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Liberty

Catskills Ski Resorts’ Early History

February 14, 2023 by John Conway 1 Comment

A promotional postcard for the ski area at the Concord Hotel in Kiamesha Lake, Sullivan County, NYThe history the Catskills as a winter sports destination dates back to at least the 1920s, but the attempt to create a year around vacationland did not meet with immediate success. In fact, some spectacular showings at a few of the hotels over the ensuing years notwithstanding, the effort was still largely hit or miss well into the 1950s.

Grossinger’s had entertained more than 850 guests over the Christmas-New Year holidays in 1929, and had its largest weekend ever up until that time, winter or summer, on Washington’s Birthday weekend in 1941, but no hotel – not even Grossinger’s – was able to do that kind of winter business on a regular basis. [Read more…] about Catskills Ski Resorts’ Early History

Filed Under: History, Hudson Valley - Catskills, Recreation Tagged With: Catskills, Fallsburg, ice skating, Liberty, skiing, Sullivan County, Thompson, winter sports

A Catskills Native & A Notorious NYPD Shootout

September 22, 2022 by John Conway 1 Comment

Patrolman Edwin Churchill, a Liberty native, was shot and killed while on duty with the NYPD in 1931Sullivan County, NY native Edwin Vincent Churchill was 34 years old and a New York City motorcycle cop when he was killed in one of the most notorious shootouts in NYPD history.

Another policeman, a four-year old girl, and three perpetrators were also killed in the incident, and 12 others — mainly innocent bystanders — were wounded. [Read more…] about A Catskills Native & A Notorious NYPD Shootout

Filed Under: History, Hudson Valley - Catskills, New York City Tagged With: Crime and Justice, Liberty, New York City, NYPD, Sullivan County, The Bronx

The 1962 Catskills High View House Fire

July 25, 2022 by John Conway 1 Comment

Liberty Supervisor William E. PearsonEarly in the morning on Friday, July 13th, 1962 fire was discovered in one of the buildings at Hankin’s High View House, just outside Liberty, Sullivan County, NY in the Catskills. Firefighters were on the scene within minutes and were able to contain the blaze, while hotel staff and ambulance personnel attended to the injured, but before it was over five people would be dead and one of the heroes of the tragedy would be in jail, charged with multiple counts of first degree murder.

In the aftermath, local officials would try in vain to tighten the fire laws governing small hotels. [Read more…] about The 1962 Catskills High View House Fire

Filed Under: History, Hudson Valley - Catskills Tagged With: Catskills, Crime and Justice, Fires, Jewish History, Legal History, Liberty, Monticello, Sullivan County

The Liberty Highway: Buffalo to New York

June 19, 2014 by John Conway 1 Comment

LibertyHighway1928The automobile has long been part of life in Sullivan County.

As far back as 1898, for example, there was a booklet entitled “Road Maps of Sullivan County: Showing the Good Roads.” Of these roads, it was said that “many of the Sullivan County roads are turnpikes, maintained by a chartered company. They are made of shale rock, and are hard and springy.” [Read more…] about The Liberty Highway: Buffalo to New York

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Callicoon, Liberty, Palatines, Sullivan County, Transportation, Transportation History

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