Neversink Gorge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Neversink Gorge |
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Neversink Gorge in winter looking east
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The Neversink and its two branches
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Counties | , Sullivan |
| City | Monticello, New York |
The Neversink Gorge is a beautiful natural area in Forestburgh, New York, USA. It's a special part of the Neversink River. Imagine a deep valley carved by the river – that's a gorge! Part of the gorge is a private nature area called The Turner Brook Reserve. The rest of it is a public space managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). This public part is known as the Neversink Gorge Unique Area. It's a great place to explore nature!
History of the Neversink Gorge
The lands that make up the Neversink Gorge Unique Area and nearby private areas were once a huge private game preserve. This preserve was about 10,000 acres (40 square kilometers) in size. Ambrose Monel bought these lands between the late 1890s and early 1900s.
Monel was the president of a company called International Nickel. He also invented a special metal called Monel. He was inspired by famous conservationists like John Burroughs and John Muir. Monel wanted to protect nature. So, he bought farms, tanneries, and even whole towns. He then removed the buildings to let the land return to its wild state.
A Paradise for Fishing Enthusiasts
This beautiful area became a paradise for people who loved to fish. Many famous American fly fishermen visited the gorge. These included Edward Ringwood Hewitt, George M. L. La Branche, Justin Askins, Phil Chase, and Theodore Gordon. They practiced their fishing skills here. They also wrote about their exciting adventures in the gorge.
After Monel passed away, the property went to the Bradford family. Later, in 1939, the Wechsler family bought it. The Wechsler family made a lot of money from selling coffee. They also started a company called Restaurant Associates. This company owned many restaurants in New York City.
With their wealth, Philip Wechsler hired an architect named Eugene Schoen. Schoen built five homes on Gilman Pond. These homes were in a style similar to Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian style. The old stone building that was Monel's mansion became the main "Lodge." Monel had called it The Four Way Lodge. The Wechsler family named their new family area The Philwold Estates. (Phil Wold means "Phil's Woods" in German). The Wechsler family lived there for a while. Over time, they gradually sold off the homes.
