The Gatehouse presents “Before the Parks” this Sunday afternoon

Woodbury Historical Society explores rural life in Harriman and Bear Mountain in the 19th Century Central Valley - On Sunday, April 17th, the Woodbury Historical Society’s Gatehouse Committee will host a program entitled, “Before the Parks: Rural Life in Bear Mountain and Harriman in the 19th Century.” The guest speaker will be noted author and historian Ronnie Clark Coffey, who has written several books in Arcadia Publishing’s “Images of America” series, including Harriman State Park, Bear Mountain, Constitution Island and Highlands. The program will be held at the Woodbury Senior Center on Route 105 in Highland Mills and will begin at 2 p.m. It is free and all are welcome. Refreshments will be served. After the program and refreshments, everyone is invited to Palaia Vineyards on Route 32 in northern Highland Mills to visit the recently restored room in the 1850’s barn on what formerly was the Seaman family’s Sweet Clover Farm. The architecture is indicative of the Quaker barns built in the post-Revolutionary War period. Great efforts have been taken to restore this section of the barn. This will be an extra treat as Palaia and the Palaggi family who own and run it continue to be among the greatest supporters of the Gatehouse Historic Site and Learning Center in Central Valley. For more information, call 928-6378 or 928-9249.