This presentation explores the decade of 1860 to 1870, where the history of Lake Mohonk intersects with the upheaval of the Civil War. It also examines the evolution of the Stoke’s Tavern into the Mohonk Mountain House. In addition, the program looks at the communities that interacted with Mohonk, and the effects of the Civil War on some of the people of those communities.

Ted Reiss has been a resident of New Paltz since 1967 when he came to SUNY as an art major. He is coming off a 50-year career teaching Science (a long story) in both the high school and college settings. He is not a historian, but his wife, Robi Josephson was. This program is the result of the research Robi did for the two books she wrote about the Shawangunk Ridge. It is a blend of her imagination and creativity.