2024
Monday June 3rd
History of the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge presented by Fred Schaeffer
Monday May 6th
Crossing the Wallkill:
New Paltz Covered Bridges Then & Now
presented by Ron Knapp
Crossing the Wallkill: New Paltz Covered Bridges Then & Now is an illustrated talk that draws on archival and field research.
The talk focuses on three covered timber bridges built across the Wallkill River in the 1820s in the Town of New Paltz--New Paltz Main Street Bridge 1820/1821; Perrine's Bridge 1821/1822; and Phillies Bridge 1826/1827--and then brings the stories forward into the 20th century. Why two dates are shown here will be disclosed during the talk.
Today, Perrine's Covered is the only one of these three still standing as a covered bridge, but today Perrine's is in the Town of Esopus. The abutments of Phillies, the covered bridge having collapsed in 1952 and then burned, are now in the Town of Gardiner. The history of the New Paltz Bridge at the foot of Main Street is complex. Newly discovered evidence helps tell its story.
Ron Knapp, a cultural/historical geographer, taught at SUNY New Paltz from 1968 to 2001, when he retired as SUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus. While he is best known for his more than 20 books concerning China's vernacular architecture, including village dwellings and covered bridges, he has co-authored two books with Terry Miller on covered bridges in the United States and China : America's Covered Bridges: Practical Crossings, Nostalgic Icons (2014, $2 China's Covered Bridges. Both will be available for cash or check sale at the talk for $30 each His newest book is Theodore Burr and the Bridging of Early America: The Man, Fellow Bridge Builders, and Their Forgotten Timber Spans (2023, $60). Details can be found on amazon.com about these books
The talk focuses on three covered timber bridges built across the Wallkill River in the 1820s in the Town of New Paltz--New Paltz Main Street Bridge 1820/1821; Perrine's Bridge 1821/1822; and Phillies Bridge 1826/1827--and then brings the stories forward into the 20th century. Why two dates are shown here will be disclosed during the talk.
Today, Perrine's Covered is the only one of these three still standing as a covered bridge, but today Perrine's is in the Town of Esopus. The abutments of Phillies, the covered bridge having collapsed in 1952 and then burned, are now in the Town of Gardiner. The history of the New Paltz Bridge at the foot of Main Street is complex. Newly discovered evidence helps tell its story.
Ron Knapp, a cultural/historical geographer, taught at SUNY New Paltz from 1968 to 2001, when he retired as SUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus. While he is best known for his more than 20 books concerning China's vernacular architecture, including village dwellings and covered bridges, he has co-authored two books with Terry Miller on covered bridges in the United States and China : America's Covered Bridges: Practical Crossings, Nostalgic Icons (2014, $2 China's Covered Bridges. Both will be available for cash or check sale at the talk for $30 each His newest book is Theodore Burr and the Bridging of Early America: The Man, Fellow Bridge Builders, and Their Forgotten Timber Spans (2023, $60). Details can be found on amazon.com about these books
Monday April 8th
Laurence Carr presents Pancake Hollow Primer
Laurence Carr is a Hudson Valley writer, editor and educator. His newest book, Traverse (Lightwood Press), is a collaboration with artist Power Boothe His books of poems include Threnodies and The Wytheport Tales from Codhill Press, where he edited four anthologies, including A Slant of Light, Contemporary Women Writers of the Hudson Valley, winner of the USA Best Book Award for Fiction Anthology.A recent book, Paradise Loft (poems) is co-published by Lightwood Press/CAPS Press. Laurence’s novel, Pancake Hollow Primer, (Codhill Press), won a Next Generation Indie Book Award.
A member of the SUNY New Paltz English Department, he taught creative and dramatic writing for 24 years and was named a teacher of the year. He’s widely published, and his plays have been produced throughout the U.S and Europe. He is currently the publisher and writer for Lightwood, a magazine of arts and culture, online at Lightwoodpress.com. Visit at www.carrwriter.com
Laurence Carr is a Hudson Valley writer, editor and educator. His newest book, Traverse (Lightwood Press), is a collaboration with artist Power Boothe His books of poems include Threnodies and The Wytheport Tales from Codhill Press, where he edited four anthologies, including A Slant of Light, Contemporary Women Writers of the Hudson Valley, winner of the USA Best Book Award for Fiction Anthology.A recent book, Paradise Loft (poems) is co-published by Lightwood Press/CAPS Press. Laurence’s novel, Pancake Hollow Primer, (Codhill Press), won a Next Generation Indie Book Award.
A member of the SUNY New Paltz English Department, he taught creative and dramatic writing for 24 years and was named a teacher of the year. He’s widely published, and his plays have been produced throughout the U.S and Europe. He is currently the publisher and writer for Lightwood, a magazine of arts and culture, online at Lightwoodpress.com. Visit at www.carrwriter.com
Monday, January 8, 2024
2023
Monday, November 6, 2023
“Madams, Mobsters and Murders in the Hudson Valley”
Presented by Anthony Musso
Monday, September 11, 2023
Slavery, Segregation & Staatsburgh:
The History & Legacy of Enslavement at Staatsburgh State Historic Site
PRESENTED BY ZACHARY VEITH
Monday, July 10, 2023
The History & Legacy of Enslavement at Staatsburgh State Historic Site
PRESENTED BY ZACHARY VEITH
Monday, July 10, 2023
“WOMEN AND THE D&H CANAL”
Presented by BILL MERCHANT
Monday, May 1, 2023
Presented by BILL MERCHANT
Monday, May 1, 2023
“My Doughboy Grandfather,
Learning a Story Never Told”
Presented by Nora Quinlan
Monday, March 6, 2023
Learning a Story Never Told”
Presented by Nora Quinlan
Monday, March 6, 2023
2022
2020
March 2
Geology and History of Rosendale Cement
presented by Steven Schimmrich
Geology and History of Rosendale Cement
presented by Steven Schimmrich
February 3
“Not The New York Central”
A Unique Look at Local Special Railroads
presented by John Duda
“Not The New York Central”
A Unique Look at Local Special Railroads
presented by John Duda
January 6
I Went to France – and I Survived and Came Home
One Local WWI Soldier’s Story
presented by Richard (Rick) Brooks
I Went to France – and I Survived and Came Home
One Local WWI Soldier’s Story
presented by Richard (Rick) Brooks