Here is a postcard I did not include in Echo Hill and Mountain Grove because I was not sure of its location. Can anyone help?
My next post will be about Yulan and the boarding houses nearby on Washington, Bodine, or Montgomery Lakes. I am hoping former summer boarders in the area might stop by this Halfway Brook site and share their memories in the comment section.
I will also post on the other locations—Barryville, Eldred, and Highland Lake—and maybe we’ll hear from people who visited or worked at the boarding houses in the Town of Highland, New York, many years ago.
My Aunt, Ruth Timmerhoff and Uncle Tim. Actually, I think his first name was Ernest after his father. His mom was Edith Timmerhoff of Eldred.
They lived in Yulan over the store on the corner where the flashing caution light would blink all night through the windows. They were right near the old volunteer fire dept. and I remember playing on an old engine that was in a shed.
It was some where between 1955–1958. Those were very happy times for me.
I loved the firemen baseball games. My uncle time was on the Yulan team and sometimes we would travel to Honesdale for away games.
The kids would get a dime to buy ice cream if they returned foul balls that went into the woods. Little did we know then what the world would be like now. I’m 75 I raised three daughters and am proud of them but I wish they could have experienced a small town.
The comments about Woodland Cottages from Scotty Greenberger and Joan Polishook prompted me to write. Woodland Cottages was owned by my great uncle Herman and his wife Mathilde Protz. Starting in the late 40s and many years thereafter, we visited Yulan and Barryville.
My grandparents Carl and Theresia Herrmann also lived in the area along with my uncle Julius Herrmann. I have nice memories of summer vacations there.
Thank you so much for your comment Roger!—Louise
Before I was born in 1944, my family consisting of my father James Patrick O’Reilly, mother Helen, brothers to be Hugh, Jimmy, Gene and sister Helen (Honey) stayed at the Villa and Paul Bodine’s place on Bodine lake.
Then, the gang went to Cantwell’s when I was born. The family was fixated on bass fishing and did quite well catching them. We stayed there every August until 1966.
For a summer or two I was an acolyte with a boy named Allie Ford at St Anthony’s church on Sunday’s in August and we also fished together some. Any word on him??
I’m afraid to go back b/c I fear I’ll have too many tears in me eye—Ed O’Reilly.
I remember Yulan and Grand Vue Inn very fondly. I first stayed at GVI in 1950 and 1951 with my parents.
From 1952 thru 1965, I worked there every summer helping in the kitchen, mowing the lawns, and carrying the bags on the weekend turnover. Did some fishing off the bridge, played lots of ball at the field, ate lots of pizza at night, and went to Monticello to bet on the ponies at least one night a week. I went with Mary Bornstein’s son, my good friend Hank Oset.
I took a drive to Yulan two years ago with my son as I wanted to see it again and just ride around the area of my youth. It was a bad move. I should have stayed just with my memories as frankly—the hotel was gone and a mess. The entire area in Yulan, Barryville, Narrowsburgh and Eldred were all run down and depressing.
My grandparents had a house on Park Rd. across from the ball field. We’d drive up for weekends and a few days every summer in the late sixties to visit.
I remember the names Buddy, Vonderhorst, the Osets, the church on the hill and gnats, lots of gnats.
The only entertainment for us kids was exploring the woods, a night at the roller rink, and the Root beer at Herman’s, the local sweet shop up at the four corners (times square).
Aunt Cookie is now in Arkansas. And my Auntie Arlene is still in Yulan. My Grandma Amy passed away some time ago.
Wolff’s Hillside Inn was THE place for staffers from nearby Ten Mile River Boy Scout Camp to go on their day off.
I can remember the amazing corned beef sandwiches and keteuffel salat. Mr. & Mrs. Wolff, their daughter, and their granddaughters were a surrogate family for those of us who spent the summer on staff at TMR.
I also remember the Wolffs owned a beautiful Weimaraner named Frohe. My boss at TMR, Harry Goebelsman, was building a house not far from Wolff’s. It was in the shape of a boat and drew many a wondering look from motorists driving by.
There was also an abandoned chapel up in the woods behind the three cottages on the four corners. You couldn’t see it from the road but my cousin Geanie and I used to go up in the pine woods and explore on sunny days.
I don’t remember if there were pews but I can remember the wooden floors creaking and I think the chapel had stained glass windows.
Woodland Cottages, on the Barryville Mail Road, has had new life pumped into it. It is now the beautiful CATSKILL MOUNTAINS RESORT.
The renovations which have been done are truly astounding. If any of its former Woodland Cottage vacationers were to see it now they would be in awe and certainly want to stay there.
Every building that was there still exists but has been totally modernized, added to and in many instances relocated.
Their Olympic salt water pool is a new feature though. Also in addition is a fine restaurant and lounge. The place has amenities not seen in this area at any time. They cater weekly specialties, parties and large and small events as well as combining with surrounding activities and places of interest. They are truly a credit to the town which should not be missed.
Yulan was such a great place to be in the summers.
In the late 40’s, 50’s and 60’s the place to be in Yulan (4 Corners) was TIMES SQUARE. This was the proverbial teenage hangout, a soda shop with pinball machines, jukebox, penny candy and fast food.
You could also gets newspapers, magazines comic books and souvenirs. It did have a specialty that no other place had; that was root beer served from a big keg in a real glass mug kept frozen in the ice cream freezer. That mug was so cold that your fingers at first would stick to the handle. Nothing like it any where that I have ever seen.
TIMES SQUARE had a screened in porch with real swinging squeaking screen doors. On this porch were the 2 pinball machines and a soda counter. Inside was the juke box, tables and metal wire chairs, booths and candy display cases.
In the back was the food counter where you could order hamburgers. I remember going there so many times as there always seemed to be parking out front. Most all the kids who hung out there did not have a car but I did. (I still have the same car).
Because of the car I was really popular, particularly with the girls. When I would walk in to TIMES SQUARE it seemed that so many of the kids greeted me very enthusiastically for two reasons that I realized years later; I had a job and I had the car; two qualifications for a successful teenager.
In the early 60’s Yulan got a new place to hang out. A new roller skating rink opened. It was built, owned and operated by Chet and Helen Oset. It was a great place to go as they had sock hops once a week and skating on the other nights they were open. The building is still there, but you would never know it was a skating rink being all but abandoned.
The town of Yulan has faded from it glory days which lasted until perhaps 1980. The hotel/boarding houses which brought so many to the area are now fond distant memories for senior citizens. The former pride of well kept establishments and landmarks is no longer.
Perhaps, some day in the future this perfect location will have a renaissance. Meanwhile, I live in Yulan on one of its beautiful lakes in a home that my wife and I designed and physically built. I still from time to time get visited from friends from long ago where we compare great memories.
Regarding Joan Polishook’s comments: She mentions the Blue Ribbon Restaurant.
When the Black Forest Colony in Glen Spey began, members used to have meetings at a Blue Ribbon Restaurant in New York. I wonder if that is the one mentioned by her.
My father, Edgar Zecher was one of the founders of the Black Forest. I have been coming to the area all my life; now we are living here full-time.
I stayed at a boarding house when I was a child. The name of the family was the Hensel family. If anyone has any information on this house I will be up this Sunday August 7th and Monday August 8th and would love to visit the area. Thank you for any help you could offer. Thank you ~ Donna
Note from Louise: Lisette Hensel ran the Colonial. Fred and Marion Hensel had Yulan Cottage.
To answer Louise. Are you Cookie? My mom and dad stayed on Bungalow Hill up behind Hillside Inn. You were about 4 maybe. 1950 or so. l have very fond memories of your family. I was 15 at the time. My buddy was Dick Metzger. Good luck.
From Louise Smith: Thank you for your comment Wally. Just a note to let you know that I am not Cookie (Louise Wolff).
8/16/2015 Note from Louise: Doris, I have sent you an email with some information that hopefully will help. If you did not get it, please make another comment on this site, and I’ll try again using a different email address.
Hello,
I am replying to this because I am trying to locate an old friend, Louise Wolff, daughter of Helen and Alfred of the Hillside Inn in Yulan.
Louise (Cookie) and I were together in the summers when my parents drove us from Philadelphia to Yulan.
My mother, Clara Stegmaier, grew up with Helen Fuchs and Maria Fuchs (sisters) who immigrated to New York from Waiblingen Germany.
Maria worked at the inn as waitress and she had a house near the crossroads. Louise also had sisters, Arlene and Amy, but since I don’t know their surnames, I can’t locate any of the sisters.
I did hear Louise lived in Alexandra VA once, but lost touch.
The “German cuisine” mentioned above was great, and my mother’s cooking was identical (Schwaebisch).
I also swam at Lake Washington and we often rowed in the lake’s boats. We took neighbors and friends to Yulan and the lake also for vacation visits.
I also liked the store/soda fountain at the crossroads, and bought comic books there—the only comics I ever bought.
We drove to Eldred and sometimes had dinner at Barryville.
The firehouse had clambakes/corn on the cob events that were also fun.
I knew a Willie Walsh in the late 40s and 50s. He drove a Nash automobile. I believe he had twin girls. One day Lou Hensel from the Esso garage put a for sale sign in Willie’s car for 50 dollars as a joke. Willy stayed at Regis Walters Maplecrest.
Wally hauff.
I remember all the things Joan Polishook listed.
I went to Yulan for vacation when I was 13. I worked for Mary Oset as dishwasher at Bornstein’s boarding house when I was 14. Swam at Cantwells and cut grass for Jimmy Cantwell.
We rented every summer. When Dad retired my parents moved to Yulan and loved it. Walt Metzger built their home. Buddy Vonderhorst added a wonderful porch. At 16 I went to work for Timerhoff trash removal. I got to visit every boarding house in town. Knew where all the girls were staying. What wonderful memories you have given me.
Wally Hauff
Thank you so much for your comment Wally!—Louise
I loved Yulan, especially the Washington Beach Hotel in the 30s and 40s it was owned by Walter Tether (the sheriff) who walked around in his cowboy hat and badge kissing the kids and welcoming the borders there.
Ivan Tether took over for a couple of years then sold it to the Gregorys, they were precious years.
You mean Wolff’s Hillside Inn and the filling station first belonged to Henry Wolff which was my great-grandfather.
Note: Thank you for stopping by and your comment Helen!—Louise
Comment for Walsh says:
On the road to Yulan there was a series of cottages, one of which was owned by the Walsh family.
In the 60s I knew a Kevin Walsh who was married to Winnie. They stayed in one of those bungalows. We used to go swimming at Gregory’s on Washington Lake when our children were just infants. Same family?????
My grandfather owned the Washington Lake Casino back way back. The Walshes went to Yulan for over 60 years. Did anyone know my grandfather William Walsh?
The following comments were sent to me from a former resident of Eldred, New York:
I am not sure about the road either, but was wondering if the road going up to the top of the page with the white house on the side in the distance would be Mail Road. The road coming in from the right in the lower section may be the River Road.
The first comment mentioned Stanley Oset owned the milk business. When Stanley moved to Florida, Chester (Chet ) Oset bought and ran the business.
I remember the soda fountain and the juke box!
My guess is this could be the road from Barryville to Yulan, about one mile from the four corners. The road coming in on the right could be the road that runs from Barryville up past Montoza cementary and ties into the road from Barryville to Yulan at this location.
In the late 40s through the 50s when I was a summer vacationer at Woodland Cottages in Barryville, the crossroad at Yulan was known as “Four Corners”. The post office on the corner(still there) was next door to Four Corners store, soda fountain, ice cream place. On the same side of the road going toward Washington Lake was a garage and then a filling station (Ayers) next to which was Wolf’s Hillside Inn, bar and restaurant. The food, German cuisine was outstanding prepared by Helen Wolf. Her husband Alfred tended bar… family members all helped out.
Opposite the post office on the corner was the well known Blue Ribbon Restaurant owned and operated by the former owners of the Blue Ribbon in New York City, The Becks. Further up the road was another shop, ice, cream soda, souvenirs, etc. owned and operated by Louise Vonderhorst with her daughter and son-in-law. I spent many teen age hours there with friends listening to favorite songs on their juke box. Further up the road was the dairy owned and operated by Stanley Oset.
There was an old one room school house on the four corners opposite Becks. It was gone by the 50s. Further on that road heading toward Tusten was the Grand Vue Inn. This was owned and operated by Mary( Oset) Borenstein who had been a cook for the resort when her late husband owned it. It was said that the early clientele included many celebrities and vaudevillians.
In the other direction heading toward Eldred, you come upon Bodine lake where there were a few summer cottages.
In the direction of Washington Lake one would find many boarding houses with names like Umbreit, Kaese, Cantwell, Hensel and Gregory to mention a few. The Washington Lake Casino was a popular place. In front of it was a pier and boat rental, also swimming.
The boarding house industry was thriving in those days; many times there was an overflow and one house might accomodate another’s if necessary.
Woodland Cottages was located between Yulan and Barryville on the Mail Road. It belonged to Herman and Mathilde Protz.