Museums & Historical Sites

In addition to providing a large assortment of books for entertainment and reference, the beautiful Louise Adelia Read Memorial Library in Hancock, NY houses a historical exhibit on the famous bluestone industry as well as other items and papers of local historical interest.

The Tusten Historical Society is housed downstairs in the Tusten-Cochecton Branch of the Western Sullivan Public Library.

Hours:

Monday:  11:00am until 1:00pm (except January and February)
Friday:  6:00pm until 8:00pm
Saturday:  11:00am until 1:00pm
Other times by appointment during regular library operating hours.

The history room is closed when the library is closed.

Prolific western author Zane Grey (1872-1939) began his career relating stories of his fishing experiences along the Upper Delaware River. He lived in Lackawaxen, PA from 1895 to 1918. Lackawaxen always held a special place in his memories, and was chosen as the site of his final resting place. Today, Grey’s home is preserved by the National Park Service as a part of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River.

Grey’s first published article was “A Day on the Delaware,” in Recreationmagazine, May 1902. Zane Grey’s influence and success continued through the height of the Great Depression. He was a prolific writer, publishing one or more western novels every year and a fishing or outdoor adventure book every few years until he died. He left behind more than twenty manuscripts which were released after his death.

Zane Grey died October 23, 1939, at the age of 67. he and his wife Dolly’s ashes are interred in the cemetery near their home in Lackwaxen, fulfilling their wish to rest together beside the Delaware River.

Admission and Location

Free Admission

Zane Grey Museum
135 Scenic Drive
Lackawaxen, PA 18435
Phone 570-685-4871

GPS: 41.4875 -74.987222

http://www.nps.gov/upde/historyculture/zanegrey.htm

Directions: From Route 97 in New York State cross over the Roebling Bridge, then take a right at the stop sign. Or, follow Route 590 North in Pike County.

For more information:
National Park Service
Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River Headquarters
274 River Road
Beach Lake, PA 18405
tel: 570-685-4871

Zane Grey Boat Launch on the Delware River

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission fishing and boating access area. Next to Zane Grey Museum where the Delaware River and Lackawaxen Rivers converge. Excellent place to Eagle Watch and Fish.

This lovely region of Orange County is home to the Neversink, the Minisink, the amazing D&H Canal, a rich archaeological history and a network of small museums and historical societies devoted to presenting it all to you. Join us at the Neversink Valley Area Museum and our sister institutions for a tour of the natural beauty and rich history of our little corner of New York State.

Located along the banks of the beautiful Neversink River, D&H Canal Park, home to our museum, has a well-preserved section of the canal and numerous canal-era buildings. This historic complex is so well preserved and so historically significant that it has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

A private, non-profit organization, the Museum occupies historic canal-era buildings in D&H Canal Park right on the Neversink River. In addition to our exhibitions, the museum provides various educational activities for children and adults throughout the year. The mission of the Neversink Valley Area Museum, a non-profit organization, is to preserve, document and interpret the history of the Neversink River Valley of Orange County, from its beginnings to the present, through exhibitions, educational programs and publications for children and adults.

The Neversink Valley Area Museum was founded in 1967 by a group of concerned citizens, along with the overwhelming support of many local organizations. For some time they had been concerned with rapid development that was encroaching upon and threatening to destroy important historic sites within the valley. Working with representatives from the New York State Council on the Arts, local residents began the formation of a museum dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of the Neversink Valley. They decided that the emphasis would be on the Delaware and Hudson Canal, which transported coal from Honesdale, Pennsylvania to Kingston, New York (over 108 miles) from 1828-1898, and was a major influence in the development of our area during the 19th century.

For the first 10 years, the museum did not have a permanent home and operated out of various donated office spaces, becoming known as “The Museum Without Walls”. Through numerous traveling exhibitions, slide shows, programs and fund raising events (all done solely through volunteer effort), the museum continuously educated the community on local history, the history of the D&H Canal, and the importance of historical preservation.

In 1979, the newly formed Orange County Citizens Foundation raised over $100,000 to purchase land to be preserved as a historic site. This land included over one mile of the Delaware & Hudson Canal, with important canal features such as the remains of the Neversink River Aqueduct built by John Roebling, (builder of the Brooklyn Bridge) two locks, a freight basin, one mile section of water-filled canal (the only existing section with a controlled source of water) and one mile of working feeder canal. It also included many canal-era structures (all in situ), including a locktenders’ house, canal grocery store (also known as the “Pie Shop”), blacksmith’s house and carpenter’s house.

At Home in D&H Canal Park

In 1980, the Neversink Valley Area Museum moved into a 1799 saltbox structure now known as the Blacksmith’s House (lived in by several blacksmiths during the time of the canal), in the D&H Canal Park. The museum also became the official advisory to the County of Orange for the restoration of the D&H Canal Park. Over the next ten years, we developed exhibitions relating to the canal and other aspects of local history, started an elementary school program, sponsored tours along the canal, initiated professional archaeological excavations in the park and did an in-depth historical survey of a section of the canal.

On the National Register of Historic Places, this historic site, located in Cuddebackville, Orange County, New York, was given to the County of Orange, to be maintained by the Orange County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation. It became the 300-acre D&H Canal Park.

A Growing Restoration Project

Since the late 1980’s the museum has restored the 1890’s barn located behind the blacksmith’s house, utilizing it for expanded museum programs for children and adults, as well as an area for an interpretive exhibition, “Early Farming in America”, restored the Carpenter’s House (Leura Murray Center), which became the main museum building and is used for expanded museum store, exhibition and office space. We opened a joint exhibition with the Orange County Chapter of the NYS Archaeology Society, “Orange County Archaeology”. We created and installed a permanent exhibition on the D&H Canal, “Black Diamonds and the D&H Canal”, which included videos, a wall-size map of the canal and a working canal lock model.

Publishing and New Exhibitions

Also in 1994 we republished “Canal Boat To Freedom”, an award winning children’s historical novel on the D&H Canal and created a video children’s video, “Explore the D&H Canal”. We also researched, created and installed a major exhibition on silent films made in the area called “Movies Before Hollywood: A Legacy of Film Making in the Tri-State Area”. In 1996 and 1997, we opened a 275 sq. ft. full-size canal boat replica with hands on canal activities for children, created and implemented a new school field trip program on the Lenape Native Americans, and researched, created and installed a new exhibition, “The Artistry of the Blacksmith” in our working blacksmith shop.

The Museum is chartered by the New York State Education Department and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Admission to the Museum includes:

Exhibitions such as Black Diamonds and the D&H Canal with videos, artifacts, a working lock model, photographs and information on canal technology, history, boating and canal life, Orange County Archaeology, a joint exhibition with the Orange County Chapter of the NYS Archaeology Society on the history of the Lenape Native Americans and The Artistry of the Blacksmith; which illustrates the art and life of the blacksmith in our working blacksmith shop. A self-guided audio or written walking tour of the one-mile section of the D&H Canal in the park Neversink Nellie, a full-size D&H Canal boat replica and hands on activity center for children Large herb garden and Lenape Native American Three-Sister’s Garden of corn, beans and squash The Museum Store with a large selection of canal and local history publications, stationary, cards, toys and gifts.

Open: April through December: Friday—Sunday, noon to 4pm (or by appointment)
Adults: $3.00
Children: $1.50
Under six & Members: FREE

The Museum also provides:

Educational programs for adults, including lectures on canal and local history, nature and canal walks and workshops. Educational programs for school groups including a three hour D&H Canal program for fourth and fifth grade students and a three hour Lenape Native American program for first to fourth grade students. A library on the D&H Canal and local history (open by appointment only).

Spend the day with us in Orange County:

• Enjoy HISTORY by exploring canal remains!
• Enjoy NATURE by hiking through the beautiful park!
• Enjoy a RELAXING DAY by picnicking under the trees!
• Enjoy OUTDOOR SPORTS by fishing in the trout-stocked Neversink River, and cross country skiing or biking the D&H Canal towpath trail!

The D&H Canal Park and our Museum are located along the banks of the beautiful Neversink River.

Take a day trip or plan a weekend to explore the natural beauty and fascinating history of Orange County. Make us a part of your destination.

Hours and Location:

26 Hoag Road
Cuddebackville, NY 12729
ph: 845-754-8870
email: nvam@frontiernet.net

Directions:

To get to Cuddebackville Orange County, New York: from Port Jervis, take Rt. 209 10 miles north or from Rt. 17 (the Quickway) take exit #113 and head 10 miles south, The Museum is located in the D&H Canal Park on Rt. 209. A good landmark is the beautiful green iron bridge over the Neversink River just south of the park.

The TMR Scout Museum is a non-profit educational organization within the Greater New York Councils, B.S.A. dedicated to the preserving the history and artifacts of the Ten Mile River Scout Camps and this historic area. TMR is a 12,000 acre reserve in Sullivan County, NY that has been serving the scouts of New York City since the 1920s.

The museum recently underwent a complete renovation led by award-winning architect and teacher of design at the Fashion Institute of Technology Johannes Knoops. There is a video tour of the renovated facility on the web site.

What’s in the Museum?

The Collection

An extensive collection of T.M.R. memorabilia on display includes photographs, patches, neckerchiefs, neckerchief slides, signs, banners, maps, literature and physical artifacts.

The Camp Man Catholic Chapel Window is wonderful to see and a Museum highlight. A variety of early Scout uniforms on mannequins. Life-sized cut-outs of notable T.M.R. individuals.

Local History

Displays on the history of the Upper Delaware River Valley with a focus on the Ten Mile River Scout Camps property. Physical artifacts found at T.M.R. dating back to the 1720’s, including coins, tools, nails, horseshoes and metal buttons. The T.M.R. Rockshelter Exhibit contains artifacts from a Lenni Lenape encampment over 4,000 years old.

The Library

Our Library covers the history of the Kanohwahkee Scout Camps, the Ten Mile River Scout Camps, New York City Scouting and the history of the Upper Delaware River Valley. We have an extensive collection of camp and staff photographs, biographies, newspaper articles, other paper items and camp and local maps dating back to the 1820’s.

Directions

From Western NJ/PA & Points West

If near either 206 or 23, travel north to Port Jervis. At Port Jervis, pick up 97 going northwest. Travel on 97 to 21 (just past Barryville). Take 21 to Yulan and pick up 22 which runs into 23. Travel on 23 to County Road 26 (see a large Ten Mile River Scout Reservation sign on the right). Right turn onto County Road 26 and follow signs to TMR Museum/Headquarters Camp.

From Narrowsburg

Take Route 97 south to Route 23. Left turn into Route 26 at T.M.R. Camp sign. Follow signs to TMR Museum/ Headquarters Camp.

Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River is the home of the oldest existing wire cable suspension bridge in the nation — the Delaware Aqueduct, or the Roebling Bridge as it is now known. Begun in 1847 as one of four suspension aqueducts on the Delaware Hudson Canal, it was designed by and built under the supervision of John A. Roebling, future engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Build the Canal above the River

When the D&H Canal was first built, a 16ft high slackwater dam was built to form a pool or deep, slow-moving water, which allowed canal boats to safely cross the river. Mules and their drivers crossed the Delaware River on a rope ferry, while canal boats poled or floated across the river to the guard lock. This slackwater dam and rope ferry crossing of the Delaware at the Lackawaxen had been a major bottleneck from the time of the canal’s completion in 1828. It also caused conflicts with raftsmen as man timber rafts were damaged navigating the dam. The aqueduct operated for fifty-five years until the canal closed in 1898.

To ease congestion and speed the flow of traffic across the Delaware, the D&H Canal Company hired John Roebling to build an aqueduct. Roebling designed four suspension bridges for the D&H Canal; the Lackawaxen and Delaware Aqueducts, the Neversink Aqueduct and the High Falls Aqueduct. After the canal closed in 1898, three were abandoned. The Delaware Aqueduct’s strategic location and value as a road bridge prevented its demolition.

Restoration

When the National Parks Service started the restoration work, the primary goal was to preserve the structural integrity of the bridge and as much of the original ironwork as possible. Almost all of the Delaware Aquedust’s existing ironwork — saddles, cables and suspenders — are the same materials installed when the structure was built. Two of the suspension cables are made of the wrought iron strands, spun on site under the direction of John Roebling in 1847.

For more information

The Tollhouse, on the Minisink Ford, NY side of the bridge, contains self-guiding exhibits and historic photographs. The D&H Towpath Trail provides a one-mile stroll along the 1828 towpath. The bridge itself contains a walking path for visitors to view spectacular sites of the Delaware River and witness several year-round nesting eagles.

There is no admission fee, park hours are from 8:00 A.M. to dark.

Blood and Mayhem on the Delaware

The ringing words of “the Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America” had a special meaning for the people of the upper Delaware River valley in the late 1770’s and early 1780’s for this was the frontier during the American Revolutionary War. And it was subject, on numerous occasions, to the depredations of Indians allied to the British – though the raiding parties often contained as many white Loyalists, or Tories, as Indians. The most significant of these raids was the second Minisink raid in July of 1779 led by Joseph Brant, a Dartmouth-educated Mohawk warrior commissioned a colonel in the British Army. The actual attack on the settlements at Minisink (present-day Port Jervis and the Town of Deerpark, New York) was destructive enough, but it was the ensuing Battle of Minisink, in which nearly fifty New York and New Jersey militiamen lost their lives, that really sent shockwaves of loss and grief though the frontier population along the Delaware. The Minisink battle has become part of the heritage of the region encompassed by Sullivan and Orange counties, New York, Sussex County, New Jersey, and Pike County, Pennsylvania. The Storm Gathers.

On July 20, 1779 Brant and about ninety Tories and Iroquois Indians swept through the Neversink Valley settlements of Peenpack and Mahackamack destroying farms, a school, a church, and other buildings, leaving a path of misery and bringing great fear to the frontier. On the next day, after an alarm had gone out, two groups of militia led by Lt. Col. Benjamin Tusten of Goshen, New York and Maj. Samuel Meeker of Sussex County in New Jersey met in Mahackamack (Port Jervis). They began to follow Brant up the Delaware River with the intent to ambush him and to recover some of the horses, cattle and personal items his group had taken.

Ambush at Minisink Ford

Later on July 21 Col. John Hathorn’s militia unit from Warwick, New York met up with Meeker and Tusten’s units somewhere near Sparrowbush, New York and joined forces. The militia numbered about 120 and began the pursuit. On the next morning the patriots discovered that Brant and his raiders were crossing the Delaware River at Lackawaxen and were getting ready to begin their ambush when one of the militia’s scouts either accidentally or purposely, (it will never be known) fired his gun alerting Brant of their presence. Soon Brant had outflanked the patriots on the hillside above the river, cutting off one of the three militia units and leaving the remaining two in disarray. Last Stand on The Rocky Hill.

The patriots began a rushed retreat up to the top of the hill overlooking the river in an effort to regain the strategic advantage. Only about forty-five or fifty of the original group were left. They battled most of the afternoon and until late in the day. Brant and his forces finally broke through their small defensive square and the battle ended with remaining militia men and officers killed or scattered. Between forty-five and fifty men had been killed on the American side and perhaps seven of Brant’s men were killed.

In Memory of Our Fallen Heroes

Today the Minisink Battleground Park is hallowed ground where so many patriots fell in defense of an ideal – liberty. They were passionate men who perished here, a long distance from their farms, their families and friends. Because of their sacrifice and that of thousands of other patriots during the American War for Independence, our nation was born.

When visiting the park you may choose to walk the trails to see the following sites.

Sentinel Rock

Tradition has long held that this is the location where the final push by Brant into the heart of the militia’s defensive square that it had held for most of the day began. It was believed that a sentinel standing guard here was killed. However more recent research indicates that Brant’s final assault began from the northeast, not far from Hospital Rock. Sentinel Rock is believed to stand at the approximate southwest corner of the militia’s square.

Hospital Rock

Hospital Rock is the most historically significant location on the battleground. Once the enemy broke the American’s defensive square late in the afternoon, it was here in the shadow of this rock that Lt. Col. Benjamin Tusten, a physician, and seventeen wounded militiamen under his care were trapped and killed by Brant’s raiders. Probably fewer than a dozen of the forty-five men who made a protracted “last stand” on the hilltop escaped.

Minisink Monument

The Minisink Battle Monument was erected on the site of the militia’s “last stand” and was dedicated in 1879 on the centennial of the battle. It is built of native bluestone and is capped by a rounded glacial boulder. The Battle of Minisink is commemorated at four sites: here at the battleground, on the village square in Goshen, New York, in the Lackawaxen Cemetery adjoining St. Mark’s Church in Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania and Fort Decker in Port Jervis, New York. Ceremonies are held annually at the first three sites on the anniversary of the battle. The Minisink Battleground Park was initially established by the Minisink Valley Historical Society in the 1890’s in order to head off destruction of the landscape by bluestone quarrying operations. The hillside is still dotted with these quarries, some of them now barely discernable. In1955 the Sullivan County Park and Recreation Commission took over administration of the site and still maintains it today.

Indian Rock

This oddly placed rock also has an interesting tradition as it has long been suggested that at the conclusion of the battle Joseph Brant buried his dead under or near it, setting the rock in its present position as a memorial. No evidence for this legend has ever been found. Though Indian Rock may have been deposited in this position as the continental glacier that once covered southeastern New York melted, it is more likely that it was gradually pushed upright by the growth of generations of nearby trees such as the one presently standing behind it.

Copyright 1996-2007 The Minisink Valley Historical Society.

Within the Hancock area exists historic exhibits in the library in Hancock, and two historical society buildings containing further exhibits.

Hours and Locations

Exhibits are located in the basement of the:
Louise Adelia Read Memorial Library
104 Read Street
The Village of Hancock, NY 13783-1147
(607) 637-2519

The library is open from:
11-4 PM and 6:30-9:30 PM on Tuesday & Thursday
11-4 PM Wednesday &Friday
2-4 PM Saturday

Special Collections:
Bluestone Room
Collection of local newspapers on film and original copy

Librarian: Joann Haberli
Substitute Librarian: Jane Gehrig

Hancock-Chehocton Historical Association
12 Read Street
The Village of Hancock, NY
tel: 607-637-2519

Open by appointment only.

Fort Delaware is a representation of the first white settlement on the Upper Delaware River, called Cushetunk, in 1754 by the Delaware Company Pioneers. Today´s Fort represents the development of the settlement over a thirty year period. The Fort is owned, operated and maintained by Sullivan County through its Division of Public Works.

The original settlers were farmers who came primarily from central Connecticut and were of English descent. They were searching for more land because it had become too crowded in Connecticut to suit colonial farming techniques. A group of Connecticut men formed “The Delaware Company” and became proprietors. In the traditional New England way of land distribution they owned the land and either sold or leased it to farmers moving into this frontier, these proprietors moved their families to the frontier and never sold their land.

The Delaware Company purchased land from the Lenape Indians, with the first deed signed in 1754. The land purchased was a 10 mile long strip along both sides of the Delaware River (situate in modern day New York and Pennsylvania). Procedures for filing land claims were very different in the 18 th century. Also at that time, the States of Pennsylvania and New York were engaged in a boundary dispute, disputes of other colonies really didn´t matter much to those early Connecticut farmers, so they claimed the land for Connecticut! And they called their community, “Cushetunk.” To those white settlers, it sounded like what the Lenapes were calling the place. KASH-ET-UNK, or “a place of red stone hills.”

Museum Hours, Operating Schedule and Rates

Open Weekends from Memorial Day through June
Open Friday through Monday, from the last Friday of June through Labor Day
Friday, Saturday & Monday Hours: 10 am to 5:00 pm (last tour at 4:00 pm)
Sunday Hours: 12 Noon to 5:00 pm (last tour at 4:00 pm.)

Admission

Adults $7.00
Children (5-14) $4.00
Senior Citizens (62+) $5.00
Family Pass $20.00 (admits 2 adults and up to 3 children)
Special Rates for camps, student groups and adult groups – with a complimentary ticket for the bus driver!
Children under 5 are free when accompanied by an adult.

Special rates for camps, student groups and adult groups

A tour of the facilities includes demonstrations of early settlers´ lifestyles and craft-making. A gift shop and picnicking facilities are located on the grounds. Each spring, the Fort is host to over 1,000 students who participate in the Student Days program.

Phone (845) 794-3000, x-5002 (September-April)
Phone (845) 252-6660 (May-August)

Located in the Hamlet of Narrowsburg, in Sullivan County on State Route 97 (designated Scenic Byway) in the historic Upper Delaware River Valley approximately 45 minutes north of Port Jervis, NY, 30 minutes south of the Village of Hancock, and 30 minutes west of Monticello, NY.

Owned and operated by the Minisink Valley Historical Society, Fort Decker, offers a look back in the history of the Minisink Valley during colonial life, the Revolutionary War and the D&H Canal era.

Originally built as an outpost for settlers in 1760, the structure was burned down by Joseph Brandt’s Tory and Mohawk raiders in 1779 as a prelude to the Battle at Minisink. Rebuilt by Martinus Decker in 1793, the structure was later used as a hotel for the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company and now serves as a museum.

One will find artifacts and documents from the American Revolution to the Industrial Revolution times in within the stone-faced structure; spinning-wheels, clothing, and kitchen tools.

Programs

Once a month, May through November, there is usually special programs like 18th Century Colonial Cooking Demonstartions and Long Rifel Ren-enactors.

Colonial Cooking

Foods are prepared using cooking methods, tools, foods and recipes of the 18th century. Staff and volunteers prepare breads, game, soups, puddings and pies as the visitors watch and learn.

Heirloom Garden

An heriloom seed garden is planted every year recreating the tools, methods and crops of colonial farmers. An herb garden is also planted for visitors to see, smell and taste some of the plants that were used for medicinal purposes as well as food.

Walking Trails

The Delaware River Heritage Trail and the Delaware and Hudson Canal Heritage Trail both pass nearby. The river trail is six miles long running along the Delaware River, through downtown Port Jervis to where New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania meet. Trail guides are available at Fort Decker.

The book and gift shop offers many biography and history titles not available elsewhere.

Fort Decker is open for scheduled events and by appointment for individuals and tour groups.  Please call us to schedule.

The museum promotes original historic research and encourages a greater knowledge of and interest in history, legend and folklore of the region.

The Basket Historical Society is an active group which collects and preserves artifacts, maintains a collection of such which is open to the public, and preserves and maintains historical sites and structures in the area. It was established in 1980.

Hours: 4th Saturday of the month, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day or by appointment.

An active preservation group which collects and preserves artifacts and stories of the area. The Cochecton Preservation Society is also responsible for disassembling the oldest train station in New York State which has been rebuilt on Route 97.

The Cochecton Erie Railroad Station is a one-story Greek revival station built around 1850, at the time railroad pioneers were building the first major trunk lines. The building was located on the property of Cochecton Mills, Cochecton, N.Y., until 1993, when a group of interested residents, hearing that the station was about to be demolished, formed the Cochecton Preservation Society for the major purpose of saving the station.

This is the oldest RR Station left in NYS (listed on National Historic Registry)

Open by appointment