The Quarterly JOURNAL
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The Quarterly JOURNAL A Publication of the Greene County Historical Society, Inc. U. S. Route 9-W Coxsackie, N. Y. 1205 I Issue 1 * Spring, 1977 THE JOURNAL, OLD HOMES TOUR A NEW PUBLICATION SET FOR JUNE 4 The preservation of local history is a many faceted As a "money raiser" to restore the recently activity. The adaption of old buildings of architectural acquired Pruyn portrait collection, nine homes of interest for commercial or residential use, the taping of architectural and historical significance will be open to oral history as recalled by older residents; the publica the public on June 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be tion of books, pamphlets and special-issue newspapers; an unusual opportunity to study eighteenth and nine the delving into old records for genealogical purposes; as teenth century buildings adapted to modern living. well as other related activities, all have one important Specialized collections of antiques will be featured in thing in common; they are the outgrowth of individ the various homes. uals' interest in their area and its history. Tickets are priced at $4; advanced purchases may This JOURNAL, a new endeavor by your officers be made by sending checks payable to the Society at and trustees, is another aspect of this local history R.D. Coxsackie, 12051. The return mail will bring preservation effort. It will be published quarterly and, descriptive brochures, maps and tickets. Tickets may at least for the first year, will be distributed without also be purchased on June 4 at the various homes and additional cost to the membership of this Society. It at the Branck Museum which will serve as tour head is hoped, however, many persons will take out the quarters. Luncheon food will be sold at the latter site. Sustaining Membership or higher categories to help The museum is also open without additional charge to meet the additional cost. ticket purchasers. A publications committee, consisting of Thomas The houses to be featured are among some of the Blaisdell, Kenneth Mabey, Paul E. Ackerman and most interesting in the towns of Athens, New Baltimore Raymond Beecher will shape JOURNAL policy. and Coxsackie. The list consists of the residences of Contributions are solicited which are based upon Mr. and Mrs. James Warren, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard adequate research and which contribute to the goal Warren, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ackerman, Mr. Thomas for which the JOURNAL is established. The Editor, Greene, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Fox, Mr. and Mrs. Francis a volunteer, also will welcome constructive suggestions. Hallenbeck, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Fay, Mr. and Mrs. Readers will observe the punched h?les, in the Charles Peters and Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Beecher. left margin. These are designed to fit standard 3-ring notebooks and are a means of preserving the issues for future reference. As an added feature, an index will A YOUNG COUPLE'S EFFORTS be published annually. AT HISTORIC PRESERVATION A number of people had long admired the Van Dyck Greek Revival house with its four tapered pillars in West Coxsackie but it took the courage of a younger man, Timothy Meier, to purchase the structure and to commence badly needed repairs. Tim made his pur chase in 1972 while still a bachelor as a hobby "of sorts." Fortunately his wife, Geraldine, now shares his enthusiasm and is an equal partner in the house's restoration. Tim did most of the work himself, which included jacking up sills, replacing support beams, installing new floors and other "heavy" work. Slowly but accurately, '" Catskill Teachers' Workshop at Branck Museum (continued on page 6) "SUMMERING IN PALENVILLE" a number of comfortable boarding houses had been established, and Palenville had become a gathering By David and Susan Erdmann place for landscape artists. In 1875, Cornelius DuBois began to purchase tracts of land on the north side of the Kaaterskill On February 26, 1973, the Winchelsea, once a Creek upon which he would soon begin to construct fashionable boarding house in Palenville, was destroyed the Pine Grove House. An undated brochure describing by fire. In June of that year the remaining parts of the it carefully cited that the total travel time from New structure were demolished and burned and one more York City to Palenville was a mere four and one half page was turned in the history of the hamlet nestled hours via the West Shore Railroad and Catskill Moun at the foot of one of the Catskill Mountain region's tain Railroad connection to the Palenville station. The most spectacular sites, the Kaaterskill Clove. Palenville Catskill Line Ste.amers also brought many summer visi has a history barely discernible in ite present status. tors to the area. On one Saturday in August, 1896, five Once a thriving manufacturing center known coaches on the Catskill Mountain Railroad were needed primarily for the tanning enterprises of Jonathan Palen, to bring Palenville-bound travelers from the dock at Brainard Shaler and John "Boss" Dederick, Palenville Catskill. The Pine Grove House advertised "a grove of became in the period following the American Civil War about 200 beautiful pines, well shading its spacious a well-known and frequently visited summer resort veranda," "well-ventilated rooms finely furnished," a area, not challenging but offering a less expensive "faultless cuisine, and an excellent laundry and livery," alternative to the Hotel Kaaterskill, the Laurel House, all for $10.00 per week. It was only one of the many and the Catskill Mountain House. The ledger books fine establishments in Palenville from which the sum from one of its more prominent establishments, the mer visitors could choose. The Winchelsea, built by Pine Grove House, record the names of visitors from as Theodore C. Teale in 1878, featured a cottage addition far south as Florida, as far west as California, and even built "in a combination of Swiss and Gothic styles." from England and Saxony, all of whom were assured Before venturing into the boarding house business, in the hotel's brochure "perfect quiet and rest," and Teale had served in the infamous New York Customs offered the splendors of "the Kaaterskill Creek, House under President-to-be Chester A. Arthur. Even abounding in picturesque gorges and wild scenery, tually he gained the reputation of being "one of the which is the home of the brown and mountain brook ace cards" who "dictated politics for a number of speckled trout." years doing much for Palenville." The growth of Palenville to what Van Loan in his The pages of The Palenville Zephyr, a summer 1878 Catskill Mountain Guide referred to as "this well weekly published by George A. Dykeman, contained known summer resort" occurred almost overnight. In advertisements delicately designed to appeal to the 1854, according to Beers's History of Greene County, city dweller or southern visitor seeking some brief it was shabby, and barely supported one store, two respite from warmer, more humid climes. Thus the primitive wayside taverns, a Methodist Chapel, a school, Chestnut Lawn House, operated by Will Goodwin, was a post office and a small woolen factory. In 1874, "central to all points of interest" and offered a "fine George Hall, an artist and the mentor of Jennie grove of chestnut and pine trees close to the house." Bronscomb, was establishing a summer residence for The Central House, where "much pain is taken for the himself on a spot near the Kaaterskill Creek. By 1878, comfort of the guests" was surrounded by "an exten- Waiting for the Mail, Palenville 2 advertised an "excellent orchestra" rendering selections during dinner service and concerts performed every Sunday on the Hotel lawn. In addition he dammed up a spot on the Kaaterskill Creek and developed a natural swimming pool. Intemann shrewdly placed in his advertising brochure a scene of bathers frolicking in the cool waters of the Kaaterskill. Yet Christian Intemann had no better fortune in securing the Palenville Hotel than had Apkes. In 1921 the structure was destroyed by fire and rebuilt for the reputed sum of $85,000. In March, 1933, that structure, 196 feet long and 2½ stories high, with sixty rooms, a large dining room and a ballroom, all uninsured, burned to the ground together with all of Pinc Urrwt.• fto11s e, J>ah·uf'il!c. N > its contents despite the efforts of four fire companies sive lawn beautifully shaded by maple trees." The rooms to save it from destruction. of the Arlington were "large and well-ventilated," and there were "piazzas on all four sides of the house." The Maple Grove House, built by Philo Peck in 1866, was one of the largest houses in Palenville, accommo dating well over 100 guests. In the Catskill Mountain Guide of 1878 the Maple Grove House was advertised as "a delightful summer resort" with "grounds well shaded." And the Greene County Directory of 1882 referred to the Drummond Falls House as a "large and commodious farm house pleasantly situated 800 feet above sea level on a farm of 110 acres, supplying the table with fresh milk, eggs, vegetables and fruit." Many of the boarding establish ments advertised that liveries were either attached or :·· . ~ :- within walking distance. .t~ . -~ ;;: t .. ',,f~~~;,~~·~:~ ~~":·t.:·~ ~- - Of all the boarding houses in Palen ville which were enjoying success at the turn of the century, one which The Watering Cart, Palenville deserves particular mention for its perseverence in the DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDO fact of repeated tragedy is the Palenville Hotel. While under the patronage of Peter J. Schroeder in 1894, the The authors, David and Susan Erdniann, reside Palenville Hotel and Annex was referred to as "a quaint in a stone house off White's Road, Palenville; their fashioned building, being built on the steep sides of the daily view encompasses the Hudson Valley, a magni Clove, which are so narrow that the back windows of ficent sight.