New York State flag
New York State flag
Meher Baba at Harmon
Meher Baba at Harmon

The Harmon on Hudson property was owned by Margaret Mayo.

 

The property at the time of Meher Baba's visits was known as  " Meherashram "

and is located at 180 Old Albany Post Road.

 

Meher Baba visited this property in 1931 & 1932

Actress and playwright, Margaret Mayo in 1898
Actress and playwright, Margaret Mayo in 1898

The above maps are courtesy of Google Maps & Street view,

Meher Baba at Harmon, NY.
Meher Baba at Harmon, NY.
Harmon-Croto map illustration. Meherashram is located on the top R/H corner of the above map on the right side of the river. The picture of the bridge below connects that side to the railway station side.Colourization by Anthony Zois
Harmon-Croto map illustration. Meherashram is located on the top R/H corner of the above map on the right side of the river. The picture of the bridge below connects that side to the railway station side.Colourization by Anthony Zois
The Van Cortlandt Bridge over the Croton River in 1912. Courtesy of the Westchester County Historical Society
The Van Cortlandt Bridge over the Croton River in 1912. Courtesy of the Westchester County Historical Society
Meher Baba pulling the bucket at the well at Harmon
Meher Baba pulling the bucket at the well at Harmon
Meher Baba drawing water from the bucket at the well at Harmon
Meher Baba drawing water from the bucket at the well at Harmon

The newsreel was filmed in 1932 at the property in which Meher Baba stayed for a short while called Harmon-on-Hudson which is located near Croton-Hudson at the end of the Albany Post Road. This town is located on the eastern side of the Hudson River north of New York City but in New York State.

Meher Baba is dictating to Meredith Starr who accompanied him from England.

The sounds of the steam ships can be heard in the distance.

 


Herald Statesman Yonkers NY 9 May 1932
Herald Statesman Yonkers NY 9 May 1932
The entrance to Meherashram, 1931 - The house is on the left of the car.
The entrance to Meherashram, 1931 - The house is on the left of the car.
Present day - photo taken by Eric Teperman
Present day - photo taken by Eric Teperman
24 May 1932 : ( L-R ) Adi Jrn, Norina Matchabelli, Meher Baba, Anita de Caro, Ghani Munsiff, Beheram Irani, Kaka Baria and Chanji Dadachanji
24 May 1932 : ( L-R ) Adi Jrn, Norina Matchabelli, Meher Baba, Anita de Caro, Ghani Munsiff, Beheram Irani, Kaka Baria and Chanji Dadachanji

PRESENT DAY IMAGES OF THE PROPERTY & SURROUNDS

2016 ; Rear view of the house
2016 ; Rear view of the house
Glow mag. February 1995 - p.21
Glow mag. February 1995 - p.21
Harmon, NY : Baba with Elizabeth Patterson
Harmon, NY : Baba with Elizabeth Patterson
Meher Baba taken at Harmon, probably by Elizabeth Patterson. Courtesy of MN Collection
Meher Baba taken at Harmon, probably by Elizabeth Patterson. Courtesy of MN Collection
1931 Harmon : ( L-R ) Anita de Caro, Elizabeth Patterson, Princess Norina Matchabelli and Malcolm Schloss. Courtesy of Beloved Archives
1931 Harmon : ( L-R ) Anita de Caro, Elizabeth Patterson, Princess Norina Matchabelli and Malcolm Schloss. Courtesy of Beloved Archives
Courtesy of MN Collection
Courtesy of MN Collection

Margaret was married to Edgar Selwyn, ( they divorced in the late twenties.)
This is quite likely the kitchen of their home at Harmon on the Hudson where Meher Baba stayed for a month in 1932.

He was a playwright of some distinction at the turn of the century, and early promoter of motion pictures, owning a famous movie house on Times Square, and was a co-founder of MGM ( the "wyn" of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer). He moved to Hollywood in 1929, and also might have  met Baba at the Knickerbocker or Pickfair receptions.

 

Image :  Library of Congress American Memories website

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b44820/

The above information was provided by Will Graham

Typical steam loco of the 20th Century Line pulling Pullman carriages away from Harmon.
Typical steam loco of the 20th Century Line pulling Pullman carriages away from Harmon.

Old Harmon Railway Station

1932 Visit

1932 : Meher Baba's journey route across the United States
1932 : Meher Baba's journey route across the United States

Harmon is in Westchester County, in the New York metro area.

The community was named for Clifford B. Harmon, developer

The latitude of Harmon is 41.201N. The longitude is -73.883W.

Harmon is on the Hudson River

Present

Courtesy of the Glow International magazine
Courtesy of the Glow International magazine

Letter to Meher Baba

Courtesy of ; HEART TALK – Adi K. Irani Secretary Collection – Fifty Sixth Letter
Avatar Meher Baba PPC Trust, Archives, Meherabad

In this Heart Talk posting dated 10 January 1932 — shortly after Baba left the US from His first trip there — we go to Meherashram, Harmon, NY, where Baba stayed on His first visit to the US. Josephine Ross, who was later known for her poems about Baba, was the daughter of Mary Antin, a noted author, who helped look after the property. Countess Nadine Tolstoy had been with Baba at Harmon in 1931, along with a young German immigrant nurse named Martha Hentschell.

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Present-day Rail map for New York City & Surrounding Areas