dual event at Long Dock Park, which is right next to the Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park who were both extremely instrumental in spearheading the cleanup of the Hudson River through song and public pressure, Scenic Hudson has organized a Candlelight Vigil to keep the pressure on GE and governments to stay on the clean-up. Beacon now has public floating riverpool that Toshi and Pete Seeger envisioned and set up in the Hudson River. Riverpools were actually quite common in New York City until the river became too polluted.

When you go to the free Riverfest concert tonight, you will easily be able to participate in this activism to show your support for a cleaner Hudson River. You can also visit Scenic Hudson's website to sign a petition, volunteer or donate.

An Interview with Melissa McGill, Artist Behind "Constellation" on Bannerman Island

Bannerman Castle has been a point of mystery for everyone who passes it on the Metro-North's Hudson Line train on their way through the Hudson Valley, or by those on boat or kayak. It’s a personal discovery for each person who gazes unbelievably at what seems to be a sinking castle on an island.

And what is this island? Indeed its history is just as exciting, and involves usage by tribes, patriots, prostitutes, fisherman, bootleggers, and vandals. In the early 1900’s, Francis Bannerman, a Scottish-born business man from Brooklyn who at a young age began collecting scrap from the harbor which was then filled with ships, made a business of buying and selling surplus stock from government auctions. He moved his arms collection from Manhattan to Pollepel (or Polopel) Island, forced out of the city due to laws on ammunition storage. He went north to build a Scottish-inspired castle, Bannerman Castle, to hold his arms collection, the ammunition room of which blew up in 1920. In the 1970s, a fire with flames 20 feet high devoured Bannerman’s warehouse, leaving the castle ruins we pass by today, the dramatic view of which was increased after a partial collapse in 2009 (there is an organization dedicated to preserving the castle by creating events and gardens should you wish to donate).

Local artist Melissa McGill was captivated by the location and the history. In her career as an artist, Melissa explores what is and what is absent. She wanted to apply this study to the island, the castle, and pieces of the castle that no longer exist. She envisioned that points of light could glow above pieces of the castle that are now missing. Melissa is the most recent architect on this island - an architect of light and space - stars - that shine above the castle as a new constellation starting at dusk of every evening.

Even though Melissa makes art of all kinds - paint, sculpture, sound installations - this project could be the largest and most visual representation of her fascination of what is and is not in the spaces in between absence and presence. She became a director and producer of the project, working with other local artists like Niche Modern to build the lights, and worked with The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to secure what was needed to make this project a reality for launch in June 2015.

Intrigued by her role as an artist in this project, we thought Melissa a great role model for children and adults who yearn to be artist but don't know how, or who need to give themselves permission to be their own type of artist. Melissa was kind enough to answer some questions about her captivating Constellation project in this interview with us below.

Why did this idea occur to you? To build the stars?
Like so many who travel and live along the Hudson River, I’ve had a long fascination with the mysterious castle ruin and this island.  As I investigated its history and re-imagined its present, I was moved to create a project that continues my work exploring the space between absence and presence, bringing to light the overlooked, hidden, or lost aspects of architecture, found objects, and places. The sculptural poles of Constellation reference the lines of the castle ruin and through the star-like points of lights hovering above, a new constellation is created conceptually connecting our world with others. I look up at the stars for inspiration, for a sense of reality, to remember how small we are in the universe, and to feel how we are all one under these stars.

I wanted to ask you about your type of artistic medium, and how as an artist, you are directing a project and don't necessarily touch everything that is being made by hand. I loved seeing the pictures of the glass blowers making the stars. So for budding artists, it's an example to show them and their parents the different types of artistry that can exist. So I suppose the question is - in this project, are you an artist who is not physically making things, but you are leading the construction of an idea?
My work involves an interdisciplinary process, primarily incorporating drawing, sculpture, and sound. I make a lot of work in my studio. When ideas require specific expertise that I don't have, I work with others who have that expertise so the work may be realized. Regarding the glassblowing...While I do have some experience with glass blowing and have made other work in blown glass, the globes that house the LED's had to be very high quality and luckily Niche Modern here in Beacon specializes in exactly what I needed. They were amazing to work with and they very generously donated the globes for the project. A project the size of Constellation requires a lot of expert experience in many areas…fabricators, architects, engineers, installers, lighting designers…the list goes on. Almost every single person on the Constellation team lives in this area and I am involved in every step of the process.

What did you need to go through legally to get this done, and how long did that take?
Pollepel Island with the Bannerman Castle ruin is located in the Hudson Highlands State Park so I worked closely with NYSOPRHP (New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation throughout Constellation's 3 year process). Constellation had a full environmental assessment through NY State, a NY State Archaeological Review, and NYSOPRHP executed a permit.

Financially, did this come together through different grants and/or donations? How did you approach and accomplish that?
I raised the funding independently through many channels- by crowdfunding, applying for grants and being persistent. A number of wonderful supporters taught me a lot about fundraising. Fractured Atlas is my fiscal sponsor and this is a non-profit public art work and so all donations are tax- deductible. I am so deeply grateful to Constellation's generous supporters. They have helped transform this project from a dream to reality. I still have quite a bit to raise to close the funding gap to cover installation and production. It's an on-going process and donations of support are appreciated!

The project is set to launch this weekend, June 28th. Boat tours will be offered to those curious enough for an up-close experience of this new magical constellation. Watch the video about the project here or follow along on the project's Facebook page for news and updates.

Constellation from Melissa McGill on Vimeo.