A Victorian utopian community claiming to see fairies settled in Wassaic, attracting Japanese samurai and remaking the townscape of Amenia. An early version of the "Borscht Belt" began on the shores of Lake Amenia, where a once-thriving resort community vanished along with the lake itself. Amidst a crisis of dwindling membership, the NAACP was brought together at major conferences held at Amenia's Troutbeck estate, owned by Joel Spingarn, the organization's first Jewish president. Young graduates from the Rhode Island School of design and other art schools launched the Wassaic Project, a festival and art residency using a converted agricultural grain elevator as their venue.

About the Author: Tonia Shoumatoff is a writer, producer and media commentator with a longtime professional commitment to environmental protection. She has lived in the Harlem Valley since 1987. Her work as senior reporter for the Millbrook Independent newspaper gave her a unique perspective on local affairs and the area's rich history. As the Ten Mile River watershed manager for the Housatonic Valley Association, Shoumatoff monitored the watershed and reviewed Harlem Valley development proposals, encouraging low-impact development and stream protection. Shoumatoff helped promote worldwide peace activities as a staff member of a United Nations-affiliated NGO, May Peace Prevail on Earth, International.

ISBN: 9781467152075  Pub Date: July 24, 2023
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