|
BREAKNECK "THE "YARDS" AT BREAKNECK"
Within the decade of the 1860s brick manufacturing in the Hudson River Valley was witnessing the peak of its illustrious tenure. 18 major brickyards bordering the great river on both shores, had claimed a line stretching 125 miles from Albany, NY, south to Brooklyn. Nearest Breakneck's brick activity in the "Hudson Highlands" section of the watery course were notable brick factories in Newburgh, Beacon (Denning's Point), Cornwall and Peekskill.
Breakneck's three brickyards, following labored research, remain clothed in anonymity as to their production records, their workforce numbers, their longevity and their actual sites of endeavor. One can only surmise that the Breakneck yards were of considerable "lesser scale"; their presence unacknowledged in a variety of publications having to do specifically with Hudson Valley brickyards. Yet just as dirty, just as hot, just as profane, and just as back-breaking were Breakneck's trio of yards as were any of their contemporaries along the fabled river line.
Unarguably, the yards of Breakneck contributed enormously to the animation, energy and soul of that region's bountiful history. Had the brickyards' role in that history not materialized, Breakneck would have fallen eternally deprived of its complete and matchless portrayal on the stage of Philipstown history.
EPILOGUE
An addendum to the aforementioned Timoney's brickyard in part I of this article, relative to the New York Central railroad and its depot at Dutchess Junction: Ten individual railroad lines, along the Erie Canal in upstate New York, had, during 1853, merged into one railroad, calling itself the New York Central Railroad.
The infant railway would offer service between Albany and Buffalo. At a not too distant moment in time the N.Y.C.R. would add an additional route from New York City to hookup with Albany. Dutchess Junction, along with several other towns and hamlets on the new line, would shortly be born and raised as depot stops between the two major cities.
The next installment of this "Breakneck" series will focus on the bridge from Breakneck that was never built.
| Click ads below
for larger version
|
