Local History

Paperback, 232 pages

The Ontario & Western, the O&W, or, as both boosters and detractors referred to it in its later years, the “Old & Weary,” operated from 1869-1957 and ran from Oswego on Lake Ontario to New York City, passing through the midlands and southern counties of New York State, with spurs to Utica, Kingston, Port Jervis, and Scranton, PA. Filled with colorful characters and miscellaneous machinery, O. & W. chronicles almost a century of alternating hope and heartache, prosperity and poverty, dignity and degradation. Her passing was mourned for a variety of economic and sentimental reasons, but the loss was deeply felt in an intangible way. The rambling, elderly, inefficient, accident-prone, irritating old railroad was a part of a way of life now gone from the American scene.  

Paperback, 128 pages

Overcoming the physical challenges of mountain life and the societal obstacles they faced because of their gender, Catskills’ most fearless women are revealed by local historian Richard Heppner. 

A pictorial history of Shandaken, known as the “Heart of the Catskill Mountains.” In the town’s early years, leather tanning and barrel hoop shaving supported the town, and afterwards the railroad, bringing New York City residents to the Catskill to escape the summer heat. Shandanken has endured many changes, but has retained its charm and historical character. By Mary L. Hermann, softcover, 126 pp., numerous illustrations.

Information and photos of the Shawangunk Mountains ridge and valley towns then and now. Written by Rondald G. Kanpp and Michael Neil O’Donnel, 96 pages, numerous old and new illustrations.