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Welcome to the MTHS website |
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The Mountain Top Historical Society is dedicated to discovering and preserving the unique and rich history of the Catskill High Peaks. The Society is a not-for-profit organization and maintains a Visitor and Art Trail Center and the Ulster and Delaware train depot (shown above) on our campus in Haines Falls. We are located on scenic Route 23A at the gateway to the Mountain Top and are easily accessible from Exit 20 or 21 of the New York State Thruway.
The Town of Hunter, home to MTHS, has been designated a Preserve America Community.
Latest MTHS News
Special after season hike November 9 2013:
Ricky Brooks will lead a hike on Saturday November 9 to explore the Fenwick Lumber Company site on the Southwest side of Hunter Mountain. The Fenwick Lumber company owned a lumbering operation covering about 2000 acres at the head of the West Kill in the early 1900s. The operation used a mile long inclined tramway which carried the logs to the sawmill at Edgewood. The plan for the hike is to explore the mill site, the tramway, and the summit camp.
Hikers should meet at 8:00 am. at the pull-off on the north side of Route 23A opposite the intersection with Route 214. The hike is difficult, at least 6 miles long and with an elevation gain of about 2000 ft. Return time estimated to be 4:00 pm.
MTHS does not require membership for hike participation. We do however request that you register for each hike. Participants can register at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or by calling (518) 589-6657. Please leave your name, phone number, and total in your party. Schedule subject to change. Call Bob (518) 734-9701 or check http://www.mths.org. Notification of changes, including weather cancellations will be made up to the day of any given hike.
Thanks to our business sponsors:
The Bank of Greene County, C & C Excavating, Central Hudson Gas and Electric, Haines Falls Auto/Hunter Towing, Hunter Mountain, Mountain Meadow Inn B&B, Mountain Propane Inc., Snow Bird Ski Shop, Snowed Inn, Stewart's Shops, and Traphagen's Honey
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Special After Season Hike November 9 2013
Ricky Brooks will lead a hike on Saturday November 9 to explore the Fenwick Lumber Company site on the Southwest side of Hunter Mountain. The Fenwick Lumber company owned a lumbering operation covering about 2000 acres at the head of the West Kill in the early 1900s. The operation used a mile long inclined tramway which carried the logs to the sawmill at Edgewood. The plan for the hike is to explore the mill site, the tramway, and the summit camp.
Hikers should meet at 8:00 am. at the pull-off on the north side of Route 23A opposite the intersection with Route 214. The hike is difficult, at least 6 miles long and with an elevation gain of about 2000 ft. Return time estimated to be 4:00 pm.
MTHS does not require membership for hike participation. We do however request that you register for each hike. Participants can register at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or by calling (518) 589-6657. Please leave your name, phone number, and total in your party. Schedule subject to change. Call Bob (518) 734-9701 or check http://www.mths.org. Notification of changes, including weather cancellations will be made up to the day of any given hike.
The Visitors' Center is open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Access to the archives can be arranged by appointment, weather permitting. Contact the archives committee by phone at (518) 589-6657 or by email to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
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The Zadock Pratt Museum in Prattsville was devastated by the flood from Hurricane Irene. They are fundraising to pay for the restoration and replacement of many items and have an online account to collect donations. Please support the very critical and time-sensitive effort to preserve our irreplaceable Mountain Top history. The Empire State Rail Museum and the Catskill Mountain Railroad were also severely damaged by flooding. The railroad is back on track but any support towards ongoing recovery efforts for these two organizations is appreciated. |
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In memoriam: Timothy J. Mallery (1954 - 2013)
At the MTHS we had an opportunity to spend some time with Tim and to share his interest in this beautiful region. He was a good man, a gentle man, quiet and thoughtful. He generously made his collection of Catskills history available to everyone through his website catskillarchive.com and to us as donations of prints to the Mountain Top Historical Society. Tim travelled the 60 mile distance to Haines Falls from his home in Oneonta to participate in MTHS programs, and more recently, to serve on the MTHS Board of Directors. We will miss him.
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The Mountain Top Historical Society has been around for almost 40 years fulfilling its mission of discovering, interpreting, sharing and preserving the artifacts and documents that tell the story of the towns and the people of the Great Northern Catskills. With a dedicated board of directors, loyal members and volunteers we have presented an annual lecture schedule, led hikes through the beautiful and historic area around us, restored the 100 year old train station in Haines Falls, opened a Visitors' Center to welcome tourists to the Mountain Top, built an archives room to preserve the bits of history that are entrusted to our care and maintained our 20 acre campus with pride.
Our ambitious 2013 season is one filled with cooperative ventures. We'll be celebrating the 100th anniversary of our U&D train station with help from the Empire State Railway Museum, the Ulster & Delaware Railroad Historical Society, the Catskill Mountain Railroad, and railroad buffs from a wide area. We have planned two lectures and additional activities in cooperation with Twilight Park to mark their 125th anniversary. In August, our barn will be open on week-ends to feature exhibits and talks marking the bicentennial of the Town of Hunter.
In order to keep all of these activities going we need YOU! We depend on two things to support us: membership dollars and volunteers. If you are currently a member of the MTHS, your renewal notice will be in the April mail. If you have not yet joined us, check out our website: www.mths.org and join us there, or complete and mail the attached membership form along with your check.
If you have been a volunteer with us in the past couple of years, watch your e-mail and let us know that you will continue to help out. If you have not yet volunteered, let us know what you can do and how much time you have to give. We need people to help maintain the buildings and grounds; people to staff the Visitors' Center; people to help with the archives; people to sell raffle tickets and food at our events; and more. Our schedule is flexible and we'll find a way to bring you in. Contact us at
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or call 518 589-6657 and leave a message. |
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