Purple Mountain Press Publishing in the Catskills

Carolyn Bennett, former Prattsville town historian and new co-owner of Purple Mountain Press.

CATSKILL MOUNTAINS - Don’t for a moment try to tell the proprietors of Purple Mountain Press, including well-known area historian Carolyn Bennett, that the Catskill peaks aren’t magenta-ish.

Bennett is one of four new owners of the small and meaningful publisher of local and regional New York State history books.

She is joined by Brett Barry, Rebecca Rego Barry and Lee Hudson, taking ownership shortly after the New Year.

Purple Mountain Press (PMP) was founded in 1973 by Wray and Loni Rominger in the village of Fleischmanns.

The indie publisher initially produced titles about the surrounding Catskills and nearby Hudson Valley, gradually extending their scope well past the fabled lands of Rip Van Winkle and Ichabod Crane.

As for the present and future, a press release from the ownership team states they, “all are enthusiastic to explore and expand PMP’s deep and impressive backlist of books on New York State history and to share with

readers the incredible body of knowledge created by this press.” 

“Each of us has a different reason for wanting to be involved and a different relationship to publishing,” says Bennett, the former town of Prattsville historian and still a member of the Pratt Museum board of directors.

Bennett, for her part, says, “I have been deeply involved, since college, in all things publishing,” having her own small press for seven years.

“Three years ago, some friends of the original PMP publisher took it over, later deciding to relocate to Pennsylvania and put it on the market.

“Purple Mountain Press has brought so much history to so many people. And, of course, it is itself historical,” Bennett says.

“We all look forward to expanding its offerings and providing new works and revived editions of PMP classics,” Bennett says.

“Independent publishers are an absolutely crucial link to our regional and natural histories, and Purple Mountain Press is such an important example of that. I’m excited to be a part of the next incarnation,” Brett Barry said.

The press release further states, “PMP specializes in books about the Catskills, Hudson Valley, Adirondacks, Lake George, and Mohawk and Champlain Valleys, particularly related to Colonial history, the Revolutionary War, the natural environment, folklore, Native Americans, maritime history, regional culture, and railroads.

“The current stable of authors includes such renowned regional natural history experts as Robert and Johanna Titus, and Michael Kudish, and cultural historians Alf Evers, Bill Birns, Dana Cudmore, Tim Duerden, Shirley Dunn, Diane Galusha, Ray LaFever, Carleton Mabee, Bob Steuding, Tim Todish, and Sandra Weber.

“Moving forward, PMP plans to issue new editions of select, previously published titles, in different formats with fresh art and introductory material, as well as introduce new books.

“The owners look forward to connecting with authors, booksellers, librarians and museum professionals to ensure that these great books about New York state are widely available,” the release states.

“As for its whimsical name - there is no Purple Mountain in the Catskills, after all - Wray was inspired by a dispute with his third-grade teacher, who criticized his drawing of purple mountains,” the release states.

“Mountains aren’t purple,” she said. Wray disagreed. “Did we not sing

of the ‘purple mountains’ majesty?’ Confirmation had to wait twenty-three years, however, until we moved to the Catskills,” Brett Barry says. 

“Driving through the mountains one evening, I startled my wife by exclaiming, ‘By God, they really ARE purple!’” Brett Barry says.

“The great Hudson Valley chronicler Washington Irving thought so too, writing of his first view of the Catskills from a boat on the Hudson,” the release states, recalling Irving’s words as follows:

“As we slowly floated along, I lay on the deck and watched them through a long summer’s day, undergoing a thousand mutations under the magical effects of atmosphere;

“Sometimes seeming to approach; at other times to recede; now almost melting into hazy distance, now burnished by the setting sun, until in the evening they painted themselves against the glowing sky in the deep purple of an Italian landscape,” Irving wrote.

“Taking the reins of this historic press is both thrilling and a little terrifying, Rebecca Rego Barry says.

“I remember when I first started visiting the Catskills in the mid-90s, seeing the Purple Mountain Press sign in Fleischmanns and wondering if maybe I could work there one day. Well, that day has come!”

“From Kubick to Galusha, from Kudish to Titus and a host of other celebrated authors,” Hudson says.

“Purple Mountain Press has illuminated many corners of New York State history. It's a privilege to continue its tradition.”