One point that caught my eye was the steamer Lotta. She was a great old steamboat that in the late 1800s made twice a day runs between Albany and Coeymans with stops at the "way landings". And what were those way landings? That would be Bethlehem's very own Cedar Hill and Van Wies Point.
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| I think this is Coeyman's Lotta. At any rate it is a similar steam boat! |
It reminded me about how the Hudson River really was a super highway back when the roads were terrible. Poking about on the old newspaper websites, I found this detailed article about a big party at "The Lions." You saw one of the lions from The Lions in last week's post on Henry Hudson Park.
Here's a transcript of this fun party!
AT “THE LIONS”
Reception By Mr. and Mrs.
James B. Lyon at Cedar Hill
AN IDEAL HOST AND HOSTESS,
IDEAL PLACE AND NIGHT.
Merry-Making in the light of the
Moon – a Charming Social – Event
Last Night’s Brilliant Adieu to the
Summer Season
An ideal night, ideal summer home, ideal host and hostess. Such was the summarized opinion of the numerous friends of Mr. & Mrs. James B. Lyon, who assembled last night at their charming place on the Hudson at Cedar Hill. It was an adieu to the summer season, and a very graceful one it was. In bidding adieu to host and hostess in the small wee hours this morning, everyone one of the guests was impressed with the rare charm of hospitality, whole-souled cordiality and unaffected warmth of welcome which made the reception so delightful. The scene at “The Lions” was exceedingly picturesque. The moon in unclouded beauty shed a lustre over the undulating slopes and wooded knoll that extended from the broad piazza of the cottage to the river itself. Under the swinging lights that surrounded the cottage was assembled as merry a party as rate old Albany could get together, one and all in joyous mood and loud in their praises of the charming spot…
About 8 o’clock in the evening the steamer Lotta,
which was specially charted for the occasion, left the foot of State street
with the blithe company of guests…At Cedar Hill carriages and carryalls
conveyed the company to “The Lions.” …
…All the arrangements for the reception and comfort of
the guests were perfect and yet carried out with seeming informality that made
the occasion the more pleasurable…
(Albany Times Union, September 9, 1897)
***
If you haven't been the the Ravena Coeymans Historical Association's museum, please do visit. It is worth the trip, just chock a block full of local history. And since they are Bethlehem's next door neighbor, lots of connections to Bethlehem history as well.
Here's link to their website: https://coeymanshistory.org/
And if you want more info about Hudson River steamers, BHA is having a talk in April about that very subject. Pop over here for info:
https://bethlehemhistorical.org/2022-2023-speaker-series
And since I am promoting stuff, BHA is hosting a fundraiser called Afternoon Tea on the Titanic that features The Unsinkable Molly Brown, plus yummy treats of course. More info on the BHA website.
https://bethlehemhistorical.org/
