The Great Outdoors, historically speaking

If you didn’t get a chance to see the exhibit at the HSM hall this summer, highlighting the many ways Middletown area folks have enjoyed the Great Outdoors, you’ll have another opportunity Saturday, Aug. 25 at The Central Catskills Great Outdoor Experience Festival in Margaretville. The photographic portion of the exhibit will be on display in the E-Center (the former Masonic Hall, across from NBT Bank) from 10 to 4. Stop in and check it out.

Unidentified girl, possibly Gertrude Todd, 1920s

Active history can be enjoyed at a hike on Sunday, Aug. 26 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Balsam Lake Mountain in the Catskills as the site of the first fire tower in New York State. Hikers may gather at the Millbrook Road trailhead at 8:30am and tramp to the summit with several authors of related books. Authors, who will be available at the tower from 10am until 1pm, include Marty Podskoch (Fire Towers of the Catskills), Dave and Carol White (Catskill Day Hikes), and Diane Galusha (Another Day, Another Dollar: The Civilian Conservation Corps in the Catskills.) FMI: Laurie Rankin, laurierankin@hvc.rr.com.

No time for a hike? The authors will also be available to sell and sign their books from 3 until 5pm that day at the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, Arkville.

Unidentified campers at the picnic table, early 1900s, from the Lina Kelly Collection

“Uncle Milty” Berle swings for the camera at the Takanassee Hotel in Fleischmanns in this undated photo