![]() ![]() Many believed there was an escape tunnel built by Bucke Hall as a means of escape if the authorities found him. The “Hermitage” was still located on the property and it was rumored that the house was haunted. During this time it was known as “Otis Grove,” a popular picnic area for the residents of Geneva. The property remained vacant for seven years. In 1878, the property, along with the land that is now Glenwood Cemetery, was taken over by the United States Trust Company, and the Otis family relocated to Virginia. The railroad company is still obligated to comply with the agreement made with Mary Otis more than 130 years ago. Otis made the railroad company agree to maintain and preserve a right of way across the tracks so that she could have access to the lake. Over the years, the property changed hands within the Otis family and on February 28, 1877, Mary Otis sold a strip of land along the lake to the Syracuse, Geneva & Corning Railroad Company. ![]() It was Otis that named the property “Bellehurst,” meaning beautiful forest. He had embezzled theater funds, married his stepmother, fled to the United States and assumed the name Henry Hall in an effort to avoid capture!įrom the time of Hall’s death until 1852, the property changed hands twice and was then purchased by Harrison G. Upon his death, it was learned that William Henry Bucke had been treasurer of the famed Covent Garden Theater in London. Hall did not seek medical treatment and died of blood poisoning a short time later. In the spring of 1836, Hall fell over an obstruction and broke his leg. Because of his desire for seclusion, he lived in the “Hermitage” alone, except for one servant. Bucke used the alias Henry Hall, but most people in the area knew him as Bucke Hall. Instead, William Henry Bucke lived there under a deed of trust. Fellows built the first “modern” residence on the land called the “Hermitage,” but never resided in the home. Ten years after his acquisition of the property, Mr. Fellows came to Geneva in 1820 as a sub-agent in the area. DeLong quickly sold the parcel of land to Joseph Fellows, a lawyer who was a native of Warwickshire, England. In May of 1824, the land was divided among the stockholders of the Ontario Glass Manufacturing Company, and William DeLong received the largest and most desirable portion of land, which is the area that is now home to Belhurst Castle. These men built and operated Ontario Glass Manufacturing Company, the first glass company west of Albany. The land was again sold to a group of businessmen in 1810. In the early 18th century, the land became part of the state of Massachusetts and was purchased by two 18th century land developers in the spring of 1738. The property that surrounds Belhurst Castle was originally the site of a Seneca Indian village and home to the Council of the Six nations of Iroquois. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |