Grahamsville Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Grahamsville Historic District
is located along both sides of NY 55
just east of that hamlet in the Town of Neversink
in Sullivan County
, New York
, USA. Its church is across the road from Tri-Valley Central School
. In 1979 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
.
Five buildings are located on its 20 acres (8 ha). The centerpiece of the district is the Grahamsville Reformed Church, which dates originally to the 1840s. In 1874 it was expanded and a cemetery was added. An 1847 boarding house, also within the district, now serves as a gallery for a local artist.
and their Indian
allies killed or drove them away during the Revolution
. So, after independence, the landowners of the Hardenbergh Patent invited tenants to settle in the area, named after an officer who led a unit massacred in the area, once again.
The first known house in Grahamsville dates to 1788. The minimal farming opportunities in the region were supplemented by lumber
, which the Catskills
had in abundance, and soon that business picked up. In 1813 the town of Neversink raised taxes to build a road (now Route 55) from the Neversink River
(now dammed to create Neversink Reservoir
) to more-established routes at Wawarsing
in Ulster County
, to the east. The Marenius Dayton House, an impressive Greek Revival
building in the district, was an inn and official stagecoach stop during this era
Lumbering gave way to tanning
, as the Catskills' vast Eastern hemlock stands had plenty of tannin
in their bark. Judge Stoddard Hammond became rich through this industry, building a tannery
complex along nearby Chestnut Creek
and a Gothic Revival cottage overlooking it in 1857. Like many Catskill tanners, he did extremely well during the Civil War
, supplying the Union Army
with all its leather
.
He sold the tannery and its associated properties, including a Greek Revival company store that still survives, to his partner John Reynolds New York City
after the war. Reynolds kept the tannery going, even after the Panic of 1873
, and the citizens of Grahamsville were able to build their church, meeting house and cemetery at the east end of the district the following year. But in 1878 he finally closed it, and the hamlet's tanning days were ended.
With the pollution from the tanneries gone, Sullivan County became a summer resort destination in the late 19th century. The Italian villa-style Southwick House, dating to 1882, is representative of this period.
That business either faded or shifted southwards after the 1920s, and Grahamsville reverted to its farming and lumbering days. The center of the hamlet is now to the west of the district, near the junction of routes 42
and 55, in the wake of the construction of Tri-Valley Central School
and Rondout Reservoir
to the east. The buildings from Grahamsville's early years are still mostly intact.
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
is located along both sides of NY 55
New York State Route 55
New York State Route 55 is a state highway in southern New York, running from the Pennsylvania state line at the Delaware River in Barryville to the Connecticut state line at Wingdale...
just east of that hamlet in the Town of Neversink
Neversink, New York
Neversink is a town in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 3,553 at the 2000 census.The Town of Neversink is in the northeast corner of the county...
in Sullivan County
Sullivan County, New York
Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 77,547. The county seat is Monticello. The name is in honor of Major General John Sullivan, who was a hero in the American Revolutionary War...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA. Its church is across the road from Tri-Valley Central School
Tri-Valley Central School
Tri-Valley Central School is located on NY 55, near Rondout Reservoir, east of the hamlet of Grahamsville in the town of Neversink, Sullivan County, New York, USA. It educates students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade in the Tri-Valley Central School District, which serves not only the town...
. In 1979 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Five buildings are located on its 20 acres (8 ha). The centerpiece of the district is the Grahamsville Reformed Church, which dates originally to the 1840s. In 1874 it was expanded and a cemetery was added. An 1847 boarding house, also within the district, now serves as a gallery for a local artist.
History
The area of today's Grahamsville had initially been settled during the colonial era, but raids by LoyalistsLoyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
and their Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
allies killed or drove them away during the Revolution
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. So, after independence, the landowners of the Hardenbergh Patent invited tenants to settle in the area, named after an officer who led a unit massacred in the area, once again.
The first known house in Grahamsville dates to 1788. The minimal farming opportunities in the region were supplemented by lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
, which the Catskills
Catskill Mountains
The Catskill Mountains, an area in New York State northwest of New York City and southwest of Albany, are a mature dissected plateau, an uplifted region that was subsequently eroded into sharp relief. They are an eastward continuation, and the highest representation, of the Allegheny Plateau...
had in abundance, and soon that business picked up. In 1813 the town of Neversink raised taxes to build a road (now Route 55) from the Neversink River
Neversink River
The Neversink River is a tributary of the Delaware River in southeastern New York in the United States...
(now dammed to create Neversink Reservoir
Neversink Reservoir
Neversink Reservoir is one of several in the Catskill Mountains that supply water to New York City and other communities along its water supply network. It is located in Sullivan County's Town of Neversink, 75 miles northwest of the city....
) to more-established routes at Wawarsing
Wawarsing, New York
Wawarsing is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 13,157 at the 2010 census. The name means "a place where the stream bends" in the Warwarsink language and refers to the geography of the land; particularly the joining of the Ver Nooy Kill and the Rondout Creek. The...
in Ulster County
Ulster County, New York
Ulster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at...
, to the east. The Marenius Dayton House, an impressive Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
building in the district, was an inn and official stagecoach stop during this era
Lumbering gave way to tanning
Tanning
Tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
, as the Catskills' vast Eastern hemlock stands had plenty of tannin
Tannin
A tannin is an astringent, bitter plant polyphenolic compound that binds to and precipitates proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.The term tannin refers to the use of...
in their bark. Judge Stoddard Hammond became rich through this industry, building a tannery
Tanning
Tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
complex along nearby Chestnut Creek
Chestnut Creek
-References:**USGS Hydrologic Unit Map - State of Virginia...
and a Gothic Revival cottage overlooking it in 1857. Like many Catskill tanners, he did extremely well during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, supplying the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
with all its leather
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
.
He sold the tannery and its associated properties, including a Greek Revival company store that still survives, to his partner John Reynolds New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
after the war. Reynolds kept the tannery going, even after the Panic of 1873
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 triggered a severe international economic depression in both Europe and the United States that lasted until 1879, and even longer in some countries. The depression was known as the Great Depression until the 1930s, but is now known as the Long Depression...
, and the citizens of Grahamsville were able to build their church, meeting house and cemetery at the east end of the district the following year. But in 1878 he finally closed it, and the hamlet's tanning days were ended.
With the pollution from the tanneries gone, Sullivan County became a summer resort destination in the late 19th century. The Italian villa-style Southwick House, dating to 1882, is representative of this period.
That business either faded or shifted southwards after the 1920s, and Grahamsville reverted to its farming and lumbering days. The center of the hamlet is now to the west of the district, near the junction of routes 42
New York State Route 42
New York State Route 42 is a north–south, discontinuous state highway in the Catskill Mountains region of New York in the United States. The southernmost of the highway's two segments begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 6 and US 209 in Port Jervis and ends at a junction with...
and 55, in the wake of the construction of Tri-Valley Central School
Tri-Valley Central School
Tri-Valley Central School is located on NY 55, near Rondout Reservoir, east of the hamlet of Grahamsville in the town of Neversink, Sullivan County, New York, USA. It educates students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade in the Tri-Valley Central School District, which serves not only the town...
and Rondout Reservoir
Rondout Reservoir
Rondout Reservoir is part of New York City's water supply network. It is located 75 miles northwest of the city in the Catskill Mountains, near the southern end of Catskill Park, split between the towns of Wawarsing in Ulster County and Neversink in Sullivan County...
to the east. The buildings from Grahamsville's early years are still mostly intact.
Contributing properties
The six elements of the district are:- The Marenius Dayton House,
- The 1857 House, a Gothic revival cottage,
- The Southwick House,
- Tannery Store, now a private residence,
- The Grahamsville Rural Cemetery, and
- the Grahamsville Reformed Church and its accompanying Memorial Hall