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Pine Hill Heroes

Locals grow the economy from the bottom up while developers eye it from the top-down

LOCAL ECONOMY GROWING
SLOWLY BUT STEADILY --
IS IT THE BOOTSTRAP PRINCIPLE AT WORK?

How sensible is it to build an entirely new hamlet proposed by the Crossroads Ventures?

Why do people in positions
of power continue to ignore due process?

Remember our Catskill history?

Wood frame houses dotting the hamlets, a train that brought families up from overheated cities in summer, husbands who travelled up for the weekend, and returned to the grind on Sunday or Monday?  Newspapers, churches, synagogues? Too bad about the loss of that train; its return might have sparked  a true steady stream of visitors to our hills. Much else may be gone, but one effort underway is reviving some of those early 20th century charms—short-term rentals to visitors from afar. Many buildings in our hamlets were originally constructed as boarding houses; spare rooms where city folk could travel up and rent by the week or by the season, cabins off in the back lot. In the last few years, the rental market has grown exponentially (site statistics?) thanks to a host of web sites devoted to such rentals—HomeAway, AirBnB,

There appear to be many benefits these sites service. One is a steady stream of new visitors to our region. Another is the word of mouth these guests generate. A well run, well-planned house is promoted through these sites, increasing the likelihood of further interest. Well-planned rooms or houses, complete with all the appurtenances and conveniences that minimize housework and maximize outdoors can turn a one-time visitor into a regular guest.

We'd like to feature the PEOPLE of PINE HILL
who made and make this place special
and distinct from other hamlets.

Claire Rubin, on the eve of her 90th birthday.
Do you have any photos from folks who are living in Pine Hill, or were visitors in seasons past?
Would you enjoy sharing them with a story about them and where they stayed?
We hope to be starting a new section devoted to these stories and photos for our readers' enjoyment.
Send images and stories to tonyjmwd@gmail.com, and put PINE HILL PEOPLE in the subject line.