In the Catskills, Claryville was originally named Claraville for the wife of one of the original landowners. It was part of a tract of land given to Johannes Hardenberg by Queen Anne of England in 1708.
U.S. Post Office records tell us that the Claryville post office was established in 1850 with John Reynolds as first postmaster. This thriving community was fueled by tanneries and saw mills.
Today local residents value the history of the area – visitors will find a authentic one-room schoolhouse, a cemetery that has burials dating back to early settlers and a church that is lovingly cared for. The Claryville Reformed Church dates back to 1849 and is still in use.
The very same section of the Upper Neversink River that provided water for tanners and sawyers and was heavily polluted is now clean and protected. The Neversink Association, a group of private individuals, lists their purpose as “to conserve the flora and fauna of the Neversink River,” and the Rondout Neversink Stream Program strives to help preserve the clean mountain water as it wends its way to the Neversink Reservoir.
Claryville Day, a celebration of the community and history of the town of Claryville, will be held on Saturday, August 12 from 10 to 3 p.m., on the grounds of the Claryville Reformed Church, 946 Claryville Road.
Visitors can spend the day visiting the small Catskills town where the east and west branches of the Neverink River come together. Activities throughout the day include visits to the historic Claryville one-room school house, a cookie walk, craft vendors, a quilt show, historic cemetery walks and talks on Claryville’s history and environment.
Lunch and refreshments will be available. Funds raised support the maintenance of the historic Claryville one-room school house.
Admission and parking are free for this event, which will be held rain or shine, and is sponsored by the Claryville Reformed Church, Neversink Association, Rondout Neversink Stream Program and the Time and the Valleys Museum. For more information contact Anne-Marie Kremer at (845) 985-2016 or email annemariekremer@yahoo.com.
Your article incorrectly states that Claryville is a town in Sullivan County.
Claryville is a hamlet that straddles the towns of Denning (Ulster County) and Neversink (Sullivan County). Claryville is predominantly in Denning, Ulster County, in terms of area, population and locations of essential services and community anchor institutions.