news archive | Historical Society of Middletown

Relic Hunters Strike Pay Dirt

Jun 9, 2021 | news archive

Metal detectorists found history beneath the sod in Fleischmanns last weekend at the 5th Annual Relic Hunt sponsored by the Historical Society of the Town of Middletown.

They unearthed coins, jewelry, tools, souvenirs, buttons, a police whistle, livestock bells and many other unusual finds, along with a lot of bottle caps, nails and other non-treasures. Members of the Nor-easters Metal Detecting Club are shown here at the Weeping Willows Getaway on Wagner Avenue, Fleischmanns, with club president Jessie Thompson at center.

The club made a generous donation to HSM’s Building Fund, while area lodging and dining establishments benefitted from the influx of more than 50 visitors for the weekend.

The club made a generous donation to HSM’s Building Fund, while area lodging and dining establishments benefitted from the influx of more than 50 visitors for the weekend.

Margaretville Cemetery Tour Reservations Now Available

Jun 9, 2021 | news archive

The Historical Society of the Town of Middletown will present its 8th Living History Cemetery Tour Saturday, July 10 at Margaretville Cemetery.

A total of 17 people will appear in this year’s event, directed by Frank Canavan and Joyce St. George. Groups of tour goers will be led by costumed guides through the cemetery to hear the stories of nine men and women who rest there. Eight ‘at-large’ characters will appear in non-speaking vignettes on the cemetery grounds.

Admission is $20; kids under 15 get in free.

Tours will depart every 20 minutes between 4 and 6 p.m. Attendance is limited so tour time reservations are required. They may be made by calling 845-586-4736. The tour lasts approximately one hour. There is some uphill walking. Vaccinated individuals may forego masks; all others at this outdoor event are asked to wear them.

John Bernhardt, who has performed in every one of the tours, will play George Gilbert alongside Alice Zigelis as his wife Sarah. The pair will recount their very public divorce, and much quieter reconciliation.

Burr Hubbell as veterinarian Reuben Smith will tell the story of his son’s heroism while Air Force pilot Thomas Kingsley Smith (Kevin Hubbell) stands silently at ease. The efforts of Hungarian immigrant Esther Dobsa to keep her family together on the farm after her husband’s early death will be shared by Darlene DeMaille.

Nineteenth-century lamplighter Leslie Dumond will be portrayed by Ward Stevenson. Marge Helenchild will appear as Delaware County’s first female attorney, Mabel Fenton.

The tour audience will hear about the scandalous fall from grace of Anti-Rent War hero Edward O’Connor, as recounted by his nephew, D. Robert Scott, played by Brett Barry. And Mike Reilly as Irishman Sam Hunter will describe his fruitless search for a missing Civil War comrade.

Among the at-large players will be a pair of devoted sisters, Lucy and Mary Waterman (Lorraine Truran and Julie Ford) who converse in sign language; antebellum lady Deborah Carpenter Landon (Emily Vieyra-Haley), blacksmith Ebenezer Laidlaw (Howie Futterman) and a pair of Victorian picnickers played by John Exter and Lisbeth Furman. Newsboy Kieran Thomas will roam the grounds hawking the Margaretville Messenger.

Linda Stevenson, Jo Maender, Mary Colfer and Aurora Riley will serve as costumed tour guides.

Scriptwriters are Erwin Karl, John Jacobson, Anne Saxon-Hersh, Terry Bradshaw, Mary Barile, Marilyn Kaltenborn and Diane Galusha.

Information about this and other HSM events and programs can be found at mtownhistory.org.

Secrets of Kelly Hollow Revealed

Apr 13, 2021 | news archive

Owens Mill

Renowned forest historian Dr. Michael Kudish will lead a hike on State trails at Kelly Hollow in the Millbrook valley Saturday, May 15 to reconstruct his search for a massive though short-lived sawmill and railroad.

“Secrets of Kelly Hollow,” sponsored by the Historical Society of the Town of Middletown, will feature a 3.5 to 4-mile hike to the site of the industrial operation, as well as to the remnants of five 19^th century homesteads.

HSM president Diane Galusha will be along to share the tragic and unusual stories of the families, several of them immigrants, who occupied those hardscrabble farms. They were the Gavetts, Wards, Newtons, Andrews and of course the Kellys whose abandoned farm became the base of operations for the lumber and sawmill enterprise.

To make this event covid-safe, attendance will be limited. To secure your spot on this unique tour, send $10 per person to HSM, PO Box 734, Margaretville, NY 12455. FMI: history@catskill.net; 845-586-4973. Rain date is Sunday, May 16.

James Owen purchased the timber on the abandoned Kelly farm in 1907. In 1908, he constructed a forest railroad to bring the logs nearly a mile over rough terrain to be sawn into lumber and hauled to Arena, perhaps to be shipped to market on the new Delaware & Eastern Railroad. Dr. Kudish made 12 visits to the Hollow to locate the route of the timber train, which “sped around curves and over trestles” according to the Catskill Mountain News Oct. 23, 1908.

The News predicted it would be ‘a perfect success,’ but the timber was depleted by 1909 and the mill and railroad were dismantled. In the intervening 110 years, the forest has all but consumed every trace of human use and occupation at Kelly Hollow.

HSM offers headstone cleaning

Apr 13, 2021 | news archive

Memorial Day is right around the corner and the Historical Society of the Town of Middletown wants to help you pay tribute to your loved ones by offering a unique headstone cleaning service.

A team of HSM volunteers is ready to clean monuments at cemeteries in and around Middletown this spring, using a safe and very effective cleansing agent and method. A donation of $30 cleans a single one-sided headstone; a $50 donation will clean two headstones or a two-sided monument.

Before-and-after photos will be provided to those who take advantage of this limited time offer.

Send a check and contact information to HSM, PO Box 734, Margaretville, NY 12455. Someone will be in touch to collect details. FMI: 845-586-4973 or history@catskill.net.

2021 Cemetery Tour Cast Named

Feb 10, 2021 | news archive

The Historical Society of the Town of Middletown has announced the cast for its 8^th Living History Cemetery Tour to be held July 10, 2021 at Margaretville Cemetery.

A total of 15 people will appear in this year’s event, which will be produced with Covid precautions, including audience distancing and mask wearing by everyone except performers.

Groups of tour goers will be led by costumed guides through the cemetery to hear the stories of ten men and women who rest there. Tours will depart every 20 minutes between 4 and 6 p.m. Tour time reservations are required; details to be announced.

This year’s cast features many players who are new to the event, as well as a couple of veterans.

John Bernhardt, who has performed in every one of the tours, will play George Gilbert alongside Alice Zigelis as his wife Sarah. The pair will recount their very public divorce, and much quieter reconciliation.

Burr Hubbell as veterinarian Reuben Smith will tell the story of his son’s heroism while Air Force pilot Thomas Kingsley Smith (Kevin Hubbell) stands silently at ease. The efforts of Hungarian immigrant Esther Dobsa to keep her family together on the farm after her husband’s early death will be shared by Darlene DeMaille.

Nineteenth-century lamplighter Leslie Dumond will be portrayed by Ward Stevenson. Marge Helenchild will appear as Delaware County’s first female attorney, Mabel Fenton.

The tour audience will hear about the scandalous fall from grace of Anti-Rent War hero Edward O’Connor, as recounted by his nephew, R. David Scott, played by Brett Barry. And Mike Riley as Irishman Sam Hunter will describe his fruitless search for a missing Civil War comrade.

Among the at-large players will be a pair of devoted sisters, Lucy and Mary Waterman (Robin Williams and Julie Ford) who converse in sign language; antebellum lady Deborah Carpenter Landon (Emily Vieyra-Haley), blacksmith Ebenezer Laidlaw (Howie Futterman) and a pair of Victorian picnickers played by John Exter and Lisbeth Furman.

Iris Mead, Jo Maender and Aurora Riley will serve as costumed tour guides. If you would like to help as a site volunteer, call Diane Galusha, 845-586-4973, or contact HSM at history@catskill.net.

Scriptwriters are Erwin Karl, John Jacobson, Anne Saxon-Hersh, Terry Bradshaw, Mary Barile, Marilyn Kaltenborn and Diane Galusha.

Information about this and other HSM events and programs can be found at mtownhistory.org.

HSM seeks historic materials

Oct 10, 2020 | news archive

Are you moving, downsizing or simply cleaning house? Not sure what to do with the interesting old stuff you’ve found in boxes, desks or in the attic? Don’t toss it! The Historical Society of the Town of Middletown (HSM) welcomes donations of historic materials to add to its new archives in Margaretville.

The interim archives, located in the garage behind Fairview Public Library, will accept items Monday, Oct. 12 from 10 to 2, by appointment only. Email history@catskill,net or call 845-586-4973 to confirm a time.

Going forward, the archives will be open for donations on the first Monday of the month (Nov. 2, Dec. 7), between 10 and 2. Call to make an appointment. If Monday is inconvenient, arrangements can be made for a different date and time to deliver materials. Please do not leave items outside the garage at any time.

Donors will be given a Deed of Gift form listing contributed items and will have the satisfaction of helping to preserve local history.

HSM collects books and manuscripts, including diaries, store ledgers, memoirs and published genealogies; maps; photographs; paintings created in or depicting the area; memorabilia related to personal, commercial, institutional and community history, and other items that have been created or used in the Town of Middletown or contiguous areas of the Towns of Roxbury, Hardenburgh, Shandaken, Halcott and Andes.

Middletown includes the Villages of Margaretville and Fleischmanns, and the hamlets of New Kingston, Halcottsville and Arkville as well as Clovesville, Kelly Corners, Millbrook, Dry Brook, Red Kill, Hubbell Hill, Dunraven and outlying areas.