Some more comments from my neice who lives in Ossining and was there the first time they went into the tunnels _____ From: Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 11:45 PM To: Subject: Re: FW: [NYWESTCH] update on Ossining's old structure I'm sure Gay Marglin contacted NYS, she, at one point sent me some stuff from a Douglas Mackey from NYS Historical Preservation. It's amazing that THEY never contacted the county. Does anyone know who Lucy Johnson or Susan Dublin is? They are the people that came to look at the tunnel. Susan Dublin was there the day I went in, I wasn't there when Lucy Johnson went in. I wonder if they are NY State people. The thing that worries me about this NYS Department of Parks, Recreation, and Historical Preservation is that according to someone that wrote a "comment" on the original photo site: <http://www.smugmug.com/img/spacer.gif> <http://www.smugmug.com/img/spacer.gif> <http://www.smugmug.com/img/spacer.gif> <http://www.smugmug.com/img/spacer.gif> <http://www.smugmug.com/img/spacer.gif> 5. George Potanovic, <mailto:georgep123@optonline.net> Jr. wrote about this gallery on Jul 5th Whoever from Ossining was responsible for doing the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) as lead agency (probably the Town Planning Board), obviously missed this. The SEQR report requires an investigation of any archeological or historcal assets on the property and usually a professional firm is hired to assess the property. The NYS Office of Historical Preservation, Parks and Recreation usually gets involved too. Project should have never been approved for construction without a thorough SEQRA review. Wow.. I would be interested in knowing more about the history of this underground structure. I am a previous resident of Ossining (OHS Class of 1973) and owe my interest in local history to my 8th grade social studies teacher, Carl Oechsner. I now live in Stony Point, NY (Rockland) where I am professional photographer and president of the Stony Point Action Committee for the Environment (SPACE), a citizen watchdog group of volunteers which keeps an eye on local environmental issues. George Potanovic, Jr. President, SPACE Stony Point Action Committee for the Environment georgep123@optonline.net http://www.stonypointer.org <http://www.stonypointer.org/> One of the things that bothers a lot of people here in Ossining is that apparently these tunnels were "playgrounds" for kids before the condos were built, and apparently common knowledge to quite a few "native" Ossining residents. The common assumption is that $$$ exchanged hands from the builder to whomever in order to be able to build riverfront luxury condos there. It's quite a place, sits right on the convergence of the Hudson and Croton Rivers, the condos with the "views" start at $750,000 and up. There are approximately 200 units there, so .......... The other thing, is after reading the St Augustine's history, and being inside the tunnel, it doesn't make sense. Orlando Potter used stone that he had on his property, granite, mostly. There are granite walls all over the place. But the tunnel and chambers are brick. There are some granite lintels according to Gay, but I didn't see them. I also think that if, in fact tunnels were built during Revolutionary war times, they wouldn't have been quite so elaborate, but certainly could have been what caused Orlando Potter to continue "tunnelling", but (once again) I just can't see makiing these things so elaborate to store silage. So anyway, I'm very glad that someone contacted the county, maybe they'll show some interest..... Thanks for sending these Love, ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. <http://promos.hotbar.com/promos/promodll.dll?RunPromo&El=&SG=&RAND=54758&pa rtner=hbtools> Upgrade Your Email - Click here!