This temporary exhibition includes twenty-seven quilts, most made by women living in the Rondout and Neversink watershed areas between 1860 and 1950. Many of these beautiful quilts have interesting stories attached to them about the quilters and their families.

Visitors to the exhibition will leave with an appreciation of the time, effort and skill needed to create these beautiful works of art, many made from scraps of old worn out clothing and used as bedcovers or blankets. Visitors may try their hand at stitching a quilt square, learn how to best care for their own quilts and attend beginning and advanced quilt making programs.  The exhibition is open to the public Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m., through October 30^th.

Upcoming quilt programs include:

Friday,  September 16^th, 7 p.m.

Beginner’s Traditional Quiltmaking

Expert quilters will help first time quilters hand stitch a small square the old fashioned way.  No materials are necessary, but a small donation would be appreciated.

Sunday, October 16^th, 2 p.m.

A Quilter’s Journey

Accomplished quilter Sally Abrams (member of the Catskill Mountain Quilter’s Hall of Fame) will talk about the evolution of her work from her first attempts at quilting to her most recent stunning creations. She will share tips on techniques, styles and use of color.

Sunday, October 23rd, 2 p.m.

To Be Announced – hold the date!

Sunday, October 30^th, 2 p.m.

To Be Announced – hold the date!

Please call 985-7700 to register for all programs.  

 Just as the Country Auction was winding down, the Old Time Fair was starting up! With the very popular pie auction, Chestnut Creek ball race, raffle and games for children and adults, the Old Time Fair raised almost $2,000. It also helped introduce visitors to some old time activities (like the corn shucking and skillet tossing contests), and to the area’s history through exhibits in the Museum shed.

With the Old Time Fair was in full swing, Museum volunteers began serving the Chicken BBQ which included delicious Miller’s Chicken, baked potato, cucumber and tomato salad, roll, drink and dessert. So many people helped themselves to this delicious meal, that the chickens ran out before the people did! This ever popular fund raising BBQ helped raise over $1,000 for the museum. For much of the day, Paul Loundsbury and the Chestnut Creek Band entertained fairgoers with their wonderful music, which really added to the “old time” feel of the fair. 

The Old Time Fair, Auction and Chicken BBQ were all wonderful events which helped raise much needed funds for the Museum. We are grateful to all of the people who helped make them so successful. Thank you.

Photos from the DEP archives

[Grahamsville, N.Y.]  – A new photo exhibition is currently on view at The Time and the Valleys Museum entitled:  A Glimpse into the Building of the Rondout and Neversink Reservoirs and Connecting Tunnels:  Photos from the DEP Archives.  Direct from the DEP Archives in New York City, these rarely seen photos show a unique and interesting view of the workers who built the Rondout and Neversink Reservoirs and the Delaware and Neversink Tunnels.

Taken between 1937 and 1949, these photos illustrate the working conditions of men known as “Sand Hogs” – workers who dug dirt by hand in pressurized caissons, or dug “muck” in the tunnels deep under the earth.  These men worked to build one of the largest water supply systems in the country, to provide New York City with clear drinking water from the Catskill Mountains.  A joint exhibition of the Time and the Valleys Museum and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection Archives, these photos give a rare “glimpse” into the lives of men who worked hard days, long hours, and risked their health and their lives for progress.  The exhibition will be open through October, 2011.

Located at 332 Main Street in Grahamsville (St. Rt. 55), the Museum is open Thursday to Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. through October, and other times by appointment.  Adults admission is $2, Children under 16 $1, and children under six are free.  With THREE FLOORS of exhibitions, the Museum also has a Local History Resource Center (open Thursday and Sundays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.) and Museum Shop with local history and environmental publications, handcrafted artwork and gifts by local craftspeople, old fashioned toys and other unique items.  For more information call 845 985-7700 or go to our website: timeandthevalleysmuseum.org.

Other exhibition currently available: 

• The History of the Rondout and Neversink Watershed Areas

The Time and the Valleys Museum is a living and interactive resource that preserves the past, educates the present and ensures the uniqueness of the Rondout and Neversink watersheds for all generations.

The Time and the Valleys Museum has a long-awaited exhibition now on view: the artwork of Manville B. Wakefield, artist, educator, historian and railroad buff.

This is the most complete collection ever assembled of Wakefield’s art.

“Wake” came to Sullivan County in 1953 when he took the position of art instructor at Tri-Valley Central School in Grahamsville.

Before his arrival, he was well known for his black and white illustrations of trains, which appeared on covers of several train magazines and in books by Lucius Beebe. His love of trains took him one step further — into model railroading, where his art became three-dimensional.

In 1953, Wakefield started painting in oil, and he continued until his death in 1974 at the age of 50.

A prolific artist for many years
In 20 years, he produced a legacy of art through outstanding murals at Sullivan County Community College and the M&T Bank in Liberty, books on the O&W Railroad and the Delaware & Hudson Canal, several slide shows on local history and more than 200 paintings.

During that time, he continued to inspire students in Grahamsville and moved on to head the commercial art program at Sullivan County Community College as well as becoming Sullivan County historian.

Variety of media on display
Wakefield had proven skill in watercolors, scratchboards, ink wash, etching, woodcuts and oil painting. A large sample of those skills will be on exhibition at the Time and the Valleys Museum from noon-4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, through Aug. 5, at 332 Main St. (Route 55) in Grahamsville.

Other exhibition currently available:

“Impact of Water on the Life and the Growth of the Valleys” “The Rondout and Neversink Watersheds: Before, During and After”
Admission is $2, $1 for children under 16, and free for children under 6.

Current exhibition are:
• Impact of Water on the Life and the Growth of the Valleys
• The Rondout and Neversink watersheds: Before, During and After
• The Artwork of Manville B. Wakefield: Artist-Educator-Historian-Railroad Buff (through August 5th)
The Museum will be open Thursday to Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. through October, and other times by appointment. Adults admission is $2, Children under 16 $1, and children under six are free. For more information call 845 985-2262 x 313 or go to our website: timeandthevalleysmuseum.org.

The Time and the Valleys Museum is a living and interactive resource that preserves the past, educates the present and ensures the uniqueness of the Rondout and Neversink watersheds for all generations. For additional information on the Museum please call us at 985-2262 x313 or go online at www.timeandthevalleysmuseum.org.

Sponsored by the Time and the Valleys Museum, the Country Auction will be held RAIN OR SHINE.  many donated items will be auctioned off to raise funds for the Museum, including antiques such as furniture, prints, equipment, household items and collectibles; and like-new items including gift items, glassware, furniture and gift certificates, among many other items.

Throughout the day simple, old fashioned activities will include:

• Horseshoe and lady’s skillet throwing contests
• Children’s old fashioned games
• Old fashioned ice cream making demonstration and tasting
• Pie auction with emcee Barry Lewis
• Great food and bake sale
• Local history exhibits

Admission is FREE, with only a nominal fee for some games and food.

Scale models of the Rondout and Neversink Watersheds – showing owners of property and the terrain prior to reservoir construction. Created by Barbara Purcell. Funding for the two projects came from a Catskill Watershed Corporation Public Education Grant.

Watershed Exhibit – when fully operational, it will include voices of local residents and many panels about the history of the five lost communities but also about the process that led to the building of the reservoirs and the actual construction.  This is funded by Catskill Watershed Corporation in partnership with New York City Department of Environmental Protection; the Sullivan County Legislature; Empire State Development Corporation and the Town of Neversink.

Dairy Farm Exhibit – A comprehensive project that includes photos of existing barns and farm buildings from an earlier time period as well as historical documentation and actual dairy farm equipment.  Created by:  Photographer – LaVerne Black and Historian – Carol Smythe.  Funding for this project was provided by the Catskill Watershed Corporation through a grant to the Daniel Pierce Library.

This year’s widely-popular Old Time Fair & Country Auction will be held rain or shine on Saturday, July 30th  at the Grahamsville Fairgrounds on St. Rt. 55 in Grahamsville, New York.
Sponsored by the Time and the Valleys Museum, the Country Auction will be held RAIN OR SHINE. Starting at 10:30 (viewing starts at 9:30 a.m.) many donated items will be auctioned off to raise funds for the Museum, including antiques such as furniture, prints, equipment, household items and collectibles; and like-new items including gift items, glassware, furniture and gift certificates, among many other items.

Throughout the day simple, old fashioned activities will include:

• Horseshoe and lady’s skillet throwing contests
• Children’s old fashioned games
• Old fashioned ice cream making demonstration and tasting
• Pie auction with emcee Barry Lewis
• Great food and bake sale
• Local history exhibits

Admission is FREE, with only a nominal fee for some games and food.

From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy the delicious Miller’s Chicken Barbecue. The popular Miller’s Chicken is accompanied by baked potato, tomato and cucumber salad, corn on the cob, roll, bottled water, and dessert. Dinners will be available to eat in or take out.