Side Trips

Presenting LIVE music, dance, theatre, cultural arts and special events all summer long! Farm market every saturday Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend.

The Hancock Town Square is also available to host your private special event (weddings, reunions, etc.).

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.

Owned by the County of Orange and maintained by the Orange County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, a National Historic Landmark, the the D&H Canal Park is a 300-acre park with a one mile section of the Delaware and Hudson Canal (1825-1898) and a number of historic canal-era buildings.

D&HCCo stands for Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, whose canal and gravity railroad ran between the Lackawanna Valley in Pennsylvania and the Hudson River. The 108-mile long D&H Canal and the 16-mile long D&H Gravity Railroad were built by hand and horsepower. The D&H Canal Company was one of the country’s first million-dollar private enterprises.

Engineering Feat:

The D&H transportation system was an astonishing engineering accomplishment that was constructed under the direction of some of the best minds in early nineteenth-century America. John Roebling, who later designed the Brooklyn Bridge, designed and supervised the construction of four aqueducts to carry the D&H Canal over rivers. The Delaware Aqueduct (now known as the Roebling Bridge) at Lackawaxen, PA, is the oldest existing suspension bridge in America.

A Family Business:

Canal boats were frequently operated by families, who lived on the boats during the shipping season. The mules that pulled the canal boats through the system were often led by the children of the family. The trip from Honesdale to Kingston, at one to three miles per hour, took between seven and ten days.

Opening up the Region:

During the 70 years that the D&H transportation system was in operation between Carbondale and the Hudson River, many villages, towns, and cities were founded and/or developed along the line of the D&H canal and railroad, and a wide range of products were shipped to market through this transportation system.

Hours and Location:

26 Hoag Road
Cuddebackville, NY 12729

D&H Canal Park is open every day from dawn to dusk.

Park visitors can:

• Walk, bike, and cross country ski along the D&H Canal Towpath Trail
• Fish in the Neversink River
• Picnic or BBQ at the D&H Canal Park Visitor Center
• Visit the Neversink Valley Area Museum
• Rest rooms are available at the Visitor Center.

References above from the The Delaware & Hudson Transportation Heritage Council.

The variety of cultural influence on architecture is wide. Below are a few sites to behold couple of miles off the byway. By the Pond Eddy bridge make a right onto Route 41 (High Road) within a mile or so you will spot the unique architecture of Glen Spey. Many of these structures are places of worship. Devotion is abundantly evident in the meticulous work that goes into every brick fashioning one of these buildings.

Ukrainians of Glen Spey, NY

There is an agile Ukrainian community in Glen Spey. Set just a stones through apart are two churches of the most beautiful examples of Eastern European architecture. Each has its own distinctive identity but they are equally magnificent and striking. People of both Glen Spey churches have lived and worked together in harmony for many years.

St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Catholic Church

High Road
Peter and Paul is built with the gold-topped domed steeples that are traditional in this school of building.

St. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church

High Road
St.Volodymyr is an amazing wood structure standing many stories tall. Each has its own distinctive identity but they are equally magnificent and striking.

MountainView Resort Verkhovyna

369 High Road, ph: (845) 856-1323

The recently renovated Ardmore Mansion, now known as Verkhovyna, is well known for its traditional Ukrainian Youth Festivals and barbecues.

The Kadampa Meditation Center and Temple

47 Sweeney Rd, off of Route 31 in Glen Spey, NY.

Open to the public in 2006, Kadampa Meditation Center is an international spiritual community dedicated to achieving world peace through following the Kadampa Buddhist Path. Located on 82 peaceful-acres in Glen Spey, NY, the craftmanship is yet another marvel for the tour. In total, 40 columns and capitols, numerous plaques and ornaments of gold-leaf were installed to adorn the temple.

Visitors from all backgrounds come to find rest and refuge from the difficulties of busy modern life, and draw inspiration from spiritual friends, including western Buddhist monks and nuns.

A Buddhist bookstore, gift shop and World Peace Cafe are situated in the verandas of the Temple. The Cafe is open on Sundays from 12:30-2:30pm, and during courses and events.

Open to the public every day 2-5pm and at other hours by appointment.
Everyone is welcome. Call (845) 856-9000 or 1.877.KADAMPA – toll free, for more information or visit the website at www.kadampacenter.org.
Visit our other websites:
www.kadampanewyork.org
www.nypeace.com

Photos courtesy of Karel Konrad and the Kadampa Temple.

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.