Headwaters History Days 2016 features programs, exhibits, concerts, open houses, tours and workshops from Olive to Andes along the newly designated Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway (NYS Route 28).
Fifteen historic sites and organizations will celebrate the history, culture, folklife and landscape of the Central Catskills in this Signature Byway Event of the Town of Middletown. For a map, schedule and description of all activities, as well as a trio of short videos from last year’s event, visit www.headwatershistorydays.org.
This is the third annual Headwaters History Days. New venues this year will host concerts featuring original and traditional music: Halcott Grange and Town Hall will ring with the music of the John Burroughs Memorial Locust and Wild Honey Orchestra at 7 p.m. Friday; while Country Express will close out the weekend on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the newly refurbished Andes Train Depot with a history-themed program, “Looking for the Past.” A walk on the adjacent Andes Rail Trail will precede that concert at 12:30.
Railroad buffs will also be pleased to note that two former depot museums — in Roxbury and Phoenicia – will be open both days with exhibits on the Ulster & Delaware Railroad. There will also be a talk by Dakin Morehouse of the Empire State Railway Museum in Phoenicia about train service in John Burroughs’ day at Woodchuck Lodge in Roxbury Saturday at 1, and a film, “Railroad Man,” on the life of Roxbury native Jay Gould at the Roxbury Methodist Church at 2:30 p.m. that day.
A genealogy workshop for beginners will be offered at Fairview Public Library, Margaretville Friday at 3 p.m.
The Olive Free Library on Route 28A not far from Boiceville will host an illustrated presentation by Gina Giuliano on “The Diaries of Elwyn Davis” at 2 p.m. Saturday. John Duda will deliver a talk on the Fleischmanns family Saturday at 4 at Skene Memorial Library, Fleischmanns. A third talk, at 7 p.m. Saturday, will cover a century of Margaretville Telephone Company history. That talk will be given at the Historical Society of Middletown in Margaretville.
Hubbell Homestead Farm in Kelly Corners will offer farm tours and sawmill demonstrations Saturday afternoon. There will be a walking tour of the hamlet of Roxbury Saturday at 10 (meet at Gould Church). Tours of the Roxbury Methodist Church clock tower will also be offered that day from 10 to 2. The beautiful and historic Jay Gould Memorial Reformed Church will be open as well.
A history of area telephone developments will be offered at HSM June 4 at 7 p.m.
Visitors will be welcome Saturday at the Stone School in Dunraven, the Hunting Tavern in Andes, and the Greater Fleischmanns Museum of Memories; and both Saturday and Sunday at the Shandaken Museum in Pine Hill and at John Burroughs Woodchuck Lodge in Roxbury.
The Pakatakan Farmers Market will welcome visitors to the iconic Kelly Brothers Round Barn in Kelly Corners on Saturday.
For more information, contact Doris Warner at 845-586-2484.