Historical photos, and brief history of Havana glen

        Below are some stereoscopic images I have located in my research of the history of Havana glen. This post is meant to augment my previous post showing Havana glen as it currently is. I would assume that the images shown here were taken sometime between the late 1880s and mid 1910s. I assume the images themselves are within the public domain, although the scans of the images were retrieved elsewhere on the internet. I am not familiar with the copyright laws regarding these images. If you feel I have violated the copyright let me know and I will remove the offending image(s).

    I find it interesting to view the changes that have occurred in the glen in the past 150 years. And there is very little solid information about the history of the glen. So I have compiled what I could find in an attempt to educate people of its history. The story actually begins with the Native Americans who lived in the area at the base of the glen. There is the remains of what appears to be a ceremonial mound of sorts. This mound is located within the campground and has a concrete slab atop it for games. It is slowly getting worn away from campers. They used the council chamber above eagle cliff falls as a meeting place and in 1792 they were driven from the area. 

   More recent history has seen what was something of a resort type location. One report from the time talks of a fountain and croquet court. The glen was open for tourism during the late 1800s and early 1900s. I am unaware of when it was opened, or of when the rest of the glen was closed to the public. From my own research I have concluded that the original walkways of the glen were of wood. These may have been replaced every year due to flooding I do not know. After these a more permanent set of walkways constructed of Iron supports driven into the rock probably with a wooden deck and steel cable or rope for railing. This was the walkway type that went through the whole of the glen. The most recent walk way which is the one there now consists of a wooden walk way which follows the path of one of the earlier trails. At one point the walk way connects to a metal stair and above this a trail with steel cable railing. This trail leads to the base of eagle cliff and no further.

   At one point I theorize that due to Watkins glen's popularity, Havana glen began to fall into disrepair and lack of upkeep of the rest of the walkways until a more recent time period when the glen was acquired by the town of Montour and became a municiple park with the addition of the current walkway. Today I fear that the park is in danger of being lost as a local treasure as the main attraction is  Eagle cliff and few people are even aware that there is more above. But I figured people may enjoy a small glimpse into the past that I have uncovered.

 Photos with a number have a corresponding modern photo at my other post featuring the current glen here .

(some photos are out of order, The site wont let me move them as I would like)
I have added a more in depth look at Eagle cliff and Curtain cascade here if you are interested.

(1)Portal Cascade

Bridge

(2)Bridge looking down

(3)Eagle Cliff falls

(4)In the council chamber looking toward falls.

Base of bridal veil falls (from top of curtain cascade)

Mountain Tunnel.

(6)Fairies cascade.

(7)Upper gorge looking down.

Echo falls.

(8)Glen chaos looking down towards whispering falls. 

(9)Whispering falls.

(5)Curtain cascade 

Council chamber looking in general direction of curtain cascade.

(5)Curtain cascade.

Main street in Havana