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A further tribute was paid to Dr. Letchworth's memory on this anniversary of his birth by placing on his grave in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, in the name of the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society, a wreath of beautiful white flowers, the Cornus florida, gathered in Letchworth Park.

Early in October, 1916, a granite boulder weighing approximately eight or ten tons, was moved from the hillside above the Glen Iris plateau to Inspiration Point, and the tablet to be placed upon it, bearing an inscription commemorative of Dr. Letchworth's gift to the State, is in process of preparation. We expect that it will be ready for dedication on the 26th of May, 1917, the ninetyfourth anniversary of Dr. Letchworth's birth.

Erie Railway Bridge Fire in 1875

The Erie Railway bridge fire, alluded to in the foregoing pages, occurred on May 5, 1875. (See our Annual Report for 1915, plate 66.) Following is Dr. Letchworth's account of the destruction of the viaduct:

"I was aroused from sleep at ten minutes to four o'clock and in a few minutes was standing upon the lawn at Glen Iris, from which point every portion of the bridge was visible, as well as the Upper Falls, the river, and the Middle Falls. The spectacle presented at precisely four o'clock was fearfully grand. Every timber in the bridge seemed then to be ignited, and an open net-work of fire was stretched across the upper end of the valley. Above the bridge and touching its upper line, a black curtain hung down from the sky, its lower edge belted with a murky fringe of fire. The hoarse growl of the flames and crackling of the timbers sounded like a hurricane approaching through the forest. At this time the Upper Falls seemed to be dancing in the silver light. The water in the river was glistening with the bright glare thrown upon it, and the whole valley of Glen Iris was illuminated in tragic splendor. Now and then could be seen an outstanding brace dislodged and sailing downward These huge brands would fall on the river below with a great splash.

"At fifteen minutes past four the superstructure of the west end of the bridge sank downward, and the depression rolled throughout it length to the east end like the sinking of an ocean wave. The whole upper structure, including the heavy T rails, went down with a crashing sound so terrible as it came to our ears on the wind that it surpassed the prolonged roar of the falling avalanches

one may hear at times in spring upon the declivities of the Wengern Alps. Timber, rails, bolts, abrading and dislodging burning coals as they fell, crashed downward into indistinguishable ruin. As the stupendous mass fell a dark red cloud intermingled with crimson flame usurped the place of the brilliant lacework of fire, and a darkened shadow lay over the glen. The silver light reflected from the Upper Falls was gone, and the foaming current changed its appearance to that of rosy wool. Out of the huge cloud that then filled the end of the glen there arose a vast and beautiful canopy of seeming gold-dust. This was lifted upward and extended from hill to hill on the right and left, shutting out every glimpse of the sky. The breeze wafted the seeming sparkling dust nearer to us, and as it came it grew brighter and the particles larger and still larger until the whole heavens in every quarter seemed filled with the falling stars. These coals, many as large as hen's eggs, fell in the pine grove at the Indian Council House at the farther end of the glen. They seemed innumerable and filled the sky with inconceivable splendor. Burning fragments of the bridge fell all about the upper end of the valley, covering the hillsides apparently with steadily burning signals. At this time a strange weird light illuminated the river and brightened in an unearthly glare all of the surroundings. Although the main open structure of the bridge fell at fifteen minutes past four o'clock, lighter portions of the framework still remained. Through the lurid smoke glimpses of fragmentary sections of the bridge might be seen. Forked crimson flames shot up along the ground line of the gulf and river bed. At the left still brighter flames illuminated, like a vast beacon, the summit of the cliff on the Livingston County side. Blazing timbers still continued to fall uninterruptedly, and the rocks becoming heated, exploded in loud and almost continuous bursts of sound. These might be compared to a rattling fire of musketry, except that they were much louder, sometimes resembling the discharge of artillery. The falling and burning timbers lodged between the piers and the water settling back on this burning mass produced strange sounds. At twenty minutes past four the explosions of the heated rocks blended into an almost continuous roar. At half past four o'clock the shower of golden sparks passing over the glen, as well as the smoke from the burning timbers, had perceptibly diminished. A mass of burning timber on the canal bank threw an intense glare on the Genesee River below. A bit of blue sky was discernible on the western side, and the wind partially lifting the curtain of smoke revealed a blazing tower dazzling with fire. This was the central pier of the bridge, the top still wreathed in crimson smoke. A few minutes later it is again obscured; a little later still the curtain of smoke

is once more lifted, the tower staggers, another roar and crash, now commingled with the explosion of bursting rocks, and the tower sinks down into the burning mass among the stone piers, and Portage bridge is a thing of the past.

Ten minutes later might be seen the bare rocky cliffs upon the west side. The whole outline of the valley stood in a black line against the smoke and flame. Nature in this fearful struggle had asserted herself and this vaunted achievement of man had been melted into ashes. Daylight revealed an inky basin at the base of the Upper Falls which had been discolored by the coals. The Fall itself was amber tinted, and the river below flowed dark from discoloration of the burning masses that it had swept down. The chasm since the fire seems broader and deeper than before, and, had we never seen the bridge, what now remains would appear an incomprehensible ruin.

Library and Museum

Miss Caroline Bishop, Librarian and Curator of the Museum, reports that the contributions to the Letchworth Park Library make it very desirable that more shelf space for books be provided in the Museum building. Some of the charitable institutions continue to send their annual reports. The reports of the New York State Board of Charities, dating from 1867, are complete to 1916. Those of the Craig Colony and some other institutions are also complete. In 1915 we succeeded in obtaining a copy of Dr. James Hall's report on the Geology of the Fourth District of New York, 1843, for which there had been inquiry. Among contributions in 1916 were Dr. C. Stuart Gager's valuable work entitled "Fundamentals of Botany," presented by the author, and two volumes, namely, "Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration New York Veterans, Gettysburg, 1913,” and “ Major General James S. Wadsworth at Gettysburg and Other Fields," kindly presented to the library by Mr. Herbert L. Bridgman.

As time goes on, there are more and more requests for information from the Letchworth Park Library. Some persons come to the Park for the puurpose of examining books; others make written applications for information. Speakers before historical societies, members of literary clubs, students about to graduate from high schools, and others, make frequent application for historical facts about the park or some subject connected therewith.

In January, 1917, a request came for information about the Glen Iris mansion from one who was preparing a paper to read before a chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution on Historic Houses in New York State. Copies of the Twelfth Annual Report of the Scenic Society have enabled the Librarian to furnish a great deal of the information desired, but sometimes it is necessary for her to write long letters in reply to inquiries made.

Before this particular inquiry about the age of the Glen Iris residence was made, Miss Bishop had written to Miss Melinda Smith, whose father with his family resided in the house when Mr. Letchworth purchased the residence and the surrounding property, asking her when the house was erected. Miss Smith replied: "My father, in partnership with Mr. Theodore Olcott of Albany, bought the Glen Iris property sometime in the '30's, though the place where the house stands was bought a little later. The southern part of the house stood on the place where it was bought, but father had the kitchen and pantry moved off and the rest of the house moved back, and built the upright, finishing it in 1850." Mr. Smith leased the house for four years to two different tenants, two years to each. Miss Smith further said: "In the Fall of 1854 we moved back into the house and remained there until Mr. Letchworth bought the place in 1859." On account of financial trouble Mr. Theodore Olcott's interest in the property had passed into the hands of his brother, Mr. Thomas W. Olcott, before Mr. Letchworth purchased it.

Birds and Flowers

On account of the excessive rainfall in the Spring of 1916 and the abnormal growth of weeds, many of the delicate wild flowers and plants were hidden from view, and Miss Caroline Bishop, our Librarian, had little opporunity for adding to previous observations in this field.

In the latter part of May, 1916, the Outdoor Club of Castile went to the park between five and six o'clock in the morning for the purpose of studying the birds. The hillside between the front entrance to Glen Iris and the Erie Railway was chosen as the field for observation. Unfortunately, the morning was so cloudy that but few birds were singing, and the trees were so nearly in

full leaf that it was difficult to discover the smaller species of birds: but the forest afforded other attractions, and the members of the club, some of whom are botanists, turned their attention to an examination of trees and wild flowers and plants, of which there are some rare species on the hillside, such as golden-seal (Hydrastis canadensis) and ginseng (Aralia quinquefolia). The latter, on account of its great commercial value, is becoming more and more rare, and it is a matter of deep regret to the club that this plant was nearly exterminated from the park last fall.

Meteorological Conditions

Following is a record of the meteorological conditions at Letchworth Park for the year 1916 as observed by Mr. James O. Howard, Superintendent, at the United States Meteorological Station established in the park at Lauterbrunnen, at an elevation of 1,260 feet above sea level:

Jan. Feb. Mar. April May June

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