Settled by Palatine Germans in the early 1700s, the Schoharie Valley is known as the “Breadbasket of the Revolution” due to rich soils that produced grain for Washington’s forces. Today, the area’s many farming families¬—including the Wyckoffs, Shauls, and Barbers¬¬—continue the farming tradition.
The Schoharie Creek defines the valley and the many hamlets and villages along its banks, including Gilboa, North Blenheim, Breakabeen, Fultonham, Middleburgh, Schoharie, Gallupville, Central Bridge, Sloansville, and Esperance. The creek has greatly impacted the Schoharie Valley’s landscapes and lifestyles, from the construction of the Gilboa Dam and the destruction of Gilboa village in the 1920s, to baptisms in the creek near Sloansville.
Through vintage images, The Schoharie Valley celebrates these quaint communities that have thrived and survived for generations and continue to draw residents and visitors alike. The author says that “the book is intended to be a tribute to the three hundredth anniversary of the settling of both Middleburgh and Schoharie. It is also dedicated to those who suffered from the great flood of 201, those who lost their homes, businesses and crops to the waters, and to the thousands of volunteers who came to help in the recovery.”
Highlights of The Schoharie Valley:
• All profits from the sale of the book are will help benefit the Schoharie Colonial Heritage Association.
• The images in the book were donated by local families and organizations.
Schoharie resident John P.D. Wilkinson is a retired engineer and folk artist who has painted many scenes of the Schoharie Valley’s farms and hamlets. He is a board member of the Schoharie Colonial Heritage Association, cofounder and member of the Schoharie Valley Association, and a member of the Schoharie County Historical Society.
Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com or
(888)-313-2665.
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