The Light on the Hudson

by Dana Ferry

published by Ithaca Press

A Cultural and Industrial History of The Hudson River

Four hundred years ago when Henry Hudson’s ship the Halfmoon sailed into the mouth of the Hudson River, Native Americans lived along its shores. Native Americans used the river as their food and water supply and as a source of transportation. Lush, untouched forests with plentiful flora and fauna surrounded the river. Following Hudson’s discovery, the vast river greeted countless Dutch and English as they began to converge on both sides of its shores, unaware of the industry and culture that the river would inevitably undergo.

Shortly after the arrival of settlers, a fruitful fur business lured traders to the territory. The primitive forests provided ample timber for an extensive ship construction industry and high-quality wheat was being grown by farmers and millers in the Hudson Valley region. The river presented simple access to the Atlantic for crossing to Europe with cargo for trade, as ships from the West Indies reached the Hudson delivering shipments laden with dry goods and rum.

In 1807, Robert Fulton’s wondrous steamboat created opportunities for travelers to rapidly and comfortably move from one place to another. At the conclusion of the Civil War in 1865, New Yorker’s living in the city and neighboring valley journeyed to the Catskill Mountains for a leisurely rest.

The Catskills were appealing to painters and the literary class, including such writers as Washington Irving, as well as to the wealthy. In 1825, Thomas Cole traversed the Hudson Valley to sketch the primitive scenery. Cole’s outpouring of paintings inspired by the natural landscapes captivated many artists who began painting in the same style. This style was termed the Hudson Valley School of Painting and enthralled art-lovers for the next fifty years. Even now the Hudson Valley School is well known among art history buffs.

The Hudson River was linked to Lake Erie, 363 miles away, when the long-envisioned Erie Canal was constructed in 1825. This mighty project wedded the seas to the Great Lakes and rivers beyond. Consequently, vast cultural, economic and industrial growth took place. By the mid 1870s, a tuberculosis outbreak enveloped New York City and many of the stricken retreated to the Catskill Mountains for healing purposes.

The natural gifts of the Hudson River and its setting, supplied its citizens with many industrial opportunities. The beauty of the Hudson Valley aided the work of artists and writers, which motivated cultural growth and the therapeutic atmosphere of the Catskill Mountains was a respite for city folk and the well-to-do. Significant industry and culture on the Hudson River commenced with its discovery by Henry Hudson and has been unceasing ever since.

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