Authors to present program on 'The Lost Amusement Parks of the Hudson Valley'

| 29 May 2012 | 03:25

HIGHLAND MILLS — For many of us, the Hudson Valley of the 21st century is where we live and work, and where we enjoy family and friends, music and the arts, fine dining and sports and, of course, shopping.

But the Hudson Valley was once home to some of the best amusement parks anywhere. Those parks will be the subject of a talk by Wes and Barbara Gottlock, noted local authors and educators, this Sunday, June 3, at 2 p.m.

Hosted by the Woodbury Historical Society’s Gatehouse Committee, the presentation will take place at the Woodbury Senior Center on Route 105 in Highland Mills.

The talk will be based on the Gottlock’s latest book, “The Lost Amusement Parks of the Hudson Valley,” and will include a Power Point presentation of some of the 160 old photos which are in the book. It chronicles the tremendous popularity of the amusement parks which lined the Hudson River for about 50 years beginning about 1900, also the heyday of the Gatehouse Historic Site.

Presentation of the Gottlock’s program is part of the year-long centennial celebration of the Gatehouse and the grand estate called Proctoria, which it once guarded on Smith Clove Road in Central Valley.

It is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, e-mail dorothymorris0@gmail.com or go to www.woodburyhistoricalsociety.org.