This property has been submitted for consideration in the County's Open Space Plan.  It is considered by the proposer to meet the checked off  open space criteria.  Select the Add Comments or View Comments button.
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Municipality:  Briarcliff Manor
Location: BRIARCLIFF LODGE/KINGS COLLEGE
Size: 4 ACRES

Open Space Criteria:

Provides a physical buffer and visual relief to developed areas

Preserves unique physical/environmental characteristics

Protects unique scenic views of countryside and/or waterfront

Suitable for active recreation

Suitable for passive recreation

Connects village, town and city centers or other population centers

Connects major employment centers, e.g. office parks, institutions, etc.

Connects major open space areas, e.g. parks, preserves and trailways

Provides access to Hudson River, Long Island Sound or other major waterbody

Helps clean-up deteriorated areas

Protects unique waterfront recreational or environmental resourcest

Contributes to economic revitalization of area

Protects and/or enhances water supply and water quality

Protects significant streams, wetlands, vegetation or other fragile resources

Helps restore natural resources that have been altered or damaged

Protects and/or enhances significant fish/wildlife habitats

Protects sites listed on New York State or National Register of Historic Places

Protects a unique and valuable regional historic or cultural resource

 

Comments:

Comment: While there may have been some items left over in the Main Lodge and other buildings, it is categorically false that any mass suicides ever occurred at the college; show me some evidence. I wouldn't trust the testimony of vandals anyways.
Date: 11/4/2004 12:12:00 PM
Comment: A few our our friends went there in 1999 we broke into the college and went around the whole place. Everyone in there dorms left everything. All there close all the office papers were still there even letter of enrollment. I have heard that a massive suicide went on at that college. We even took a VHS tape they they would send out to new students.
Date: 8/15/2004 11:19:00 AM
Comment: Hey Briarcliff Manor!!! Can you really be so callous and indifferent as to let this thing happen??? Where is your conscience? Your moral compass?? Your sense of responsibility to future generations??? Your sense of shame??? Did you learn nothing of conscience all those years that Dr. Cook openly, warmly and proudly invited you to partake in a multitude of Christian and cultural activities at our beloved King's College??? And this is the thanks he gets for having been a special auxillary policeman for your community as well as his involvement in the fire company??? Some dedication for a college president- wouldn't you say??? And just what are you committed to; money??? Speaking of which: what of all the revenue Dr. Cook was responsible for bringing to the town of Briarcliff Manor (and surrounding areas) by running a tight ship for nearly a quarter of a century? Imagine: twenty-five graduating classes who utilized your bank, shopped in your stores and patronized your eateries??? Don't that beat all!! And what of all the previous history including Mary Pickford, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Johnnie Weismueller and Babe Ruth (to name a few??!!!). All this and much more means nothing to you??? For the first time I can truly say that I am ashamed to have been a resident of your community for four years!!! I thought that I knew Briarcliff Manor better!!! While I am certainly no prophet, I fail to see how God can Bless you in this deed... You sadden me GREATLY... HOW can the end of so grand a structure as The Briarcliff Lodge/The King's College be so senseless a demolition?????? And for what? MONEY???!! A donation to upgrade your library and a few other perks??? William Law must be disquieted in the very grave in which he rests!!!!!

CAK 7-14-2004
Date: 7/16/2004 12:34:00 AM
Comment: What would you expect the Briarcliff Manor Police to come up with? Briarcliff Manor "City Hall" was dead set against the adaptive re-use of that magnificent old lodge because it wanted the "perks" (ie. money donated to its library, and, a few acres of land). So, Briarcliff Manor "City Hall" got what they wanted, one way or another! The fire was termed suspicious and well it should be!!! The timing of the fire, in the oldest and most historic portion of the building, which burned at such an accelerated rate tells the story! And with time all will be forgotten? Where's the justice in that? Even if the perpetrators of this heinous act were apprehended and punished, their act of irreversible destruction and desecration can NEVER be righted!!!
Date: 11/26/2003 9:59:00 AM
Comment: so much for historical heritage in our society... does anyone know what the police investigation has come up with???
Date: 10/30/2003 7:43:00 AM
Comment: Can you please tell me if there is a way that I can obtain any photographs of the college prior to this terrible tragedy (fire? Thanks- Dupe15@aol.com
Date: 10/12/2003 11:06:00 PM
Comment: If you haven't heard already, there's no saving the building. It was more or less destroyed in a fire last Saturday (9/20). The fire has been labeled "suspicious"
Date: 9/26/2003 4:01:00 PM
Comment: Today is a sad day (Sept 20,2003). The Briarcliff Lodge (aka: The Kings College) 1902 part has been destroyed by fire. I can't believe that Briarcliff Manor did nothing to prevent this historic feature from it's death. We will never know what it could have been.
Date: 9/24/2003 12:35:00 PM
Comment: The original 1902 section of Kings has burned to the ground. I can't put into words my sadness.
Date: 9/22/2003 5:56:00 PM
Comment: I visited what is now left of the Briarcliff lodge in dismay yesterday (9.20.03) and most of the lodge is now gone as it burned through the night and day.

The fire has been labeled as suspicious, but I'd be willing to bet Barrington had a role in it.

I'd been a lifelong resident of Briarcliff and remember it when it stil had life, even in 1999 when I visited the building it had a sense of life...after 2001 it did not however...and now nothing is left but the north wing and the men's dorms.

the news article can be seen at http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/092103/b0121fire.html

A moment of silence for the efforts to save what was a historical site.

~BrutuS
Date: 9/21/2003 3:55:00 PM
Comment: Yes, Something is decided! Please check out http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/yasinsac/kingscollege/TKCUpdates.html
Alumnus SMK-1977
Date: 7/24/2003 3:16:00 PM
Comment: Can you please tell me where I can obtain some tape recordings of Dr. Cooks messages? Thanks Joe Yakimow
jyakimow@aol.com.
Date: 7/23/2003 2:14:00 PM
Comment: well, here it is in the end of july, and there is nothing decided...or is there?????
Date: 7/22/2003 3:43:00 PM
Comment: what is the latest?? has Briarcliff Manor caved in and passed on the incredible architectural resources available to them from a local architect so that this historical property will be torn down and replaced with 2x4's and vinyl siding??
Date: 7/16/2003 8:45:00 PM
Comment: what is up? the latest i've heard is that an historical property will be demolished and put into a huge landfill, and cheap 21st century architecture will take it's place!!! so much for history and heritage!
Date: 6/8/2003 6:45:00 PM
Comment: Those who say "take it down its time to move on. it's old and falling apart" are only HALF right. It is old alright but NOT falling apart. It is structurally quite sound!! Those who say otherwise don't know what they are talking about or don't want to know.
Date: 6/4/2003 4:20:00 PM
Comment: TAKE IT DOWN ITS TIME TO MOVE ON. ITS OLD AND FALLING APART
Date: 5/21/2003 2:03:00 PM
Comment: haunted the scariest thing that ever happened to me in my life happened there.
Date: 5/4/2003 10:11:00 PM
Comment: Thank God that there is a ray of hope even if there is a long way to go! At least things are moving in the right direction... ...SMK(TKC-1977)
Date: 4/25/2003 8:11:00 AM
Comment: Some residents have gathered resources to bring to light how salvagable the Lodge is. We have submitted reports to the Village. The Board of Trustees agreed to look into preservation issues. We want the variance if granted to contain a condition mandating the old Lodge building be adaptively re-used. There is still hope, but there is a long way to go.
Date: 4/4/2003 7:54:00 AM
Comment: Hey Briarcliff Manor!!! Can you really be so callous and indifferent as to let this thing happen??? Where is your conscience? Your moral compass?? Your sense of responsibility to future generations??? Your sense of shame??? Did you learn nothing of conscience all those years that Dr. Cook openly, warmly and proudly invited you to partake in a multitude of Christian and cultural activities at our beloved King's College??? And this is the thanks he gets for having been a special auxillary policeman for your community as well as his involvement in the fire company??? Some dedication for a college president- wouldn't you say??? And just what are you committed to; money??? Speaking of which: what of all the revenue Dr. Cook was responsible for bringing to the town of Briarcliff Manor (and surrounding areas) by running a tight ship for nearly a quarter of a century? Imagine: twenty-five graduating classes who utilized your bank, shopped in your stores and patronized your eateries??? Don't that beat all!! And what of all the previous history including Mary Pickford, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Johnnie Weismueller and Babe Ruth (to name a few??!!!). All this and much more means nothing to you??? For the first time I can truly say that I am ashamed to have been a resident of your community for four years!!! I thought that I knew Briarcliff Manor better!!! While I am certainly no prophet, I fail to see how God can Bless you in this deed... You sadden me GREATLY... HOW can the end of so grand a structure as The Briarcliff Lodge/The King's College be so senseless a demolition?????? And for what? MONEY???!! A donation to upgrade your library and a few other perks??? William Law must be disquieted in the very grave in which he rests!!!!!
Date: 3/10/2003 2:04:00 AM
Comment: Hey Briarcliff Manor!!! Can you really be so callous and indifferent as to let this thing happen??? Where is your conscience? Your moral compass?? Your sense of responsibility to future generations??? Your sense of shame??? Did you learn nothing of conscience all those years that Dr. Cook openly, warmly and proudly invited you to partake in a multitude of Christian and cultural activities at our beloved King's College??? And this is the thanks he gets for having been a special auxillary policeman for your community as well as his involvement in the fire company??? Some dedication for a college president- wouldn't you say??? And just what are you committed to; money??? Speaking of which: what of all the revenue Dr. Cook was responsible for bringing to the town of Briarcliff Manor (and surrounding areas) by running a tight ship for nearly a quarter of a century? Imagine: twenty-five graduating classes who utilized your bank, shopped in your stores and patronized your eateries??? Don't that beat all!! And what of all the previous history including Mary Pickford, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Johnnie Weismueller and Babe Ruth (to name a few??!!!). All this and much more means nothing to you??? For the first time I can truly say that I am ashamed to have been a resident of your community for four years!!! I thought that I knew Briarcliff Manor better!!! While I am certainly no prophet, I fail to see how God can Bless you in this deed... You sadden me GREATLY... HOW can the end of so grand a structure as The Briarcliff Lodge/The King's College be so senseless a demolition?????? And for what? MONEY???!! A donation to upgrade your library and a few other perks??? William Law must be disquieted in the very grave in which he rests!!!!!
Date: 3/10/2003 1:58:00 AM
Comment: How sad that this historic building may be demolished in the next 18 months. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is even worried. They posted a story about Briarcliff on their main page.
Date: 3/4/2003 4:05:00 PM
Comment: It seems Westchester county is doing little or nothing to stop the impending demolition of the lodge. I am afraid too much time has passed. Briarcliff Manor hopefully will turn down the Garlands senior living/housing project proposal. I am surprised the village didn't try to have another school/college buy the site.
Date: 3/3/2003 10:24:00 AM
Comment: If you drive be the site now there are trailers there. The rumor is that a contractor was awarded the contract to demolish the college. Work is going on there now i heard.
Date: 2/24/2003 10:57:00 AM
Comment:
Date: 2/20/2003 3:08:00 AM
Comment: I'm wondering why you removed the names of folks who have e-mailed you on this site? I know that my name was removed from my 7-24-2002 comment. Why???
Date: 2/20/2003 3:06:00 AM
Comment: has anyone heard anything?
Date: 2/2/2003 3:19:00 PM
Comment: please post once and for all what will become of this historical landmark.
Date: 12/22/2002 8:27:00 AM
Comment: what is the latest? does anyone know? briarcliff manor please let us know
Date: 12/14/2002 6:23:00 AM
Comment: I guess that all plans are still "in limbo" although I have a "sneaking suspicion" that the "almighty dollar" is being listened too right now...
Date: 11/25/2002 3:46:00 PM
Comment: Does it not bother the consciousness of Briarcliff Manor to have allowed the deterioration of so grand a landmark as The Briarcliff Lodge??? And, how do they sleep at night having done so??? Or does the carefully guarded anticipation of the money to be gained from the abolition and re-development of the sight soothe the consciences of those who stand to gain financially by it?????? How Pathetic...How Tragic!!!!!
Date: 11/12/2002 11:48:00 AM
Comment: I hope that the local government of Briarcliff Manor New York will be honest, and post what the plans are- to completely demolish historical architecture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know us Americans- money talks-forget history!
Date: 10/27/2002 6:20:00 PM
Comment: It's in such bad shape right now that demolishing it is probably the only viable option. If you've seen the pictures, you know what I mean. Sad. Shame on Briarcliff.
Date: 10/9/2002 7:49:00 PM
Comment: Yes, I have heard thru a reliable source that it is all going to be demolished!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It doesn't really surprise me. Does it surprise you?
Date: 10/6/2002 4:07:00 PM
Comment: Has anyone heard anything more about this big historical architectural decision?
Date: 9/27/2002 12:31:00 AM
Comment: I am a King's alumnus and have read how the campus has fallen into a very sad state. Let's all pray that someone comes to the rescue.
Date: 9/16/2002 2:24:00 AM
Comment: It is complete madness that such a beautiful & historic building in such a fine location has been allowed to decay. The owners obviously hope that, given enough time, demolition will become the only realistic option, so they can push through their development plans. It's time to prove them wrong!!
Date: 8/25/2002 4:45:00 PM
Comment: http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/yasinsac/kingscollege/kingscollege.html
Date: 8/9/2002 11:47:00 AM
Comment: As a current resident of Briarcliff Manor (I am new to the area), I am appalled at the ruins of your town! I heard of this place from friends in Norristown, PA, which is another site of urban ruins and decay. Someone should get a petition started, and let the community of Briarcliff Manor speak out and up there property value by restoring local architectural history!!!!!!!
Date: 8/1/2002 6:48:00 PM
Comment: I hope these messages are truly getting to the "powers that be". Is there any historical restoration funds out there? It's really sad that after all of these years that the ruins are still sitting here untouched. Anyone out there who knows of an alumnus of King's, pass the word on that our voices should be heard to restore this architectural landmark.
Date: 7/26/2002 9:59:00 PM
Comment: I agree with the comments of everyone about salvaging the Briarcliff Lodge.It will take vision and money restore it to a usefull purpose. Driving on Scarborough Road when the leaves are off the trees and seeing the building in the distance is indeed a majestic site. It would indeed be sad that exactly 100 years later this structure would be condemned. Once something is destroyed like Briarcliff Lodge, memories and pictures will be its only living history.
Date: 7/26/2002 10:43:00 AM
Comment: While not a moral issue,it would be the closest thing to a sin imaginable should The Briarcliff Lodge/The King's College structure be lost forever due to indifference or intent!!! Please, I plead with the powers to be not to let this happen. Please, let's preserve this sight at all costs!!
Date: 7/24/2002 9:06:00 AM
Comment: Save this historical sight before it's too late! Preserve history Briarcliff Manor. Do it in memory of Dr. Robert Cook. Listen to him on the radio every week day morning at 7:00 on Family Radio... you can still hear his message of hope and support.
Date: 7/23/2002 11:11:00 AM
Comment: Save this historical sight before it's too late! Preserve history Briarcliff Manor. Do it in memory of Dr. Robert Cook. Listen to him on the radio every week day morning at 7:00 on Family Radio... you can still hear his message of hope and support.
Date: 7/23/2002 11:11:00 AM
Comment: Just out of curiosity Briarcliff Manor...will you wait to make a decision long enough so there won't be any other choice but to tear down a building beyond repair? Save a piece of history. Do something now!
Date: 7/23/2002 11:06:00 AM
Comment: briarcliff manor- you spited yourself. talk about urban ruins... a rugby club would have done a lot more for the real estate value than a ghost town...
Date: 6/17/2002 9:04:00 PM
Comment: It is amazing that an affluent area like Briarcliff Manor, New York does not see the need or have any desire to preserve this gorgeous historical land mark. Surely there must be endowments or resources to preserve this property. Visiting the campus last year, I was shocked at the ruins of a once beautiful campus!! Shame on you Briarcliff Manor City Hall!!!!~
Date: 6/15/2002 8:44:00 PM
Comment: I beg you to please preserve this beautiful building!!I attended The King's College in the late 70's and can't imagine this site destroyed. Please consider renovation!! PLEASE! (no, it's not haunted!)
Date: 6/3/2002 5:43:00 PM
Comment: this property is haunted....for real...go there and tell me its not!!!
Date: 4/17/2002 1:12:00 PM
Comment: I am a TKC alumni. I visited the campus last year, and was shocked and sickened by the suburban blight! It is a pity that beautiful historical places can't be preserved. We Americans ought to be ashamed at how we don't preserve our history and culture! It is a disgrace that this beautiful architectural land mark could be allowed to decompose right before your eyes. Shame on you!
Date: 3/12/2002 8:02:00 PM
Comment: AS a 1981 alumni of TKC I was devastated to hear that the very prosperous community that surrounds the campus cannot find a way to preserve an amazing treasure. Surely there's someone out there that appreciates the beauty without the need to grab huge profits. Such a sad commentary of our "modern" life.
Date: 3/6/2002 12:17:00 AM
Comment: My friends and I just vandalized this historical landmark, and would be truly disheartened if it were to be either torn down or renovated. We like it the way it is!
Date: 2/23/2002 2:45:00 AM
Comment: Such a structure should be preserved
for future generations for its wonderful architechture.
Finland 02.15.02
Date: 2/15/2002 4:07:00 PM
Comment: I attended Kings in the early '80s and am horrified that this structure might be torn down. If this is the planned future for the old campus, I hope that someone with some sentiment and sanity will reconsider and preserve this grand old structure and surrounding grounds for history sake.
Date: 12/31/2001 1:55:00 PM
Comment: Is this out of our hands now? Can this even be saved? As an alumni of King's I have such wonderful warm memories. I hope the village does the right thing and saves it from distruction.
Date: 12/23/2001 12:36:00 PM
Comment: Please save the Lodge!!!!! I'm a King's Alumnus, '86 and a member of our local historical society in NJ. This place has such fond memories and is a treasure for your community! Spectacular views and an oasis in your town! Please save this for future enjoyment! God Bless!
Date: 12/7/2001 2:39:00 PM
Comment: How can you say that a new project would protect a unique and historical area? Tearing down the building in favor of senior housing or another golf course, ruins that historical area. As a village, we should be preserving what history we have left, not changing it for the worse. King's was a good neighbor, anything else won't be.
Date: 10/26/2001 2:13:00 PM
Comment: Please save this historical landmark. Don't ruin the landscape Walter Law worked so hard for. Preserve that once beautiful lodge. Please!!!
Date: 10/26/2001 2:06:00 PM
Comment: test
Date: 10/16/2001 4:38:00 PM
Comment: As an alumni of the college, I ask that you please save this special place. I visited the lodge this weekend for the first time in over 5 years and was disheartened by what I saw. This place holds some of my happiest memories and to see it overgrown and forgotten breaks my heart. For the history, views, and memories that it holds, please save the lodge!
Date: 10/7/2001 10:53:00 PM
Comment: At a time when there is so little appreciation for the real history of our area, and at a time when our children need to feel grounded... it is time to invest in the preservation and restoration of the lodge. A new condo complex would not serve the community as well as the beautiful old mansions in the area. SAVE THE LODGE!
The lodge pond, the olympic swimmers, Tarzan...Pay for the restoration with a movie shot at the lodge.
Date: 4/7/2001 10:59:00 PM
Comment: Please save this legendary place. I have such warm and wonderful memories of Briarcliff Lodge. My grandmother was a frequent guest at the lodge, my sister was a student at The King's College, as was my niece. This property holds wonderful memories for my family.
Date: 1/2/2001 2:18:00 PM
Comment: Please save this legendary place. I have such warm and wonderful memories of Briarcliff Lodge. My grandmother was a frequent guest at the lodge, my sister was a student at The King's College, as was my niece. This property holds wonderful memories for my family.
Date: 1/2/2001 2:15:00 PM
Comment: As an alumni of The King's College, I beg you to please save this valuable piece of Briarcliff Manor history. Please don't destroy or demolish 100+ years of irreplaceable history.
Date: 11/6/2000 12:59:00 PM
Comment: How can this architectural treasure not be saved?

http://members.xoom.com/yazmcboo/kingscollege.html

Save The Lodge
Date: 7/1/2000 8:17:00 PM
Comment:
Date: 8/30/1999 9:12:00 AM

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