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The Henry Hudson Letterbox LbNA #38424

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Mar 22, 2008
Location:
City:Croton
County:Westchester
State:New York
Boxes:1
Planted by:suzietoots
Found by: Pinesbridge
Last found:Mar 27, 2009
Status:aFFFFFa
Last edited:Mar 22, 2008
The Henry Hudson Letterbox

Henry Hudson was an Englishman. Hudson was certainly an experienced seaman, commissioned by the Muscovy Company in 1607 to find a quick way from England to the "islands of spicery." He failed in that attempt, and again in 1608 -- each time foiled by ice floes as he attempted to find a fast northerly passage to "the east." In 1609, Hudson was chosen by the Dutch East India Company to find an easterly passage to Asia. They provided him with an 80-ton ship, the "Half Moon," and a crew of 20 - a combination of Dutch and English sailors. After crossing the Atlantic Ocean, his ship sailed around briefly in the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, but Hudson concluded that these waterways did not lead to the Pacific. Hudson then moved into New York Harbor and proceeded up what is today the Hudson River.On September 12, 1609, Hudson began his exploration of the river. The first night he anchored off the northern tip of Manhattan. The next night, after the crew traded for oysters with Native Americans, the ship was near Yonkers. On September 14 Hudson thought he may have found the long-sought passage when he saw the wide Tappan Zee but he later became disappointed when he reached the shallower area near Albany and turned back. The journal of one of the ship's officers, Robert Juet, was published in England in 1625. It notes, "On the 14th, in the morning, being very fair weather, the wind southeast, we sailed up the river 12 leagues ... The river is full of fish." One excerpt, also published in 1625, reports Hudson to have written about the area, "It is as pleasant a land as one can tread upon." Hudson called the river the "River of Mountains" although the Native Americans, with whom the skipper and crew had considerable contact, called it "Muhheakunnuk" (great waters constantly in motion). On October 2, as the "Half Moon" neared Manhattan, some Native Americans became hostile and Hudson ordered guns to be fired at them. Several were killed, and the event was remembered 15 years later when the Dutch came to settle in Manhattan in 1624. The "Half Moon" left the river on October 4, sailed across the Atlantic and, according to Juet, "by the grace of God we safely arrived in the range of Dartmouth, in Devonshire," on Saturday, November 7.In the following year, Hudson made his final journey. A group of wealthy Londoners, who still believed there was a faster route to the east, sent Hudson off as captain of the "Discovery" to find a North-West passage. He sailed north, via Iceland, into the Hudson Strait and from there into Hudson Bay, which also bears his name. The "Discovery" became trapped by ice in James Bay and was forced to winter over. During that time the crew quarreled and, finally, as the spring thaw began, they mutinied. The ring-leaders, Juet and Henry Greene, set Hudson, his son, and some other men adrift in a small open boat and they were never seen again.

To the Letterbox:
The Henry Hudson letterbox sits in Croton Point Park. Enter the park and follow signs for the Nature Center. You will come to a large parking lot. The northwest corner of the lot will have a sign and an enclosure with brochures. The road heads up a hill towards the right and leads to the Nature Center. On the left side you will see a pavilion for picnics/BBQ’s. On the left side of pavilion will be a large stump. At the base of stump, facing south towards the Hudson River you will find Mr. Hudson. He is hidden by 3 pieces of bark. Please use stealth. This is a Very Busy area. You may want to have a seat and enjoy the beautiful view while retrieving the box. The Nature Center has fantastic programs for you and your children. You can drive up to the house. Brochures are available.