HALCYON DAZE (1890-2010) Halcyon Hall to Bennett College, Millbrook, NY

HALCYON HALL was originally built as a resort hotel in 1890 - the New York Times reported on Sept. 16, 1893 that " THE NEW HALCYON HALL OPENED WITH A BRILLIANT BALL. A Large Number of Well-Known New-Yorkers in Attendance -- A Unique and Costly Country Inn for Summer and Winter -- A Place Where Comfort and Elegance Are Combined -- Beautiful Scenery and Health-giving Atmosphere."

The hotel later became Miss Bennett's School for Girls and eventually evolved into a women's college. Bennett College closed it's doors in 1978. Many magical care free times were had there in the days when smoke smoldered from bras burned but the sports bra had not yet been invented - and long before. Various plans, dreams and schemes to save beautiful old Halcyon have all failed. The ruins still stand and it's heartbreaking demise is devastating for us all who loved it so dearly to witness - much like Rose in "Titanic".

..."Life promises so much to a pretty girl between the ages of 16 and 25 that she never quite recovers from it. None of our colleges have succeeded in inventing anything to compete with the kind of love that doesn't have to be paid for with responsibility." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

..."It's very difficult to be two simple people at once, one who wants to have a law to itself and the other who wants to keep all the nice old things and be loved and safe and protected." - Zelda Fitzgerald

... "Well the years they flew / and we never knew / we were foolish then / We were never tired / and that little fire / is still alive in me / It will never go away ..." - "This Used To Be My Playground" by Madonna