Adams

Notable People

William Eugene Blackstone, evangelical Christian and Zionist.

Henry Keep, (1818-1869), born in Adams, noted financier and president of several railroad firms, he left an estate of over four million dollars.[1]

Melvil Dewey, inventor the Dewey Decimal library classification system, was born in Adams Center.

J. Sterling Morton, father of Arbor Day, was born in Adams village.

Henry Benjamin Whipple, 1st Episcopal bishop of Minnesota

Charles G. Finney, prominent evangelist

Antwerp

Notable People

Artist Cassius Coolidge, noted mainly for his paintings depicting dogs playing cards, was born and raised in Antwerp, started its first bank, and is buried there. He is also credited with inventing carnival cut-outs. [2] [3] [4]

Albert Woolson, the last man to die who fought in the American Civil War, was born is Antwerp.

Attica

Attica is the location of New York's Attica Correctional Facility, which was the location of the infamous Attica Prison riots that occurred on September 13, 1971. That prison and the New York Wyoming Correctional Facility are located south of the Village of Attica.

Canajoharie

Beech-Nut, the baby food producer, was founded in Canajoharie in 1891 and served as the largest employer in the town for more than a century.

Notable People

Susan B. Anthony, women's rights pioneer, taught school here.

Joseph Brant (1743–1807), Mohawk chief.

Molly Brant (1736–1796), Mohawk leader.

Samuel Clyde (1732–1790), patriot leader for Tryon County during the American Revolution. He served as Lieutenant Colonel of the Canajoharie Militia Regiment, and fought at the Battle of Oriskany.

Alfred Conkling, was a lawyer, statesman, and jurist.

Frederick Conkling, son of Alfred Conkling and brother of Roscoe Conkling. He became a US Representative for the state of New York.

Josiah Failing, 4th mayor of Portland, Oregon. He gained much of his wealth, as an entrepreneur through general merchandise.

Bernhard Gillam, a political cartoonist. He died of typhoid in Canajoharie, New York.

Myron Grimshaw, major league baseball player. A right fielder for the Boston Red Sox for three seasons, 1905-1907.

Jacob Klock, was the colonel of the 2nd regiment of the Tryon County militia during the American Revolutionary War.

Charles McVean, US Representative for the state of New York. While in Canajoharie, he was the editor of the towns newspaper.

Ots-Toch 17th century Mohawk woman from Canajoharie who married Dutch trader Cornelius Anthonisse Van Slyck founding the Van Slyck family in New Netherland.

Edwin M. Randall, Chief Justice for the state of Florida.

Thomas James, a former slave of Asa Kimball who became a minister in upstate New York.

Hendrick Theyanoguin (1692–1755), Mohawk leader.

Benjamin F. VanAlstyne, was head coach of Michigan State University basketball team from (1927–1949).

Rebecca Winters, Mormon pioneer.

Cortland

Notable people

Carl Carmer, author

Roland H. Cook, Director Office of Market Analysis and Agency Finance, United States Treasury

Charles Henry De Groat, Union Army brigadier general

William Dillon, composer, lyricist, and vaudevillian

Ronnie James Dio, former frontman for Rainbow and Black Sabbath; street in Cortland is named for him (Dio Way)

Nancy Duffy, Syracuse news personality and founder of the Syracuse St. Patrick's Day Parade

Katharine May Edwards, Wellesley College professor and classics scholar

Alice Cately Etting, owner and manager of the city's Cately and Etting Wagon company from 1898 to 1916, developer of a device to raise and lower folding carriage covers and an organizer of the city's American Red Cross chapter.[13]

Florence Campbell Fitzgerald, former Chairwoman of the Cortland County Board of Supervisors (now called the Cortland County Legislature), was the second woman in the state elected to lead a county board when she took office in 1969.[14]

Col. Arnald Gabriel, Commander and Conductor of US Air Force Band, US Air Force Symphony Orchestra, and Singing Sergeants.

Chester Gillette, convicted of the 1906 murder of Grace Brown of Cortland, his girlfriend, in highly publicized and controversial trial; executed in 1908.

Milo Goodrich, former US congressman.

Charles W. Goodyear, businessman and railroad owner.

Leidy Klotz, retired soccer player; professor, author.

Jim Mahady, former Baseball second baseman for the New York Giants.

Dennis Mepham, retired soccer player.

Nathan Lewis Miller, former governor of New York.

Gideon C. Moody, former senator of South Dakota.

Mark Nauseef, musician.

Alton B. Parker, Democratic candidate for president in 1904.

Myrtie (or Myrtle) Pearl Pennoyer (1878-1953), a city philanthropist known for her volunteer work at The King's Daughters Home for Children, the local chapter of the American Red Cross, creating a scholarship through the YWCA in memory of her daughter Laura, volunteering with the Cortland County Historical Society and the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Pennoyer was the adopted daughter of Cortland residents George and Lydia G. Pennoyer and Pearl Street, located between Warren and Tompkins streets, is named after Pennoyer.[15]

Andy Shay, head coach of lacrosse at Yale

Sime Silverman, publisher.

Eric Soderholm, former professional baseball player.

Dr. Julia H. Spalding, a doctor who started a homeopathic medical practice specializing in chronic illnesses in Cortland in 1883.[16]

Elmer Ambrose Sperry, inventor of gyroscopic compass who held over 400 patents; USS Sperry is named after him.

Aljamain Sterling, UFC bantamweight, MMA fighter.

Joel Eric Suben, composer and conductor.

Raymond Gram Swing, journalist.

Samuel Ringgold Ward, African-American who escaped enslavement to become an abolitionist, newspaper editor and Congregational minister.

Susan West, the first female Supervisor on the Cortland County Board of Supervisors, was elected to that body in 1941.[17]

Dr. Edith Irene Flower Wheeler, a city physician who worked in Cortland starting in 1922, served as the president of the Cortland County Medical Society and the vice-president of the Women's Medical Society of New York.[18]

Spiegle Willcox, jazz trombone player, composer, and singer.

Gary Wood, NFL quarterback.

Duanesburg

Marybeth Tinning (1942-Present), Famed for murdering eight of her own children.

Blackleach Burritt, noted clergyman in the American Revolution

Orestes Cleveland (1829-1896), Mayor of Jersey City 1864-1867 and 1886-1892; represented New Jersey's 5th congressional district from 1869-1871.[10]

Dunkirk

Of historical interest, the first naval skirmish in the War of 1812 began in Lake Erie near the mouth of the Canadaway Creek, which is now within the boundaries of the town. A small marker commemorating the event sits near the intersection of Route 5 and Temple Street.

East Hampton

It is the easternmost town in the state of New York At its peak, in 1847, 60 whale ships were based in the village, employing 800 men in related businesses. It was to be written about by Herman Melville in Moby-Dick. The port rivaled that of New York.[citation needed] After 1847 the whaling industry dropped off dramatically. Among the sea captains of Sag Harbor were ancestors of Howard Dean who was born in East Hampton.[10] The most famous voyages out of Sag Harbor were those by Mercator Cooper, who in 1845 picked up shipwrecked Japanese sailors in the Bonin Islands and returned them to Tokyo. In 1853 Cooper broke through the ice shelf to become the first person to land on East Antarctica.[citation needed] East Hampton continues to have a large maritime presence, as Montauk is New York State's largest fishing port.[11] The Town is famed for its commercial sports fishing, made particularly famous by Frank Mundus. One of the largest buildings in the town is Promised Land fish meal factory at Napeague.

Presidents and First Ladies First Ladies Julia Gardiner Tyler and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis spent their childhoods there.

Theodore Roosevelt was briefly quarantined in Montauk, at Camp Wyckoff, after returning from the Spanish-American War.

Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton spent week long summer vacations in 1998 and 1999.

Bill and Hillary Clinton In 1998 and 1999 as talk surfaced that Hillary Clinton was considering a Senate run from New York, they began summering in East Hampton, where they stayed at the Georgica Pond home of Steven Spielberg. Clinton gave a Saturday radio chat from the Amagansett fire station. In June 2008, at the conclusion of Hillary Clinton's Presidential bid, she stayed at the Wiborg Beach home of Thomas H. Lee in East Hampton Village

East Hampton's reputation as an artists colony began with painter Jackson Pollock, who resided in Springs, New York in the 1940s and 1950s, with Lee Krasner, at what is now known as the Pollock-Krasner House and Studio. Many of his most famous paintings were painted in the barn, which he had converted into a studio. The property is now open to the public for tours, by appointment.

Among the other artists who popularized East Hampton as an artists colony were Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, Franz Kline, Ian Hornak, Larry Rivers, Alfonso Ossorio, Robert Motherwell, Andy Warhol and Thomas Moran, as well as art dealers Leo Castelli and Ileana Sonnabend. Pollock died in 1956 while driving with his mistress, Ruth Kligman, and a friend of hers, on Springs Fireplace Road, after picking them up at the Long Island Railroad station in East Hampton.[18] Pollock and Krasner are buried in Green River Cemetery, in Springs, along with many of the artists of their generation. Pollock's influence continues to be felt in the community. Marcia Gay Harden won a 2000 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for portraying Krasner in Pollock (film) which was shot in East Hampton as the dream project of Ed Harris, who was also nominated for Best Actor. An ongoing debate rages over whether 24 paintings and drawings found in a Wainscott locker in 2003 are Pollock originals. Physicists have argued over whether fractals can be used to authenticate the paintings. The debate is still inconclusive.[19]

Andy Warhol and his longtime collaborator, Paul Morrissey, had a large, waterfront estate in Montauk called Eothen. Among their guests were Jacqueline Onassis, Lee Radziwill, the Rolling Stones, Bianca Jagger, Jerry Hall, Liza Minnelli, Elizabeth Taylor, John Lennon, John Phillips[

Captain Kidd

East Hampton had pirates on its waterways in the 17th century and early 18th century, the most notable of which was Captain Kidd who was hanged after his booty on Gardiners Island was introduced at his trial. Kidd is said to have buried treasure all over Long Island. Money Ponds at the Montauk Lighthouse are named because of treasure reported to have been left there. In June 1699 Kidd was stopped on the island while sailing to Boston to try to clear his name. With the permission of the proprietor, Mrs. Gardiner, he buried $30,000 in treasure in a ravine between Bostwick's Point and the Manor House. For her troubles he gave her a piece of gold cloth (a piece of which is now at the East Hampton library) that was captured from a Moorish ship off Madagascar, as well as a bag of sugar. Kidd warned that if it was not there when he returned he would kill Gardiner. Kidd was tried in Boston and Gardiner was ordered to deliver the treasure as evidence. The booty included gold dust, bars of silver, Spanish dollars, rubies, diamonds, candlesticks and porringers. Gardiner kept one of the diamonds, which he gave his daughter. A plaque on the island marks the spot, but it's on private property

On August 26, 1839, members of La Amistad, a slave ship which had been commandeered by its captives, in Cuba, dropped anchor at Culloden Point and came ashore at Montauk to get supplies. The slaves, who were inexperienced navigators, thought they were on course to Africa. Members of the U.S. Navy ship USS Washington, seeing the slaves on shore, arrested them and took them to Connecticut. The Amistad case was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1841. John Quincy Adams argued for the Africans. The court decided in their favor, opining that the initial capture of the Africans was illegal, so they were freed. One of the imprisoned slaves was to become a valet for President John Tyler and was killed aboard USS Princeton along with David Gardiner, who was on board with his daughter Julia Gardiner Tyler.

In 1845 Pyrrhus Concer was aboard the Manhattan, a ship captained by Mercator Cooper, which picked up shipwrecked Japanese sailors in the Bonin Islands. The ship was allowed to enter Tokyo Bay under escort to return the sailors and became the first American ship to visit Tokyo. Concer was the first African-American the Japanese had seen and is depicted in their drawings of the event.[citation needed]

East Hampton film director Steven Spielberg popularized the event in the 1997 film Amistad.

On June 13, 1942, as part of Operation Pastorius four German agents led by George John Dasch were landed by U202 [35] at what is now Atlantic Avenue Beach (sometimes called Coast Guard Beach) in Amagansett. Confronted by Coast Guardsman John C. Cullen, they said they were Southampton fishermen. When one of the four said something in a foreign tongue, they offered him $300 to keep quiet.[36] The agents disappeared into the night after he sought out his supervisor. When reinforcements arrived they discovered German cigarettes on the beach along with four heavy, waterproof oaken boxes buried in the sand filled with brick-sized blocks of high explosives, bombs disguised as lumps of coal, bomb-timing mechanisms of German make, and innocent-looking “pen-and-pencil sets" that were actually incendiary weapons. The agents rode the Long Island Railroad into New York City and were ultimately captured along with four others who had come ashore at Jacksonville, Florida. Six of the agents were to be executed

In 1992 Long Island residents Preston B. Nichols and Peter Moon wrote a science fiction book The Montauk Project: Experiments in Time (ISBN 0-9631889-0-9) in which it was claimed the radar was used by the government to conduct time travel experiments. The book has been perceived by some to be true and the base has assumed something of a cult status among conspiracy buffs. It was also featured in a segment of X-Files.

Hounsfield

Notable People

Samuel Guthrie (U.S. physician), one of the discoverers of chloroform, and inventor of the percussion compound for firearms, which superseded flints (1782–1848). [1]

Veranus Alva Moore, bacteriologist and pathologist (1859–1931).

Hyde Park

The town is most famous for being the hometown of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Hyde Park is the location of the Culinary Institute of America, a residential college devoted to culinary and pastry arts

Laurens

Notable People

Mel Gibson Hollywood star, family lived in Laurens until moving to Australia when he was a child.

Lewisboro

Notable People

Roger Stone (b. 1952) - Republican Party strategist and pollster

Stanley Tucci - Actor

Andy Milonakis - Comedian

Michael T. Carson - MTV Personality

Mentz

Notable People

Isaac Singer, sewing machine manufacturer lived in Mentz.

Henry Wells, partner in Wells-Fargo, lived here.

Brigham Young, the Mormon leader lived briefly in the town.

Monroe

The town is also home to the original Velveeta Cheese factory, now tightly located next to Monroe 6 Cinemas in the village, it stands as a historic landmark as the small building that started the now highly popular cheese.

Moravia

Notable People

Millard Fillmore, US President was born east of Moravia village and married in the village.

John D. Rockefeller, boyhood home of the American industrialist.

John Wood, Illinois Governor and founder of Quincy, Illinois.

Moriah

Notable People

Johnny Podres, Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher and 1955 World Series MVP. Born in Witherbee.

John Tarbell, (b. in Moriah, lieutenant-colonel of the 91st New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment and promoted to brevet brigadier general of United States Volunteers during the American Civil War.[7] In 1865 he resigned from the Army and bought a plantation in Scott County, Mississippi, and settled with his family in Atlanta to do business. On March 4, 1866, he testified before the US Congress and the Joint Committee on Reconstruction, saying the quality of leadership was integral to its success.[8]

Tom Tyler, early 20th-century film star.

Robert Garrow, serial killer who murdered several women in the Syracuse area in 1973.

Mount Morris

Notable People

Ross Barnes, one of the early stars of the National League, was born in Mount Morris.[1]

Francis Bellamy, author of the Pledge of Allegiance was born here.

Mary Jemison, The "White Woman of the Genesee" John Wesley Powell, a geologist and explorer was born in Mount Morris.

Major General William Augustus Mills (1777-1844), who served during the defense of the Niagara frontier in the War of 1812.

Naples

The annual Naples Grape Festival is held in September, and the area is known for its wineries and grape pie

Notable People

Myron Holley Clark, New York governor and Prohibitionist.

Neversink

The Neversink River that flows through the town is claimed to be the birthplace of American fly fishing.

New Lebanon

Notable People

Samuel Jones Tilden, New York politician and U. S. Presidential candidate in 1876

George Henry Williams, attorney and judge

New Paltz

Notable People

Benjamin F. Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin pioneer

Oscar Tschirky, inventor of the Waldorf salad

Heavyweight boxing champion Floyd Patterson lived in New Paltz and is buried in New Paltz Rural Cemetery.

Jason West, who married gay couples while mayor of the Village of New Paltz.

Daniel Jason Torres, youngest elected Latino in New York State history

New Windsor

Notable People

John Alsop - born in New Windsor, delegate to the Continental Congress[3]

Dr. Thomas Young - 1731–1799 born Little Britain—leader of the Boston Tea Party (Indians)

Dr. Joseph Young - 1733–1797 born Little Britain—brother of Thomas - writer of the first medical textbook in United States *

Clinton Family

The Clintons were of Royal Personage - immigrating here they were related to Sir Henry Clinton in command of the British Army during the Revolution.

Col. Charles Clinton 1690–1773 father of James and George commander of NY Militia French & Indian War (assault on Fort Frontenac).

Gen. James Clinton 1736–1812 - In command of NY Troops with Gen Montgomery in assault on Quebec 1775 - commander of construction of Forts in the Hudson Highlands, wounded and escaped capture during British Attack on Forts Clinton & Montgomery Oct. 1777. Participated with Gen. Sullivan in his campaign to burn out the Six Nations - final field command at Yorktown - present during British evacuation of NY City - member of NY legislature and Constitutional Convention- State Senator - father of Dewitt.

Governor George Clinton 1739–1812 - Clerk Ulster County 1759, NY Assembly 1760, Continental Congress 1775 , Brigadier General Continental Army 1776, Governor & Lt. Governor 1777, President NY Constitutional Convention 1788, Governor 1801, Vice-President of United States 1804, re-elected 1808–1812, died 1812 buried Congressional Cemetery Washington D.C. Governor DeWitt Clinton 1769 -1828 - son of James, Kingston Academy 1782, Columbia College 1786, NY Bar 1789, Secretary to Governor 1789-1798, NY Assembly 1798, U.S. Senator 1802, resigned, 1803, mayor of New York City 1803, 1808–1809, 1811–1815; NYS Senate 1799–1802,1806–1811, Canal Commissioner 1816–1822, Governor 1817, 1820, 1824, 1826, Dewitt is best known for the Erie Canal and the NY State Canal System.

The band Shrubs was formed here in 1994.

Mitchell W. Hecht MD FACP (NFA Class of 1981) - author, nationally-syndicated Q and A medical column, "Ask Dr. H" (1997–present)

Pawling

Notable People

Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) Christian preacher and author of The Power of Positive Thinking and a founder of Guideposts magazine, died in town. The Peale Center for Christian Living still operates in Pawling.

Frank Torre, All-Star Major League Baseball Player and brother of Joe Torre

Trevor Davis Manhattan real-estate developer. Owns Cogi Farm on Kirby Hill Road.

Thomas E. Dewey (1902–1971) was the Governor of New York (1943–1955) and the unsuccessful Republican candidate for the U.S. Presidency in 1944 and 1948.

James Earl Jones. - Actor

Paul Tudor Jones, commodity trader worth $2.5 billion.[citation needed]

Edward R. Murrow, famed radio and television broadcasting pioneer; his ashes were scattered at his estate, Glen Arden Farm. The local park is named after him.

Sally Jessy Raphael Talk show host owns a home on Quaker Hill

Lowell Thomas developed the Quaker Hill community in Pawling, where he lived when not on the road.

Michael A. Sylvester local GM dealer and a member of the board of directors of Cadillac Motor Car Division. Quaker Hill resident.

William Bernard Ziff, Jr. (June 24, 1930 – September 9, 2006) was an American publishing executive John Lorimer Worden, RADM USN (1818–1897), commanded the Union Navy's ironclad USS Monitor in its famous fight with the CSS Virginia (formerly USS Merrimack during the American Civil War.

William Pearce Howland, one of the Fathers of Canadian Federation.

Judge Judy (Judith Sheindlin)

Pawling Cemetery, located on the west side of Route 22, is the site of several notable people's graves: Thomas E. Dewey (1902–1971) (please see above) Silvana Mangano (1930–1989), Film actress Ralph W. Gwinn (1884–1962), United States Congressman for New York's 27th congressional district 1945–1959. John J. Toffey (1844–1911), American Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor recipient

Rhinebeck

Trivia

Actress Emma Roberts was born in Rhinebeck at Northern Dutchess Hospital.

John Jacob Astor IV, american millionaire businessman, real estate builder, inventor, writer, was born in Rhinebeck. He died in the sinking of the RMS Titanic.

On several episodes of Law & Order, one of the characters mentions having gone to visit Rhinebeck. In several other episodes, cast members actually go there.

On an episode of Mad About You, Paul and Jamie discuss an antique plate they bought at the Rhinebeck Antique Fair, held annually at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds.

Part of an episode of The Sopranos was filmed in Rhinebeck and in nearby Red Hook.

Rhinebeck is the birthplace of the singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright.

Rhinebeck is mentioned in an episode of Northern Exposure, in which Adam, played by Adam Arkin, mentions a canning plant there.

In the film 27 Dresses, Katherine Heigl and James Marsden's characters head to Rhinebeck during a rainstorm on an expedition for antique wedding linens.

The newlyweds Newland and May Archer in Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence have arrangements to spend their wedding night in Rhinebeck, but an unfortunate accident with a water tank prevents their stay.

Characters in the novels of Wharton and her contemporary Henry James are often mentioned taking the train to Rhinebeck.

Former head of the Genovese Crime Family, Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno, spent most of his time at his 100-acre (0.40 km2) Rhinebeck horse farm during the 1970s and 1980s, before his incarceration.

A glockenspiel duet appearing on Godspeed You! Black Emperor's second album Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven is credited as being recorded at a campsite in Rhinebeck.

On July 31, 2010, Chelsea Clinton & Marc Mezvinsky held their wedding in the town of Rhinebeck at the Astor Courts mansion

Ripley

Notable People

B.F. Goodrich, founder of the popular rubber company.

Richard Theodore Ely, an American economist.

John L Testrake, Captain, Trans World Airlines, and TWA Flight 847

Rodman

Notable People

Frank W. Woolworth (1852-1919) made a fortune from his "five and dime" mercantile empire.

Aaron Noll, American philosopher

Rosendale

Rosendale cement

The Rosendale region is most well known for the production of natural cement. The Rosendale natural cement industry began during of the construction the Delaware and Hudson Canal in 1825. Rosendale natural cement soon gained a reputation for quality among engineers and was used in the construction of many of our nation's most important landmarks, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, Federal Hall, and one of the wings of the United States Capitol. The industry fell into decline in the early 1900s

Saugerties

Notable People

Congressman Maurice Hinchey.

Writer John Thorn, a prolific author, columnist, and noted authority on baseball history.

Writer Susun Weed, women's health expert, and authority on herbal medicine.

Entertainer and current Late Night host Jimmy Fallon grew up in Saugerties from age two, following his move from Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

The Band resided in a house affectionately known as 'Big Pink' in West Saugerties, where they recorded The Basement Tapes (with Bob Dylan) in 1967. Their debut album, Music From Big Pink was, in fact, recorded in studios in New York and Los Angeles.[2]

Major League Baseball umpire Tom Hallion was born and raised in Saugerties.

Roger Hugh C. Donlon, born 1/30/1934 in Saugerties, was the first man to receive the Medal of Honor for his service in Vietnam, and live to receive it.

Shelter Island

Jonathan Nicoll Havens (1757–1799), born on Shelter Island, was a member of the First Continental Congress in 1774 Notable residents

Shelter Island has been the home for many notable residents, both fulltime and part-time homeowners. Among them: Faith Baldwin (1893–1978) – American-born romance novel author. She penned about 100 books from 1925 until her death. Baldwin was also part of the Famous Writers School. Before World War II, Baldwin spent time in a Shelter Island cottage in what was called Hilo Farms.

Hugh Carey (1919- ) – American-born politician and attorney. Beginning in 1960, Carey served seven terms in the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat. He served two full terms as the governor of the State of New York from 1975-1982. After he left publithatc service Carey joined a law practice in New York City. Carey owns a large property in the Shorewood section.

John Chamberlain (1927-) – American sculptor, best known for creating sculptures from old automobiles (or parts of) that bring the Abstract Expressionist style of painting into three dimensions.

Simon Doonan – English-born creative director of Barney’s. Newspaper columnist and author of Confessions of a Window Dresser, Nasty: My Family and Other Varmints, and Wacky Chicks: Life Lessons from Fearlessly Inappropriate and Fabulously Eccentric Women.

Douglas Kent Hall (1938–2008) American-born writer and photographer. Hall won an Academy Award for the film The Great American Cowboy. During his time on Shelter Island, on Little Ram Island Drive, he wrote the best-selling book Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder, with Arnold Schwarzenegger, which is one of Sports Illustrated's top 100 sports books.[5]

Otto Kahn (1867–1934) – German-born financier. Beginning in 1924, Kahn owned property in what is now Mashomack Nature Preserve.

Julie Kavner (1950- ) – American-born actress. She has appeared in several Woody Allen-directed films. Kavner won an Emmy award for being the voice of Marge Simpson.

Robert Lipsyte (1938- ) – American-born sportswriter for The New York Times. Also a successful author of books for young readers, including Raiders Night, The Contender, The Brave, The Chief, and Warrior Angel. Lipsyte won an Emmy award for the public affairs show The Eleventh Hour.

Itzhak Perlman (1945- ) – Israeli-born violinist and Grammy Award winner. He has performed throughout the world as a soloist. In 1996 Perlman and his wife, Toby, founded the Perlman Music Program on Shelter Island. It offers gifted young string players a summer residential course in chamber music. The students perform regular concerts on the island.

Leon Uris (1924–2003) – American-born novelist. His first novel, Battle Cry, was based on his own experiences in the Marine Corps. His bestsellers included Redemption, Trinity, Exodus, QB VII, and Topaz, among others. Uris died in June 2003 at his Shelter Island home on Chase Creek.

In Popular Culture

Author John Steinbeck began his 1960 cross-country journey by leaving his home in Sag Harbor and driving to Shelter Island. This was the start of the trip that became his book Travels with Charley: In Search of America. He took both the South and North ferries via New York State Route 114.[6]

The feature film Margot at the Wedding was shot in the spring of 2006 in various New York locations including, Shelter Island.[7]

In season 4 of How I Met Your Mother, Ted's wedding to Stella was to take place at a Namaste yoga center at Shelter Island.

The feature film, Shelter Island, directed by Geoffrey Schaaf, starring Ally Sheedy, Stephen Baldwin, and Chris Penn, and featuring Jennifer Alexander was shot in several New York locations, including Shelter Island.[8]

Shelter Island was the site of the 1947 Shelter Island Conference on quantum mechanics, attended by some of the most illustrious scientists of its day, to discuss the most pressing issues in modern physics.

Sidney

Controversy

Sidney town supervisor, Robert McCarthy, began an effort to declare a Muslim cemetery of the Osmanli Naksibendi Hakkani Dergahi (a Sufi Muslim center) illegal. He was quoted saying that the town board "will be seeking to have these bodies disinterred and stop future burials." [1]. When questioned about the legal basis for town action he responded, "I don't know what the exact law is".[2] On August 12, 2010, the town board voted unanimously to authorize Town Attorney Joseph A. Ermeti to commence with legal proceedings against the Osmanli Naksibendi Hakkani Dergah. MSNBC’s Keith Olberman brought instant fame to the small town of Sidney when he announced Bob McCarthy as “The Worst Person in the World" [3] and Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert joked about the residents of Sidney being scared of Muslim vampires.[4] Members of the Sufi Muslim center had contacted and demonstrated to Bob McCarthy that the cemetery was in fact legal (established in 2005 [5]) and had the permission of the municipal government to establish a cemetery. In addition, each of the two burials was registered with the town. Supervisor McCarthy has forwarded all inquiries to the Town Attorney Joe Ermeti, who delayed response to the Muslim community until October 14, 2010 - the day of Sidney's town meeting. The statement made by Sidney's lawyer and town board said they would not pursue legal charges against the Sufi cemetery, but would also not recognize its legality. Supervisor McCarthy, keeping with his arrogant personality, refused to apologize to the Sufi community and to the town. The Huffington Post published an article detailing the incident which subsequently gained national and international attention.

Somers

Somers is known for being the "cradle of the American circus"[1]. It gained this notoriety after Hachaliah Bailey bought an African elephant, which he named "Old Bet". Bailey intended to use the elephant for farm work but the number of people it attracted caused Bailey to take her throughout the northeast. Bailey's success caused numerous others to tour with exotic animals, and during the 1830s the old style circus and Bailey's attractions merged to form the modern circus. Old Bet died on tour in 1827. Bailey later erected the Elephant Hotel in Somers in honor of Old Bet, and it was purchased by the town in 1927. It is a town landmark and was recently dedicated a National Historic Landmark. The elephant remains a symbol of the town to this day, with the High School sports teams nicknamed "Tuskers". The Elephant Hotel is currently the Somers Town Hall. Somers was in a minor dispute with Baraboo, Wisconsin, over which community is the "birthplace" of the American circus.

Notable People

Billy Collins, former Poet Laureate.[9]

Peter Silberman, musician

Wellsville

The Nickelodeon television series The Adventures of Pete and Pete, which ran from 1993 to 1996, is set in Wellsville, New York. Though the state is never explicitly mentioned, New York license plates can be seen at various points in the series, and geographic clues indicate the show's setting is in New York or that vicinity.

Notable People

Brian Patrick Migliore, Electro House music producer and

DJ Gabby Hayes, actor in many western movies.

John Rigas, convicted in May 2002 for bank, wire and securities fraud, is the founder of Adelphia Communications Corporation, as well as former owner of Buffalo Sabres.

William B. Duke, enshrined in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, trainer of Flying Ebony, winner of the Kentucky Derby in 1925, and Coventry, who won the Preakness Stakes the same year; then winning the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August.

Billy Packer, former sports broadcaster and author, born in Wellsville.

Westfield

In 1897, the founder of Welch's Grape Juice, Charles E. Welch, moved his company to Westfield from New Jersey to take advantage of the ideal climate for the cultivation of grapes, particularly of Concord grapes. The region soon became noted for the growing of grapes for both wine and grape juice.

Westport

Westport is the birthplace of the Adirondack chair

Westport is home to Camp Dudley YMCA, the oldest summer camp in continuous operation in the United States

Notable People

Edward Cornell, (1944- ) artist, painter, and theater director.

John T. Cutting, (1844 - 1911) U.S. Representative from California

Walter Damrosch, (1862 - 1950) conductor of the New York Symphony Orchestra and music director of NBC radio

Dorothy DeLay, (1917 - 2002) violin teacher, primarily at Juilliard, Meadowmount, and the Aspen Music Festival and School

Ben Goldwasser, ( 1982 - ) Keyboardist for indie rock act MGMT.

William Higby, (1813 - 1887) U.S. Representative from California

Henry Lee Higginson, (1834 - 1919) founder of the Boston Symphony Orchestra

Larry R Lacy, (1949 - )High School Business Teacher for 35 years awarded the 1997 New York State Teacher of the Year Award

Anne LaBastille, (1935- ) author and naturalist[14]

Alice Lee, (b. ca. 1854) socialite[15] and owner of the Westport Inn at its height

Thomas Lee, inventor of the Adirondack chair

Nathan Myrick, (1822- 1903) founder of La Crosse, Wisconsin

John Eugene Osborne, (1858 - 1943) Governor of Wyoming and United States Assistant Secretary of State

Case Patten, (1874 - 1935) professional baseball player

Caroline Halstead Royce, historian and writer (b. ca. 1860)

William Wallace Barbour Sheldon, (1836 - 1914) architectural engineer and pioneer of California

Robert E. Sherwood, (1896 - 1955) playwright, editor, and screenwriter

Joseph Champlin Stone, (1829 - 1902) U.S. Representative from Iowa

Alexander "Sandy" Treadwell, (1946- ), American politician

Ross Sterling Turner, (1847 - 1915) artist[16]

Mary Emma Woolley, (1863 - 1947) President of Mount Holyoke College from 1900-1937

Woodstock

Woodstock is also home to the Karma Triyana Dharmachakra Buddhist monastery.

Woodstock Music and Art The town is famous for lending its name to the Woodstock Festival, actually held at Max Yasgur's dairy farm 43 miles (76 km) away in Bethel, New York in Sullivan County.

The 1903 Byrdcliffe art colony is the nation's oldest Arts & Crafts colony. It brought the first artists to Woodstock to teach and produce furniture, metal works, ceramics, weaving and established Woodstock's first painting school. Byrdcliffe forever changed the cultural landscape of the Town of Woodstock.

In 1916, utopian philosopher and poet Hervey White built a "music chapel" in the woods. It was the Maverick Concert Series, the beginning of what is now the oldest, continuous chamber music festival in America. Composers such as Henry Cowell, John Cage, Robert Starrer and Peter Schickele created works that were premiered there. Today, this hand-built concert hall with perfect acoustics, is a multi-starred attraction on the National Register of Historic Places with world-class musicians playing there from June to September.

The town is home to the Woodstock Artists Association and Museum (WAAM), one of the oldest artists organizations. The WAAM Permanent Collection features work by important American artists associated with the region, including Milton Avery, George Bellows, Edward Leigh Chase, Frank Swift Chase, Arnold Blanch, Doris Lee, Marion Greenwood, Philip Guston, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, and many others. WAAM founders were John Carlson, Frank Swift Chase, Andrew Dasburg, Carl Lindin, and Henry Lee McFee.

The Art Students League of New York's summer school was in Woodstock for nearly fifteen years from 1906 until 1922, and again after the end of World War II from 1947 until 1979.

The Woodstock School of Art has been operating since 1980.

Notable People