UDRRHS

Arkville

Arkville

 

collection of Dick Makse 

 

ARKVILLE is the next station, four miles further down the valley and 1,372 feet above tide, the lowest point reached by the rails in Delaware County. It is an important station because of the several tributary regions converging here. Margaretville, one and one-half miles distant on the left is a charming little hamlet at the base of Mount Pakatakan, one mile below the confluence of Dry Brook and the East Branch and partly covering the ancient site of the Tuscarora Indian headquarters. The rural setting is marvelously attractive, and many artists of note have built summer studios here and in the environment of Arkville. There are churches, stores, water-works, a weekly newspaper, a fair-ground and race-track, and several hotels. Stages connect with leading trains at Arkville for Andes, twelve miles, Shavertown fifteen, and Downsville twenty-six miles away. Furlough Lake, the mountain home of George J. Gould, is only seven miles distant. This entire region has long been a famous trouting section. Dry Brook is a favorite stream with fishermen, having ample water to shield the wary game. Near Arkville is an artificial cave with strange hieroglyphics rudely carved upon its inner walls, which attracts many visitors.

On leaving this station the train curves sharply toward the right at an obtuse angle, abandoning its southwesterly course, upon which it lately entered, and pursuing nearly the opposite direction for several miles, Arkville being in the vertex of the angle. You are now entering a charming glade known as the valley of the East Branch; a fine dairy section, with succulent grasses, milk cows, milk, milk cans and milk stations in full supply. The little stream loiters lazily and winds in and out with wondrous beauty through the level vale, evidently on grace and pleasure bent, for there seems no other reason for avoiding a straight course, unless it was to increase the charms of the landscape and annoy the sturdy farmers who till the marginal meadows. To some, the water may seem to run the wrong way; but it don't.

 

The Catskills Mountains, The most picturesque Mountain region on the Globe,
published by the Ulster & Delaware Railroad, 1902