A Catskill Journey

Catskill historical novel

Karl Debacher led a fulfilling but unexciting life as an accountant in New York City in 1892. Encouraged to take a well-deserved vacation, he takes a steamship north up the Hudson River, then a train and a carriage to the Catskill Mountain House. Perched on a high cliff facing east overlooking the Hudson Valley, the Mountain House was one of several nearby fine hotels well known for splendid views and exemplary hospitality. Connected by trails, trains and carriage roads, the rustic beauty of the surroundings enticed thousands a year to take a journey to the Catskill Mountains.

Elizabeth Jackson had worked for Herr Strand at the hotel for years and was unprepared to fall in love with Karl. But it happened.

From the author

Camping and hiking for many years in the beautiful Catskill Mountains of upstate New York I grew more interested in learning the history of the area. The old engravings chiseled in the stone cliff and the state information sign at the Catskill Mountain House location in Haines Falls encouraged me to learn more. Roland Van Zandt's excellent book 'The Catskill Mountain House' has many interesting (actually, fascinating) facts and stories that have been almost forgotten about the hotels and thousands of people who enjoyed the area for decades over one hundred years ago. Each hotel had different amenities and attractions. The Catskill Mountain House, the Hotel Kaaterskill, and the Laurel House Hotel were all different in their accommodations and degree of sophistication.

I wrote my historical novel 'A Catskill Journey' as a love story to knit together the history of the Catskill Mountains in the late 1800's in a way that encourages readers to learn more. The hotel buildings are gone, and the foundations reclaimed by the forest. But the trails, views and waterfalls remain for us to enjoy now as visitors did then.

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