Persrown (ptse^o Qass, Book- Cooperstown Otsegx) Lake AND 5,?* 5^* 5^* a^ e^^ «^* fi^^ 5^^ ^^ 5^^ 5^^ 5i?^ 5^^ ^^ «^^ C^ 5^^ ^^ ,Ji^^^J.,^^^^,^,^^^^^^^^^.j*-.^^<^ Descriptive sketch of the village made famous _by J. Fenimore Cooper, in his Leatherstocking Tales, with views of village and lake. '1 vy 64041 COPYRIGHT BV CLARENCE W. DAVIIJSON. 10OO. PKINXKD AT THE OFFICII OF THE OTSEGO REPUHLlCArs'. COOPBBSTOWN, N. V. TWO COPIES BKCEIVED, Library of Ctn(r«t% Ofncc of tht m 1 1 1900 Riglittr of Copyrtgktft StUONU COPY, V CTV v\ .Dt: vJ \toWn SITUATED at the foot of Otsego Lake, at the overhanying- its edf^es are still mirrored in its limpid headwaters of the Susquehanna, is the historic waters, and flitting clouds are reflected as they were a villag-e of Cooperstown. "The most beautiful century and a half ago. As it api)eared to Deerslayer place in all the world," is the unanimous verdict of when he first looked upon this lake of the hills: — thousands of people from all parts of the continent ,_ , . ■ ^ », > ,^, i i , i , • ♦ .i, Lu /ucciii.o pv. i I ..j^^ about ten mmutes they b..tli bmke suddenly intn the who have visited Cooperstown. brilliant lig-ht of the .sun. nn a low K-ravelly point, that was One of the chief attracti(ms of this beautiful inland wa.shed by water on quite half its outline, resort is the lake; the "Glimmerglass" of Cooper's ..An e.xclan.ation of surprise broke from the lips of Deer- "Leatherstocking Tales;" stretching away to the slayer, when, on reaching the marti-in ..f the lake, he beheld north, between gently undulating hills on the west, the view that unexpectedly met his gaze. It was. in truth, and the more abrupt," mountainous elevations 1-iii" • A. 1- southward. Of course, its margin was irregular, being mountains that surround it. Every little point has ■.""'"""" ^ , , v. ■ .-■ ^ • t , , ^ ..... indented bv bavs. and broken bv many projecting low points. been portrayed with a wealth of romantic detail that , ^^ .^^ northern or nearest end it was bounded by an isolated makes the story as real as the place itself. The lake mountain, lower land falling off east and west, gracefully still retains its natural beauty, the trees ;ind bushes relieving the sweep of the outline. THE LAKE, FROM THE WcST. THE PARK, LOOKING SOUTH. COUNCIL ROCK. UEATHERSTOCXING FALLS "But the most striking peculiarities of the scene were its j solemn solitude and sweet repose. On all sides, wherever the eye turned, nothing met it but the mirror-like surface of the lake, the placid view of heaven, and the dense setting of the woods. So rich and fleecy were the outlines of the forest that scarce an opening could be seen, the whole visible earth, from the rounded mountain-top to the water's edge, presenting one unvaried hue of verdure." No essential changes have been made in the appear- ance of the lake since Cooper penned the ab(jve description. True, we see no "Hutter's Castle" rising' from the water, but "the sunken island," with the rushes growing over it, remains as in the days of the stirring scenes portrayed by the great American novel- ist. Upon the eastern shore, on Point Judith, King- fisher's Tower, a handsome media'vai structure, rises some sixty feet above the water. No Huron camp is on the shore, for the red men have disappeared from the valley. The forest at the west has been cleared away, and in its place upon the hill-side are fertile farms, while on the eastern shore the forest, with few exceptions, still grows to the water's edge, and back in unbroken fastness to the summit of the hills. Says the author of the "///VAvi' of ('oopcrs/ozcii :" •■Although there mav be other lakes as beautiful, with scenery as diversified, it would be difficult to find another spot combining all the advantages of the 'Glimmerglass". The graceful bays and wooded points, with their 'maple masses sleeping where shore and water blends,' the somber pine forests that crown its mountain-tops, the silver streams that thread its lowlands, its winding roads, with their woodland border, and the enchanting air of romance that ever haunts its shores and waters, with the fond skies leaning above it, warm with blessing, render Otsego peculiarly attractive to the lover of the beautiful. And as from thy wooded rim we gaze oif over thy quiet waters, mirroring the mountains, which, uplifting against the blue wall of the sky, stretch away in wavy lines, we are assured that; "O'er no sweeter lake Shall morning break or noon-cloud sail; No fairer face than thine shall take The sunset's golden veil." " Places of greater beauty can not be found in all the land than the surroundings of this beautiful sheet of water, lying in this enchanted basin among the Otsego Hills. Near the outlet and a little to the west may still be seen the rock from which Chingachgook leaped to the deck of the ark and escaped from his pursuers: "The rock, which was a favorite place of rendezvous through- out all that region, and where Deerslayer expected to meet his friend .... was a large isolated stone that rested on the bottom of the lake, apparently left there when the waters ;a----^: THE LAKE, LOOKING SOUTH FROM HYDE H f, L L . ROAD THROUGH THE CANON AT FIVE-MILE POINT. J. FENIMORE COOPER'S GRAVE IN CHRIST CHURCH YARD. tore away the earth from around it, in forcing- for themselves a passag-e down the river, and which had obtained its shape from the action of the elements during- the slow prog-ress of centuries. The height of the rock could scarcely t-xceed six feet, and. as has been said, its shape was not unlike that given to bee-hives ■• "Is the rock empty. Judith ?' inquired Deerslayer, as soon as he had checked the drift of the ark. deeming it imprudent to venture unnecessarily near the shore. 'Is anything to be seen of the Delaware chief ?' " 'Nothing, Deerslayer. Neither ruck, shore, tree, nor lake seems to have ever held a human form.' .... "Deerslayer was interrupted by a slight exclamation from the g-irl, who in obedience to his hurried gesture, as much as in obedience to his words, had immediately bent her louks again in the opposite direction. " "What is it ? What is it. Judith ?' he hastily demanded. 'Is anything to be seen ?" "'There is a man on the rock 1 an Indian warrior, in his paint, and armed." " -Where does he wear his hawk's feather ?' eagerly added Deerslayer, relaxing his hold of the line, in readiness to drift nearer to the place of rendezvous. Is it fast to the warlock, or does he carry it above his left ear ?' " "Tis as you say, above the left ear:' he smiles tint, and mut- ters the word 'Mohican,' ' " 'God be praised 1 'tis the Serpent at last,' exclaimed the young man, suffering the line to slip through his hands, until, hearing a light bound in the other end of the scow, he instant- ly checked the rope and began to haul it in again, under the assurance that his object was effected. "At that moment the door of the cabin was hastily opened, and a warrior, dashing- through the room, stood at Deerslayer's side, simply uttering the exclamation 'Hugh.' At the next instant Judith and Hetty shrieked, and the air was filled with the yells of twenty savages, who came leaping throug^h the branches, down the bank, sume actually falling- into the water. " -Pull, Deerslayer I' cried Judith, hastily barring the door. 'Pull for life and death- -the lake is full of savages wading after us I' " About two miles from the southern end of the lake and a little back from the shore may be seen Leather- stocking- Falls or Panther's Leap. Here the Swan, an Indian g"irl, came to bathe, unconscious of the presence of Leatherstocking, who near the stream below was silently -watching the huge but crafty animal ])repar- ing to spring u])on her. "With deadly aim the hunter stood And watched the stealthy panther creep. Still nearer to the noisy flood. To bring the maid within his reach. "When instantly his weapon's ring, Krom silent rock, from hill and dell. Was blended in one echoing, To where the lifeless panther lay." THE GLIMMERGUASS. LOOKING NORTH. ENTRANCE TO UEATHERSTOCKING CAVE. VIEW OF THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER 3T AFTER IT LEAVE OTSEGO LAKE. COOPER MONUMENT IN UAKEWOOD CEMETERY. VIEW OF THE VILLAGE AND LAKE FROM HILLS ON THE SOUTHWEST. The Wild Rose Point of years gone by, tire scene of the parting between Deerslayer and Judith Hutter, is now prosaic Three-Mile Point. Not all the romance : has deserted it, however, for in the summer, young and old, from far and near gather at this enchanted spot to pass the hours away. Two miles farther to the northward is Five-Mile Point, and just beyond is Mut- ter's Point, from which Deerslayer first caught a glimpse of the Glimmerglass. ] At the northern extremity of the lake rises the Sleep- ing Lion, a mountain, so-called from a fancied resem- blance. The western shore is much broken by little i points and bays which add to the attractiveness of the | view. A range of hills skirts the entire eastern shore of the lake, terminating in a still higher eminence, , Mount Vision. At the southern end of the lake, some- what to the east, the Susquehanna begins its journey to the sea. Those who have visited the lakes of Switzerland and the Lochs of Scotland, as well as the numerous charm- ing inland waters of our own State, say Lake Otsego equals, if it does not surpass, any of them. Besides the natural beauty of Cooperstown and sur- roundings, the attractiveness of the place is much in- creased by well laid out and well kept streets and lawns, by manv handsome private residences, by shady walks and pleasant drives for many miles around. Through the liberality of Mrs. Alfred Corning Clark a beautiful public park has been laid out with charming walks under shade trees. In the center of the grounds, on the spot where stood Otsego Hall— the home of Cooper— stands a huge boulder of Syenite, on which I Mrs. Alfred Corning Clark has placed a bronze statue 1 of an Indian hunter as a memorial of the great novelist. Every facility is provided for sailing on the lake. Three "steamers for the public and several private i launches, together with nearly two hundred row I boats, make up the fleet. Nothing could be more delightful than a trip by daylight or moonlight on the waters of this famous lake. As our boat glides swiftly away from the shore we recall that other de- parture from the southern end of the lake when Deer- slayer came to meet his friend, Big Serpent, at Council Rock. But no Indian war cry is heard from the shore, for the wilderness which could conceal a savage has been cleared away, and now upon it the pretty streets of Cooperstown are laid. To the lover of the beautiful, the surroundings of Otsego Lake are ever attractive. There are so many points of interest. Then, too, it was the home of James OTS_GO HALL. COOPrlR-S HjMt. BUiLT 1798. 3'.:.:N£D 13.32. THE PARK. L-OOKING NOk THE LAKE, FROM NEAR THE QUARRY. LOOKING NORTHWEST. SHADOW BROOK. BEFORE IT ENTERS THE LAKE AT THE HEAD. Fenimore Cooper. lu his youtli, his father moved | Cooperstown. with distance fmin the v-onier of Main here, cleared away the forest, settled, and named the and Pioneer Streets, are as follows: town, and here the great novelist lived, worked and Cooper's j;rave, Episcopal Church-vard, three min- died, and in the old Episcopal Church-yard may be utes walk. seen his grave beside that of his wife. o;* c im tj u ,i- • i ^i ■ ^ » ^Mte or Otsetj^o Hall (Lo!)per s home, ) three minutes On a gentle rise of ground in Lakewood Cemetery, walk. a little to the east, and above the village, may be seen Hannahs Hill, west side of the lake, one-half mile. the "Leatherstocking monument," erected in honor of The beautiful park called The Cooper (Irounds, three James Fenimore Cooper. A visit to the town is not minutes walk. complete without a visit to this monument. It is of Lakcwo.,,1 Cemetery, east side of the lake, one-half white marble with square granite base. The shaft in- niile. eluding all is about twentv-five feet high and is sur- i^,- , , ^ i:> i . • i +■ ., , , », .■ ^, " ^ . . • . "^ l^rospect Kock, east side of the lake, three-tourths mounted by a Corinthian capital. Only the name .• . ■, . "Fenimore Cooper" is on the base. On the north in ^, ^^. . ^u f „t-i -11 i i^- u- i 1 r XI 1 Mount Vision, east Side of the lake, one mile, relief are emblems illustrating his tales of the sea and his naval histories. On the east side are carved the Otsego or Council Rock, at the outlet, three minutes titles of his works, with pen, inkstand and an urn ^•il''^- with incense rising. On the south are emblems illus- Cooper's Monument in Lakewood Cemetery. trating his Indian tales. Crowning the column is a The Echo and Natty Bumppo's Cave, east side, one statue of Leatherstocking, dressed in hunting shirt, mile. leggings and deer skin cap, with powder horn and bul- Point Judith, east side, two miles. let pouch slung over his shoulders, his dog. Hector, Three-Mile Point, the Wild Rose Point of vearsagu, crouching at his feet. ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^-j^^ Some of the numerous points of interest in and about Five-Mile Point, west side, five miles. .KING NORTH. LOOKING NORTH FROM DUGWAY. THE PARK, LOOKING NORTH. KINGF.SHER TVVLR, Gravelly Poiut, where DeerslaAer had his first com- bat with a hostile Indian, east side, live miles. The Sunken Island, the site of Hutter's Castle, seven miles. Leatherstockint,"- Flails, west side, two and one-half miles. Cherrv Valley, thirteen miles. Richtield Sprinufs, sixteen miles. Sharon Springs, twenty miles. Such are a few of the attractions at this gem of the hills. Sojourners here need have no fear that time with them will be burdensome. It is possible to re- main here for the entire season and visit a new point of historic or romantic interest every day. Boating is a favorite pastime with many, while others prefer more prosaic means of recreation, and are to be found enjoying the delightful drives about Cooperstown. Still others adopt the more modern means of travel, and are to be found enjoying the smooth and shady roads upon their bicycles. A climb up the side of Mount Vision is rewarded by a view of almost the entire lake and the principal points of interest surrounding it. Council Rock may be seen just at the point where the Susquehanna leaves the lake on its way to the ocean. Point Judith is two miles up and on the eastern shore. Across the lake is Leatherstocking Falls, and back of Point Judith, on the mountain, is Natty Bump- po's cave. In imagination one can see Deerslayer's canoe go gliding- across the lake, see Hutter's castle rising above the water, catch a glimpse of Hurry Harry and Judith, hear the Indians' wild yell, see the Mohawk trail leading out from the foot of the mountains, hear the wise, pure-minded scout ever counseling justice and truth. Man^- years have passed since the immor- tal Cooper so vividly pictured these scenes, yet their influence survives, and helps to cast a charm over the Glimmerglass that will linger while its waters surge and its hills re-echo the sound. JUN 11 1900 :^, :^ •^ ■-.