2025
Monday March 3rd
At Risk: Historic Truss Bridges of the Hudson Valley
The Mid-Hudson Region is blessed with a unique collection of century-old truss bridges. However, their ownership is in question and many have fallen into disrepair. Several bridges are in parks and, if restored and reopened, they could serve as examples of historic preservation as well as provide sorely needed river access.
One bridge in particular, at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, is in danger of
removal. Another bridge along the Hoyt Carriageway in Mills Norrie State Park has long been closed, and Calvert Vaux Preservation Alliance has funding and plans to restore access across it.
Jeffrey Anzevino, Scenic Hudson’s Director of Land Use Advocacy, will describe the collection of century-old truss bridges spanning the Amtrak Line along the Hudson River’s eastern shore in Dutchess and Columbia County and describe the challenges and opportunities related to efforts to restore and reopen these historic truss bridges.
But one needn’t venture to Dutchess County to find an historic truss bridge. We have one—the
“Farmer’s Bridge”--right here in Highland near the Hudson Valley Rail Trail’s Rotary Pavilion. As an
added bonus, Jeff will also provide a brief overview of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail’s initiative to repair and reopen the Farmer’s Bridge.
One bridge in particular, at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, is in danger of
removal. Another bridge along the Hoyt Carriageway in Mills Norrie State Park has long been closed, and Calvert Vaux Preservation Alliance has funding and plans to restore access across it.
Jeffrey Anzevino, Scenic Hudson’s Director of Land Use Advocacy, will describe the collection of century-old truss bridges spanning the Amtrak Line along the Hudson River’s eastern shore in Dutchess and Columbia County and describe the challenges and opportunities related to efforts to restore and reopen these historic truss bridges.
But one needn’t venture to Dutchess County to find an historic truss bridge. We have one—the
“Farmer’s Bridge”--right here in Highland near the Hudson Valley Rail Trail’s Rotary Pavilion. As an
added bonus, Jeff will also provide a brief overview of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail’s initiative to repair and reopen the Farmer’s Bridge.
2024
Monday Sept 9th
Anthony Yelverton-Updating the Legend
Presented by Joan de Vries Kelley, Town of Lloyd Historian
Presented by Joan de Vries Kelley, Town of Lloyd Historian
The oldest frame house still standing in our town and probably in our county is the Yelverton house at 39 Maple Ave, Highland. In 1754, Anthony Yelverton came from Poughkeepsie, built a tavern, a sawmill and a dock. He operated a ferry rowed by slaves. His ferry capsized, drowning a dozen slaves, who are buried on the hill behind his house.
This story, reported by Warren Sherwood in the 1940s, was repeated (and embellished) by later local historians. More documents have surfaced since then, so I set out to find more information about Anthony: What brought him to the Hudson Valley? What did he do in Poughkeepsie before he moved here? What happened to his family during the Revolutionary War? Is the legend of the capsized ferry actually true? Come to this presentation and learn about the early history of our town.
This story, reported by Warren Sherwood in the 1940s, was repeated (and embellished) by later local historians. More documents have surfaced since then, so I set out to find more information about Anthony: What brought him to the Hudson Valley? What did he do in Poughkeepsie before he moved here? What happened to his family during the Revolutionary War? Is the legend of the capsized ferry actually true? Come to this presentation and learn about the early history of our town.
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