MTHS Summer School Is In Session

On July 9, Bob Gildersleeve, our director in charge of the MTHS archives, visited the Hunter-Tannersville Elementary School as part of their summer programming. He taught science at the school before he retired, but this time his mission was  different.

Gildersleeve came to show the children the MTHS collection of stereoscopic slides which they could view for themselves. The kids had a blast looking through the viewer and learning about the Mountain Top history they depict so well.  We were told recently by the conservator who visited us that the MTHS collection of stereoscopic slides is a unique and excellent learning tool.

The following week, the kids headed over to MTHS' historic train station for an on-location history lesson to see where it all happened for themselves. The 1913 building has been restored to its original condition by the MTHS.  It provided an excellent setting to enhance the children's understanding of the past and they enjoyed the field trip.

MTHS Archives Recipient of Kohler Collection

The Mountain Top Historical Society has received a generous donation of photographs and other items from Ms. Wilma Kohler of Hunter and Elmhurst, NY. Among the items are a bible with family records of Aaron Haines, who operated the earliest inn in Haines Falls, a copy of the rare book, An Illustrated Guide to the Catskill Mountains by Samuel E. Rusk, and  over one hundred photographs taken by Rusk, his brother John W. Rusk, and other 19th and early 20th century photographers.

Samuel and John Rusk photographed local landscapes and operated a portrait studio in Haines Falls.   A series of photographs depicting the construction of a portion of what is now Route 23A gives insight into road building techniques in 1907.  The excellent quality of these late 19th and early 20th century photographs allows the society to enlarge portions of the images and bring out details not noticeable at first glance.

A unique image of John Rusk (right) shows one reason for the high quality of the images – a large format camera that no doubt used large and exceptionally flat glass plate negatives. The photos have survived in pristine condition due to the exceptional care the professional photographers took in the preparation of the images and the manner in which Ms. Kohler cared for the collection.

Society members and volunteers have digitally scanned, cataloged and secured the material.  The donation, now designated as the Wilma Kohler Collection, takes its place with a growing amount of material that the society preserves and will be used in Society publications and for research on Mountain Top families and history.

Articles from the Hemlock

The Hemlock is MTHS' quarterly publication, sent to members of the Mountain Top Historical Society.  A few of the most popular articles are excerpted here.

• Mark Twain on the Mountain Top
• Candace Wheeler
• A Brief Angling History of the Mountain Top
• Ledgeslide Chronicles
• Rip’s Retreat
• The Mountain Road

Click here to view our old website in the archive.

More articles and photographs to come.