![]() ![]() ![]() I was here for a little less than a half-hour, and in that time I passed probably 15-20 people who were biking, walking, or jogging. It is surrounded by a small piece of land containing a path that is actually one segment of Saddle River Pathway, a 7.6-mile pedestrian and biking trail that runs from the Wild Duck Pond Area in Ridgewood at the north end to Railroad Avenue in Rochelle Park at the south end. It is nestled among trees and bushes, and if you didn’t know it was there it is likely you would drive right past it. The tower is next to Saddle River, which is the size of a creek here. It was placed on state and national registers of historic places after it was restored in 2008 by the county. The only remaining part of Easton’s estate is the tower, which was bought by the county in 1956. When Route 208 was connected with Route 4 in 1931, which gave many people access to the George Washington Bridge, the construction destroyed many sections of the park. The park and tower appeared on many postcards of the time. The park was used as an early setting for silent films when Fort Lee was new center of the film industry at that time. The park attracted many people, who would stroll around, go for boat rides, and ice skate there in the winter. He later commissioned the construction of the tower, which was used to pump water to several fountains that irrigated and decorated his estate. He created a landscaped park around his home with elaborate gardens and ponds, and he named it Arcola after a small town in Italy. This parcel of land was just the right distance from New York City for a country retreat for Easton and his family. Easton was the founder of the Columbia Phonograph Company (known today as Columbia Records). In 1899 Edward Easton bought 48 acres of land where the Red Mill (a grain mill) once stood. It lasts under three minutes, and it gives some interesting information about the history of the tower. You can start your visit with a free cell phone audio tour. ![]()
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