Celebration Republication of The Catskills by Alf Evers

An event to celebrate the republication of The Catskills: From Wilderness to Woodstock by Alf Evers will take place at the Historical Society of Woodstock on Friday, August 16, from 7 to 9 pm. Purple Mountain Press of Bovina recently brought out its edition of this definitive regional history.

For countless readers over the course of more than fifty years, Alf’s stand-alone book has served as the gateway to learning about and treasuring the Catskills, in all the region’s intricate and colorful history. Originally published by Doubleday in 1972 and then in an updated edition by The Overlook Press in 1982, the book had become unavailable. 

Poet and composer Ed Sanders, author of Alf Evers: An American Genius, and Fred Steuding will share their recollections of working closely with Alf towards the latter part of his life, when both friends assisted with the research and completion of his Kingston: City on the Hudson.

Born in 1905, Evers grew up on a farm in Ulster County within sight of the Catskills. The genesis for The Catskills was when Alf’s frequent articles about local subjects caught the notice of an editor at Doubleday, who approached him to write a full history. It took him eight years to research and write and was published to great success. Thrilling generations of readers since, The Catskills presents the lore, legends, art and commerce, flora, fauna, and natural and manmade wonders that have made the Catskills one of America’s most historically rich and romantic regions. Not least among its delights is the voice of Alf himself as a storyteller, entertaining and wry.

Publishing books since the 1980s, Purple Mountain Press specializes in titles about the Catskills, Adirondacks and other regions of New York State. In 2020, founder Wray Rominger of Fleischmanns, who ran the press with his late wife Loni for many years, was presented with the Alf Evers Award for Excellence by the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development. The publishing house continues under the stewardship of James and Maureen Krueger. Books can be purchased at www.nysbooks.com.

The Historical Society of Woodstock is located at Eames House, 20 Comeau Dr., Woodstock, 845-679-2256, info@historicalsocietyofwoodstock.org.