Local History by Dede Terns-Thorpe - Preparation for the Hike

As Town of Hunter Historian, I was delighted to be asked to speak to Brett Dearing and Dawn Legg Plattner’s gym class. It was in preparation for the class hike to the sites of the Laurel House at the Kaaterskill Falls, the Hotel Kaaterskill, and the Catskill Mountain House.

I was happy to have time to cover other exciting aspects of the town’s history: the tanneries, furniture factories, quarrying, railroads, and the hotel business shared over the last 200 years. To explain to the students how our town began in 1813 when our forests were thick with hemlocks and so fearful looking that Indigenous people would not enter except to hunt.  

I was especially pleased with the enthusiasm for local history shown by Mr. Dearing and Mrs. Plattner, and by the behavior of the students. The class appeared interested and gave their full attention.

It was my pleasure. Dede Thorpe

A little Railroad Tidbit: Tannersville Junction.

Kaaterskill Junction Station served the trains of the Ulster & Delaware Railroad arriving from Phoenicia. The train stopped there so freight and people could disembark for Hunter or travel on to Tannersville. Kaaterskill Junction, originally called Tannersville Junction, was across (east) from Ski Bowl Road, at the intersection of Route 214.

This story is from the Windham Journal, February 12, 1975, and the fire that destroyed the 1882 historic station.

The former Kaaterskill Junction depot, a one-story building on the Stony-Clove Road in the Town of Hunter, was destroyed by a fire of an undetermined cause.

Skiers, renting the house, discovered the blaze when returning home at 1 am. The fire had spread from the house to the yard, burning some evergreens. The Hunter Fire Company responded quickly but Hunter Fire Chief Dick Hardy said they were unable to immediately reach the fire as the unplowed driveway prevented access.

The historic station was destroyed.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy the Fall weather and stay safe.

Dede Terns-Thorpe 09/21/2025