Announcing the 1930s Lost Catskill Farm Expansion

GRAHAMSVILLE - The Time and the Valleys Museum is embarking on an ambitious expansion of the historic 1930s Lost Catskill Farm to include additional historic farm buildings and much more at the Museum at 332 Main Street (Route 55) in Grahamsville.

In the 1930s and 40s, New York City came to the Catskills and took land they needed to build reservoirs for their expanding water supply system. Thousands of people’s lives changed forever, as they were forced to move away from family and friends and the homes they loved. To honor those who lost their lands and to preserve and interpret our area’s farming history, in 2018 the Museum opened the first phase of the 1930s Lost Catskill farm, with engaging displays in a farmhouse, milk house, electric plant and workshop with working water wheel.

The Museum is now embarking on the second phase of the farm on additional donated land, which will include ten more farm outbuildings, fencing, gardens and a pavilion to help tell the story of farming in 1930s Catskills more thoroughly. Buildings to be included in the second phase are a hen house, smoke house, root cellar, sap house, working saw mill and more. All of the historic buildings have been identified, and are scheduled to move to the farm this summer. Also planned is a large pavilion to provide a covered area for groups to gather for programs and to eat lunch. This pavilion is critical for tour groups and the many schools that visit the Museum for our 2 /12 hour field trip programs.

A kiosk will be installed next to the pavilion focusing on a description of the NYC watershed and the internationally acclaimed current partnership programs between watershed communities/farmers and the NYC DEP.

The Museum is gratefully accepting monetary and in-kind donations for this ambitious project, which has an opening date of spring, 2021. Naming opportunities for buildings and many other donor recognition opportunities are available.

For more information on the plans for this exciting farm expansion and the help needed, call 985-7700, email: info@timeandthevalleysmuseum.org or visit timeandthevalleysmuseum.org/explore/lost-catskill-farm.

Adults admission is a suggested donation of $5, children under 16 $2, and children under six are free. Town of Neversink and Town of Denning residents receive free admission every Thursday. As a Blue Star Museum, the Museum offers free admission to active duty military members and up to five family members.