Local History with Dede Terns-Thorpe - MOUNTAIN RAILROADS SOLD AT AUCTION

The Columbia Republican of April 21, 1916, ran a story about the sale of our railroads. It is printed as written.

“The Catskill Mountain Railroad, the Otis Railway, and the Catskill & Tannersville Railroads were sold at public auction at the courthouse this week. (The Catskill Mountain Railway was a 3-foot narrow gauge railroad. It took passengers 15.73 miles, from Catskill to Palenville.) (The Catskill and Tannersville Railroad (also called the Huckleberry) started at the Otis Summit, at the top of the Wall of Manitou, which was the terminus of the Otis, and ended 5.2 miles away, at the head of South Main Street in Tannersville.)

The first mentioned two roads were sold under foreclosure proceedings while the Catskill and Tannersville Railroad was sold by the receiver. (The receiver in this situation is a court-appointed, neutral person whose responsibility is to repay debts to creditors and negotiate with creditors to secure lower interest rates.)

Only two persons participated in the bidding for the Catskill Mountain R. R. which was finally struck off to President, James P. Phillip, of the Catskill National Bank for $28,000 (about $800,000.00 today).

The Otis Railway was sold to President E. E. Olcott, of the Hudson River Day Line, bid $12,200 (about $360,000.00 today). (The Otis Railway was a 3-foot narrow gauge cable funicular railroad leading to the Catskill Mountain House. The line of the Otis was 7,000 feet with a rise of 1620 feet. It opened in 1892 and went from Palenville, up the Wall of Manitou to the CMH. For more detailed information, contact Mr. John Ham or Michael Kudish, experts in the field of railroads.)

The Catskill and Tannersville Railroad was also bought by Mr. Olcott for $3, 850 (about $115,000.00).

Counselor Orliff T. Heath, as referee conducted the sale of the Catskill Mountain and the Otis Railroads while the Catskill and Tannnersville R. R. was sold by Howard C. Wilbur and Fray, attorneys for William Y. Hawley, the receiver.”

It’s a pleasure to read about the railroads and the activity they brought with them.

Thanks for reading. I hope your summer is going great.

Stay safe. Dede TernsThorpe/Hunter Historian