A Sailor’s Snug Harbor… A Little Upriver
Gregg Swanzey | November 20, 2014You may have heard of the famous Sailors’ Snug Harbor located on the North Shore of Staten Island. Founded in 1801, Snug Harbor was initially built as a residence for aging sailors. Today the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and the Staten Island Botanical Gardens — non-profit organizations affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute — comprise one of New York’s most extraordinary cultural destinations, set within an 83-acre National Historic Landmark district.
We have our own “sailors’ snug harbor” up the Hudson River in Kingston, just an hour and a half out of Manhattan. The Rondout is arguably one of the best ports between New York City and Albany. We host such venerable vessels as the Half Moon and Sloop Clearwater and regularly see ocean-going commercial vessels plying the channel from the outdoor deck of our home at 150 feet above sea level. Coastal cruise ships are regular visitors, especially at this time of year as the fall foliage peaks.
We were attracted to Kingston back in the 80s when it was just beginning to clear away the dust that had settled after urban renewal. Today there is a revitalization taking place: rail trails are reconnecting neighborhoods, buildings are being restored and adapted for new uses, and there is a thriving arts community. And although I am not ready yet to call myself an “aging sailor” I do find this place to be a refuge from the storm.
Read On, Reader...
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