Once a popular vacation destination that boasted hundreds of boarding houses whose numbers have greatly diminished through the years, this area has always been popular for second home owners wanting to relax and escape from the everyday, hectic city life. Our glorious open spaces, unique shops, antiques, tasty restaurants, historical sites, cultural events, farm markets, country jamborees and a full range of recreational activities give enjoyment to all, residents and visitors alike. We may not have Broadway or a gas station on every corner but what we do offer keeps visitors coming back.

There is much to explore in our little pinhole on the map. Whether you drive south to our artists' communities or west to canoe on the Delaware River, you will be sure to find something to do here.

Each community offers something different in every season of the year. As you pass through or stop in our hamlets, villages and towns, watch for significant architectural history with styles including Victorian, Greek Revival, Mission, Gothic Revival, Tudor Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne and Art Deco. You will find many of these buildings to be on the National Register of Historic Places.

Youngsville is the home of the first centralized school in New York State and is still operational today.

In August, the Shandelee Music Festival offers the Sunset Concert Series of performances by exceptional pianists. For three weeks, concerts are held in the Festival Pavilion with each performance followed by a catered specialty dessert reception. Open to the public only at concert times, reservations must be made in advance. Visit the Shandelee Arts and Craft Fair in September.

Jeffersonville-Youngsville Central School Building.

The only hydro-powered radio station in the country is in Jeffersonville and hosts an open house once a month. Jeffersonville is a village bustling with activity and is one of the larger communities in the area. As you drive into town, you will notice a large white clock tower on top of the hill marking the Jeffersonville-Youngsville Central School Building, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Built in the style of Colonial Revival architecture, the building shares many characteristics with the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg. A walkable main street lets visitors and locals shop with ease. As you walk or drive through Main Street, you will notice a magnificent clock and a memorial bridge that is beautifully decorated with floral baskets and lights. Annual events include: a youth summer program that starts in June,a West Village Festival in August. In November, the day after Thanksgiving, the village hosts The James Dwortesky Memorial Holiday Parade with very festive floats that line Main Street, a tree lighting ceremony and a visit from Santa. On Christmas Eve, a 30+-mile luminaria, with thousands of candles placed along roadsides, is a beautiful drive not to be missed. The luminaria gets larger every year with more and more communities becoming involved such as Callicoon Center, North Branch, Youngsville, Hortonville and Callicoon that have recently joined in the effort to light the way on the eve of Christmas.

In Callicoon Center, on Wednesday evenings in the summer, enjoy the Callicoon Center Band at the bandstand, entertaining locals and visitors since 1934. Be sure to bring along a blanket or lawn chair.

One of few existing covered bridges in Sullivan County.

Leaving Callicoon Center on County Route 123, you will enter the Town of Rockland, where the Catskill State Park Region begins. A hamlet named Roscoe is well known as being the "fly- fishing capitol of the world." Fly-fishermen from around the world, even former President Carter, have come to fly-fish the Junction Pool, at the confluence of the Beaverkill and Willowemoc Creek. A few points of interest while visiting this area are the Catskill Fly-fishing Center and Museum and Roscoe O&W Railway Museum. Roscoe holds its annual Arts Festival in September.

Debruce also is a fly- fishermen¹s haven, home to the famous Willowemoc Creek. While here, stop by the State Fish Hatchery. Take a scenic drive and visit the Willowemoc Bridge, another one of few existing covered bridges in Sullivan County.

North Branch is a hamlet well known for its many cider mills in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The North Branch Cider Mill was still in operation until two years ago. Visitors would come by busloads to see demonstrations of apples pressed and made into cider and then after, taste a sampling from the big wooden barrels. A truly unique place to all visitors. It is hoped that one day the doors will reopen. New York State Public Fishing Accesses are located on the North Branch Creek.

Distinctive round roof line of a Kohler built home.

Entering the Town of Delaware, leaving Jeffersonville, you will pass through Kohlertown, named after William Kohler, he founded Kohler Lumber at the turn of the century. A business that is still operating today. Here, you will find the distinctive rounded roofline that was Mr. Kohler's trademark in homes his mill had built. This style is also evident on many homes in other parts of Sullivan County.

Historic Stone Arch Bridge in Kenoza Lake.

The Stone Arch Bridge, crossing the Callicoon Creek, in Kenoza Lake is one of Sullivan County's most famous structures. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was built by German and Swiss stonemasons around 1880. One of few hex murders on record was committed on the bridge in 1882. A hex is a curse, a form of witchcraft. A curse was placed on Adam Heidt which was said to have caused him much pain and suffering in his life. To end this torment he and his son, Joseph decided that murdering George Markert, the man they claimed to have put the spell on Adam was the only way to break the curse. One night, while Markert was crossing the bridge, Joesph shot Markert 5 times in the head, clubbed him with his own old heavy chairleg he used as a cane and dumped him over the bridge into the icy waters below. Joseph was convicted of the murder and spent several years in prison. Adam, claimed a sudden recovery of all that had plagued him. There were reports of sitings of a ghost walking the bridge, maybe it was George Markert. Even so, it is still easy to enjoy an afternoon here by using the picnic benches; hiking trails, fishing access and a wonderful new playground for children. As you follow Route 17B to Hortonville, then Callicoon, you will find many New York State Public Fishing Accesses along the Callicoon Creek. You can purchase delicious local maple syrup at a farm market along the roadside.

Hortonville Presbyterian Church.

Hortonville is the birthplace of Dr. Frederick A. Cook, a famous explorer who discovered the North Pole in 1908. The Hortonville Presbyterian Church, another famous site, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The church is home to the Valley Chorus, a choral group that presents concerts in December and May. In July and early August, the church hosts the Weekend of Chamber Music. A highly acclaimed Summer Chamber Music Festival held in the intimate surroundings of the church, a sparkling program with America's finest chamber musicians. The church also hosts an annual talent show going into its 19th year. Every February individuals and groups share their talents with the community. The Hortonville Volunteer Fire Company has held its annual parade and field day on the third Sunday in August for the past 72 years. Along County Route 121 (North Branch Road) are many New York State Public Fishing Accesses.

The next passage is the Town of Cochecton, which includes the hamlets of Cochecton Center, Lake Huntington and Fosterdale. Cochecton, originally an ancient Indian village named Cushetunk. The Leni-Lenape Indians were the first inhabitants. In 1754, Connecticut Yankees established Cushetunk as the first white settlement in the region and contended the west bank of the Delaware belonged to the Colony of Connecticut. The name "Delawares" was the name European settlers called the Leni-Lenape Indians. The Cochecton Preservation Society is responsible for dissembling the oldest train station in New York State which is now being rebuilt on Route 97. Route 97 has recently been designated as a scenic by way. During the summer, you will always find many rafters end or start their journey on the Delaware River. The famous "Skinner's Falls" is located here, where folks will spend the day with friends, picnicking and sun bathing on massive rocks along the rivers edge. Tubing and wading is very popular at this spot but, as with any river, safety pre-cautions must be taken. Cochecton Center has an annual Cochecton Center Fun Day in July with a barbecue, kids games and vendors. In the Hamlet of Lake Huntington, the new Sullivan West High School is being built. There is also a New York State boat launching location at the lake.

Narrowsburg, in the Town of Tusten, known as the "artists¹ community² where the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (DVAA) is located in a historic building on Main Street. DVAA is an art council that provides facilities, small grants and technical assistance to artists and art groups within Sullivan County. It sustains cultural programs and year-round gallery exhibitions. The Delaware Valley Opera (DVO) has musical and operetta productions using local actors and hosting many performances at the Tusten Theater on Bridge Street. The Fort Delaware Museum is a great place to take children. It includes a reconstruction of an original stockade from the years 1755 through 1785. The museum has daily demonstrations and weekend activities. If you are interested in antiques, after a bite to eat in one of several eateries, take a stroll along Main Street and you will find many. Narrowsburg also boasts many bald eagle sightings and has an eagle watch weekend in February. Other events include a Jazzfest and Delaware River Sojourn in June, a field day in July, a Riverfest in August, an Octoberfest in October and a holiday tree and street lighting the end of November.

Driving the opposite way on Route 97 from Callicoon, entering the Town of Fremont, home to the small hamlets of Hankins, Long Eddy, Mileses, Fremont Center and Acidalia. The Historical and Basket Societies of the Upper Delaware River, promoting original historic research of folklore, preservations of artifacts and historical sites and structures is located in Long Eddy. Crystal Lake Wild Forest is comprised of 497 acres and a 32-acre, man-made lake. Recreational activities are abundant here: hiking, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, hunting, fishing, camping, mountain biking, car-top boating (electric motors only) and swimming. Be careful driving through Acidalia, you can easily get lost.

There is so much more to do than what I have written in this article. Many events I have mentioned in this article can be found in the calender of events on this web site. The activities are endless year-round and there are many interesting publications and maps throughout the county that you will find helpful in your travels. As you drive our way, you will quickly notice all of the beautification projects going on in individual towns within the county, fostering partnerships within our communities to continue to make our area more attractive for our hometown people and visitors alike. Enjoy!

Cindy Monahan-Herbert is a graphic designer and has been designing the Jeffersonville Journal Publication for the past eight years.

back to top