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A monthly paper about the people, places and things that make Chatham and the surrounding towns so special OCTOBER 2026
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High Pointe Chatham Manor The Berry Farm East Chatham Wine Chatham Food Co-Op Chatham Bookstore Stewart’s Show Pony / Valatie Chatham Wine
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The Chatham Press | October 2026 | 3
TRADITION
Halloween Treats, not tricks for
Kinderhook Street takes on the aura of a street festival every Halloween, when hundreds of treat-seeking ghosts and fairy princesses descend.
4 | The Chatham Press | October 2026
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A lot of kids
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A street party
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It’s a bit pricey
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Halloween etiquette
½ ® ° ° ¶³ · ½ ¶ ® · ¶ ® ¹ ¡ · ¶¡ ® ¡ ® · ¶ · ¶ · ² • The Chatham Press | October 2026 | 5
REUNION
Class of ‘66
§ ¦ ¡ Ä ´ ´ ¬ ¸ ³ ´ ´ Å´ Æ º ³ º ®
6 | The Chatham Press | October 2026
The Chatham Press | October 2026 | 7
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8 | The Chatham Press | October 2026
ART
Hawthorne Valley Silo Project Chatham’s Kate Patterson, a Hawthorne Valley School art teacher, spent a portion of her summer vacation on-campus engaged in a beautification project.
BEFORE
AFTER
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The Chatham Press | October 2026 | 9
HOME SAFETY
prepared Are you
if fire breaks out?
Check your smoke alarms – they make a life-saving difference. And don’t disconnect them when they annoyingly blare as you cook dinner, then forget to reconnect. They’re simply doing their job.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY RICHARD E. LINDMARK
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10 | The Chatham Press | October 2026
What’s the use?
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Local fire experts
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Where to place?
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Chimney fires
® Â ¬ ¡ ° ¸ Evacuate! ® •
The Chatham Press | October 2026 | 11
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WRITTEN BY
BESS WOHL DIRECTED BY
CATHY LEE VISSCHER
GRAND H O R I Z O N S
OCTOBER 2-3-4 • 9-10-11
Fri/Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm TICKETS/INFO
ghentplayhouse.org
Did you miss an issue? Don’t worry we now have a
Digital Issue issuu.com/chathampress
14 | The Chatham Press | October 2026
MEMORIES
King of the
Big Machine
During the short (2001-2002) existence of Chatham4Corners.com, Spencertown native and 1945 Chatham High grad Bruce Mitchell penned the “Days Gone By” column. Here, we reprint one of his efforts.
° º « ® Å Æ °° ½ ´ ½ ¯ ¹ ° ° ® ° ´ É ª Timing is critical ª ¹ ° ´ Â ¶ · ¡ ® ¡ °° °° ¹ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¶ · º ¹ ¯ ´ ´ ¿¥ ¹ °° ¸ ¡ É É Rewind! ¡ ¡ ¡ ´ ´ ´ ¡ Â Á° ° Å Æ
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Oh-oh
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The Chatham Press | October 2026 | 15
FILMMAKING
Video Visions: From Store to Story
Video Visions, for decades a Chatham destination for movie lovers, itself now heads to the silver screen as the subject of a new feature film.
ª ´ Á ¬ ¹ ¨ ® Ë Â ¦ §¦Á Å Æ Á Á¦  ® 16 | The Chatham Press | October 2026
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A movie on the movie store?
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Authentic vision
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The Chatham Press | October 2026 | 17
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TRICK OR TREAT
BOO! A recent trip to the store made it clear that Halloween “back in the day” bears little resemblance to today…except for the one constant.
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Villagers beware
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The Chatham Press | October 2026 | 19
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20 | The Chatham Press | October 2026
LIBRARY FUN
October at the Chatham Public Library OCTOBER 2026 PROGRAMS AT THE CHATHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
PROGRAMS FOR KIDS
PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS
Teen “Craft”ernoon with Coco
Chatham Roots Genealogy
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Fun and Games in the Teen Room
and the Making of a Community
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¤ º À ® » ¹ º » » º The Chatham Press | October 2026 | 21
COMMUNITY
Scenes from the 2026
Columbia The Village of Chatham was lit up in early September as the Columbia County Fair once again opened its gates for the six-day event, maintaining a local tradition that dates to 1841. 2026 PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY RICHARD E. LINDMARK
22 | The Chatham Press | October 2026
County Fair
The Chatham Press | October 2026 | 23
June PRESS 2025_v1.qxp_Layout 1 5/21/25 3:52 PM Page 2
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SPORTS
Looking ahead with a
New Coach The Chatham High girls’ varsity soccer squad is excited to begin the 2026 season with a new coach.
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Seek opportunities
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Staying positive
¶ · º ¶ · ¹ ¹ ´ ´ « ¶ · ¶ ® · ´ ´ ¶ ® · ® ¬ º ¶´ · ¡ ® ¹ ¯ ¶ Ñ ® · • The Chatham Press | October 2026 | 25
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visual history The Press is acquiring hundreds of photos of Chatham which reveal the depth of character and vibrancy of this community in VISUAL HISTORY the past. We are going to present them for your observations. People, places and things, then and now, are what we are about. visual history Here’s a sampling on this and the following page. Our focus this issue is Chatham: the 50s.
MyTown MyTown The Fifties The Fifties
The Press is acquiring hundreds of photos of Chatham which reveal the depth of character and vibrancy of this community in the past. We are going to present them for your observations. People, places and things, then and now, are what we are about. Here’s a sampling on this and the following page. Our focus this issue is Chatham: the 50s.
The Press has acquired hundreds of photos of Chatham that reveal the depth of By Rich Kraham character and vibrancy of this community in the past. People, places and things, I wason three on four. 1950. It then and now, are what we are about.Here’s a sampling thisyears andold, thegoing following was August. We were sitting by the big window page. Our focus this time is Chatham: the 50s. in the Chatham House having lunch; the same mosaic tiled, wainscoted room that exists By Rich Kraham today. My father had been hired by Mary to teach history Chatham High. I was Dardess three years old, going onatfour. 1950. It I am not sure if we already had our apartwas August. We were sitting by the big window ment on Kinderhook Street just above Library in the Chatham House having lunch; the same Place or were just visiting before moving here. mosaic tiled, wainscoted room that exists Except for a derelict building I was impressed. today. My father had been hired by Mary across the street, Schell’s Tavern,High. I could see a Dardess to teach history at Chatham steam engine and a passenger train sitting I am not sure if we already had our apartalongside the train station. Wow. I liked ment on Kinderhook Street just above Librarythis Place town. or were just visiting before moving here. We had come from New York via Except for aLockport, derelict building I was impressed. Cooperstown, my parents’ hometowns. across the street, Schell’s Tavern, I could see aThey meand for aa ride around town. There was a steamtook engine passenger train sitting round house full of trains and the alongside the train station. Wow. I liked rail thisyard was filled with cars and tracks going off in town. Woodbridge Avenue every direction. We had come from Lockport, New Yorkby viathe school was filled with towering elm trees, Cooperstown, my parents’ hometowns. They shading building, right wing took me for a the ridebrick around town. its There was a containing the kindergarten I would attend round house full of trains and the rail yard a few yearswith latercars where would going play with big, big was filled andI tracks off in blocks, making strong structures. every direction. Woodbridge Avenue by the Mrs. Miller was my teacher. Recess conschool was filled with towering elm trees, sisted of drinking a pint of Breeze Dairy shading the brick building, its right wingHill conmilk which had aluminum foil tops, and taining the kindergarten I would attend a few eatnapbig on the by awith littlebig, years ing latersaltines, where Ifollowed would play floor. We saved the aluminum, probably a warblocks, making strong structures. borne concept. I rolled my weekly tops into a Mrs. Miller was my teacher. Recess conshiny ball. I don’t know what happened to it. sisted of drinking a pint of Breeze Hill Dairy Maybehad it went to the Korean War effort. milk which aluminum foil tops, and eat- Kids were starving there my mom said, so ing saltines, followed by a little nap on the I had to succotash. Francis probably Iaconetti aused floor.eat Wemy saved the aluminum, war-to pretend he was a hurricane and knock borne concept. I rolled my weekly tops into amy down.know I justwhat rebuilt them. to it. shiny blocks ball. I don’t happened Chatham was neat. When I couldKids get out, Maybe it went to the Korean War effort. 8, Library Place, Kinderhook age 7 and were starving there my mom said, so I had toStreet and the football/baseball field used on Woodbridge eat my succotash. Francis Iaconetti to were my kingdom. pretend he was a hurricane and knock my blocks down. I just rebuilt them. The other side When of theI could tracksget out, Chatham was neat. When I was ten I especially enjoyed pick up Street age 7 and 8, Library Place, Kinderhook football games against Jimmy Alford’s gang and the football/baseball field on Woodbridge from across the tracks: Mike Franks, Jim, the were my kingdom. Every boys, Brad Buchan. They played against me, John Congdon, the Schrader boys, and The other side of the tracks Gary ‘Goose’ Vogel. Goose had pick moved When I was ten I especially enjoyed up to a We played new house on Shore Road. football games against Jimmy Alford’s gang on the lawn Franks, near Gary’s from Episcopal across the Church tracks: Mike Jim, house, the too. Not sure which gang was on the wrong Every boys, Brad Buchan. They played againstside of the tracks. I the always thought Franks me, John Congdon, Schrader boys, and and Buchan were from the bad side. Hey, Gary ‘Goose’ Vogel. Goose had moved to a I lived whereon theShore school was. We Hadplayed to be on thethe right side. new house Road. Somehow they seemed tougher, too. Episcopal Church lawn near Gary’s house, too. George Vosburgh was a singer and dancer on The Hit Not sure which gang was on the wrong side Parade, a top TV show in the mid-fifties. He graduated of the tracks. I always thought Franks and from Chatham. The publicity shot above was done at the Buchan were from the bad side. Hey, I lived School Girl Queen contest at the Chatham Fair which Vosburgh came back to during his early career, much towhere the school was. Had to be the right side. they seemed tougher, too. the glee of the ladies. Vosburgh was a four sports athleteSomehow at
GeorgeChatham. Vosburgh was a singer and dancer on The Hit Parade, a top TV show in the mid-fifties. He graduated from Chatham. The publicity shot was Smith done atHook the and A few familiar faces from theabove 50s S.W. School Ladder Girl Queen contest at Fair which are pictured at the left:Chatham Nesbitt, Ploss, Every (2), Vosburgh cameBoehme, back to during his early career, much to Mesick, Vogel, among others. They established the gleethe of modern the ladies. Vosburgh was a four sports athlete at fire company we know today. Chatham. Main Street in the fifties. Note the signs. A few familiar faces from the 50s S.W. Smith Hook and Ladder are pict ured at left: Nesbitt, Ploss, Every (2), Mesick, Boehme, Vogel, among others. They established the modern fire company we know today. 28 | The Chatham Press | October 2026
Main Street in the fifties. Note the signs.
Rip Vogel and Jack Mesick were returning vets who helped get our phone company on track. Many tracks ran through town. Nick’s Boston Candy Kitchen was the hangout for young and old alike. 1936 Chatham grad Marguerite Chapman was steaming up Hollywood. The 1952 baseball team was a good one. The train tracks and tower at Main Street stood by the sooty train station. Some of the firemen below saved Shore Road from going up i n flames. I caused the fire.
Building a town
And all around me, things were happening of which I was oblivious. Returning war vets were re-invigorating the community. The names Boehme, Vogel, Buchan, Mesick, Callan, O’Connell, Howe, Northup, Every, Nesbitt, DeLyser, Akin, Gitto among them. Fixing the fire companies, playing on twilight baseball teams, starting new educational programs – they were everywhere. George Vosburgh, Jr., who lived down the street from me, was now an accomplished dancer on the Hit Parade in New York. We rented a TV from Paul Smither’s shop for Thanksgiving football and kept it for a while. I saw George on TV. The former four letter athlete learned a few other moves and went on to stardom. He played with the Bowes brothers, Lee and Bob, good guys. Marguerite Chapman, a 1936 CCS grad, was steaming up the big screen in Hollywood; corresponding with a few old beaus such as Russ Northup back here.
On Main Street
Nick Demos, the Greek, was making ribbon candy and fine chocolates from his emporium on Main Street. A double hit of the Coke syrup from Nick made for an awesome, sweet drink when we thundered up on our 26” bikes with rubber balloons rubbing our spokes, sounding like Harleys, and walked into the joint. After we had already bought penny candy from Alvord’s Drug store on the corner of Park Row and Depot Square we’d finish it off with a syrupy libation. Tony Quirino, senior, was running the Crandell and showing Rock Hudson’s Written on the Wind and 25 big cartoons every Saturday for 25 cents. I’d wait until my date Ellen Mercer got into the theatre and had paid before I’d go in. I always met her by the soda machine. We’d hold hands, after some sweaty moments working up to it. I always watched as workers would get on the Beeliner at the Depot, to go to work in downtown Albany or go to a show there on North Pearl. Dwight D. Eisenhower came through town on a whistle stop tour when he ran for President in 1952. We crowded the depot to see that. We liked Ike. And we especially loved the Ringling Brothers Circus train when its sleek cars whisked by. There were lilacs in the depot. I’d always remember the smell. Somewhere along the line, around 1955 when my sister was born, Francis Iaconetti and I were using matches to burn caterpillers out of trees behind my Woodbridge Avenue home. Yes, we dropped one in the dry grass. I ran fast. I told my grandmother to call the firemen. You dialed “0” back then. They came fast. Yes, Boehme, Nesbitt, Every, Mesick. My father kicked my butt and then introduced me to my new sister, just back from Columbia Memorial. She was pretty. It was a good time.
The Chatham Press | October 2026 | 29
June PRESS 2025_v1.qxp_Layout 1 5/21/25 3:52 PM Page 30
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"" "" " "&#(" " "+&#( "!" 518-392-4609 | 2309 Route 203 Chatham NY 12037 | thechathamberryfarm.com
une 2025 Page 22
30 | The Chatham Press | October 2026
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SPORTS
SportBits
1981 Fall Sports Awards
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Still undefeated
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Kim Davis
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John Bass
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Holly Willis
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We’re here to insure your entire world.
With three offices in Copake, Valatie, and Chatham we are here to help you with any of your insurance needs. Contact us today for a quote on your home, auto, business, health insurance or life insurance. We are the Kneller Agency and we’re here to insure your world.
Auto • Home • Farm • Business & Commercial • Life, Health & Long Term Care Call or visit any of our locations: Chatham: 6 Church Street, Chatham, P. 518.392.9311 Copake: 179 Cty Rte 7A, Copake, P. 518.329.3131 • Valatie: 3030 Main Street , Valatie, P. 518.610.8164