IN THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY, THE GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONED A FOUNDRY IN WHAT IS NOW THE VILLAGE OF COLD SPRING. INDUSTRY HAD COME TO COLD SPRING AND THE VILLAGE THRIVED AS A RESULT. SOME OF THE PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED AT THE WEST POINT FOUNDRY:
ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT PRODUCTS TO BE MANUFACTURED AT THE WEST POINT FOUNDRY WAS THE PARROTT GUN, INVENTED BY ROBERT PARROTT AND CREDITED WITH HELPING TO TURN THE TIDE IN FAVOR OF THE UNION DURING THE CIVIL WAR. A SCALE REPLICA OF THE PARROTT GUN MAY BE SEEN AT THE COLD SPRING DOCK AT THE FOOT OF MAIN STREET.
THE WEST POINT FOUNDRY WAS IN OPERATION FOR ALMOST 100 YEARS CLOSING JUST PRIOR TO WORLD WAR I. AS THE PHOTOS SHOW, ALL THAT REMAINS TODAY
ARE RUINS. HOWEVER, THE FOUNDRY AND THE 85-ACRE LANDSCAPE IT SITS ON WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED BY
SCENIC HUDSON AND IS NOW AN HISTORIC PRESERVE.
THE STREAM THAT RUNS THROUGH THE PROPERTY AND WAS THE SOURCE OF THE ENERGY THAT POWERED MUCH OF THE FOUNDRY'S OPERATIONS IN THE EARLY YEARS.
THE TRAIL ALONG THE STREAM PROVIDES AN ENJOYABLE HIKE FROM THE LOWER FOUNDRY AREA TO THE BRIDGE AT ROUTE 9D.