Surrounding the village on every hillside stand the beautiful summer homes of some wealthy New Yorkers. Among these are the homes of W. R. Barr, "Stony Wolde"; Mrs. John Brower, "Blythlea"; and the homes of E. H. Harriman, Ward Brower, Farrand Brower, Max Jagerhuber, Orrin S. Wood and William L. Strout. Where once our farmers tilled the soil beautiful lawns appear. To the east, where once hunters and trappers alone journeyed, on the highest peak of the Ramapo Mountains, rises the mansion of E. H. Harriman. Inch by inch and foot by foot this great stone structure rises into view above the trees that surround it. A railway has been hewn out of the side of the mountain and a cable railroad operates cars that hoist workmen and materials to the summit.
The village maintains two churches—a Methodist Episcopal and a Catholic. Both have excellent sanctuaries and congregations of earnest, sincere, right-living people. They have done yeoman work in their territory and their influence has been widespread. Connected with the Methodist Church is a Sunday school and Epworth league.
The famous old store of Thomas Earl has been torn down and the village now has five stores. The old "Bombeetel" house still stands at the cross-roads in the center of the village and now contains the village market run by J. R. Brooks.
Time has indeed dealt kindly with Turner. The latest item to be accredited her is electricity. Nightly the village streets are brilliantly lighted and business goes on as busily as by daylight. The magic current is introduced to the houses and brings light and cheerfulness to the homes.
The old village of Centerville would scarcely recognize the village of Turner, which is but the village of Centerville under a new name.
[CHAPTER XXII.]
TOWN OF MONTGOMERY.
By David A. Morrison.
This important town is in the northern part of Orange County, bordering upon Ulster. It lies between the towns of Newburgh on the east, and Crawford on the west. Each of these towns has a large tongue of land that extends much further toward the north than the territory of Montgomery, the northern bounds of which form nearly a straight line. On the south are the towns of New Windsor, Hamptonburgh and Wallkill, from which it is separated by rather irregular rectangular lines. The area of the town as shown by the last Supervisors' report, is 30,578 acres. The assessed valuation of property taxable in the town and found by the Assessors in 1906 aggregated $2,094,640. The total taxes for that year amounted to $23,953.01.