Note Type
Curatorial RemarksNote
Clearly intended to be a promotional piece for the Hotel Kaaterskill (built 1881) and shows how Washington Irving's writing was being used to promote tourism in the 19th century, 60 years after the publication of the Sketch Book. This edition includes uncredited, but known artwork by Darley and other images, likely from Harper's or other period publications [Jessa J. Krick, 6/11/2019].
The following information is about the The Ulster and Delaware Railroad Company (U&D) was a Class I railroad located in New York State, headquartered in Rondout and founded in 1866. It was often advertised as "The Only All-Rail Route To the Catskill Mountains." At its greatest extent, the U&D ran from Kingston Point, on the Hudson River, through the heart of the Catskill Mountains to its western terminus at Oneonta, passing through four counties (Ulster, Delaware, Schoharie and Otsego), with branches to Kaaterskill and Hunter in Greene County. The U&D connected with six other railroads: the West Shore, Wallkill, and O&W in Kingston, the D&N in Arkville, the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley in West Davenport, and the D&H in Oneonta. Although a small railroad, it was big in stature, as it went through many favored tourist hot-spots. Many elegant hotels kept business going, some of which were sponsored or built by the railroad. Besides the passenger business, there were also plenty of farms and creameries (most of them in Delaware County) as well as businesses shipping coal, stone, ice and various wood products.Note Type
General NoteNote
Despite condition of this piece, it was purchased for the collection to show the use of Irving's stories for promotional purposes.
It is likely that some part of this book (perhaps all, perhaps only the cover) was printed in Philadelphia, given the "Levytype Company" name appearing on the front cover. The Kaaterskill Publishing Company may have been limited to the hotel's publications like this, since little else is known to be attributed to the company.Note Type
StorageNoteNote
Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Administrative Office, Collection Manager's OfficeNote Type
DepartmentNote
Curatorial