['Pocantico gate house. Looking east', 'Sleepy Hollow Highway Bridge over blowoff'] before 1887

P. de Luze captured these photographs of the Pocantico gate house and Sleepy Hollow Highway Bridge. These images offer a glimpse into the infrastructural developments that shaped the landscape of the New York area. The focus on structures like gate houses and bridges speaks to the increasing emphasis on transportation and access, likely influenced by the burgeoning automotive industry of the early 20th century. The presence of human figures in the photographs is also notable; they are dwarfed by the structures, perhaps commenting on the changing relationship between people and the built environment. To fully understand these images, it would be essential to delve into local archives, construction company records, and period newspapers. These can uncover not only the technical aspects of these projects, but also the social and economic considerations that underpinned them. By examining these resources, we can gain a deeper understanding of the cultural values and institutional forces that shaped this landscape.