Craig_house

		A Home and a Dream The story of General Joseph Howland is a fascinating preface for the narrative that would define Craig House. Born December 3, 1834 in New York City, he was educated abroad and in the United States. At sixteen he traveled in Europe and developed a taste for art. Joseph married at the age of twentyone to Eliza Newton Woolsey of New York. They toured Europe and upon their return in 1859, they purchased the Tioronda farm and transformed it into one of the finest estates on the Hudson. Joseph Howland loved books and study, outdoor life and sports. The Civil War broke out a few years after they had moved to Matteawan. Joseph enlisted as Adjutant of the 16th Regiment, New York State Volunteers. Disabling effects of the war forced him to retire from active service. For the remainder of his life, Howland suffered from what is now known as PTSD.

		A Garden on the Hudson This shot is from a stereoscopic image of the Tioronda Estate, and it gives an accurate portrayal of Tioronda as Howland would have known it. The estate was reknowned not only for its unique architecture, but also its landscaping. Tioranda's grounds were designed by Henry Winthrop Sargent, friend of and collaborator with A.J. Downing on a few books, along with being a close neighbor of the Howlands. Although overgrown and in disrepair, the grounds of Tioronda still contain some remnants of the unique plantings created for the Howland family.

		The Craig House Years Ironically, General Howland's health issues would foreshadow his home's reincarnation as Craig House. In 1915 the property was purchased by Dr. C Johnathan Slocum, who had a vision for a mental health facility based on the humane and benign practices he had witnessed in Europe. In time, Craig House became the venue of choice for Manhattan's elite. The stories of those who frequented Craig House are the stuff of legend.