GRAHAMSVILLE – From the 1990s to the 1970s, NYC’s need for portable water resulted in 5,500 people losing their homes for the building of the Catskill Reservoirs (1,500 people for the Roundout and Neversink reservoirs alone). Many of these people were farmers earning their living on the land, just like their parents and grandparents before them. 

With the Opening of the Catskill Family Farm, the Times and the Valleys Museum tells their story, and the story of all families whose lives changed forever when NYC came to the Catskills to obtain clean drinking water for their residents. The exhibit includes watershed partnership and protection programs.

Ribbon Cutting scheduled for June 11 at 3pm at the  Catskill Family Farm at Time and the Valleys Museum, 332 Main Street, Grahamsville.

Attendees will take part in the ribbon cutting and then tour the 19 original restored 1930s Lost Catskill farm buildings that include Granary, Smokehouse, Sap House, Woodworking Shop and Root Cellar. The period buildings feature artifacts, tools and equipment. Visitors will learn about current watershed protection programs and visit the three floors of Museum exhibitions including “Tunnel, Toil and Trouble: NYS’s Quest for Water.” 

Among those scheduled to attend:

• Opening Remarks: Time and the Valleys Museum Board President Richard Coombe

• Keynote Speaker: NYC DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala 

•   Scheduled to share memories of family life in the 1930: Mary Addy, Sandra Bertholf Gerry and Dorothy Muthig

• Media Contact: Barry Lewis at 845-283-3673, bslewis882@gmail.com.

For information on the Times and the Valley Museum   visit: www.timeandthevalleysmuseum.org.