Antique buildings and other structures are prevalent around the county. If you look around on your drive, you will see that some of these memorable historical buildings are leaning 60 degrees, some without roofs or windows, and some that are looked after diligently by various historical groups aiming to keep that piece of Sullivan County history alive.                      

 Some follow the train tracks, others keep to the banks of the Delaware River, and some seem to be just dropped off in the middle of nowhere with no specific rhyme or reason - but they are there nonetheless.

Whether we take the time to appreciate these relics or not, those countless places stand as markers of a time now passed. Some would say that a lot of the buildings remind us of the now bygone heyday of the hotel and travel industry. Others may be able to recall childhood memories of marveling at the stories connected to the abandoned structures.

All of these things, despite their appearances or splintered wood, are a part of a story much larger than the county, and much larger than the Catskills. We here in America do not have the time-honored pasts like in Europe, Asia, or Africa. We have what essentially is our 247-year history that stretches only from our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and the ones who came before them. Our history here in Sullivan County is linked closely to those we call family in more than one way.

So when you see that old building rotting away, remember that someone close to home once called that beautiful, and although it may not be aesthetically pleasing to look at anymore, it remains integral to the overall weaving of our story as neighbors. With that spirit of respect for the past, try volunteering with organizations that work to clean and restore these old precious structures. 

Once they are gone, they are gone. Let’s work to secure history for the generations that come after us, so that the stories we tell that are ingrained in the wood leave knots that continue to spin the tales of our time.

Let us all do our best to keep alive the histories of what we all can call our shared big, old backyard.