Margaretville Central School All Class Reunion 2024

The ‘62/‘63 varsity sports team listed in the article at the Andes Hotel 

Group photo of the All Class Reunion at Union Grove Distillery in Arkville 

By Robert Brune

ARKVILLE — The Margaretville Central School (MCS) reunion would not be deterred by the torrential rain prior to the Friday evening first night of the all-class reunion at the Union Grove Distillery in Arkville. There were one hundred twenty-five people in attendance, all sharing stories of trees down, flooded roadways, and gusting wind en route to Arkville. Once people began to arrive at around 6 pm, it was a great bonding experience of generations spanning back at least sixty years. 

Josh Samuel, was on the road from Colorado on a countrywide trek in his camper and picked up a stray kitten in South Carolina along the way. Samuel was happy to show off his new friend with a group of cat lovers. Samuel, who is an accomplished chess player, enjoyed a game or two with one of his buddies. It was interesting to observe the generational gaps draw closer together as Zamyra Maxim, the youngest of the Union Grove gathering removed her hat revealing a style of frosted white streaks and lovely short-cut hair that was initially surprising to some of the older ladies, but Maxim is a charming lady who warmed up to the group immediately. 

With the Union Grove Distillery owner Brian Mulder buzzing around making everyone feel welcome, this location was the perfect kick-off to so many coming into the area, many of who have been away for some time. Gary Atkins, one of the founding members of the Margaretville Fairview Library spoke about the recent 50th anniversary of the local library with friends and brought his usual uplifting presence to the party. 

Day two of the reunion was held at the Andes Hotel which had a full day of visitors due to it being Andes Community Day. With the gathering starting at 5:00 pm, it was perfect timing as the day’s events were slowing enough for the MCS folks to find sufficient parking. The newly renovated hotel was quite a surprise for many as most of the attendees recall celebrating weddings and all sorts of gatherings in the former Yellow Room, now the Greem Room main dining area of the hotel. 

Gene Fix dressed up in a Blue Devils mascot costume and did a great job of making announcements and doing a brief session of MCS trivia. RuthAnn Funari shares her excitement of the event, “Great venue! Elucidating trivia about school history!”

 Fix announced that Ken Berger of ’52 was the most senior attendee, while Jarod Tanzer ’04 was the youngest, only because Zamyra Maxim was a late show. Everyone seemed to enjoy the very generous banquet of food provided by Derek Curl the owner of the hotel and the staff were very attentive to the needs of everyone. Mark Ladenheim of the class of ’70 came out onto the hotel porch with a couple of baseball gloves and a ball and asked Fix if he would throw the ball for a bit. After tossing the ball back and forth for a while, Ladenheim shared, “Back when I was a kid, my friends and I looked up to Gene and the older kids. We would ask them to allow us to play ball with them occasionally because we admired them so much.” Seven of the ‘62/’63 varsity sports team members including John Huggins, Gary Atkins, Denny Conklin, George Vining, Doug DeSilva, Doug Hinkley, and Gene Fix came together out on the porch together like old times to pose for a photo. 

Marilyn Vining shared, “It was wonderful all being together at the Union Grove and the Andes Hotel. The fireworks at the Andes Hotel were incredible and the alcohol was good, too!” 

“I came with my brother and sister.  We all had such fun being together at this amazing event” expressed by Kim Wagner Bohan. 

It took months of planning as Kam Storey was one of the many people assisting in putting this weekend together with very thoughtful and careful consideration. Storey’s graduating class has been dedicated to staying in touch with each other as she reveals, “The Class of ‘68 has a class reunion every year and we have stayed very close. This year we also attended the alumni reunion.  We hope we spread our excitement and school pride to the many other classes we spent this past weekend together.  It was exhilarating to share stories and remembrances with all who attended. Catching up, laughing, remembering those we have lost, and best of all, creating new memories! What a great time the ‘68 gang had!”

The Lawrence sisters ’68 and ’70, “Well planned, a wonderful time with old friends and made some new friends! Let’s do it, again.” 

We’re going to give the youngest of them the last word. Zamyra Maxim who is a local celebrity radio host on WIOX Roxbury Radio, “How cool it was to see so many generations of MCS alumni all together.”

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“A Song to Follow” Opens at 1053 Gallery

Monster Control, Moon Riot by Michael McGrath

Diana by Ken Hiratsuka

By Christein Aromando

FLEISCHMANNS — “A Song to Follow”, the new duo show featuring upstate artists Ken Hiratsuka and Michael McGrath opened on August 10th at 1053 Gallery. 

Statements from curator, Lindsay Comstock: 

“A Song to Follow” represents the visionary stone sculptures of Hiratsuka and paintings of McGrath and the mythic representations of line that course through the works. Hiratsuka attends to the spirit of marble and granite, bringing life through rock as sacred geometry and the feminine and masculine forms while McGrath’s paintings pulsate with open-mouthed beings, feline guardians and energy lines that leave fingertips and draw the viewer through a narrative transcending time.

Hiratsuka first began carving on the sidewalks of New York City in 1982, creating pieces which followed a single line. Since then, his carvings have expanded to 25 countries around the world. Now his studio practice exists in the Catskills, amidst the natural spirals found in water and

plants and fungi and fingerprints, the sacred shape uniting organic life. He brings an idea of the

earth as one big stone to pieces which function as anthropological relics not stuck in linear

time.

McGrath engages the mythic mind to bring imaginal realms into physical reality through large scale paintings and drawings. Magic and mysticism are alive in these works which burst with childlike curiosity as forms and figures are abstracted into symbolic narratives which call upon movies such as The Labyrinth and Lord of the Rings, engaging playful elements of fantasy into the mundane.

Curated by Lindsay Comstock and Monte Wilson, “A Song to Follow” will be up through September 22nd at 1053 Gallery in Fleischmanns. Learn more about the work of these prolific artists at kenrock.com and mmcgrath.com.

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A Conversation About: Winter is Coming…to the Catskills

By Jean Thomas

Fans of “Game of Thrones” know the motto of the Stark clan. It always sounds menacing, no matter where you hear it. It’s even more menacing in the middle of August. We look at the full ripeness of summer, vivid green lawns and lush gardens, and absorb the richness. All the while in the back of our minds there’s a little voice whispering, “Winter is coming.”                                                                            

Usually there’s a moment when we realize that we’re standing on the brink of the descent into Winter. Mine came this morning. I usually make it a point to sit outside as often as possible when I’m working on my laptop because, well, winter is coming. I want to absorb as much nice weather as possible before I’m trapped in the house with my nose pressed against the window. While I sit, enjoying the breeze and the sunshine, a fierce buzzing begins. I follow the sound and see the battle beginning. The hummingbirds are darting around my two feeders, dueling for dominance. There’s plenty for everyone. I have two feeders and countless flowers in their favorite flavors. But the migration has begun, and the local talent is trying to fend off the travelers. I frequently lean back and pull in my chin as a pair of combatants whiz past under my nose. I also get to admire individuals when, unmolested, they sip from the feeder until bubbles rise to the top.

But they’re not alone as harbingers of winter. Annual flowers are overly lavish and need pruning as they rush to produce seed for the next generation. And the birds are announcing the coming change loud and clear… to those who listen. The gangster blue jays are gathering by twos and threes from wherever they had spent their summer. As the autumn progresses, their numbers increase until there are packs of them bullying and shouting at the more peaceful avians. These include the mourning doves, who mysteriously arrive in small family groups, cooing and strutting around, waiting for the feeders to go up. Other small birds seem to feel a need to gather, as do the geese. They’re in no hurry to travel yet, just making plans, I guess. 

The small birds that stay all year are changing their habits, too. The gold finches are deliriously feeding on their favorite foods, the thistles, goldenrod and sunflowers. In another month they will shuck their bright yellow feathers and replace them with their winter costume of brown. For now, though, it’s a treat to watch the darting yellow sparks of color winging above waves of flower colors.                                     One last subtle hint of summer’s end is the production of seed among the grasses. Most of the big ornamental grasses have started to push out their spikes. These will expand into gorgeous plumes held above the massive clumps of foliage, and they dance with the wind and provide perches for the hungry small birds.

Yup, winter is coming. So grab what you can of your inside chores and scoot outside to savor the riches. I like to choose a particular day at this time of year, store it in my memory banks, and pull it out to enjoy on a dark January afternoon. Try it. It works. In the interim, listen to an episode of “Nature Talks, Conversations from the Hudson Valley.” We talk to Dr. Kathryn Schneider about ways to safely help feed our feathered friends it’s episode 78: https://ccecolumbiagreene.org/gardening/nature-calls-conversations-from-the-hudson-valley/episode-78-birding-101.

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Whittling Away with Dick Brooks - How Little We Know

I have finally reached the age where I now realize how little I know.  The younger me was an expert in all sorts of things.  I could carry on an intelligent conversation on almost any topic that might come up.  I was up on all the latest fashions and trends, knew all the musicians and could sing along with almost any song that came on the radio.  Now I will admit my ignorance in most current areas and find that I like it that way.  In fact I find myself going against many of the current trends, kind of a senior rebel without a cause.  I won’t wear my pants so low that my underwear shows, in fact I wear suspenders to make sure that that doesn’t happen.  Our comfortable home was built in 1840.  There isn’t a sign of open concept anywhere.  No master suite with a private spa type bathroom, there’s not a granite counter top to be found.  The upstairs bathroom was stylish for its time when we bought the house.  I removed the chocolate brown sink, tub, toilet and bidet.  The gold plated faucets went away along with the formica panels, and was replaced with wainscoting and plain white appliances except for the bidet which wasn’t replaced with anything since the only thing I ever used it for was scaring the cat.  I like a bathroom that looks like a bathroom and not like a waiting room in a French house of ill repute.  Our home is full of books, most of which are interesting or at least entertaining but there are several that I’m going to weed out.  Most of them I’ve read to no avail.  The how to do books have for the most part done nothing to better my life or my limited fund of useful information.  A lot of them are entitled, “The Idiot’s Guide to---“.  I’m a sucker for them, they all deal with topics I know little or nothing about but think I should so I buy them.  I’m looking for a copy of “The Idiot’s Guide to Useless Books”.  That one might be worth the money.  I have “The Idiot’s Guide to Electricity” thinking it might help me learn how to install an outlet or rewire a lamp.  I read it from cover to cover, got inspired and even went and took a course in solving home electrical problems at our community college.  The most important thing I learned about electricity was that it lives in the wall and can kill you or burn your house down.  You should call the local electrical shaman who knows how to appease the electrical demon and keep it in the wall and happy.  “The Idiot’s Guide to Plumbing” helped me flood the basement and learn that there are also plumbing experts available at a reasonable price.  “The Idiot’s Guide to Computers” failed me also, I still have a unreasonable fear every time I use mine that somehow I’m going to accidently hack into the Pentagon’s main frame and start a worldwide conflict.  Lastly, I will admit publicly that I’m not as smart as my phone.  I know how to make a phone call on the thing but nobody ever uses it to call anybody like they did back in the past when phones weren’t mobile and had dials.  I solved the problem of phone usage by having had the wisdom to have married my Queen who understands the darn thing and is patient enough to help me deal with it.  Aging does improve your coping skills if nothing else.

Thought for the week—Our happiness depends as much on our temperaments as on our luck.      –La Rochefoucauld

Until next week, may you and yours be happy and well.

Whittle12124@yahoo.com

             

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MUSINGS OF A LOCAL by Iris Mead - A LONG LIFE (of a Plant)

Specially-built trellis for the Hoya

Bloom cluster of the Hoya 

Many plants have a life span longer than the average person’s, usually, trees are in this category, but there is one Hoya Carnosa plant living in Margaretville that rivals the age of some of the trees living near it.  The “caretakers” of this plant, Jane and Steve Miller, estimate that it has to be nearly 100 years old or more.  Hoyas are very slow growers so in the over 70 years that Steve has had it, it has not grown significantly bigger.

As a young child living in Union Grove, NY, one of the four small villages that were taken by eminent domain by the City of New York for their water supply, Steve Miller saw this plant on display in the general store window and thought it unusual and interesting.  When the time came for that store to be demolished and burned, he asked his mother to rescue it, which she did.  It was moved to the Union Grove post office, located in the Miller home, which was the last building to be taken down in Union Grove. Agnes Miller had been the postmistress of Union Grove for 15+ years prior to the demise of the village.  The plant then “moved” to Margaretville to a new house being built by Ivan and Agnes Miller where a specially built trellis was included in the building plans for the plant.  There it has sat and bloomed for the past 70+ years.  Afraid to change its location after 70 years, it has been re-potted a few times but not fertilized as it continues to blossom year after year.

Hoyas are native to Australia and Asian countries and of the dogbane family. They were discovered by a Scottish botanist, Robert Brown in Australia in the early 1800’s. There are at least 29 main types of Hoyas.  Because these are tropical plants they like filtered light, humidity and adequate water. They can take seven years to reach maturity and to bloom.  They bloom usually in the spring and grow in ball-shaped clusters that can contain up to 40 individual flowers.  Since Hoyas have shiny waxy leave with sprinkles of white freckles on them, the clusters look like they are molded from wax.  They have a colored eye in the center of each bloom.  When blooming they have a sweet scent, or as Steve calls it “a sickening sweet scent.”  Eventually, the blooms dry up and die after dropping a type of sticky sap from the flowers so clean-up around the plant is required.

To provide clean drinking water for its citizens,  New York City took four Delaware County villages through eminent domain.  They were Shavertown, Arena, Pepacton (which the reservoir was named after) and Union Grove.  They each had their own post office.  The owner of the general store where Steve saw the plant was Ed Van Keuren, who vowed that he would never leave Union Grove as he was born and raised there.  Unfortunately, this turned out to be true as he died of a heart attack while his general store was being cleaned out prior to demolition, so his vow became true.

This Hoya Carnosa will continue to slowly climb the trellis and bloom for many more years.  The Millers have not yet made plans for the continuation of its life.

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Outdoors with Larry DiDonato - Paper Hunting Licenses Now on Sale

Durable Valeron plastic carcass tags like this one are now a thing of the past in NY. The nearly indestructible Valeron tag that could only be printed by DEC or its License Issuing Agents, can now be printed at home on plain paper by all hunters. The move is not without controversy, as DEC says the switch to the delicate paper tags was made to reduce its carbon footprint and to reduce costs. Hunters and other game law enforcement proponents point out that printing paper carcass tags at home can become a source of abuse of our wildlife resources.

On August 6th, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar announced that hunting and trapping licenses and Deer Management Permits (DMPs) for the 2024-25 season are now on sale. The sale kicks off the first time that all hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and associated tags will be printed on plain paper rather than plastic stock.  

"DEC continues to modernize the sporting license system and improve the license-buying experience for the public," Interim Commissioner Mahar said. "The ability for people to receive their license electronically and print tags at home will make it quicker and easier to get outdoors and connect with nature through hunting and fishing." 

 I’m not sure switching from durable Valeron to paper printed tags is something to be celebrated. Yes, it certainly will be “quicker and easier” to print tags at home. Poachers are gonna love the change. It gives unscrupulous game thiefs the opportunity to print an infinite number of their own carcass tags. Deer, bear, and turkeys can now be transported home with a tag which can be replaced with the flick of their home printer button. Did Central Office wildlife biologists even consult with DEC law enforcement command before the decision? And if so, what does the rank-and-file ECO think of the move? Your guess is as good as mine as ECOs have been under a strict gag order and are afraid to speak to the press for fear of disciplinary action. I’m not sure DEC wildlife brass proponents of the measure would have listened to any such complaints iterated by ECOs anyway. So much for free speech and an objective exchange of ideas. 

 DEC also said a key reason for the switch from high-quality weather and tear-resistant Valeron to plain paper tags included DEC wanting to reduce their carbon footprint by not supporting the plastic-based Valeron. That just doesn’t make sense to hunters who are quick to point out that DEC now recommends putting the flimsy, self-printed carcass tags on game in a plastic bag to protect it from melting in rain, mud, and snow, to the point it’s not legible. Won’t that lead to more plastic bag use, negating the carbon footprint argument? I don’t think the move to plain paper tags will be saving the environment by capturing any carbon. By the way, if you are found with game and the carcass tag is mutilated or illegible, you can be arrested, ticketed, and fined.

 The other reason DEC gave for the switch to plain paper tags was cost. I’m sure we are all for efficiency with our tax and license dollars, but you get what you pay for. The Valeron tag was outstanding in its performance for NY’s sportsmen and women, especially with respect to its durability. In the past, ethical sportsmen and women who bought Valeron tags and wished to comply with tagging regs had an easy time preserving the tag complete with legible required information. Now if you want your license issuing agent to print a paper tag for you, have to pay them an extra fee. My question is, why isn’t the $40 million dollars the state takes in annually from hunting and fishing licenses sales enough money to have stuck with the demonstrably superior Valeron tag?

 DEC went on to remind hunters that backtags are no longer required to be worn while hunting anywhere in New York State. Some like the change while others do not. Like it, or not, failure to wear your backtag while hunting is no longer an offense in New York. Carrying proof you are licensed while hunting in the field is still required. You can carry a hard copy of your license privilege or an electronic license through the HuntFishNY mobile app. 

“In addition, while a recent law change gave DEC the authority to accommodate electronic carcass tags for deer, bear, and turkey, this requires a regulatory change. Electronic tagging will not be available for the 2024-25 license year and tags are required to be printed on plain paper and carried while afield.

Licenses and permits can be purchased online at any of DEC's license issuing agents or by telephone at 866-933-2257. Hunting and trapping licenses are valid from September 1st through August 31st each year, while annual fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from date of purchase. 

With the transition to plain paper licenses this year, licenses purchased online or over the phone can be emailed to a customer and printed at home, making them almost instantly accessible. Additional information on the transition to plain paper licenses and how to properly tag your harvested deer, bear, or turkey using paper tags can be found on DEC’s website. 

For additional information, visit the General Sporting License Information webpage on DEC’s website.  

Information for hunters with a disability can also be found on the Permits for Hunters with Disabilities page on DEC’s website. 

The 2024-25 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, which provides an easy-to-read collection of pertinent rules and regulations, is available on the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide page on the DEC website. Copies will also be available at license issuing agents.” 

Happy hunting, fishing, and trapping until next time.

News and Notes

Deer Management Permits (DMPs) 

DMPs, tags for antlerless deer, are available at all license-issuing outlets, by phone, or online through Oct. 1, 2024. DMPs are used to manage the deer population and are issued through an instant random selection process at the point of sale. The chances of obtaining a DMP remain the same throughout the application period; hunters need not rush to apply. The chances of DMP selection in each Wildlife Management Unit (PDF) are available online, through license issuing agents, or by calling the DMP Hotline at 1-866-472-4332. Detailed information on DMPs is available on DEC's website. 

Remember to report poaching violations by calling the 24-hour ECO Dispatch at: 

1-844-DEC-ECOS.

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The Tapestry with Dr. Deb Herodes - Teachers-The Touchstones of Life

Be thankful, not critical

As Taylor Swift backpacks fly off the shelves, and new sneakers are purchased for the work of their play, moms and dads tuck in their children for their last nights of summer vacation.  There is a certain sadness for parents, as they watch their children fall off to sleep, because the summer went so quickly and so much of what they wanted to do with their children went undone.  Some of these sleeping heads are excited about the opening of school, because they get to see their friends; it had been a long summer without them. But some, are just as depressed as their parents about the beginning of homework, schedules and responsible bedtimes. While both emotions are real, the truth is that an education is important and henceforth, it represents one of the best things you can do for your children.  Encourage them about a brand-new year.  

If you remember back to your days in school, they are probably a wonderful memory in your life. Yes, there were bullies. Yes, there were tests you didn’t do well on. Yes, the homework was grueling, but the benefits far outweighed the negatives.  Learning social responsibility is imperative in education.  Children are a huge part of society and must learn how to get along with other children, must understand that rules must be followed and must understand that education opens many doors to their futures.

It might surprise you to know that most of the problems that teachers deal with, concerning their students, are their parents; those who care and those who don’t.  Often, caring parents insert themselves into the daily routines of their children and to be perfectly honest, the teachers can truly deal with these daily demands.  Allowing a teacher to do his/her job is important; I cannot imagine another livelihood that is more under the microscope.  Of course, if there is an issue, speak up, but do it kindly, because your child’s teacher, no doubt, has the child’s mental, physical and educational needs firmly implanted in their hearts and minds.  Remember, teachers are not the enemies; they are the people you rely on to keep your children safe, happy and educated.  It is always best to inquire before accusing and it is always best to believe the teacher (believe it or not, children can misrepresent the truth.)

While many summer days saw teachers attending workshops and readying their curriculums and classrooms for a new year, there are those who scoff about the summer break teachers enjoy.  My only wisdom on that “scoff” is to let non-teachers know, it’s necessary, in order to tie up loose ends from the year, begin to prepare for the new year and continue to educate oneself for the sake of your children.

Many teachers become the one reason a child wants to go to school; special connections are formed, a certain safety zone has been developed, and as long as the child must be away from home, there is at least one adult or in many cases many adults, who he/she can share the day and his/her life with.  Many others need the everyday pat on the back from these touchstones of life known as teachers.  Their smiles, their special notes on corrected papers, their attendance at student events and their approachability are all crucial parts of a good educator. Pair this with a supreme knowledge of their subject matter and devotion to THE WORK, (and there is much of it,) ensures a wonderful learning environment for your kindergartener, your middle schooler and your high schooler.

We are incredibly blessed in our little corner of the world, because our faculties of educators are some of the best.  I know this personally! I was proud to serve as an educator for three plus decades and I, for one, applaud those who take their jobs, as educators, seriously.  The little sleepy-heads or the cranky teenagers that you will yank from their comfy beds very soon, will be well taken care of in the hands of our teachers. Be thankful and breathe a sigh of relief knowing that your most precious Earthlings are well-loved in their school districts.

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Obituary - Frances Donnelly

Frances (Cooney) Donnelly, age 92, passed away on August 3, 2024, in Rockport, MA. Born in Whitestone, NY, to Daniel and Margaret Cooney, Frances was the fourth of six children.

Throughout her life, Frances exemplified resilience and dedication. While raising eight children and managing various businesses, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree from SUNYNewPaltz. Frances was always ready with a kind word and a helping hand, no matter how busy her schedule. A passionate community servant, she and her husband, Edward, were instrumental in starting the Hensonville Rescue Squad in Windham, NY. Additionally, Frances ran for public office in both Windham and Whitestone, NY, showcasing her commitment to civic engagement.

Frances was not only a devoted mother to her eight children but also a proud grandmother to 19 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was known for her remarkable ability to prepare a full three-course meal for surprise visitors in record time, including desserts! Later in life, she had the joy of traveling the world to visit family and friends. Frances cherished the time spent with her children and grandchildren, imparting life lessons and enjoying their many achievements.

Frances was predeceased by her husband Edward, her daughter Mary, and her sons Robert, Edward, and James. She is survived by her children: Frances (Gary) Sonia, Jane (Joseph) Romanowski, Margaret Donnelly, and Daniel (Lorie) Donnelly. She is also survived by her 19 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, along with many family members and friends she loved and cherished. The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Day by Day Adult Day Center and Oceanside Rehabilitation Center for the compassionate care provided to Frances.

Frances’s Funeral Mass will be held at Saint Joachim's Church 56 Broadway, Rockport, MA, on Wednesday, August 14th, at 11 AM. Internment will take place in Windham, NY, on Friday, August 23rd, at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Day by Day Adult Care Activities Department, 4R Blackburn Center, Gloucester, MA 01930. Arrangements by the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester. For online condolences, please visit www.greelyfuneralhome.com

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Local History with Dede Terns-Thorpe - The Catskill Mountain House

The Catskill Mountain House, also known as The Pine Orchard, opened 200 years ago, Construction began in 1823, with the grand opening in 1824. The Catskill Mountain House was the start of all that the Mountain Top is today. (It makes one wonder how construction took place without electricity, modern equipment, or transport vehicles, just the horse and wagon.)

The following notes are from local historian, Esther Haines Dunn, the granddaughter of Christian Charlie Haines, owner of the Haines Falls House (West of the entrance to Twilight Park). Mr. Haines sold the property that today is called, Twilight Park. Mr. Charles Wingate was at an 1887 sanitary engineers convention and stayed a few nights at Mr. Haines’s hotel. 

Esther Dunn wrote, “ The still very young USA, quite firm on its feet, once the war of 1812 was over, had a vast number of visitors and travelers. They came from widespread parts of our own country, and the West Indies, South America, Britain, and Europe. All were curious to see our lands. Pictures in books and magazines showed them what to expect.”

Because Ms. Dunn had numerous articles concerning the CMH, we will try and cover much of it over the next few weeks. Dunn said people would sail by sloop or steamboat up the Hudson River to the Tappan Zee (A natural widening of the Hudson River about 3 miles across at its widest, in southeast New York) and after reaching the Highlands, with excitement they’d look for the new lone white building, built high on the mountaintop. 

Landing at the point in Catskill they’d embark westward, by stagecoach, on the twelve-mile trip, nine miles to Palenville and three miles up a difficult narrow road. The gentlemen frequently got out and walked, to relieve the burden on the horses. 

On arrival at the top, the spectacular view of the Hudson River made the arduous trip worthwhile. Ms. Dunn said the almost touchable river pulsated with life, sailboats, steamboats, barges, and tugs. The Erie Canal had opened in 1825 and America’s commerce growth rocketed.

She said the CMH was famed around the world during the 1800s. Distinguished visitors from abroad, as well as numerous writers, actors, generals, and three Presidents of the United States, visited the house.

Charles L. Beach of Catskill, a young man who had spent his young life exposed to the excitement brought about by the CMH, had the opportunity to lease and then purchase the Pine Orchard. He soon expanded the building, and added the famous thirteen white Corinthian columns, giving the building a Greek Revivalist appearance. 

Pre-1845-when Charles Beach purchased the CMH:

Front steps descended on the sides of the piazza. After 1845 the stairs descended at the center of the pizza. 

Columns were slender and extended across the north extension of the building. After 1845  the added  Corinthian pillars were fluted and the capitals were hand-carved. They were based on the piazza floor, not on the ground as before. 

A south wing was added, eventually extending to the west rear of the building. The north wing (kitchen, utility rooms, sheds, etc. were constantly being developed. The rear of the building was very plain and seldom shown. 

Beach installed the large flagpole.

The view from the Catskill Mountain House, although no longer standing, continues to share the excitement of viewing the Hudson River and the valley below. How lucky we are to live so close.

Thanks so much for reading. Take care of yourselves, and stay safe. Enjoy the rest of your summer.

Dede Terns-Thorpe/Hunter Historian

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Ashland Speaks

By Lula Anderson

When I first started writing this column many, many years ago, I would take paper and pen, and actually write down my thoughts, then drive to Windham and drop it off on the desk of the editor.  Now, we have E-MAIL which makes life so much easier, until : dun, dun,dun      Computer crash.  Yes, Judy's hard drive crashed last week.  Writing texts on the phone is one thing, but not an entire column.  Thanks to internet buying and free shipping, we are back in business.  There are still some kinks to iron out, like why has everything just disappeared three times.  I'll get it.

What a storm last Friday!  Judy lost half of her peach tree, which was minimal compared to all those who were without electricity for a couple of days.   Hopefully you didn't lose much food in your fridge and freezer.  Thankfully, the rain came in spurts so there was minimal flooding of cellars.  

The Car Show in Ashland for Cancer was very well attended with aboul 204 cars.  

The WAJ Alumni dinner was not so well attended.  Sorry you missed a great talk by Barbara Tolley who was celebrating 80 years, and Fred (Ferdinand or Sonny) LeBrun who, I think, graduated in 1959 along with Arlene Pousant MacDonald and Joan Oliver Mead.  

 Many who attended the internment of Al Anderson Jr. were reminiscing about their old teachers at WAJ and the tempers of Mr Bob Ferris and Mr Stanley Christman.  I have met several who still can't talk to Bob without cringing.  I find him to be a very nice person.

The members of the Jewett Fire Department wish to thank all who attended the chicken barbeque.  The weather cooperated and it was dry until everyone got home.  Next year it will be on August 16, so plan ahead.

Don't forget to support the Greek Fest this weekend.  Judy just loves the Gyros and lamb shank.  

AS I REMEMBER IT

Since I had no electricity for an extended period of time, I had nothing else to do but think.  I have been watching the Olympics, so got to thinking about them.  Did you know that the five rings are each associated with each continent.  The blue represents Oceania, green represents Europe, black is Africa, red-American and the yellow - Asia.  They also represent the nations around the world, as every country has at least one of these five colors in its flag.  

I got to thinking about when  I went to school and we had a huge sports field where the parking lot now is.  We had the big baseball field, a smaller one (where the girls played), a huge soccer field in the back and in the far corner, a high jump pit.  The distance around the field was just shy of 1 mile, so we could do a mile run to warm up.  

In June,  there was Field Day when we competed, grade against grade in age-appropriate activities.  

We played a lot of baseball, softball, archery (not my forte), indoors we had gymnastics, and outdoors we had "track and field", shot put, discus throw and high jump.  We had an awards ceremony before moving up exercises where we received sports awards, and the biggest achievement was our WAJ patch for our letter sweater.  

I, personally, was not so great at sports, but I did play soccer.  I was always goalie.

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