Headwaters History Days 2019
Headwaters History Days 2019 is a weekend of events, exhibits, open houses and activities celebrating the history, culture, folklife and landscape of the Central Catskills.
Taking place on May 3rd, 4th and 5th, this marks the sixth year of highlighting the area’s rich history.
Visitors are invited to explore 14 special sites across two counties. Follow the East Branch of the Delaware River and its tributaries through the towns of Middletown and Roxbury in Delaware County. Much of your journey will be along The Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway.
Museums, landmark structures and historic sites will be open to the public at no charge this weekend. Special events include a vintage baseball game, two local history talks, guided visits to numerous historic sites, and a docent-led ride on the Delaware & Ulster Rail Road. (Regular fares apply for the rail rides.)
In a talk at Skene Library, find out about the Fleischmann family’s connections to baseball, both here and in the wider world. Learn all about the rich local history at the Greater Fleischmanns Museum of Memories.
Joining Headwaters History Days for the first time this year, the Mountain Athletic Club will be playing baseball by the 1895 rules on the historic ball field on Wagner Avenue in Fleischmanns.
A special program at the Historical Society of the Town of Middletown will delve into the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps here in the Catskills. There will be a nature walk to explore this CCC legacy immediately following the talk.
In Kelly Corners, watch a complex network of belts and pulleys power a sawmill in a 150-year-old barn at Hubbell Family Farm. Visit the historic farm as well. Then, visit the Pakatakan Farmers Market housed in the iconic Kelly Brothers Round Barn.
Climb the stairs of the Roxbury Methodist Church tower to see (and hear!) a venerable clock chime the hour. Also new this year, the Old School Baptist Meeting House in the hills above Roxbury will be open for a visit.
Headwaters History Days is a feast for those who love the Catskills and its colorful past! History lives on the Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway!