COPAKE — There is an awesome exhibit at the Copake Town Hall — not to be missed. Fortunately, it is now a permanent display, welcoming all to the municipal building following a ribbon-cutting ceremony that was held Saturday, Aug. 13.
The exhibit brings an amazing history to light — expansive, curated in a manner that honors each important town event on its own, with photos and text that’s easy to read.
There are 24 panels to enlighten viewers about Copake’s 200 years of community history, painstakingly put together by Copake artist Nick Fritsch. He spent untold hours designing each panel, assisted by Town Historian Howard Blue and former Town Clerk Vana Hotaling.
The Copake Town Board pegged the project in early 2020. Blue wrote the texts and provided photographic images obtained from numerous Copake families; Hotaling served as a consultant. Fritsch did the artwork.
Town Supervisor Jeanne Mettler and many others in town also helped make the exhibit happen, and all were celebrated on the 13th.
Copake Town Hall is a light, airy structure, located at 230 Mountain View Road. It’s ideal for this type of exhibit.
Some of the historic events covered in the display include how five kidnapped Germans became leaders in Copake and how Chief Big Thunder (aka Dr. Smith Broughton) was arrested and given a life sentence during his anti-rent movement. Other panels depict local waterfall, Bash Bish Falls; the town’s ill-fated movie theater; and Elinor Mettler, founder and publisher of the former town newspaper, The Roe Jan Independent.
Former students from local elementary schools, some whose parents and possibly grandparents once attended school there, are among those featured in the panels. One highlights Howard McGhee, former U.S. post master and beloved coach.
Another panel answers the question if Winston Churchill had a Copake connection.
There’s information on Superman creator, Carroll Rheinstrom and his wife, Irene. The couple lived on a 1,000-acre plot of land in Craryville. The Rheinstroms were philanthropists who eventually willed their acreage to the Audubon Society.
Blue, a retired teacher and author, wrote about the superhero creator in the book, “Carroll Rheinstrom; the Man Who Sold Superman to the World.” He has done much research on these topics and more as the town historian.
Make sure not to miss two beautifully executed works by Fritsch that are hanging in the courtroom at the Copake Town Hall, behind the dais. The works are original. One depicts the “First Town Meeting, 1824,” the other is entitled, “Depot.” Both are on loan by Fritsch and not part of the permanent exhibit.
Those who visit the exhibit now will get to enjoy them, though, along with a large brass bell on display in the courtroom — a relic of long past days when horse racing and trotters were a part of life in Copake.
The display also includes enlarged postcards contributed by Robert Callahan; paintings on loan from William Clark Vreeland and Donna Louise Vreeland may also be viewed in the Rheinstrom Conference Room.
Many attended the grand opening on the 13th to enjoy the exhibit, with a great many were present from the Roe Jan Historical Society. So, too, was New York State Senator Daphne Jordan (R-43) and her staffer, Halie Northrup.
Funded by grants from the Rheinstrom Community Foundation and the Bank of Green County, the exhibit may be seen weekly, Monday through Thursday, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays, from 9 a.m. until noon.
Groups interested in viewing the exhibit may make arrangements through Town Historian Howard Blue at copaketownhistorian@gmail.com.
AMENIA — The first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School went smoothly, with teachers enthusiastically greeting the eager young students disembarking from buses. Excitement was measurable, with only a few tears from parents, but school began anyway.
Ready for her first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School, Liliana Cawley, 7, would soon join her second grade class, but first she posed for a photo to mark the occasion.Photo by Leila Hawken
AMENIA — While the courage and perseverance of Revolutionary era patriots is well understood and celebrated, the stories of the fate of British loyalists in New York are not as clear.
Seen as the initial event in observance of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Amenia Historical Society will present a talk titled, “The Plight of a Loyalist in Revolutionary New York,” examining the journal of Cadwallader Colden, Jr., spanning the period of 1777-1779. The speaker will be noted author, genealogist and historian Jay Campbell.
The talk is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. at the Smithfield Presbyterian Church in Amenia. The handicapped-accessible church is located at 656 Smithfield Valley Road. Refreshments will be served.
Colden was the son of a New York Lieutenant Governor. He was a surveyor, farmer and mercantilist, serving as a judge in Ulster County. His fortunes changed dramatically with the dawn of the Revolutionary War when he remained loyal to the British Crown. His arrest came in 1776, just before the start of his journal.
Campbell is a historian specializing in Hudson Valley history, and the regional stories of Revolutionary era families.
Erin Rollins of Millbrook in the Fashion Feed booth, open year round, at the Millbrook Antiques Mall. All proceeds from Fashion Feeds go to the Food of Life Pantry. As an interior designer by trade, Rollins designed this booth to evoke a high-end department store to align with the designer brands she carries.
MILLERTON — The Townscape 50/50 raffle drawing has collected a pot of more than $7,000.
That raffle drawing will take place this Saturday at 2 p.m. in Veteran’s Park. The moment is not just about picking a winner, but also about reflecting on how far Townscape has come since its humble beginnings in 1998, when founder Catherine Fenn — alongside Renee Vollen and Jan Gilmor — first set out to beautify her beloved village.
Fenn’s connection to Millerton runs deep. “I moved here from the Bronx when I was eight years old and fell in love with the place, even as a child,” she recalled, remembering camping trips at Rudd Pond and enjoying the quiet pace of life.
At 15, her family relocated to southern Connecticut. “My dad didn’t think there was much here for us, so we moved. I left kicking and screaming, literally, and I said, ‘Someday I’m coming back.’”
Years later, after marrying, divorcing, and raising children, Fenn kept that promise. She returned to Millerton and married a childhood friend who was very involved in the fire department. After his passing, Fenn threw herself into her own way of giving back.
“I care about this village deeply. Townscape is my way of helping Millerton be the best it can be,” she said.
What began as an informal effort to gather volunteers and plant flowers eventually blossomed into something larger. “We started with flowers up and down Main Street — barrels of them everywhere. Then it grew into benches, tables, trees and even events. It was such a fun world, a really wonderful organization with so many people involved.”
Fenn’s service to the community extends beyond beautification. She spent roughly two decades on the Planning Board, served as Town Supervisor and worked with the county housing authority. Still, her passion for flowers, trees and landscapes has left the most visible mark on Millerton — shaping not only how the village looks, but how it feels.
In 2006, Townscape became a nonprofit organization. But beautification, Fenn admits, isn’t always the easiest cause to fund. “We’re just putting flowers out — and I shouldn’t say ‘just,’ because to me it’s really important. The trees, the benches, all of it matters. But it’s not high on most people’s list when they think about charitable donations. Still, people have been wonderfully generous over the years.”
This Saturday’s raffle drawing is one way neighbors can show their support. The winner does not have to be present to claim the prize, but those who stop by can enjoy cookies, lemonade and artwork by local creators on display in the park.
MILLBROOK — Local crows should prepare to become highly spooked as planners of Millbrook Community Day, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, have announced that a Scarecrow Contest will be part of the festivities.
Residents are invited to get creative and devise their own renditions of a scarecrow from traditional to whatever imagination might come up with.
Judging criteria will include creativity, including originality, new ideas, or perhaps whether the scarecrow tells a story. Design criteria include the creator’s technique, materials — recycled materials are emphatically a plus — and durability.
Rules include that scarecrows be free-standing, able to stand on their own or with minimal support. No scarecrow can be store-bought. Entries must be able to fit within a 6 x 6 foot space once assembled. A stand is available upon request. Scarecrows must be non-political, family friendly, and in a good-natured spirit.
Entrants are responsible for set-up, scheduled from 9 to 10 a.m. on Sept. 20, location to be assigned the week before. Judging will begin at 1 p.m. Winners will be announced at 2 p.m.
For more information and to register to participate, email mba@millbrooknewyork.com or go to www.millbrooknewyork.com/community-day-2025
