At Devil’s Dance Chamber, a slight plateau on the west bank, between Newburgh and Crum Elbow, the red men performed semi-religious rites as a preface to their hunting and fishing trips or ventures on the war-path. They built a fire, painted themselves, and in that frenzy into which savages are so readily lashed, and that is so liken to the action of mobs in trousers, they tumbled, leaped, danced, yelled, sang, grimaced and gesticulated until Manitou disclosed himself, either as a harmless animal or a beast of prey. If he came in the former shape the augury was favorable but if he showed himself as a bear or panther — it was a warning that they seldom dared disregard.
 |
11 Mill House Rd., Marlboro, NY 12542 Phone: 845.236.3126 E-mail: gomezmillhouse@juno.com |
| Home | History | Foundation | Occupants | Events | Education | Information |
| Historical Digest | Suggested Articles |
Further Reading The Devil's Dance Chambers The Arrival of the First Jews to New York City Shoes in Buildings (pdf) Concealed Shoes (pdf) “As A Matter of ‘arti’-Fact!” Newsletter An “occasional” publication. At Gomez Mill House we want to share the rich heritage and traditions that our owner/occupants have contributed to the Hudson Valley and to America. One way to do this is through passing on their art, their books and their written thoughts: Volume 1, Issue 1 (pdf) Volume 1, Issue 2 (pdf) Volume 1, Issue 3 (pdf) Pictures |
The Devil's Dance Chambers
Most storied of our New World rivers is the Hudson. Historic scenes have been enacted on its shores, and Indian, Dutchman, Briton and American have invested it with romance. Before the river Shatemuc — the king of streams the red man called it — had broken through the highlands, those mountains were a pen for spirits who had rebelled against the Manitou. After the waters had forced a passage to the sea these evil ones sought shelter in the glens and valleys that open to the right and left along its course, but in time of tempest, when they hear Manitou riding down the ravine on wings of storm, dashing thunderbolts against cliffs, it is the fear that he will recapture them and force them into lightless caverns to expiate their revolt, that sends them huddling among the rocks and makes the hills resound with roars and howls. The crew of Hudson’s ship, the Half Moon, having chanced on one of these orgies, were so impressed by the fantastic spectacle that they gave the name Duyvells’ Dans Kamer to the spot. Years afterwards, when Stuyvesant ascended the river, his doughty retainers were horrified, on landing below the Dans Kamer, to discover hundreds of painted figures frisking there in the firelight. A few surmised that they were but a new generation of savages holding a powwow, but most of the sailors fancied that the assemblage was demoniac, and that the figures were spirits of dead Indians repeating a scalp-dance and reveling in the mysterious fire-water that they had brought down from the river source in jars and skins. The spot was at least once profaned with blood, for a young Dutchman and his wife, of Albany, were captured here by an angry Indian, and although the young man succeeded in stabbing his captor to death, he was burned alive on the rock by the friends of the Indian whose wrath he had provoked. The wife after being kept in captivity for a time, was ransomed. From Myths and Legends of Our Own Land, page 41; Charles M. Skinner. The picture is of Gomez trading with local Indians from Stickley’s, The Craftsman, November 1909 |
Occupants of Mill House Luis Gomez, a Sephardic Jew, a merchant and trader, was the first owner of Gomez Mill House, which he built in Marlboro as a trading post for the new colonists. Other pioneers, fleeing tyranny, and the cruelties in Europe for the promise of a new life, then settled in the Hudson Valley. Wolfert Acker bought Mill House In 1772 and added the elegant second storey, which was made from bricks baked in kilns on the property. He was a member of the Ulster County Militia and fought during the American Revolution to win freedom for the colonists. When Harry Armstrong came to Mill House in 1862 on his honeymoon he brought his southern bride Maddie and stayed for the next 60 years. A gentleman farmer, he added a new kitchen wing, and planted orchards of fruit trees and berries to the property. Dard Hunter, legendary artisan and craftsman bought Mill House in 1909. During his 7-year residence, Hunter began his lifelong career in hand papermaking and printing. He built a mill in the style of a Devonshire cottage. There he experimented with hand milled paper and produced his early signature work. America entered the war in 1914, and the Hunter’s first son, Dard Jr., was born a month later. Thinking he was going into the service, Hunter sold Mill house in 1919. Hunter wrote in his autobiography that the house was sold to a representative of the Russian government and used as a school for children of all races. He really sold to Ms. Martha Gruening who tried to establish a Libertarian School at Mill House. In 1947 the Starin family purchased Mill House with a GI loan. They raised 4 children here and were instrumental in preserving its heritage and tradition. After much research and many years of persistence Mildred Starin successfully placed the Gomez Mill House on the Historic Register in January 1973. |
This page was last updated on
9/22/05
|