South Mountain Road
Encyclopedia
South Mountain Road is a winding, two-lane historic road in New City, New York
, a hamlet in Rockland County. Historic High Tor State Park is an attraction on South Mountain Road. Also on the road is the Henry Varnum Poor House
, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2007.
Although the post office and some individuals abbreviate it as S. Mountain Rd., the south in the name is not a directional. There is no North Mountain Road. It gets its name from being the road south of the mountain.
In the early 20th century, the road attracted a host of artistic people who made up an informal artists' colony. Members of the group included Maxwell Anderson
, the playwright (in later years, actor Barry Bostwick
lived in Anderson's house, selling it in 2005); composer Kurt Weill
and his wife, singer/actress Lotte Lenya
; actor/director/producer John Houseman
, and architect/potter/painter Henry Varnum Poor.
Other residents included Norman Lloyd
, Michael DiLorenzo Jr, and a teen aged Rene Auberjonois
, who occasionally baby-sat
for some of the residents.
Maxwell Anderson's daughter, Hesper Anderson, wrote a book titled South Mountain Road: A Daughter's Journey of Discovery (Simon & Schuster, 2000) about her family life and this circle of artists.
It has also served as the inspiration for musical artist James G. Barry's song "South Mountain Road" [track 8] on his debut album Wake Up Singing. As a teenager living in New City, driving along South Mountain Road was for him an escape, an adventure, and an exploration (of mind and spirit).
New City, New York
New City is a hamlet , in the Town of Clarkstown Rockland County, New York, United States, part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The hamlet is a suburb of New York City, located 18 miles north of the city at the closest point, Riverdale, The Bronx...
, a hamlet in Rockland County. Historic High Tor State Park is an attraction on South Mountain Road. Also on the road is the Henry Varnum Poor House
Henry Varnum Poor House
Henry Varnum Poor House, also known as "Crow House," is a historic home located on South Mountain Road at New City in Rockland County, New York. It was built between about 1920 and 1949 by artist Henry Varnum Poor . It combines elements of rustic Arts and Crafts Movement vernacular with elements...
, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2007.
Although the post office and some individuals abbreviate it as S. Mountain Rd., the south in the name is not a directional. There is no North Mountain Road. It gets its name from being the road south of the mountain.
In the early 20th century, the road attracted a host of artistic people who made up an informal artists' colony. Members of the group included Maxwell Anderson
Maxwell Anderson
James Maxwell Anderson was an American playwright, author, poet, journalist and lyricist.-Early years:Anderson was born in Atlantic, Pennsylvania, the second of eight children to William Lincoln "Link" Anderson, a Baptist minister, and Charlotte Perrimela Stephenson, both of Scots and Irish descent...
, the playwright (in later years, actor Barry Bostwick
Barry Bostwick
Barry Knapp Bostwick is an American actor and singer. He is known for playing Brad Majors in the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, replacing Peter Scolari as Mr. Tyler in the sitcom What I Like About You, and playing mayor Randall Winston in the sitcom Spin City...
lived in Anderson's house, selling it in 2005); composer Kurt Weill
Kurt Weill
Kurt Julian Weill was a German-Jewish composer, active from the 1920s, and in his later years in the United States. He was a leading composer for the stage who was best known for his fruitful collaborations with Bertolt Brecht...
and his wife, singer/actress Lotte Lenya
Lotte Lenya
Lotte Lenya was an Austrian singer, diseuse, and actress. In the German-speaking and classical music world she is best remembered for her performances of the songs of her husband, Kurt Weill. In English-language film she is remembered for her Academy Award-nominated role in The Roman Spring of Mrs...
; actor/director/producer John Houseman
John Houseman
John Houseman was a Romanian-born British-American actor and film producer who became known for his highly publicized collaboration with director Orson Welles from their days in the Federal Theatre Project through to the production of Citizen Kane...
, and architect/potter/painter Henry Varnum Poor.
Other residents included Norman Lloyd
Norman Lloyd
Norman Lloyd is an American actor, producer, and director with a career in entertainment spanning more than seven decades. Lloyd, who currently resides in Los Angeles, has appeared in over sixty films and television shows....
, Michael DiLorenzo Jr, and a teen aged Rene Auberjonois
Rene Auberjonois
René Murat Auberjonois is an American actor, known for portraying Father Mulcahy in the movie version of M*A*S*H and for creating a number of characters in long-running television series, including Clayton Endicott III on Benson , Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Chef Louis in The Little...
, who occasionally baby-sat
Babysitting
Babysitting is the practice of temporarily caring for a child on behalf of the child's parents. Babysitting is commonly performed as an odd job by teenagers for extra money.-General:...
for some of the residents.
Maxwell Anderson's daughter, Hesper Anderson, wrote a book titled South Mountain Road: A Daughter's Journey of Discovery (Simon & Schuster, 2000) about her family life and this circle of artists.
It has also served as the inspiration for musical artist James G. Barry's song "South Mountain Road" [track 8] on his debut album Wake Up Singing. As a teenager living in New City, driving along South Mountain Road was for him an escape, an adventure, and an exploration (of mind and spirit).