A Salute to the Historic Mountaintop

Source from:  thedailymail.net By Melanie Lekocevic 08/25/2008

Tucked away in the Catskill Mountains sits the small mountaintop community of Haines Falls. Though small, the enclave is steeped in history and geological wonder - and that is what history buffs celebrated Saturday during the annual open house for the Mountain Top Historical Society. "We are trying to bring more awareness to the history of the mountaintop and this entire area, and to spur tourism," said Larry Tompkins, the group's president. "This is the one day of the year when we encourage people to come here, and we make them aware of our group and the programs we offer." The society was created in 1974, and 20 years later it purchased the former railroad station, which the group ultimately renovated, restored and then called home. The railroad was closed down in 1939 and the station building was turned into a private residence. Now, though, it has been restored to its former glory. When it was operational, the railroad started in Phoenicia, went through Haines Falls and ended in South Lake. "We are told that we are the only original Ulster-Delaware railroad station in Greene County," said Justine Hommel, past president of the Mountain Top Historical Society. Now, to celebrate that history, an open house is held each August, inviting members of the community to enjoy food, lectures about the region by renowned speakers, a puppet show dating back to the 1950s, and entertainment, including the Schoharie Valley Cloggers who perform a traditional dance known as Appalachian clogging. When the Mountain Top Historical Society restored the old railroad building in the mid-1990s, it must have done an impressive job - the structure is now on both the National and State Historic Register. In fact, the open house was started after those designations were issued. The organization is run exclusively by volunteers with the exception of one paid staff member, and is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of Haines Falls. "Our mission is to promote historical understanding and love of the mountaintop," said Peter Swords, the group's treasurer. "When we hold the open houses, each year we have different lectures and book signings that celebrate the mountaintop, and this is the one event where everyone in the community comes and joins in." At the puppet theater at the far end of the grounds, a Rip Van Winkle play was brought back to life. The play was originally performed at the former Rip's Retreat in North Lake, and when organizers tried to find out as much as they could about the play, they were actually able to locate an original recording that was used more than 50 years ago. And for many, that brings back childhood memories. "The puppet play was part of a tourist attraction in what is now known as North Lake," said Bob Gildersleeve, a member of the organization's Board of Directors. "When we were looking at what we wanted to do, a lot of people spoke of this puppet show, and we recreated it as precisely as we could. It brings back fond memories for people who went there as children, and even some of the people who actually operated the puppets years ago have come to see the show." And if dancing is more your speed, there was the Schoharie Valley Cloggers who performed on the makeshift stage. Not many people in the Northeast have been exposed to clogging, making the performance a unique experience. "My husband and I went to Maryland years ago and we saw clogging performed. It looked like fun, so we took it up, and now we travel around performing," said Rose Stahl, a member of the dance troupe that has been clogging since 1989. For others, the festival acts as an annual get-together with old friends. "I come here every year," said Berna Showers. "My brother-in-law plays in the band, and I get to see people I haven't seen in a hundred years." Now that's something Rip Van Winkle can relate to. Enditem