New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Time and the Valleys Museum

Building the Ashokan Reservoir: A New Book, Talk Planned

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buildling of the Ashokan damIn Building the Ashokan Reservoir (Images of America, 2021), Frank Almquist brings to life the story of how this massive dam, miles of dikes, and water controls was built more than 100 years ago mostly by hand, an undertaking nearly the magnitude of the Panama Canal.

Construction started on September 30th, 1907 and the dam and dikes, followed by roads and bridges, was completed in December, 1917. Completion was ahead of schedule and under budget. [Read more…] about Building the Ashokan Reservoir: A New Book, Talk Planned

Lenape Language, Culture and Legacy (Virtual Talk)

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wigwam interiorThe Time and the Valleys Museum will host regular New York Almanack contributor and Sullivan County Historian John Conway on Sunday, April 3rd to explore the lives of the Lenape People who lived in Sullivan County and the surrounding area before the arrival of colonial settlers. [Read more…] about Lenape Language, Culture and Legacy (Virtual Talk)

Archeology of NYC’s Watershed Communities

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Bishop’s FallsNew York City has clean water because it comes from pure and rural mountains. However, there is nothing natural about New York City’s water. To create the water system, thousands of people lost homes and businesses, and had to sue the City for compensation. [Read more…] about Archeology of NYC’s Watershed Communities

The Palens: A Sullivan County Tanning Industry Dynasty (Virtual Event)

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fallsburg tannery provided by Time and the Valleys MuseumBeginning in 1832, Rufus Palen bought land along the Neversink River in Fallsburg, Sullivan County, NY and began building a tannery and sawmill.

Over the next generation, Palen and his family built and bought additional tanneries, including ones at Neversink and Rockland. Between the end of the 18th century and the turn of the twentieth century, several dozen Palens and their extended kin owned, built, and operated leather tanneries in New York and Pennsylvania. Their complicated family tale is punctuated by great wealth and great tragedy. [Read more…] about The Palens: A Sullivan County Tanning Industry Dynasty (Virtual Event)

Time and the Valleys Museum Holiday Shop

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Time and the Valleys Museum’s Holiday ShopThe Time and the Valleys Museum’s Holiday Shop, offering unique holiday gifts, will open on Saturday, December 11th from 11 am to 3 pm.

The Museum shop is stocked with unique books, gifts, heritage toys, local crafts and more to fill shoppers gift giving needs. [Read more…] about Time and the Valleys Museum Holiday Shop

Heritage Farm Baking Workshop in the Catskills

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20th century baking provided by Time and the Valleys MuseumThe Time and the Valleys Museum will host a “Heritage Farm Baking Afternoon,” a program exploring baking and bakers of the past, on Sunday, November 14th.

This program will explore the differences in baking from the early 20th century to today with Cathy Russo and Penny (Phyllis) Coombe, who have created the new Heritage Farm Baking Book for the Time and the Valleys Museum. [Read more…] about Heritage Farm Baking Workshop in the Catskills