Hurleyville, NY – The Sullivan County Historical Society will present a talk on Sunday, October 9 by local historian Myron Gittell regarding his recent reprint of Manville Wakefield’s book “To the Mountains by Rail.”
Wakefield’s book chronicles the Catskills Mountain resorts in Sullivan County and the New York, Ontario & Western Railway that carried visitors from New York City to the mountains.
According to Gittell, “The book was a labor of love for Wakefield and his wife Barbara. It brought local history to life. The fact that it had gone out of print in 1989 bothered me. I contacted Barbara for permission to republish it, and spurred by her enthusiastic response, the project began. Resurrecting the book, with 29 chapters, 32 original line drawings, 11 maps and more than 500 photographs, was a formidable task. I owe a debt of gratitude to Ontario & Western Railway Historical Society members Jeff Otto and Mark Kennaugh, whose tireless efforts helped bring this wonderful book back to life. It is a treasure trove of railroad history, social insight and Catskills Mountain nostalgia.”
The talk, which begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 9, will be held at the Sullivan County Cultural Center and Museum, in conjunction with Hurleyville’s first-ever Scarecrow Festival. The Festival, a family-friendly event that takes place from 12-4 p.m., will showcase scarecrows designed by local businesses, along with live music, raffles, food trucks, sidewalk sales and more.
The Sullivan County Museum is located at 265 Main Street, Hurleyville. For information, please call 845-434-8044 or visit www.facebook.com/scnyhistory.