Travel back in time to Firthcliffe, a self-contained factory community

HIGHLAND MILLS — Do you need my pass-port to visit Firthcliffe?
Not if it is Firthcliffe, N.Y., in the Town of Cornwall.
But you might confuse it for an English country village.
The hamlet was founded in the 1880’s as a factory enclave for the British-based Firth Carpet Company, now Firth Carpets & Floorings of Halifax, UK (between Liverpool and Leeds).

Familiar names

Some descendants of the immigrants who came to work at Firthcliffe are still in the area. They have familiar family names: Fowler, Schofield, Staples, Dempsey, Babcock, Van Duzen, Babcock, Townsend and Howard.
Robert McCue is a descendant of an English immigrant to Firthcliffe.

Virtual walking tour

On Sunday, July 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Woodbury Senior Center, he will guide an armchair tour on a virtual walking route from the railroad station to the factory, employee houses, post office, general store, fire house and the all-important Firth Club social center for employee entertainment and enjoyment.
Hear about daily life in this self-contained community and the industry and business practices of the 19th century.

Essential information

• The Woodbury Historical Society Gatehouse Learnng Center is sponsoring this mini-vacation for its next 2016 monthly Open House.
• The Woodbury Senior Center is located in the Highland Mills Library building on Route 105 near Route 32 (16 County Route 105).
• Check the web-site, http://woodburyhistoricalsociety.org/ for up-dates.
For further information email: dorothymorris0@gmail.com. All programs are free and open to the public.