Editing Montebello, New York (section)

===Erie Railroad===
Suffern became an important and busy station on the mainline of the [[Erie Railroad]]. New Yorkers, in search of a cool, quiet retreat to relieve the stress of their urban lifestyles, filled the passenger trains bound in summer for the surrounding rural regions. Relatively isolated before the 1860s, Suffern served as a welcome mat for the upstate Erie traveler. Twenty trains a day, loaded with seasonal tourists, stopped at the impressive [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] depot. Word soon spread among the travelers that "romantic scenery, fascinating beauty and rich land" could be found at the "pleasant summer resort". Suffern played host to the traveling public, whether accepting the hospitality offered by the resort hotels and boarding houses or just switching trains. The list of guests, visitors, and part-time residents who were attracted to Suffern's rural charm included the names of many families from New York's affluent "upper crust". Some came as seasonal vacationers, closing to rent an estate, while others bought the property from the abundant amount of undeveloped land. Picturesque rolling hills and vast wooded lands guarded by the [[Ramapo Mountains]] provided a rustic setting for the development of elegant country estates.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About the Village of Suffern, New York|url=https://www.stonegateone.com/about-suffern|access-date=April 11, 2021|website=stonegate|language=en}}</ref>