Andrew H. Green, President, Gen. Horace Porter, Judge Henry E. Howland, Mr. Walter S. Logan,* and Mr. William H. Webb,* Executive Committee. Among the prominent residents of Yonkers and Westchester county who by voice, pen and other resources have been leaders in the championship of the old building and who are entitled to grateful remembrance for their services to the cause may be mentioned Judge T. Astley Atkins, Dr. Galusha B. Balch, Mr. William Allen Butler,* Miss Mary Marshall Butler, Rev. S. Parkes Cadman, Rev. David Cole, D. D., Gen Thomas Ewing,* Mr. Theodore Gilman, Mr. John C. Havemeyer, Col. Wm. L. Heermance,* Hon. Norton P. Otis,* Col. Ralph E. Prime, Mr. G. Hilton Scribner, Hon. Frederick Shonnard, Judge Stephen H. Thayer, Hon. James Wood, and others. Responding sympathetically to the overwhelming expression of public sentiment, Mayor John G. Peene on December 23, 1895, vetoed the ordinance for the new building.

In 1900, it was proposed to remodel the police stables on the Manor Hall grounds for use as a firehouse and a contract for the work had been let; whereupon some of the gentlemen already named contributed about $2,500 to recoup the contractor and secured the entire removal of the unsightly structure. About this time the Manor Hall Association was formed and did valuable work in defense of the building. Since then, the old building has stood alone in its native simplicity and picturesqueness save for the beautiful soldiers' monument which had been erected in 1891 on the east lawn and some small brick additions in the

rear.

The dangers from which the building had been saved admonished those interested that steps should be taken to remove it from all utilitarian uses and preserve it solely for its educational and civic value. In 1903, after a conference with the various local societies which had been working for the salvation of the Manor

*Now deceased.

Hall, a bill was drafted and introduced in the Legislature by Senator Charles P. McClelland and Assemblyman Francis G. Landon, appropriating $50,000 for the purchase of the property by the State and committing it to the custody of the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society. The latter provision was the voluntary suggestion of the Yonkers societies. On April 4, 1903, the Common Council of Yonkers signified its willingness to contribute to the State the remaining value of the property, estimated at $50,000 or more, by formally approving the bill and urging its passage. The bill failed of passage and was introduced again in the Legislatures of 1904 and 1905 by Assemblyman Geo. N. Rigby with no better success.

Meanwhile, the old building had become the local Faneuil Hall the recognized place of meeting for historical purposes and the shrine of patriotic pilgrimages by the public school children and adults. On October 16, 1907, the Civic League of the Women's Institute of Yonkers, of which Miss Mary Marshall Butler is President, devoted its first meeting of the season to the subject of Manor Hall, when addresses were made by Judge Thayer and the Secretary of this Society. On the following day, Mrs. Cochran wrote to Mr. Butler, asking her to communicate to this Society the offer of $50,000 for the purchase of Manor Hall from the City, upon condition that the title should vest in the State and that this Society should be custodian and requesting that her name be temporarily withheld. On November 11, 1907, the Trustees of the Society adopted the following resolutions:

Whereas, Miss Mary Marshall Butler of Yonkers has communicated to the Trustees of the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society the offer of a person whose name at present is not disclosed to give $50,000 for the purchase of the Manor Hall of Yonkers upon condition that it shall become the property of the People of the State of New York and shall be in the custody

of this Society, to be preserved in perpetuity as an historical monument for the benefit of the American people; therefore be it

Resolved, That the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society hereby signifies its consent to accept the custodianship of said Manor Hall property, with sincere appreciation of the generosity, public spirit and patriotism of the Donor, and of the responsibility which the trust involves.

Resolved, That in this generous act, the Donor not only has proffered the means for preserving one of the most interesting antiquities of the Colonial Period of the United States, but also has given a notable impulse to the movement in this country for the perpetuation of the landmarks of American history for the promotion of education, patriotism and civic spirit.

Resolved, That with a knowledge of the long-cherished wishes for the preservation of the Manor Hall and of the diligent and selfsacrificing labors of many patriotic citizens for many years to that end, the Trustees of this Society hereby express to the Donor not only their own grateful appreciation but also the confident assurance of that of the People of the State of New York when the benefaction shall be made known to the public.

Resolved, That the Trustees express their particular pleasure at having received this generous tender through Miss Mary Marshall Butler, not only on account of their high regard for her character as manifested in her many-sided philanthropic work, but also as the daughter of the late William Allen Butler, one of the Charter Members and original organizers of this Society and one of the most earnest workers for the rescue of the Manor Hall.

Resolved, That the President be authorized to appoint a committee of Trustees and Members of the Society with power to confer with the Donor or the Donor's representative and to take such steps as may be necessary and expedient to carry out the Donor's generous purpose.

Subsequently the President appointed the Committee named on page 13 to take charge of the negotiations. The Committee drafted a bill to carry out the purpose of the benefaction, and it was unanimously approved by the Common Council of Yonkers December 9, 1907. On January 13, 1908, the new Common Council

added its indorsement, making the third Common Council to approve of State ownership with custody in this Society.

On January 7, 1908, the Hon. Francis W. Carpenter introduced in the Senate the bill to provide for the acquisition of the Manor Hall property by the State, and on January 9th the Hon. Harry W. Haines introduced it in the Assembly. With a few verbal changes, the Assembly passed the bill with only one dissenting vote. on February 19th. The Senate Finance Committee made a slight further amendment and reported the bill favorably as follows:

AN ACT to provide for the acquisition by the people of the state of New York of the Philipse Manor house and grounds in the city of Yonkers, Westchester county.

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. The city of Yonkers is hereby authorized and empowered to convey by its deed, to the people of the state of New York, all that certain parcel of land situated in the city of Yonkers, Westchester county, New York, with the buildings and improvements thereon, known as the Philipse Manor house property, or the manor hall property, which is bounded on the east by Warburton avenue; on the south by Dock street; on the west by Woodworth avenue, and on the north by the southerly line of the property of the Warburton Hall Association, upon payment to said city, at any time within two years after the passage of this act, by any citizen or citizens of this state, of the sum of fifty thousand dollars, contributed and given for the purpose.

§ 2. Upon delivery of such deed, duly executed, to the comptroller of this state, in form approved by him, title to such said premises shall be and is hereby accepted by the people of the state of New York; the purpose and object of such deed and acceptance being that the said manor house and grounds shall be preserved and maintained forever intact as an historical monument and a museum of historical relics and for such historical and patriotic

uses.

§ 3. The American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society shall be and is hereby constituted and appointed custodian of said

property for the state upon conveyance thereof to the state as herein contemplated; and said society, as such custodian, shall have control of and jurisdiction over said property to preserve and maintain the same in accordance with the purpose and object stated in section two of this act until the legislature shall otherwise direct.

§ 4. The city of Yonkers is authorized to use and occupy the said property as it is now used and occupied, until the completion of the new municipal building or city hall, now in course of construction in said city, unless other provision shall sooner be made for the public business now transacted therein, and during such occupation and use shall maintain and preserve the property.

§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately.

The Senate passed the bill without opposition on Monday, March 30, 1908, and the Assembly passed it in concurrence. On April 13, the Yonkers Common Council accepted the bill, and on April 27, Governor Hughes signed it. It is chapter 168 of the Laws of 1908.

Appended to this Report is an extended historical sketch of the Manor Hall and its site. Allusions to the subject will also be found in previous Reports as follows: 1900, pp. 19-21; 1901, pp. 28-29; 1902, pp. 32-34; 1903, pp. 52-56; 1904, p. 82; and 1905, p. 89.

SCENIC AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN NEW YORK STATE.

The increased interest in scenic and historic preservation throughout the United States has been indicated during the past year by the unusual number of inquiries from Members of Congress, public officials, historical and civic societies and individuals in various States concerning the subject generally and concerning what has been done in New York State particularly. As some of these inquiries have come from members of the New York Legislature, and as there appears to be in print no collation of facts on the subject, we will endeavor to make a brief statement concerning each place of scenic or historic interest in the State of New York acquired by the State either by purchase or gift, or, as in one