New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Sullivan County

ATV Goes Through Lake Ice; Man Dies In Snowmobile Crash

by Leave a Comment

ATV through the ice on Waneta LakeOn December 20th, Retired Forest Ranger Lieutenant Morse reported an ATV broke through the ice on Waneta Lake in Willowemoc Wild Forest in the Catskills town of Rockland, Sullivan County. Ranger Stratton responded and issued tickets to the two subjects from Pennsylvania for unauthorized motor vehicle use on state land. A tow company removed the ATV from the lake.

Two days later, on December 22, 2022, at around 3:12 am, State Police responded to a report of a snowmobile crash with injuries on a snowmobile trail off the Wallace Road in the town of Louisville. Louisville is located along the St. Lawrence River, on the northern border of St. Lawrence County west of Massena. [Read more…] about ATV Goes Through Lake Ice; Man Dies In Snowmobile Crash

Sullivan County’s ‘White Christmas’ Connection

by 2 Comments

WhiteRoeAerialThe Columbia Inn in Pine Tree, Vermont did not bear much of a resemblance to a Catskills’ hotel of that era, and Dean Jagger’s General Tom Waverly was definitely not much like a Sullivan County hotel owner, but the movie “White Christmas” has a strong local flavor nonetheless. [Read more…] about Sullivan County’s ‘White Christmas’ Connection

Dennis Greenwald v. Sullivan County Supervisors

by 2 Comments

Dennis GreenwaldThe recent passing of longtime Mamakating Supervisor Dennis Greenwald brought forth an outpouring of condolences from county residents who remember him, as well as myriad musings about his contributions to good governance over the years as one of the most influential and impactful Sullivan County officials of his era. [Read more…] about Dennis Greenwald v. Sullivan County Supervisors

A Catskills Native & A Notorious NYPD Shootout

by 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

The Doomed 1979 Hurleyville Music Festival

by Leave a Comment

Leon Greenberg in the 1970sThe weekend of August 24th to 26th in 1979 was supposed to be a significant one in Sullivan County, NY history. Plans had been made for some of the top musical acts in the business to appear at the site of the defunct and burned out Columbia Hotel in Hurleyville for a three-day festival that was envisioned as the precursor to an upscale performance venue that would have reversed the area’s sagging economic fortunes. [Read more…] about The Doomed 1979 Hurleyville Music Festival

Poachers Using Nets Face Charges in Suffolk, Sullivan Counties

by 2 Comments

Over-the-limit menhaden, short fluke, and undersized crab haulsAccording to a press release issued by DEC, on August 17th, NYS Environmental Conservation Officers Dickson and Pabes responded to the Captree Fishing Pier at Captree State Park in Suffolk County on Long Island after receiving reports of anglers using nets to catch undersized crabs and other species. [Read more…] about Poachers Using Nets Face Charges in Suffolk, Sullivan Counties

Alfred Billings Street: Albany’s 19th Century State Poet

by 1 Comment

Alfred Billings Street engraving by Welch & WalterAlfred Billings Street was born in Poughkeepsie on December 18th, 1811. He was descended from an Englishman, the Reverend Nicholas Smith, who immigrated to Connecticut around 1659.

His father, Randall Sandal Street, was a general in the New York Militia and served in the War of 1812. A practicing lawyer, Randall Street was also active in politics; he was a two-term district attorney and a Democratic congressman from 1819 until 1821. His wife, Cornelia, was the daughter of Revolutionary War veteran, Andrew Billings. [Read more…] about Alfred Billings Street: Albany’s 19th Century State Poet

The 1962 Catskills High View House Fire

by Leave a 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

Borscht Belt Tattler: Sha-wan-ga Lodge, 1923-1972

by 1 Comment

Borscht Belt Tattler PodcastOn this week’s episode of The Borscht Belt Tattler podcast, Gary Dan talks about the former Sha-wan-ga Lodge, his family’s Catskills hotel which operated from 1923-1972 in the hamlet of High View, Mamakating, Sullivan County, NY.

Dan talks about how it all started, his memories growing up there, life after the hotel closed, and the tribute webpage he started with his late father Abby Dan which is contributing to the legacy of the Borscht Belt. [Read more…] about Borscht Belt Tattler: Sha-wan-ga Lodge, 1923-1972

Killing Time in the Catskills: Serial Killer Lizzie Halliday

by Leave a Comment

killing time in the catskillsKilling Time in the Catskills: The Twisted Tale of the Catskill Ripper Elizabeth “Lizzie” McNally Halliday (Self Published, 2019) by Kevin Owen is the true account of serial killer Lizzie Halliday (c. 1859 – 1918), who was responsible for several deaths in the Catskills area during the late nineteenth century.

In her late twenties, Halliday left behind a trail of failed marriages, bigamy, horse theft, arson, insurance fraud and multiple murders. She killed a nurse while institutionalized and is speculated to have killed her first two husbands. After her sensational trial in Monticello in Sullivan County, NY, Halliday became the first woman in the world sentenced to die in the electric chair. Although eventually locked behind bars for life, she managed to continue her crimes. [Read more…] about Killing Time in the Catskills: Serial Killer Lizzie Halliday