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The Town of Lumberland was
established on March 16th 1798. The first
Supervisor was Daniel Bush. Lumberland was part of the
precinct of Mamakating until 1743. The territory of
Lumberland originally encompassed 300,000 acres including
the territory of eight towns that were created including
Liberty, Bethel, Town of Cochecton, Town of Fremont, Town
of Tusten, Town of Highland and the Town of Delaware.
The Lenni-Lenape Indians lived through much of the region.
One of the earliest settlers in the region was John
Showers at Mongaup. A guest at Mr. Showers tavern was Tom
Quick who became known as an Indian hunter after his
father was shot and killed by Indians. After Showers had
granted an Indian permission to spend the night Quick
murdered his enemy and fled. By 1783 the Native American
Indians no longer existed in Lumberland.
The earliest
schools in Lumberland and their districts were created on
September 14th 1813.The Commissioner of
Highways Position existed in 1810. Oliver Calkin served in
that capacity. Town meetings were held in the homes of the
residents. There was no Town Hall. The Town Clerk in 1819
was J. Canfield. Early stores were granted licenses as
early as 1817. The first constables in 1813 were David
Quick and John Smith. Daniel Van Tuyl held the postion of
“Overseer of the Poor” in 1818. The D&H Canal was
completed along the Delaware River Lumberland regions of
Mongaup, and Pond Eddy by 1829. Boat building took place
at Mongaup.
In the early
1800’s the local population of Lumberland were about 733
persons. The early settlers relied on lumbering from the
vast forests of pine, oak, chestnut and hemlock.
Surveys of the
major roads in Lumberland commenced in 1842 and the School
Districts were revamped in 1843. In the 1840’s the
assessed valuation of the D&H Canal property in Lumberland
amounted to $100,000.
Lumberland
Architecture: Two Grist Mills were built in Lumberland,
one in 1788 known as “ Maney’s Mill,” and one at Mongaup
known as “ Godwin’s Mill.” Simple homesteads were built
and most homes had a barn on the opposing side of the
road. “ Two barns from this 1830’s - 1840’s era are
evident in Glen Spey, one at the ‘Glen Spey Corners,”
known later as the “Orchard Inn,’’ and one on Proctor Road
known as “ Maney’s Barn.”
The Erie
Railroad was completed on the Pennsylvania side in 1851
and subsequently brought new development to the area.
Wealthy Businessmen, New York City and New Jersey
residents came to witness the beauty and serenity of the
region. Well known Singer Sewing Machine Vice President&
General Manager, Mr. George Ross McKenzie came to this
region by 1863 followed by William F. Proctor who was
Treasurer of the same firm. Both Singer magnates built
large Manor homes for their family. Mr. McKenzie built a
church and a School in the mid 1860’s. He became President
of the Singer Company by 1884. This region was known as
South Lebanon with Lebanon Lake in the North. Mr. Chester
Chapin, a wealthy railroad and steamship entrepreneur
developed an 18,000-acre game preserve by 1891 at Lebanon.
A bridge
crossing the Delaware at Pond Eddy, much like a Roebling
prototype was built by Decker in 1870. This allowed
visitors and goods to enter the town. Commissioner of
Highways for the Town of Lumberland in 1873 was Mr.
McKenzie. By 1875 one day of work was expected for each
resident with seventy dollars of valuation. In 1877 the
Town audited the departments books and by March 1879 a
lease was secured for the residence of Isabella Kerr to be
used as a Town Hall.
As the McKenzie and
Proctor Mansions progressed they were continually enlarged
and enhanced with every known amenity known to mankind.
Many of the town residents worked for these estates. The
region of South Lebanon would eventually be renamed by
George R McKenzie as “Glen Spey,” which reminded him of
his homeland in Inverness, Scotland along the Spey River.
A Post Office for Glen Spey opened and G.R. McKenzie
served a short term as Post Master.
As work progressed on
the Town Roads the first 10 -ton Steam Roller was leased
from the Niagara Steam Roller Company. Water troughs were
created at this time. Bridges at Lebanon Brook, Decker’s
Bridge and the iron bridge at the Jesse Knight place all
required repair and rebuilding by the Town.
The occupation of
Lumberland residents through the 1800 decades included
Farmer, Stone Dealer, Merchant at Pond Eddy, Pattern Maker
in Glen Spey, Workman on the Erie Railroad and D&H Canal.
Following the death
of “Glen Spey’s founder, George R. McKenzie’s children
received their inheritance in the millions of dollars.
Seven Children built summer mansions here with the
youngest daughter inheriting and revamping “The Homestead
Mansion.” The hey days of Glen Spey” are sometimes
referred to the era of 1910-1915. The mansions were known
throughout the County and State for their beauty and many
people would travel here to attend the “Lumberland
Agricultural Fairs throughout 1915. The McKenzie’s
mansions were known as Homestead, Bel-Air, Windy Knoll,
Woldcroft, Burn Brae, Ardmore, Bramble Brae and
Thornliebank.As the family moved away from the region the
estates were sold. Many of the Manor homes became Summer
lodges and Camps. The Ukrainian Fraternal Association, UFA
purchased the Ewing and Vanderbeek estate in the early
1950’s, which became Verkhovyna Resort. Two Ukrainian
Churches were constructed. and annual Ukrainian festivals
are still enjoyed at “Ardmore.”
From the turn of the
century Boarding Houses were popular in the hamlets of
Glen Spey, Mongaup, both upper and lower, Hillside, and
Pond Eddy. Throughout the early fifties these summer
abodes were enjoyed.
In addition to the
six one-room schoolhouses in Lumberland a Methodist Church
and a Catholic Church were built on Berme Church Road at
Pond Eddy. The earliest Methodist Church was at Mongaup,
C.1830. Numerous camps since the nineteen- twenties
provide summer opportunities for children.
The beauty of
Lumberland can be witnessed in many forms: through
historic architecture, country scenery, streams, hills,
etc. Lumberland has a rich heritage. The opening of Route
#97in August 1939 was an exciting event for the town as
was the grand opening of the first Town Hall and Town Barn
in 1937 on the former Craig Estate Land. The Carriage
House became the Town Hall and the large Dutch gambrel
barn became the first Town of Lumberland Highway Garage.
Later the land was used to build the second Lumberland
Highway Garage and the Lumberland Fire Department.
The Town Center is
at Glen Spey. The former Glen Spey School has served as
the Town Hall since the early 1950’s when the original was
destroyed by fire. The town has an active Fire Department
that started in 1951.Annual Chicken Barbeques take place
by the organization.
The Bicentennial of
the nation in 1976 was celebrated with a grand display of
historical events and activities at the Ball Park across
from the Town Hall. At the event a new flagpole and
placement of War Memorials was unveiled.
A new Lumberland
Municipal Building and Senior Citizen Center was built in
1988 next to the Town Hall. Supervisor Thomas Hill was the
driving force to secure the structure. The Lumberland
Museum located within the Town Hall was created in 1991
and houses a fascinating display and dozens of completed
Town History Projects and photos around the town.
Lumberland has been well enhanced and documented with over
twenty-five Historical Marker Sites. A recent “Scenic
Byway Grant” enhanced a “Greenway Path” at the Lower
Mongaup Cemetery near Scenic Byway, Route #97.
Lumberland is a great
place to visit and call home. Wonderful Cultural events
and concerts are held at the Lumberland Town Hall and the
completion of the George Ross Mackenzie Elementary school
at Glen Spey in 1995 on the site of his” Golf Links,” is a
great addition to the town. The property was donated to
the district by the Town of Lumberland. Senior Citizen
Events in the town and Pancake Breakfasts are enjoyed by
all. The Town of Lumberland observed its Bicentennial
throughout the year of 1998 with numerous events, dinners,
historical exhibits and a Grand Field Day was held
September 5th 1998 at the Town Hall and Ball
Field with the unveiling of the restored Town Hall Bell
Tower, six hours of cultural events, historical displays
and fun for the family.
Circle Park held a
grand opening on August 13th 2005. The park
site adjoins the Town Hall and Municipal Building and is
enjoyed by all! The Town Historian since 1985 Mr. Frank V
Schwarz invites the public to visit the Lumberland Museum.
This mini-history of the Town of Lumberland is one facet
of the land we are proud to call our Town and it has been
written in honor of the Sullivan County Bicentennial in
2009.Please feel free to contact the Historian at: (845)
865-8600 ext.222. |
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LOCAL AND SURROUNDING AREAS
Here is an insight to the surrounding towns within the
tri-state area
GLEN SPEY, NY
Eagle watching and the Ukrainian Festival
Glen Spey still retains much of the charm, which attracted
Gorge Ross Mackenzie of Singer sewing machine fame, to
build mansions here for himself and each of his children,
and to name the spot after the area he came from in
Scotland. The majority of area residents are retired but
the number of young families is on the rise. One of the
draws to this area is the spacious landscape and the
opportunity to buy and build homes on as much or as little
land as one desire. Near by Mohican Lake provides an
opportunity for lake community living and a short distance
away is Highland Lake with Sand Beach. Living here offers
residents the option of keeping to oneself or mixing with
neighbors at a variety of church and firehouse functions,
as well as the men’s league Sunday morning softball games.
The fire department’s ladies’ auxiliary is an active
organization sponsoring, among other things such as an
annual penny social. Glen Spey has a large Ukrainian
population and the annual Ukrainian Festival draws over
10,000 people to the Town for three days of fun, music,
ethnic foods, dance and art. It is home to two
architecturally significant Ukrainian churches. Glen Spey
is also a fabulous place to watch bald eagles fish during
the winter on area reservoirs. New York State bought
several acres of land as an eagle habitat preserve for the
wintering birds. The Mongaup River flows through the town.
This is a wonderful fishing spot, used for kayaking as
well.
POND EDDY, NY
Shad fishing, canoeing and rafting
A river oriented town, Pond Eddy is especially suited to
tourists. Residents not employed in the vacation business
commute to jobs out of town. Shad fishing, canoeing and
rafting are popular warm weather activities here, and the
Millbrook Inn is a favorite stopping place for a river
users and motorists alike. Although children in Pond
Eddy attend the Eldred Central School, there is also the
option of sending them to the Homestead Montessori School.
This school is highly respected in the community and
reservations are frequently made for children who are not
yet born.
SPARROW
BUSH, NY
Hawks Nest View
Sparrow Bush offers the only feeling of a downtown in
Deerpark. Among farms and forests that stretch to the
horizon are a little main street with a church and a few
shops. As one of the gateways to the Upper Delaware
National Scenic and the Recreational River, nearby
locations has been the site of television commercials. The
winding road of Hawks Nest is famous for its use in
automobile advertisements and provides one of the most
panoramic views of the Delaware River winding below. The
Acres of forested land surrounding Sparrow Bush are
popular with hunters and fishermen and there are several
sporting goods shops ready to accommodate them. Residents
feel safe in this rural setting and have chosen Sparrow
Bush as the ideal place to raise a family.
BARRYVILLE,
NY
Center
of river activities
Barryville is a popular vacation spot lined with canoe
liveries and restaurants. For those who find themselves
wishing they could make the Barryville area their new
home, there are several real estate offices ready to show
you what is available. Young people are never at a loss
for summer jobs, as the canoe liveries and restaurants are
alive with activity all summer long and need lots of
seasonal help. Located nearby at Minisink Ford is the
Minisink Battleground where half-breed Joseph Brant and
his Indian raiders against the militia from Orange County
fought one of the last battles of the American Revolution.
The National Park Service maintains the battleground and
interpretive display. Despite the fact that residents must
travel several miles to shop at a mall or supermarket,
they still like living here. Set in the Catskill
Mountains, the view is always beautiful. Outdoors
recreation is abundant, and Town of Highland taxes remain
stable.
ELDRED, NY
Small
Town America and sportsman’s paradise
Eldred is one of the hamlets in the Town of Highland,
whose resident population of 2,147 swells to over 10,000
on summer weekends. The rural setting that vacationers
seek out is what residents enjoy all year long.
Single-family homes dominate the landscape and most
residents commute to jobs, as most industries are tourist
based. Eldred has a senior citizen center, which has a
variety of activities including dancing, card games,
nutritious lunches and Saturday night dances. The Eldred
Central School district is small and reminiscent of the
close-knit neighborhood schools of another era. There is a
new elementary school in Glen Spey, named after Town of
Highland citizen George Ross MacKenzie, of Singer sewing
machine fame. One of Eldred’s special treasures is the
Eldred Preserve. With 600 acres of hunting land, four
stocked trout ponds, two bass lakes, boat rentals, nature
trails, motel accommodations and a restaurant, the
preserve is a sportsman’s paradise. That is exactly what
Robert H. Abplanslp’s dream was when he bought the land.
He wanted a place where anglers could fish in pristine
waters without being lined up elbow to elbow with other
fishermen. Pine trees and hemlocks loom above the cabins
and cabin-like motel. The four star restaurant awaits
guests with fresh trout form its own hatchery served in a
variety of styles, from crabmeat stuffed to blackened
Cajun style. The preserve is home to the New York Audubon
Society, which provides a host of outdoor activities and
special programs for children during the summer. There is
something for every sportsman, from hunting and fishing to
hiking and shooting at the rifle range.
YULAN, NY
Little Town of big parades
Yulan hosts hundreds of visitors every year with
accommodations such as the Lake View Farms Bed & Breakfast
and the Maple Crest. Residents and tourists can relax at
the beach clubs at Washington Lake, but when the vacation
season ends, the wooded groves once again belong to those
who call Yulan home.
Each March, residents spend weeks building floats for the
annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, an event well attended
by people from far and wide. The early settlers of this
area were of German descent: thus every September brings
the VonSteuben Day Parade, in celebration of the man who
helped Geroge Washington in the training of Revolutionary
War Troops.
PORT JERVIS, NY
Gateway
to the Upper Delaware
Port Jervis is the gateway to
the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River and
offers the convenience of city life combined with small
town living. It is a city steeped in history. In
1853, it was incorporated as a village taking its name
from John B. Jervis, chief engineer of the Delaware and
Hudson Canal. The canal, built in the 1800’s, was the
major source of transportation in the area. Port Jervis
was one of the most important stops on the canal, which
was responsible for a surge of development and
population. stores, hotels, theaters and homes were built
to accommodate the expanding population and the scores of
travelers who came pouring into town. The canal became
obsolete with the coming of the New York and Erie Railroad
to the valley, which became the major employer of
residents of the city and surrounding towns. But the town
declined in the late 1940’s when railroad shops and yards
were consolidated at other points along the rail line and
moved from Port Jervis. New York’s 46th city is
again on the upswing with storefronts being renewed and
empty buildings being filled with new business and new
life. The restoration of the Erie Depot complex as a
railroad museum and shops and the refurbishing of the Erie
Hotel, a fine eatery next door, are two of the bright
spots in Port Jervis’s business district on Front Street.
The city offers dining to satisfy a variety of tastes:
from Italian cuisine at Gino’s, Len & Jo’s and Deerpark
Café; German specialties at the Cornucopia Restaurant;
down-home cooking at Homer’s Arlene & Tom’s, and the Port
Jervis Diner, to donuts and coffee at Dunkin Donuts and
fast food at Burger King and KFC. The renovated 104-room
Comfort Inn ensures that guests have a relaxing stay.
Port Jervis spans an area of 2.5 square miles with 36
miles of roads and highways. The 8,860 residents dwell in
a variety of homes from affordable apartments to single
family houses.
Port Jervis real estate is the least
expensive in Orange County. There are several major
employers in Port Jervis including Bon Secours Community
Hospital, a full service institution with a nursing home;
Kolmar Laboratories, a cosmetics firm; and OSA Swimwear.
The city is known for its light industry and is home to
companies such as A & W Products Co., Inc., Future Home
Technology Inc. and Wilder Manufacturing Inc. Gillinder
Glass, one of the oldest glass companies in the United
States, recently opened its factory to tours and has a
gift shop on the premises. During the tour you will see
glass made by the same technique used for mere than a
century. Port Jervis has a large public school system with
3500 students. The are two elementary schools, (one of
which is located in the city, a middle school and high
school. Many of the seniors graduating with a Regent’s
diploma go on to higher education. There is great
community spirit in the city displayed by various service
organizations and fraternal groups who provide funds for
the needy, scholarships and assistance, as well as, an
opportunity to make new friends through social functions.
There is also an active youth sports program including
Little League Baseball and Pop Warner Football. A youth
and community center is located in the former Elks;
building on Pike Street, which the city is very proud of.
Residents of the town can often be found fishing the
waters of the Delaware River from the bridge connecting
Port Jervis to Pennsylvania. Many residents are employed
locally, but commuter trains from Port Jervis arrive in
New York City in 2.5 hours and driving takes approximately
90 minutes. As a gateway city, over 200,000 visitors pass
through Port Jervis. It is poised to bloom and should be
eagerly sought out by small businesses wanting to cash in
on the tourist trade.
SHOHOLA, PA
A
pristine forest
If you’re looking for wilderness, look no further.
Peering through your window often provides a show of black
bear, wild turkeys, pleated woodpeckers, evening grosbeaks
and sometimes bobcats and mountain lions. Shohola is a
Native American name, which means “slow waters where the
geese rest”. With 46 square miles, Shohola
Township’s population is 1,586. In the early days, Shohola
was a bluestone excavation center. Bluestone from its
quarries provided sidewalks for several major American
cities. Most of Shohola is undeveloped with one third of
the land owned by the state including a portion of the
Delaware State Forest and three game lands. The
Pennsylvania Game Commission owns 7,736 acres with an
excellent population of deer, bear, turkey and grouse.
State-owned Shohola Falls is known as one of the finest
hunting, fishing and scenic spots in the state. Parking
areas, boat ramps and picnic areas and trails near the
falls makes the site very popular among both residents and
vacationers. There are several lake communities in Shohola
and many single-family homes between large tracts of
forested land. Although only seven miles up Route 6 from
Milford, Shohola is much cooler in summer and receives
more snow than its neighbors. Often times it will snow in
Shohola while raining a few miles downhill. This makes
snowmobiling a popular sport, and snow plowing a lucrative
job. Many of Shohola’s residents are retired but there are
also young families with children who attend the Delaware
Valley School district. One of the district’s elementary
schools is located on Twin Lakes Road and was dedicated in
1991. Located on 63 acres, this modern school contains 12
classrooms, a cafeteria, a gymnasium and two computer
rooms.
VILLAGE OF LACKAWAXEN, PA
Last
stop on the Stourbridge Lane
This is the home of the Ross Rosenkrantz Memorial Park
where the community convenes to watch and coach children
in their games. It is also the last stop of the
Stourbridge Line, which offers train excursions from
Honesdale, PA. Aside from the park the other place where
people gather is the firehouse, most popular during the
Firemen’s Field Days, which have been taking, place for
the past 22 years. Lackawaxen has some fine restaurants, a
general store and a well-stocked sporting goods shop.
MATAMORAS/WESTFALL, PA
Bridging
the gap between country and city
Matamoras, a Pike County bedroom community, is only
one square mile in area, but over 2000 people are happy to
call it home. As a mostly residential borough, there are
no major employers here, but its proximity to Port Jervis,
Milford and Westfall Township provides residents with the
services they need. The excitement of Broadway and
employment opportunities in New York City and metropolitan
New Jersey are approximately a 90-minute drive away.
Shopping centers in nearby Westfall Township include
Kmart, Wal-Mart, clothing shops, shoe stores, specialty
shops, and Italian restaurant, a video store, Chinese
restaurant, Wendy’s, McDonald’s and Perkins Family
Restaurant. The 108-room Best Western Inn boasts of an
indoor pool and sauna. Their Edgewater Restaurant is known
for its fabulous food and Seafood Buffet. Most homes in
Matamoras are single family, two-story structures built
near the turn of the century. Streets are tree-lined with
maples and oaks, which have earned Matamoras the
designation of a Tree City U. S. A. Although Matamoras is
closely tied to Port Jervis, its New York neighbor across
the river, it has its own unique shops. There are dance
studios, a well-stocked consignment shop right next to the
bridge along Pennsylvania Avenue, a bar and grill, gifts
and collectibles shop, a fruit and vegetable stand, full
service paint shop, a Chinese restaurant, a quaint corner
store and the ever popular Polar Bear, an ice cream stand.
One of Matamoras’ best-kept secrets is Stewart’s Family
Restaurant, a friendly hometown place to go for breakfast
or lunch. You can’t beat the Burger of the Day Special.
Stop in just for the pleasure of good old-fashioned
service and try a bowl of homemade soup or a slice of
freshly baked pie.
MILFORD, PA
Quaint
town on the Delaware
Milford Township was created in 1832 from
Upper Smithfield Township. John Biddis laid out the
village in 1796. There are two explanations for the town’s
name. Some say it was named for Milford Haven in Wales,
home of John Biddis’ father, William Biddis. Other people
say that Well’s Mill and the spot where the Delaware was
forded resulted in the name “mill-ford”. The main streets
in downtown Milford are lined with charming storefronts:
antique shops, ice cream parlors, beauty shops,
coffeehouses, bookstores and crafts. There are restaurants
for every taste, from the nouveau cuisine of the Dimmick
Inn to the more traditional fare at the Pizza House and
Restaurant, a great local favorite. Milford is known as
the birthplace of the conservation movement, started by
Gifford Pinchot; two-time governor of Pennsylvania and the
first chief of the US Forest Service whose home, Grey
Towers, just outside Milford, is now home to the Pinchot
Institute for Conservation Studies. The house and grounds
are available to visitors for guided tours and a host of
year-round special programs. The people who live in
Milford Borough and Township are a mix of young and old.
The Delaware Valley School district system continues to
expand to meet growing enrollment, and there a number of
excellent daycare centers from which to choose. With all
Milford has to offer, newcomers are encouraged to “join
the community”.
MONTAGUE,
NJ
The
top of New Jersey
Recognized for its beautiful
landscape and excellent farmland, Montague was the
earliest settled town in this part of the country,
establishing America’s first commercial roadway now known
as the Old Mine Road. Although it was the first to be
settled, Montague remains a small bedroom community. The
state owns most of the land, which lies along the Delaware
River and has wild and holdover trout streams running
through it. Much of the land is undeveloped, providing
scenic drives through roads that wind and twist, wrapping
around the rolling slopes of farms, fields and forests.
The Tri-State Mall, located on Route 23 provides area
residents with a large, Shop Rite, a pet store, liquor
store, Italian restaurant, bank and other stores.
Motorists can choose from four gas station/convenience
stores located within sight of each other, and benefit
from the best gasoline prices in the tri-state area as
well as a Dairy Queen and McDonald’s for a quick snack or
meal before hopping onto Interstate 84. Outdoor recreation
is abundant, from canoeing and rafting on the Delaware to
the lovely surroundings of High Point State Park. The
14,218-acre park was at one time a private game preserve
and contained the mansion of Colonel Anthony Kuser. The
High Point Monument marks the highest point in the State
of New Jersey, and the park contains a lake for swimming
and fishing, camping and picnic sites, nature trails and
the Appalachian Trail, which runs through a portion of the
park. Cross-country skiing and ice-skating are available
during the winter. The High Point Country Inn provides
guests with a charming relaxed atmosphere where they can
enjoy the spectacular views of the countryside and the
close proximity to the park. Near by the country club are
the Montague Mini-Mall, with an assortment of small
businesses that serve area residents with everything from
their morning coffee and paper to pizza, a bank, and a
Laundromat. Children attend kindergarten through sixth
grade at the Montague Elementary School, which has
expanded to meet the needs of a growing population. Middle
and high school students are bused to the Port Jervis
schools, a short drive away.
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