MTHS Blog
Postcard Show
Third Annual Postcard Show 
The third annual postcard show on Saturday, September 20th, 2014 at our Ulster & Delaware Train Station on the Mountain Top Historical Society Campus on Route 23A in Haines Falls was our best attended yet. In addition to dealers, John Duda and friends, the MTHS sold items including posters, prints and other ephemera from the attic. There was something for everyone. Five dealers brought collectable postcards from the Hudson Valley and well beyond as well as holiday and other topical cards. Plans for next year are already in the works.
Hikefest 2014
The Mountain Top Historical Society presents Hikefest as part of the Catskills Lark in the Park
On Saturday, October 11, 2014 the Mountain Top Historical Society's Haines Falls campus will be the place to be. Starting at 9:00 a.m. there will be a choice of
hikes spreading out to various trail heads around the area with popular experienced hike leaders. Wendell George from the Catskill Mountain Club will lead a hike to Sunset Rock/ Bear's Den on North Mountain. David and Carol White will offer an expedition to Dibbell's Quarry, and beyond, through a hemlock forest to an amazing beaver dam that survived Hurricane Irene. Pete Senterman from Platte Clove, with his son, Jeff, from the NY/NJ Trail conference will lead a group on the Huckleberry Rail Trail from Clum Hill Road to Bloomer Road in Tannersville passing the location of the CCC camp. This very easy hike will provide an opportunity for hikers who prefer a “walk in the woods” style outing. In addition, Susan Kukle and Athena Billias will use the Kaaterskill Rail Trail to hike to Sphinx Rock.
All of the hikers will meet at the MTHS campus at 9:00 a.m. and car pool to the different trail heads for the hikes. The hikes are all designed to last about 3 hours and return to the MTHS for lunch.
Lunch will be hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill with all the fixings including salads, cold drinks and dessert. The cost per person for lunch is $10 and will be served beginning at noon.
Around 1:00 p.m. or as soon as all the hikers have returned and had their lunch, in the U&D Train Station, we will have presentations by Jeff Senterman about the Catskill Park and by the Whites about measuring the trails throughout the Catskill Forest Preserve. There will also be displays in the Train Station by the 3500 Club, the NY/NJ Trail conference, the Kaaterskill Rail Trail, the MTHS and others. We are arranging a presentation by Marty Molitoris of Alpine Endeavors on ice climbing.
We welcome hikers and those interested in hiking or just in the beauty of the Catskill Park to join us for a hike, a presentation, lunch, good company and interesting information. We expect to finish up by 4:00 p.m.
MTHS does not require membership for hike participation. We do however request that you register for each hike. Participants can register at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling (518) 589-6657. Please leave your name, phone number, and total in your party. Schedule is subject to change. The latest information is available on our web site http://legacy.mths.org. For last-minute questions call Bob at (518) 734-9701. Notification of changes, including weather cancellations will be made on the web site up to the day of any given hike.
Please make reservations for the hikes and for lunch.
This is a Lark in the Park event.
South Mountain Ramble Hike
The Mountain Top Historical Society will sponsor a hike of South Mountain on September 13 as part of the 2014 Hudson River Ramble. Led by Bob Gildersleeve, author of Catskill Mountain House Trail Guide, the hike will take participants along one of the most scenic footpaths in the Catskills passing by Layman's Monument, Council Bluff, Sunset Rock, Inspiration Point and Artist's Rock.
Time permitting, hikers will also see Split Rocks, Bowlder Rock, and Fat Man's Delight before the hike finishes. All of these locations were known to Hudson River School artists and 19th century tourists. The location of Council Bluff and Artist's Rock were not widely known until recently and the more modern spelling 'Boulder' has taken the place of the spelling often used in the 19th Century. Views of Kaaterskill Clove and the Hudson Valley that inspired Hudson River School artists and generations of residents and visitors to the Catskills are abundant along the walk. This is a moderate hike with a climb of about 450 ft. and a distance of about 4.8 miles. The trail has rocky footing in some sections so good hiking footwear should be worn. Bring food and water. Limited to 12 hikers so please register. Register by calling the Mountain Top Historical Society at (518) 589-6657 or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Meet at the MTHS Campus at 9:00am.
PLEASE NOTE:
A controversial decision by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation has opened Early Bear Hunting Season from September 6 through September 21. Hunters are allowed to use a variety of weapons including shotguns and rifles. Our hike was scheduled prior to the approval of the extended season and is in the popular hiking region contiguous with North-South Lake campground. The area of our hike is part of the area open to the extended Bear Hunting season. Hikers should wear bright colors.
The Mountain Top Historical Society Looking Good!
Many thanks to
the volunteers who put their time and hard work into sprucing up the storage building near the KRT parking lot. The building was a leftover piece of the main building that was moved to Rte. 23A to become our Visitors' Center and was looking pretty forlorn. The volunteers replaced board and batten siding where needed, repaired the roof edge and sprayed a coat of paint on the entire building. It now looks a lot more respectable and cared for. Currently being used for storage, it is a solid building that we hope will play a bigger role at the MTHS some day in the future.
Our thanks to Dick Haines, the organizer and his mighty crew: Artie Fries, Randy Hoose, Joe McGowan, Gary Slutzky, George Van Dyke (the man with the paint sprayer) and Gibby Van Dyke with help from his friend, Kelly.
At the same time, the Visitors' Center is getting a fresh paint job by Dan Kaminski with partial funding by The Hunter Foundation. Our thanks to Dan and to the Foundation for keeping us looking good.
Thank you to our members and donors without whose support none of the work we do would be possible.
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