Cornwall

Cornwall by Lewis Beach is a detailed 1873 historical and topographical survey of Cornwall, a town in Orange County, New York. It traces early settlement along Murderer’s Creek and Plum Point, outlines the town’s boundaries, and chronicles Revolutionary War events around the Highlands, including the defense of Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery, the Arnold treason, and West Point. The work also paints a vivid portrait of Cornwall’s physical geography—the Cornwall Basin, Storm King, Cro’-nest, Break-neck, and the Moodna valley—together with lakes, springs, mines, and industrial sites. It blends local history with notes on transport, economy, religion, education, and society, and offers visions of future development such as railroad improvements and river commerce. Rich with anecdotes, old maps, and descriptions of notable places like Idlewild, Bethlehem Church, and the Williams and Edmondston houses, the book serves as both guide and chronicle of Cornwall’s heritage.