Forest Home Falls

ITHACA WEATHER

AKA: Class of ’48 Falls (perhaps erroneously); Downstream Bridge Falls

Located in upper Fall Creek Gorge, west of Beebe Lake and surrounded by Cornell University’s massive campus, sits the small neighborhood of Forest Falls. Consisting of less than 500 households hugging a bend in the gorge, the neighborhood has a rich history of manufacturing that slowly transitioned to a predominantly residential area. Two steel truss bridges, constructed in the early 1900s, connect both sides of the gorge. The western bridge, built by the Groton Bridge Company in 1904, provides the best vantage point for viewing the falls, but unfortunately it’s a single lane and has no walkways. Forest Home Park, which was dedicated in 2015, hugs the east rim of the gorge adjacent to the falls, but, unfortunately, offers no clear views through the trees and into the gorge.

The waterfall is no more than 5 feet in height, pretty small for the area, but does have some character. A concrete mill dam was constructed over the falls in the 1800s and has been left to deteriorate and wear down so it almost looks natural. Water pours predominantly through the old sluice and then a large rectangular slab of limestone. In very low flow it falls down an additional cut of rock before it passes under the bridge. Downstream several rock ledges shake up the water even more, filling the area with the pleasing sounds of rushing water and covering up the sounds of oncoming traffic, so keep your eyes peeled.

From the bridge an additional cascade can be seen upstream. At about 3 ft high, it has no official name. It can be seen closer from the creek-side trail within the Mundy Wildflower Garden.

Getting a clear view of the falls involves carefully crossing the bridge, making yourself clearly visible to traffic coming from 3 potential directions (it helps to have a spotter). It is worth it? If you are looking to see as many of Ithaca’s waterfalls as possible, then yeah. It’s a quick stop in a beautiful neighborhood, not too far from Cornell Botanic Gardens and the larger waterfalls of Fall Creek Gorge. Make it a part of a full day hunting for waterfalls.

The Cayuga inhabited the area prior to the arrival of white settlers. Although the only trace of a settlement found was in the Cayuga Heights area to the west, a Cayuga trail did run through here. Stone tools were found as settlers excavated properties, and it was speculated that the inhabitants of the nearby village used these grounds to hunt. The Cayuga were virtually wiped out from the region by the Sullivan-Clinton Expedition in 1779.

The first white settlers of what is now Forest Home were Joseph S. and Martha Sydney in 1794. The Sydneys constructed a gristmill and bridge on this site within a year, and the new settlement became known as “Sydney’s Bridge.” His mill burned down in 1799, and Sydney sold the property and moved operations to Cascadilla Creek.

The power of Fall Creek attracted several other mill operations, including a fulling mill built by a “Mr. Phoenix” in 1812, leading to the settlement taking on the name “Phoenix Mills.” The Phoenix name was short-lived, and the community became known as “Free Hollow” by 1815. Some whimsical nicknames for the settlement were used at this time, including “Flea Hollow” or “Flea Hollar.”

Other mills that were constructed and operated here include:

• Powder Mill – Owned by Arnold McIntyre, it exploded in September 1849. It was located downstream from Lover’s Falls around the bend west of here. McIntyre went on to found the Ithaca Gun Company.
• Telescope Factory – Located downstream from Lover’s Falls around the bend west of here.
• Red Grist Mill – Built by Arnold McIntyre around 1855. It operated until around 1900 and was located just below Lover’s Falls, downstream and around the bend.
• Turning Shop – Built by Mr. Chamberlain just north of the Red Grist Mill. It produced handles for tools and some furniture, probably built after 1866.
• Woolen Factory – Built in 1826 by Stewart and Allen at the apex of the bend downstream from here, likely on the site of the old Phoenix Mill. It later became known as Edwards Woolen Mill and was swept away in a flood in 1892.
• Tannery – Built by Mills McKinney in the 1830s(?), it was located just downstream from the bridge here on the east side of the creek.
• Furniture Factory – Built by Isaac Cradit (date unknown), it stood on the southwest side of the bridge here next to the falls. It was later bought by the Bool Company and made cabinets and other home furnishings until it closed in 1926. It was the last working mill in the hamlet.
• Saw Mill – Built by Peter Manning on the northeast side of the falls across from the furniture factory.
• Brown’s Cider Mill – Built next to Peter Manning’s saw mill. Cornell students were known to have night raids of the mill in the 1880s.
• Empire Grist Mill – Located on the northwest corner of the bridge, it burned down in the 1890s.

In 1876, with the arrival of its first post office and the realization that the name “Free Hollow” conflicted with other villages, the name was changed to “Forest Home.” As the manufacturing industry waned at the turn of the century, development began on residential homes, attracting professors from the adjacent Cornell University. Old factory facilities, such as offices and storage, were converted to homes, while new ones were built.

A stone bench in Forest Home Park reads: 

“In memory of CHARLES A. HASBROUCK of the Class of 1884. A Forest Home boy who gave Cornell University his home and seventy acres including this ground to be put to such use as would best subserve the welfare of the women students.”

Alfred Hasbrouck, a farmer, also operated a leather finishing shop along Pleasant Grove Rd the 1860s, creating fine leather for book bindings and women’s shoes. In 1864, Alfred and wife, Sarah, welcomed son Charles into the world. They relocated to 200 Pleasant Grove Rd, the white house across from the bridge, with their farmland being up the hill, where the golf course is located now. Charles went on to attend Cornell, graduating in 1884 with a degree in Civil Engineering, and went on to design bridges. His mother, who was battling depression (attributed to a serious case of influenza), commited suicide by jumping from the bridge at the falls in 1892. 

Alfred died in 1902, leaving the estate to his son, Charles, who had since seen much success in his career, having worked on major bridge projects across the northeast and midwest, as well as finding love and marrying Mary Forbes in Iowa in 1893.

In 1905, at age 40, Charles’ health began to fail, and he sought refuge at his childhood home, among other places in the US and Mexico. After the passing of his wife in 1907, after spending time in his childhood home, purchased some old mill properties along the creek, in what is now Forest Home Park. He died in 1910, willing his entire estate to Cornell University, in memory of his deceased wife. His will stated that the property “… be put to such use as will best subserve the pleasure and enjoyment of the lady students of Cornell University, and would respectfully request that the same be known as the “Hasbrouck Lodge.” 

The school did honor his request, to some degree. His former home was used to house married students for a time. Cornell decided it was no longer in their interests to maintain the house and sold it to a private owner in 1942. As for the rest of the 70-acre estate, most of it was built into a golf course, and the rest was used for a poultry farm for the College of Agriculture, a radio tower, and just 12 acres for natural woods and garden, which was eventually turned into Forest Home Park.

In 2012 the creek-side plot of woods and gardens was leased to the Town of Ithaca for the creation of the park, which opened in 2015. 

Difficulty: Moderate, due to having to stand at the side of the road to see the falls clearly

Markings: None.

Distance: A brief walk from the parking area at the adjacent park.

Description: From the parking at Forest Home Park, walk over to the bridge. Be mindful of traffic.

Map: Interactive.

Ditch the Tripod

• There isn’t enough room for a tripod on that bridge and it may prevent you from getting out of the way of traffic. Go handheld with this one.

Silky Water Effect

• To get that smooth cotton-candy look to the falls, you need to use a Neutral Density (ND) filter on your lens. The ND filter will block some of the light from entering the lens without altering the color, and thus allows your shutter to stay open longer. This blurs the water and creates a soft white gloss to the foamy areas of the falls.  Check out the article for all of the details.

More tips

• See the Articles for more photography tips.

Town of Ithaca
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