Elevator Shaft

how many floors does this shaft serve?

Creepy... I hate elevators. It helped me with my homework though, so thanks!

I hate elevators too. I guess getting stuck in one will do that to ya. : /

This picture gives me the shivers...I'm always afraid the elevator I'm in will plummet to the bottom...

I can speak from experience - Elevators plummeting are NOT FUN. Only went about 2 floors or so (thanks to some idiots cramming in more than the recommended weight), but still...

What you're supposed to do is lie down in the center of the car, protecting your head and neck. Timing your jump to the time of impact would be near impossible, plus you'd get smooshed like a pancake.
I couldn't lie down, however, because it was a tiny-assed elevator crammed over the maximum, like imagine a 6 by 6 foot square area. Probably saved our asses, due to the elevator being a tight fit in the shaft, much like what happened in the 40's in the empire state building.

Yikes, I'm really scared of elevators, I'm always waiting for them to plummit when I'm in one...and I start freaking out when they don't open right away.

These days, elevators have large springs in the bottom of the shaft to absorb the shock of landing if they do crash. It'd still be a bit of a jolt but you wouldn't be squashed flat.

this was one of the first elevators of it's type anywhere in the world, put
in by the Otis Co; then based in Poughkeepsie

actually the elevator services six stories
and the actual cage 'car' was itself a much older antique from a earlier age of
'carriage'. immediately after its' installation a similar hydraulic elevator was installed by the architect and the Otis Co at the Mohonk mountain House in new paltz

Wow, so often there are people who have noidea what they're talking about when it comes to Halcyon Hall. Looks like Pat Ratchet really has studied the place. Thanks for your interest, when the place is demo'd, my dad's spirit can finally rest.

thank you, what was your dad's
connection to halcyon / bennett?

the grudge no

say, motts, have you ever seen hrishikesh hirway's work? he's primarily a musician, but he does his own album photography. your black and white stuff is a lot like his.

there is no spoon

To Pat Ratchet...
My father's connection to Bennett is a long one. He started work there in 1943 at age 15, his employment continued until the place closed in the late 70's early 80's and the stayed on to give "tours" of the place to prospective buyers. His closing job title was "plant engineer" he was head of building and grounds for Bennett School. In all the years he worked there, he never once took me on a full tour - and although as the child of an employee, I could have attended Bennett at no charge, he never wanted me to go to school with all of those spoiled little rich kids that went there.

As for the founder of Friends of Halcyon Hall, is it David Sloan that you're referring to? I met him many years ago when I still lived and worked in Millbrook. I found him and his efforts to be quite self serving. He fit into Millbrook "society" quite well.
Keep up the good work, although you've probably researched and found as muych as you are ever going to find about Bennett School. Feel free to drop me a note.

Reminds a bit of that scene in Metropolis when the elevators were crashing...awesome pic

ooh.
i hate elevators.
they scare the crap out of me.

Elevator accidents were common at Philadelphia Warehousing & Cold Storage where my father worked.Part of the problem was you could bribe the inspecters.
I remember one incident in the early sixties when the gate came crashing down on the head of some 73 year old named Gannon.He died a couple of days later.
My uncle Otto,who was the night supervisor there routinly Pulled the large spring-loaded band back to open the gate late one night and the darn thing snapped and hit him in the eye.
Now the elevator had a spring of water in the bottom of the shaft and that would fill with water.Sometimes the cable would slip or break and you'd go for a little ride.In the winter that water would freeze.
When my Dad was nearing retirement and never having missed a day of work in 50 yrs,he and his partner were loading the elevator when it started going up on its' own,with the partner 1/2 on and 1/2 off the car.He was pinned between the fork lift and the top of the door frame.(in those days tow motors didn't have protective cages)He died a few days later,and my father,who tried to save him by scrabbling up into the car to hit the controls,took a few days off.

Going down...................?

That looks like a long drop.....I'm not to crazy about elevators myself....those are some horrifying stories. Thanks to Pat & all the people with the interesting stories of this place. :)

I was in the last class to attend Bennett College. It closed in the summer of 1977. By this time it was co-ed. Living on campus 250 girls and about 24 guys. I remember Halcyon hall like it was yesterday.

hi, all. i'm a reporter with a local newspaper and would like to do a story on this building, specifically interviewing people who have a history with the college and the people who formed/are still a part of Friends of Halycon Hall. If interested, please contact me!
n01732160@newpaltz.edu

this si creepy

I had a elevator drop on me i was terrified