The Soundscape Years

My husband, Bradford Graves, and I

acquired property in Kerhonkson in

1978.

We would look forward to driving

into Accord to go to Agway, which

was always exciting for us city folk

- and we would always pass the

Accord Train Station which was grown

over in vines, shrubs, trees and we would always remark and be taken in by the

inherent beauty of the structure and its enduring materials.

Finally in 1992 there was a For Sale sign and I contacted Betty Kuwalchick who

was the realtor representing the Estate  of Frank Mauro, the owner at that 

time.

Frank had purchased the Train Station in 1984  and had never done anything to it

or in it and rented it out to people who ran a small personal flea market from

inside.

Brad and I bought the train station on September 29, 1992 and the idea was that 

we would renovate it and then sell it or rent it.  At that time there were no

services at all to the train station - no water, electricity,  heating, septic -

nothing.

Everything had to be done - what was in good shape was the building itself as a

structure - and most of the original inside floor including the ticket  takers

window, the benches in the waiting room, beautiful old stairs leading to the

upstairs where Michael Palmer, the station  manager lived .

It was a joy to renovate that beautiful building and watch it come alive again.  

Patrick and Mike Dennon did all the renovations  between 1992 and 1993 and

services were brought to the building;  original tiles around all the doors

were  designed by Peggy Hennenberry;, insulation was blown into the walls to

preserve the adobe feel of the walls;  bathrooms were installed up and

downstairs and in the process of this renovation we truly fell in love with the

building and it became clear that we would not  either sell it or rent it out -

we wanted in someway to inhabit it,  to experience it.

From 1979 - 1984 I had programmed a performance space on west 52nd Street called

Soundscape which is the name of  my non profit arts

organization.  www.soundscapepresents.com

The Train Station opened officially on June 20, 1993

as a community based multi-arts center for

performances and exhibitions. It was a great time.

I got to meet everybody in the community and bring

everyone and anyone there who had something to share

- it was intense field work  - it helped to really

connect me to this special country place peopled by

small towns here in Ulster County.

Many young people worked there .

With  a rudimentary POINT & SHOOT  I took photographs

over the course of the seasons and you see people

growing up during these four years

I have posted all the photographs on this site - mostly I do not know who these

people are by name and I urge you to help me fill in the blanks.

In 1996 I purchased an O&W caboose from the man who owned the Wurtsboro Train

Station and had it moved down Route 209 and 100 feet of track and ties.  That

was definitely a great logistical accomplishment -  this marvelous 17,000 ton

structure had to be lifted off  its wheels and the two parts were slowly driven

down on flat bed trucks only after permission was obtained from the Highway

Dept. to go over the bridge  .

Part of the purchase was 100 feet of track and tie and some men who work for the

Catskill Railroad came and put them down so that the caboose could then be

placed on those tracks.

Since I closed the Train Station in 1996 it has been rented out to a book store,

and a deli that had short runs and left their impression. Right now it is rented

as a private residence.

One day I will sell the Train Station - that  is part of the larger plan.

Verna Gillis

1993 Photo

Album

1994 Photo

Album

1995 Photo

Album

1996 Photo

Album

Scrapbook