Historic Red Hook

Historic Red Hook Historic Red Hook at the Elmendorph Inn
The Place for Our Unfolding Stories

09/05/2026

The “ber” months are here and we are ready — are you? 🍂💀

Historic Red Hook’s Cemetery Crawl is back!From September 19 through October 25, explore more than 150 stories across six local cemeteries and discover the people, families, and events that shaped Red Hook.

📍 Visit the cemeteries at your own pace
🎧 Read or listen to stories along the way
🏆 Earn points as you crawl and compete for prizes
👻 Fun for individuals, families, and teams of all ages

The Crawl kicks off on September 19 during Hardscrabble Day — but once it begins, you can crawl anytime through October 25.

Register for free and start crawling:historicredhook.org/cemeterycrawl

A Time Traveler Explores Letters, Diaries, And Journals In Historic Red Hook’s Archives, Part One. "On July 28, 1863, Th...
08/28/2026

A Time Traveler Explores Letters, Diaries, And Journals In Historic Red Hook’s Archives, Part One. "On July 28, 1863, Thomas Fraleigh of Red Hook wrote the following letter to his wife Hannah:

Dear Wife,

You must be very anxious by this time to here [sic] from me as to my welfare. We are now after a long series of marches in which we’ve passed through Maryland and Pennsylvania and are now in Virginia how different the soil is. Here everything wears a poverty stricken aspect farms——-(indecipherable) house built of logs and with large stone chimneys on the outside. The homes are small and most all of the houses have been burnt and riddled by the Rebels.

He went on to describe the illnesses of his regiment possibly due to “the last week we’ve had awful water muddy and scarce fit for a horse to drink.”

To continue reading this blog post by Nancy Bendiner, visit the HRH website:
https://www.historicredhook.org/blog/letters-diaries-journals-1

Nancy is a longtime member of Historic Red Hook and a dedicated volunteer with its Collections Committee. In this two-part article, she explores letters, diaries, and journals preserved in Historic Red Hook’s archives, using the words of past residents to illuminate wartime experiences, family life, work, community, and the changing ways people have communicated across generations.

Escape from NY: 1776 EditionThere’s no Snake Plissken in this story, but there are plenty of redcoats, bluecoats, militi...
08/27/2026

Escape from NY: 1776 Edition

There’s no Snake Plissken in this story, but there are plenty of redcoats, bluecoats, militiamen, civilians, and non-stop Revolutionary War Action!

RSVP at historicredhook.org/upcoming-events

Join Dutchess County Historian Will Tatum at Lasting Joy Brewery for a blow-by-blow retelling of the defense and loss of NYC, resulting in the great fire of 1776. Pick up the story of the Dutchess County Minutemen that begins with our Old Drovers Inn program on August 5th. If you are a fan of Kurt Russell and John Carpenter, you’ll see that this real-life story has all of the makings of an action movie plot.

Lasting Joy Brewery is an open venue: we cannot reserve seats for you, but your RSVP gives us an idea of capacity. Food and drink will be available for purchase on site.

Escape from NY: 1776 EditionThere's no Snake Plissken in this story, but there are plenty of redcoats, bluecoats, militi...
08/18/2026

Escape from NY: 1776 Edition

There's no Snake Plissken in this story, but there are plenty of redcoats, bluecoats, militiamen, civilians, and non-stop Revolutionary War Action!

Join Dutchess County Historian Will Tatum at Lasting Joy Brewery for a blow-by-blow retelling of the defense and loss of NYC, resulting in the great fire of 1776. Pick up the story of the Dutchess County Minutemen that begins with our Old Drovers Inn program on August 5th. If you are a fan of Kurt Russell and John Carpenter, you'll see that this real-life story has all of the makings of an action movie plot.

Lasting Joy Brewery is an open venue: we cannot reserve seats for you, but your RSVP gives us an idea of capacity. Food and drink will be available for purchase on site.

RSVP for free at https://www.historicredhook.org/upcoming-events/tavern-trail-lastingjoy-apr26-668jm

08/11/2026

The oldest public building in Red Hook almost didn’t make it. In the 1970s, it was slated for destruction. The Elmendorph Inn still stands today because passionate Red Hook locals stepped in to preserve and restore it for future generations.

Want to see other photos and documents behind this incredible rescue mission? Visit the Archives at StoryStudio, 5 Cherry St, Red Hook (behind the Elmendorph Inn). Open for drop-in hours, or by appointment: Tues & Fri 10-12, plus the first Sat of every month, 10-12.

A stormy forecast is in store for Red Hook this week! Why not spend some time in the air-conditioned and non-stormy Stor...
07/28/2026

A stormy forecast is in store for Red Hook this week! Why not spend some time in the air-conditioned and non-stormy StoryStudio to explore our archives! We are open for drop-in hours, or by appointment: Tues & Fri 10-12, plus the first Sat of every month, 10-12. The StoryStudio is located at 5 Cherry St, Red Hook NY (behind the Elmendorph Inn). Volunteers are available and happy to assist you with questions about the town, or local history research projects you may be interested in. You can also email [email protected] or leave a message at 845-758-1920 to make an appointment.

Photo: Notes for photograph in our archive only say this is a c.1954 barn raising in the rain at "Thomson Property." If you have other details, let us know!

Plan Your Visit to explore our archives! The StoryStudio is open for drop-in hours, or by appointment: Tues & Fri 10-12,...
07/15/2026

Plan Your Visit to explore our archives! The StoryStudio is open for drop-in hours, or by appointment: Tues & Fri 10-12, plus the first Sat of every month, 10-12. The StoryStudio is located at 5 Cherry St, Red Hook NY (behind the Elmendorph Inn).

Volunteers are available and happy to assist you with questions about the town, or local history research projects you may be interested in.

You can also email [email protected] or leave a message at 845-758-1920 to make an appointment.

Are you looking for a fun way to connect with your community and meet great people? At Historic Red Hook, our volunteer...
07/14/2026

Are you looking for a fun way to connect with your community and meet great people?

At Historic Red Hook, our volunteers are the heart of our organization. When you volunteer with us, you don't just help preserve local history—you become part of a tight-knit group of neighbors, share stories, and make lifelong friends.

We're looking for help with:
✨ Welcoming visitors and giving tours
✨ Researching and archiving local stories
✨ Helping at our community events and gatherings

Want to join our amazing team? Comment “Volunteer” below, and we’ll send you the volunteer interest form and information about joining us at Edgewater volunteer appreciation picnic on August 2.

(RSVPs for the Edgewater gathering close tomorrow, July 15, so comment today if you’re interested!)

Living History in Red Hook! American sycamore trees are best known for their massive size, broad crowns, and distinctive...
07/14/2026

Living History in Red Hook! American sycamore trees are best known for their massive size, broad crowns, and distinctive flaking, camouflage-like bark. These trees can live for over three hundred years. The largest sycamores are sometimes known as “Witness Trees,” meaning some individual sycamores stood here during the founding of our community, and as far back as the Revolutionary War. Some homeowners may know them for being a bit messy, as they drop their large leaves, bark and branches throughout the year, but they are vital pieces of our local landscape history.

Do you have a sycamore near you? Post a photo in the comments.

Address

Elmendorph Inn 7562 N Broadway
Red Hook, NY
12571

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 12pm
Friday 10am - 12pm

Telephone

(845) 758-1920

Website

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