Joyce C Ghee

Eleanor Roosevelt s character was shaped by the history and culture of the Hudson Valley. More than that, Eleanor Roosevelt loved the Hudson Valley. A woman who knew and cared for the whole world chose this place, Val-Kill, as her home in a cottage by a s

For motorists traveling in Dutchess County on the Taconic State Parkway, the dominant impression is the beauty of a seemingly unchanged natural landscape. Nestled under the shadow of the Taconic (Berkshire) Mountains to the east with views west to the Catskills, the parkway follows a ridge halfway between the towns and cities on the Hudson River and those in the Harlem Valley bordering New England. The parkway, as envisioned by a commission appointed in 1925 and initially chaired by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was built to open up a very beautiful section at present inaccessible and to provide a new through road from New York City. Roosevelt later claimed the road as his invention. Taconic Pathways shows in part what has happened to the parkway and to five remote towns that it opened to accelerated growth and considerable change. In the beginning, the parkway was a leisurely recreational experience that offered breathtaking views, many of which were previously reserved for circling hawks or the fortunate locals who knew the back trails to the heights; today, the parkway has become a route for commuting residents. Before the parkway was built, Beekman, Union Vale, LaGrange, Washington, and Stanford were dotted with farms and hamlets; with the parkway came the rise of suburban living and an accelerated decline of the family farm.

The residents of Harlem Valley have shaped both the history and culture of our nation with bravery and integrity. Quakers in the Harlem Valley stood firm against slavery, and the Amenia Conference, organized by Joel Spingarn, strengthened the NAACP. The Harlem Valley served as a transportation center, linking New England to the west, and was also a major supplier of iron ore in the eighteenth century. Well known for their educational endeavors, the residents of Harlem Valley established one of the oldest libraries in the state of New York. The images in this collection were made available through the efforts of many groups in the Harlem Valley area, including the historical societies of North East, Little Nine Partners, Amenia, Dover, Dutchess County, and Pawling and Quaker Hill. Join Joyce Ghee and Joan Spence for a remarkable trip down memory lane to the wonders of the Harlem Valley. This historic collection of images will serve as a valuable tool in discovering and understanding the area's history as well as appreciating its beauty. Harlem Valley Pathways is sure to be enjoyed for generations to come.