Catskills Vernacular Architecture Challenge #1







Detail of Front Door

Ordinary architecture - village residences, farmhouses, barns, commercial buildings, schools, churches, out buildings, even sheds, sap houses and fences - tell a lot about a region's culture and economy.  Because these buildings are often built by their owners or by members of their communities they are also considered to be folk architecture.  Catskills folk architecture has received very little attention while the areas around the mountains have been studied and even celebrated.  Catskills Folk Connection, and our radio program Catskills Folk, would like to make a difference by sharing photos of ordinary buildings from the region.

From now on I will feature an architectural photo challenge every two weeks, asking listeners and visitors to this blog to identify ordinary architecture in the Catskills.  The photo will be posted, barring emergencies, a few days before the radio program on WIOX 91.3 FM or wioxradio.org, airing on alternate Tuesdays at 7 p.m.  So the weekend before the program, check this blog for a new photo and see if you can find the building in the photo.  If you find it, e-mail me at vscheer@juno.com or leave a message at 607-326-4206.  You can give the names of the residents, the street address of the building/town or its GPS coordinates.  To all who identify it correctly or come close, I will dedicate a song on the upcoming radio show!

For now, the photos will be of residences, not churches, schools, or commercial buildings.  It may be in a village or out in the country.  Most likely it will be in Delaware County (where I drive most often), especially within a circle bounded by Roxbury-Stamford-Oneonta-Walton, Delhi-Andes-Margaretville.  So far all are on state roads or county routes.  If identifying the photo is too difficult, I will give out the GPS coordinates and maybe the address on the upcoming radio program.

Hear your name on WIOX!
Learn about the Catskills' wonderful and unsung vernacular (ordinary) architecture!
Enjoy travelling our mountain roads on these beautiful autumn days!

Take part in the challenge!