There's been some speculation in comments on this blog about the possible consequence of the flooding at the Hudson Power Boat Association.
Gossips has no information about the extent of the damage to the building caused by the high water on Friday, but this is not the first time something like this has happened. These pictures, taken by Howard Gibson and posted on photobygibson.com, document a flood in the building that occurred in 1970.
A perennial misunderstanding which was only exacerbated by the LWRP's plan to relocate the HPBA clubhouse stems from the stubborn notion that the Association is not the rightful owner of its property. In fact, the HPBA is the actual owner.
ReplyDeleteThe property is divided into three parcels representing three different purchases from private owners. This fact disproves a second wrong assumption, that the land's supposed prior ownership by city or state governments will someday be reversed. However, all three parcels were privately owned since the 1785 grant.
In both the North and South Bays, ownership of land previously underwater remains unsettled. But while these actual and even pressing issues are totally ignored by incurious city residents, by city government, and by a surely corrupt NYS Office of General Services, the HPBA's property ownership was never in question.
Thanks for clarifying. I knew the Power Boat Club owned the land but had no idea it went back that far. Wow, 1785!
DeleteThat's to say that private ownership goes back that far, not HPBA ownership.
DeleteOn the HPBA site there is mention and pictures of the "ice flood" in January1996 that nearly destroyed the clubhouse. I've seen pictures elsewhere with the clubhouse roof almost completely submerged, probably another 5 feet above what we had last week, though I don't know when that was, perhaps 1970. B Huston
ReplyDeleteI have pictures from the front of the Register Star of the ice blocks coming down the river in 1996 and rising up against the side of the boat club. It was severely flooded then - we watched the blocks creaking and pushing against the building from Promenade Hill. Unfortunately I can't lay my hand on that article right now! But will send it Carole when I find it.
DeleteIt was quite the event.