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Book weaves tangled tale of local history
By Jim Planck
HENSONVILLE — Local and regional history has patiently and steadily grown into an economic staple of the greater Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountain region, and in prime support of history’s importance is that the state of New York officially recognizes November as Local History Month.
One of the underlying pins of the visibility of history in the region is Windham’s Hensonville-based Black Dome Press and its owner and publisher Deborah Allen.
Allen founded Black Dome back in 1990, and the company has been steadily putting out a fine selection of local and regional history books ever since.
Whether it’s the published works of late Greene County Historian Raymond Beecher, campaign letters from a Dutchess County Civil War soldier, or the 19th century architectural wonders of Saratoga Springs, Black Dome Press has, itself, an impressive history of serving the Mid-Hudson Valley, Capital District and Catskill-Leatherstocking Region with quality, engaging and informative works about the past.
And now — just in time for Local History Month — Black Dome has released its newest gem, “Rhinecliff, A Hudson River History,” by Cynthia Owen Philip.
Subtitled “The Tangled Tale of Rhinebeck’s Waterfront,” the book is a solid, informative look at Rhinecliff’s past, from the early Native Americans who roamed its lands, all the way up to modern day open space preservation and land use issues.
Like any local history book, while the specific topic is Rhinecliff, it is virtually impossible to separate out the past of any Hudson Valley community from that of another, thus it is not surprising to find a discussion of the Knickerbocker Ice Company, which also had facilities in Athens, Catskill and Coxsackie, nor of family names like Heermance and Van Etten, both surnames that are not unknown in the area.
Black Dome’s Allen notes, “To paraphrase late Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill — ‘All history is local’ — and to understand our world, you really should have a grasp of regional and local history.”
Indeed, Philip tells of Rhinecliff’s residents watching Kingston burn across the river when the British put the torch to it in the American Revolution, just as villages upstream like Catskill’s Embought undoubtedly waited in fear that they were next.
The book also, of course, provides an in-depth look at the great estates of the Hudson River that were focused in and around Rhinecliff, including the Livingstons, Astors and Beekmans.
It also tells of U.S. Vice President Levi Morton, who served under Benjamin Harrison from 1889 to 1893, and afterwards was governor of New York from 1895 to 1896, and who lived in Rhinecliff.
Among those praising Philip’s book is one who should know — John Winthrop Aldrich, NYS deputy commissioner for historic preservation and a Livingston by descent.
“The complex, colorful history of the riverfront hamlet of Rhinecliff is hidden no longer, thanks to Cynthia Philip’s lucid, compelling account of this centuries-old community,” said Aldrich.
“Here is the thoroughly researched, fluently written story of strong individuals and national change, viewed in the intimate context of a Hudson Valley hamlet,” said Aldrich. “This richly illustrated book is a gem.”
Another name not unknown in the Hudson Valley — John Cronin, former riverkeeper and current director of the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries — agreed.
“‘Rhinecliff’ is a vivid reminder that the history of America is best found in the stories of its communities and the lives of its people,” said Cronin. “This small hamlet on the Hudson River has been a first-hand witness to revolution and democracy, war and peace, wealth and struggle, decline and revival.”
“We, and posterity, owe Ms. Philip a great debt,” said Cronin.
A book launch for Philip’s new work will be 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Rhinecliff Hotel, 4 Grinnell St., Rhinecliff, with proceeds to benefit Rhinecliff’s Morton Memorial Library and Community Center.
“Rhinecliff, a Hudson River History,” has 130 maps, photographs and illustrations, 224 pages, and retails for $24.95 and is available from Black Dome Press or local booksellers.
One of the underlying pins of the visibility of history in the region is Windham’s Hensonville-based Black Dome Press and its owner and publisher Deborah Allen.
Allen founded Black Dome back in 1990, and the company has been steadily putting out a fine selection of local and regional history books ever since.
Whether it’s the published works of late Greene County Historian Raymond Beecher, campaign letters from a Dutchess County Civil War soldier, or the 19th century architectural wonders of Saratoga Springs, Black Dome Press has, itself, an impressive history of serving the Mid-Hudson Valley, Capital District and Catskill-Leatherstocking Region with quality, engaging and informative works about the past.
And now — just in time for Local History Month — Black Dome has released its newest gem, “Rhinecliff, A Hudson River History,” by Cynthia Owen Philip.
Subtitled “The Tangled Tale of Rhinebeck’s Waterfront,” the book is a solid, informative look at Rhinecliff’s past, from the early Native Americans who roamed its lands, all the way up to modern day open space preservation and land use issues.
Like any local history book, while the specific topic is Rhinecliff, it is virtually impossible to separate out the past of any Hudson Valley community from that of another, thus it is not surprising to find a discussion of the Knickerbocker Ice Company, which also had facilities in Athens, Catskill and Coxsackie, nor of family names like Heermance and Van Etten, both surnames that are not unknown in the area.
Black Dome’s Allen notes, “To paraphrase late Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill — ‘All history is local’ — and to understand our world, you really should have a grasp of regional and local history.”
Indeed, Philip tells of Rhinecliff’s residents watching Kingston burn across the river when the British put the torch to it in the American Revolution, just as villages upstream like Catskill’s Embought undoubtedly waited in fear that they were next.
The book also, of course, provides an in-depth look at the great estates of the Hudson River that were focused in and around Rhinecliff, including the Livingstons, Astors and Beekmans.
It also tells of U.S. Vice President Levi Morton, who served under Benjamin Harrison from 1889 to 1893, and afterwards was governor of New York from 1895 to 1896, and who lived in Rhinecliff.
Among those praising Philip’s book is one who should know — John Winthrop Aldrich, NYS deputy commissioner for historic preservation and a Livingston by descent.
“The complex, colorful history of the riverfront hamlet of Rhinecliff is hidden no longer, thanks to Cynthia Philip’s lucid, compelling account of this centuries-old community,” said Aldrich.
“Here is the thoroughly researched, fluently written story of strong individuals and national change, viewed in the intimate context of a Hudson Valley hamlet,” said Aldrich. “This richly illustrated book is a gem.”
Another name not unknown in the Hudson Valley — John Cronin, former riverkeeper and current director of the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries — agreed.
“‘Rhinecliff’ is a vivid reminder that the history of America is best found in the stories of its communities and the lives of its people,” said Cronin. “This small hamlet on the Hudson River has been a first-hand witness to revolution and democracy, war and peace, wealth and struggle, decline and revival.”
“We, and posterity, owe Ms. Philip a great debt,” said Cronin.
A book launch for Philip’s new work will be 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Rhinecliff Hotel, 4 Grinnell St., Rhinecliff, with proceeds to benefit Rhinecliff’s Morton Memorial Library and Community Center.
“Rhinecliff, a Hudson River History,” has 130 maps, photographs and illustrations, 224 pages, and retails for $24.95 and is available from Black Dome Press or local booksellers.
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