Times change. Here in Grahamsville, a small community located just within the southern edge of New York State's Catskill Park, change may come a little more slowly, but there's still no stopping the persistent march of "progress." The building where I live—290 Main Street—is over a hundred years old and has stood as a silent witness to some of the changes that have taken place in town.
What used to be called "Main Street" is now present day Route 55, a state highway that stretches from the Connecticut border all the way to Pennsylvania. Once a relatively wide, tree-lined dirt road with bluestone sidewalks along either side, it is now an asphalt covered highway with some remaining trees and no sidewalks.
The original building, at 290 Main Street, was built sometime in the 1860's or possibly 1870's and was about half the size that it is now. Renovations were made sometime after the early 1900's with an addition being added on which doubled the size of building and also changed the roof design.
(Fig. 1) Source: Time and the Valleys Museum, Grahamsville, NY
This photograph, from an old postcard, was probably taken sometime in the early 1900's and shows the original building (second from the left). In later renovations the building would be enlarged and the roof style would be changed in the process. The building next to it is the old Post Office.
(Fig. 2) Source: Time and the Valleys Museum, Grahamsville, NY
This postcard from 1905 shows a view of Grahamsville looking 'uptown,' the building and Post Office can be seen on the right.
Early postcards were like the email of their day, an inexpensive, informal and easy way to keep in touch. This one reads:
Dear George: - I hope you are all well - haven't had but one letter since your papa & mama were here - Love to Helen, Mary & yourself. Your Aunt Ellen. Dec 18 - 1905
The photograph shows a horse and buggy on the left which the author describes as: "Kil" - our horse.
(Fig. 3) Source: Time and the Valleys Museum, Grahamsville, NY
This postcard shows the building after it was remodeled, doubling the size and changing the roof. Note the basement doors and the piece of slanted wall at the corner of the building on the Post Office side.
One elderly local man told me that he remembers going to get haircuts when he was a boy at the barber shop located in the basement of the building. He also said that they sold ice cream there (and quite possibly something a little stronger for adults).
(Fig. 4)
This is a view 'uptown' taken last year. Note the piece of slanted concrete wall on the corner of the building that can be seen in figure 3 is still there. One of the basement doors can also be seen. The old Post Office is long gone, but the small house up the street which is clearly visible in figure 2 is still there.
Over time, due to continued re-paving, the road surface has been raised. The front steps of many of the houses along the road are now lower than the road.
(Fig. 5)
Here's what the building looks like today.
