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The Neversink Valley Museum Wednesday Night History Talks “The History of Yankee Lake 1844-1960” @ 7PM

Name: The Neversink Valley Museum Wednesday Night History Talks “The History of Yankee Lake 1844-1960” @ 7PM
Start: 2016-09-14T19:00:00-04:00
End: 2016-09-14T21:30:00-04:00
Location: D&H Canal Park Visitor’s Center

September 14, 2016 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm

The Neversink Valley Museum of History and Innovation is proud to present a History Talk on the new 2016 book “The History of Yankee Lake New York From 1844-1960” featuring the local historian and author Denége Patterson at The D&H Canal Park Visitor’s Center, 58 Hoag Road, Cuddebackville, NY at 7pm.

Hidden in the hills just north west of the D&H Canal at Westbrookville, NY when you follow the Pinekill Stream, rests a community of lakes that were an integral part of the life of the D&H Canal and Sullivan County. When the D & H Canal Company began construction of their canal through the valley, they found sandy, gravelly soil through several miles of its length. As a result, much more water would be needed in order to maintain the water level required for the canal boats during the summer. Parties of surveyors were sent to the mountains to the west of the canal to determine if sufficient quantities of water could be made available. Areas were located where they could build five reservoirs within a few miles radius of one another, all of which were on top of the mountains. These bodies of water known today as Yankee Lake, Wolf Lake, Lake Louise-Marie, Masten Pond and Wanaksink Pond. Yankee Lake and 1500 acres of surrounding land was purchased by the D & H Canal Company. From whom did they purchase the land? Did the Minisink and Hardenburg Patentees sell this property? Did they have the legal right to do so?

These and many more questions will be entertained by the Yankee Lake Historian Denége Patterson in her presentation based on the new 2016 book “The History of Yankee Lake New York From 1844-1960” authored by Ms. Patterson along with Cathy Dawkins and Brad Dawkins, all members of the Yankee Lake Preservation Association. The presentation will show many historic photographs and maps that are included in the book, which will be available for purchase the night of the History Talk.