‘This native ecologist sees the Pulpit Rock hotel as a huge boost’
| 12 Jul 2020 | 06:14
This 1902 picture shows the Wisner four-in-hand “Tally-Ho” coach in front of the Red Swan Inn about to depart on an outing to Goshen for dinner at the St. Elmo Inn. The Red Swan Inn stood to the right of the Warwick Cemetery, where the Warwick Country Club is now located on Oakland Ave. It was razed followed a fire in the 1950s. The St. Elmo Inn in Goshen burned in 1920; it was located near the site of the present post office. Photo courtesy of the Warwick Historical Society.
The first I’d heard of the “Pulpit Rock” issue was after several citizens asked for my help with its preservation. Like most area natives, I hadn’t heard much about “Pulpit Rock,” previously.
As a professional ecologist and researcher of human culture, I should comment:
Google me and you’ll find articles about a term I coined: “Greenwashing.” The relevance here is that I coined “Greenwashing” in response to hotel eco-dishonesty (A hotel is planned for this site) decades ago, and Greenwashing abounds in Warwick.
When I visited Pulpit Rock, I found the lack of biodiversity alarming, in an ecologically sterile cornfield. We call this as a “monoculture,” the opposite of biodiversity.
The site lacks sufficient ecological structure to support rare species: Like most Cornfields, it’s probably herbicide-treated.
What I saw was land that would be improved by an ecologically responsible hotel.
Ecologically speaking, mindful landscaping will improve nesting for at-risk bird species and food for our critically-imperiled pollinators.
Culturally, a functioning hotel will promote Warwick’s renaissance to its storied vibrance of olde. A return to a true Destination Warwick, not a day-trip.
Grand Warwick Village establishments such as “The Red Swan Inn Hotel,” “Ryerson House,” “Germania House,” “Demerest House,” “Welling Hotel,” “Oakland Hotel,” “Railroad House,” etc., ensured that Warwick’s gilded-era travelers stayed over and patronized Main street businesses.
Visitor retention spells success for our morbidly struggling Main Street businesses, our Orchards, Farms and our beloved Mount Peter Ski area.
Whenever I’ve invited friends to come for Applefest, they dread the long evening drive back to NYC. Imagine an Applefest where visitors (and their spending power) can stay over.
This native ecologist sees the Pulpit Rock hotel as a huge boost for struggling businesses. As a professional ecologist, I am deeply-concerned by false claims of “ecologically sensitive habitat” and “historical importance.”
As an actual environmentalist I am offended by this abuse of these terms.
Learn about Warwick’s hotel history with Richard Hull’s history books.
Curiously, you’ll find no mention of “Pulpit Rock.”
Jay Westerveld
Co-founder, New York Natural History council, 2010
Co-founder, Glenmere Conservation Coalition, 2008
Executive Director, “Leopard Cubs” Snow Leopard preservation, Bayan Ulgii , Mongolia, 2015
Co-founder, Sugar Loaf Historical Society, 2008
Founder, Wawayanda Watershed Alliance, 2011
Visiting Lecturer, Columbia University; United States Military Academy at West Point; NY Entomological Society; American Museum of Natural History; Northeast partners in Amphibian Conservation; Northeast Natural History Association; National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar; among others