 Sometimes in the morning, love comes quicky in the guise of a Spanish boy, but it's fleeting as you send him away and hurry out the door because he's not the one you want...
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 Fort Hill Paulding Street, Election Day “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul — and sings the tunes without the words — and never stops at all.” -Emily Dickinson    A view of Peekskill from top of Catherine Street, named for Captain Francis Pemart I am passionate about the history of all cultures, though I have a particular fondness for Western Civilization. In college, history was my intended major, but I had no clear career path in mind. However, life took a turn when I fell in love with a bookstore owner aristocrat in Charleston, bid farewell to college and South Carolina, and found myself in San Francisco for what seemed like a century. Back to History: On a jog, I stumbled upon Catherine Street for the first time and was curious about its namesake. After some research, I learned it was named after Captain Francis Pemart, who fought for both the British and Americans during the Revolutionary War. Interestingly, the street named for Captain Pemart runs directly in line with his surname as it descends downhill and is situated two blocks uphill from Main Street. Further research revealed that Pemart was a farmer from Peekskill. The question of his true allegiance, whether he was a rebel or a loyalist, intrigued me. Wallace Brown, an author, noted that Pemart claimed to serve a rebel forage master (the Americans), but his true intention was to aid the Loyalists (the British)... End theme from the ABC soap opera "Loving" in 1983, the year I arrived in San Francisco on All Saints Day.  Catherine Street, Peekskill, NY
 Nelson Avenue in Peekskill, NY, is lined with Harris-Walz political signs. At the summit of Nelson Avenue, the neighborhood showcases robust local support for Harris-Walz, evident from the numerous signs in front yards and along steep staircases. Contrary to my previous belief that Nelson Avenue extended beyond Reynolds Avenue, it actually transforms into Catherine Street after ascending another hill, offering even more impressive homes and stunning views of Peekskill. At the northeast boundary of Fort Hill woods, along an incline of a closed road, I stumbled upon what appears to be a nocturnal beer-drinking spot, judging by the litter of empty cans.  Nelson Avenue at Phoenix Avenue
 Top of Catherine Street view of Peekskill, NY
A Fort Hill wine and beer-drinking hangout.    Adrift in a dream, uncertain of the path ahead, (Allow me to speak now) If you truly are as you appear, Then perhaps, I am proceeding far too cautiously. Straight Up by Paula Abdul    Welcome to Peekskill, A Friendly Town. Chester Allan Smith, born in Peekskill on November 15, 1884, was the founder of the "This is Peekskill A Friendly Town" initiative. Mr. Smith, the son of Louis H. and Abbie Lent Smith, came from a notable lineage; his father descended from John Howell, a Mayflower passenger in 1620, and his mother's great-grandfather, Isaac Lent, was a Revolutionary War soldier.
Smith acquired shorthand skills from his father, who taught in schools across Putnam and Westchester counties. He achieved a remarkable speed of 330 words per minute, leading to his career as a public stenographer in Peekskill. In early 1907, he became the official court stenographer for the Ninth Judicial District of the New York State Supreme Court, a position he held for 47 years until his retirement. During World War I, he served as a field clerk for the U.S. Army in Virginia and later became a founding member of the Peekskill post of the American Legion. Mr. Smith's most enterprising contribution to Peekskill was his Friendly Town Association, begun in 1920 as the Friendly Town Club. It was a one-man chamber of commerce that made Smith, unofficially, Mr. Peekskill for all ages. Largely supported by contributions from him, the Association honored Peekskill citizens for outstanding service and marked historic sites with bronze tablets. Smith encouraged local citizens to donate land to the Association and from which seven parks were created, totaling 20 acres. Furthermore, Smith was instrumental in turning Peekskill from a village within the Town of Cortlandt into its own city in 1940.  Mural, Central Avenue A new mural adorned with a Tupac quote marks the entrance to downtown Peekskill from the riverfront on Central Avenue. Meanwhile, tranquility reigns on the Riverwalk, where you encounter the friendliest people I've ever known, and every face is aglow with a shine that reflects the humanity we cherish.  “Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Proving nature's laws wrong, it learned to walk without having feet. Funny, it seems to by keeping it's dreams; it learned to breathe fresh air. Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else even cared.” ― Tupac Shakur, The Rose That Grew from Concrete  Peekskill Riverwalk  California Love
Tupac  Father and Son In the quaint town of Peekskill, where the streets are so friendly even the squirrels wave back, a father imparts the sacred wisdom of cycling to his young apprentice. With a helmet perched atop his head like a crown, the son learns the noble art of pedaling safely, navigating the urban jungle. It's a rite of passage, complete with training wheels of the mind and the occasional ice cream bribe, because let's face it, safety talks are always better with sprinkles on top.  A Life of Mary's ThemeS  The skeleton display outside Gauchos Steakhouse in Peekskill on North Division Street is updated for each season and holiday. This was yet another tale of Peekskill's most passionate paramour whose love was as visible as the skeleton display outside a local steakhouse/bar at 5 N. Division Street. His heart was like a non-stop express train on the Metro-North, destined for the grand terminal of affection. If love were a sport, he'd be the undisputed champion, setting records for the longest adoration marathon for the one he loved afar. And like MacGregory Brook's relentless journey to the Hudson, his love was a force of nature, unstoppable, unyielding, and probably responsible for a few noise complaints from the neighbors.  An image of a rose for someone special, captured in Petals Garden located on Central Avenue, overlooking MacGregory Brook.  The sight of two men in dark sunglasses and thick Eastern European accents might not imply a love triangle, but it certainly merits a double-take in the Flatiron Building Plaza near Peekskill Coffee House.  Following the dismantling of a homeless encampment overlooking Mac Gregory Brook, there have been indications of individuals attempting to return. The removal of the homeless encampment in Peekskill is a reflection of a national challenge, where the balance between community welfare and the needs of the homeless is a delicate one. The city's action on April 25 was part of a broader conversation about how to address homelessness while also maintaining public spaces. While the clearing of the encampment has opened up the natural beauty of the area for walkers and adventurers, it also underscores the ongoing issue of homelessness and the need for comprehensive solutions that address the root causes and provide sustainable support for those affected.  
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AuthorCharles Pearson, capturing slices of every day life in Peekskill, NY Archives
November 2024
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