Before electricity, Hudson Valley ice helped NYC keep its cool
In the late 19th century, the Hudson Valley was home to at least 135 commercial icehouses, collectively capable of storing as much as three million tons of ice during the winter months.
Local History
Saugerties hosts discussion about brickmaking and ice harvesting in Ulster County
The Friends of Historic Saugerties will present a discussion, “Lost Industries of Ulster County: Brickmaking and Ice Harvesting” on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. in the community room of Saugerties Public Library, 91 Washington Ave. Admission is free and open to all.
Poughkeepsie’s own Smith Brothers Cough Drops make a comeback
William and Andrew Smith – jocularly known in their own lifetimes as “Trade” and “Mark” because that’s what it says under their portraits on the cough drops boxes – were geniuses at marketing.
Woodstock’s munificent Christmas impostors
Although it sometimes seems Woodstock has ridden the coat-tails of what didn’t happen here more than what did, the town has indeed been graced with several geniuses, two of whom endured allegations of “imposter!” and taught the world much through such endurance.
Former home of painter George Bellows is Woodstock’s newest historic site
Located on what is now Bellows Lane, the home looks like many in the area. Yet during its time it served as a center of the town’s cultural life.
Historic Huguenot Street welcomes new executive director
Historic Huguenot Street (HHS) has hired a new executive director, Liselle LaFrance, an award-winning museum professional who has served as the director of Historic Cherry Hill in Albany for 26 years.
A historic district in Saugerties for some of area’s earliest settlers
The open farm-and-fields landscape in the northern part of Saugerties has been in existence for over two and a half centuries. It looks much as it did when the Palatines — religions refugees from Germany — settled here.
“Hudson Valley Ruins” talk in Rosendale
Saturday, Dec. 2: There will be a presentation by Tom Rinaldi and Rob Yasinsac, explorer/author/photographers who together created the book Hudson Valley Ruins: Forgotten Landmarks of an American Landscape. The pair have focused their research on lesser-known historical sites where, “in spite of their significance, these structures have been allowed to decay, and in some cases, to disappear altogether.”
“Ulster County & the Civil War” concert/talk at Ashokan Center
Sunday, Nov. 19: This salon-style event will feature author and historian Rosemary Nichols and the famed musical duo Jay Ungar & Molly Mason. Well-known for their expert curation of American folk music, Jay and Molly’s music was featured in Ken Burns’ PBS landmark series The Civil War.
Friends of Historic Kingston lauds those who preserve
Each year, Friends of Historic Kingston’s annual preservation awards serves to showcase an impressive recent restoration project and last Thursday’s event was no exception.