The Sullivan County Parks & Recreation Department recently sponsored a photo contest that sought to showcase the landscapes and wildlife at their parks and museums. Photographs could be taken at one of the selected county parks, including:  

• D&H Canal Interpretive Center and Linear Park, Summitville
• Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History, Narrowsburg
• Lake Superior State Park, Bethel
• Livingston Manor Covered Bridge Park, Livingston Manor
• Minisink Battleground Park, Barryville
• Stone Arch Bridge Historical Park, Kenoza Lake
• Sullivan County Cultural Center, Hurleyville

Photographers could submit up to three photographs. Each photograph would be evaluated on composition, use of light and the artistic presentation of the subject. Chosen photographs would be displayed at the Sullivan County Museum at Hurleyville, and, of those, a select few would also be chosen for display at the Government Center at Monticello.

For the contest I submitted three photographs and I was happy to learn that all three photographs were chosen for the exhibit at the Sullivan County Museum and, of those, one was chosen for the exhibit at the Government Center at Monticello. The photographs at the Sullivan County Museum will be displayed through the end of the summer. Two of the photographs were taken at the Livingston Manor Covered Bridge and one was taken at the Stone Arch Bridge in Kenoza Lake.

The Sullivan County Museum is located at 265 Main Street in Hurleyville. Admission to the museum is free. The Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4:30pm. The Government Center is located at 100 North Street in Monticello.

Standing the Test of Time

Livingston Manor Covered BridgeLivingston Manor, Sullivan County

The historic Livingston Manor Covered Bridge, formerly known as the Mott Flats Bridge and more recently as the Vantran Bridge, was originally built in 1860 by John Davidson, a Scottish immigrant, farmer, lumberman and famous Catskills covered bridge builder. The bridge was restored to its original beauty in 1984 by the Division of Public Works. The town lattice truss bridge is approximately 17 feet wide and spans 117 feet over the famous Willowemoc Creek. The single lane bridge is open to vehicular traffic and continues to this day as a key river crossing point for the local community.

The original name of the bridge, Mott Flats, came from the Mott family, who owned land around the bridge. John Mott would later grown in to an influential American figure as the founder of the YMCA, Nobel Peace Prize winner and philanthropist. His original homestead house is located directly adjacent to the bridge.

Livingston Manor Covered Bridge

Livingston Manor Covered BridgeLivingston Manor, Sullivan County

The historic Livingston Manor Covered Bridge, formerly known as the Mott Flats Bridge and more recently as the Vantran Bridge, was originally built in 1860 by John Davidson, a Scottish immigrant, farmer, lumberman and famous Catskills covered bridge builder. The bridge was restored to its original beauty in 1984 by the Division of Public Works. The town lattice truss bridge is approximately 17 feet wide and spans 117 feet over the famous Willowemoc Creek. The single lane bridge is open to vehicular traffic and continues to this day as a key river crossing point for the local community.

The original name of the bridge, Mott Flats, came from the Mott family, who owned land around the bridge. John Mott would later grown in to an influential American figure as the founder of the YMCA, Nobel Peace Prize winner and philanthropist. His original homestead house is located directly adjacent to the bridge.

The historic Livingston Manor Covered Bridge, formerly known as the Mott Flats Bridge and more recently as the Vantran Bridge, was originally built in 1860 by John Davidson, a Scottish immigrant, farmer, lumberman and famous Catskills covered bridge builder. The bridge was restored to its original beauty in 1984 by the Division of Public Works. The town lattice truss bridge is approximately 17 feet wide and spans 117 feet over the famous Willowemoc Creek. The single lane bridge is open to vehicular traffic and continues to this day as a key river crossing point for the local community.

The original name of the bridge, Mott Flats, came from the Mott family, who owned land around the bridge. John Mott would later grow in to an influential American figure as the founder of the YMCA, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and philanthropist. His original homestead house is located directly adjacent to the bridge.

Autumn at the Stone Arch Bridge

Stone Arch BridgeKenoza Lake, Sullivan County

The Stone Arch Bridge, one of the most recognizable sites in Sullivan County, was constructed circa 1873 by Henry and Phillip Hembdt, brothers and recent German immigrants, in order to support the growing commercial needs of the county, particularly farming, timbering and tanning. The three arch bridge crosses the East Branch Callicoon Creek, a major tributary of the Delaware River. The bridge remained open to vehicular traffic until 1955, after which it has since been open to pedestrian traffic only. Today, the bridge serves as the focal point of a 20-acre county park that features a woodland walk, fishing rights, and a kid’s playground. The historic bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Stone Arch Bridge is locally famous for its role in one of the most prominent murder cases in Catskills history. In January 1892 George Markert was brutally murdered at the bridge by Joseph Heidt.

Adam Heidt, Joseph’s father, believed that Markert was a “hexenmeister,” or sorcerer, who possessed supernatural powers, and that he practiced the “black art” of witchcraft. Both Adam and Joseph believed that Markert had placed a hex on Adam Heidt and his family which had led to personal illness, prevented their cows from giving cream, the death of several their cattle, the death of a horse, killed their crops and frustrated business plans. The Heidts also believed that Markert’s hex had led to the death of several family members.

Joseph confessed to the crime, but defended himself by claiming self-defense. He testified that he only went to the bridge to have Markert lift the curse off his father. Joseph was convicted of the murder and spent 20 years in prison. Adam Heidt was acquitted, but was committed to an insane asylum the following year.

The Stone Arch Bridge, one of the most recognizable sites in Sullivan County, was constructed circa 1873 by Henry and Phillip Hembdt, brothers and recent German immigrants, in order to support the growing commercial needs of the county, particularly farming, timbering and tanning. The three arch bridge crosses the East Branch Callicoon Creek, a major tributary of the Delaware River. The bridge remained open to vehicular traffic until 1955, after which it has since been open to pedestrian traffic only. Today, the bridge serves as the focal point of a 20-acre county park that features a woodland walk, fishing rights, and a kid’s playground. The historic bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Stone Arch Bridge is locally famous for its role in one of the most prominent murder cases in Catskills history. In January 1892 George Markert was brutally murdered at the bridge by Joseph Heidt.

Adam Heidt, Joseph’s father, believed that Markert was a “hexenmeister,” or sorcerer, who possessed supernatural powers, and that he practiced the “black art” of witchcraft. Both Adam and Joseph believed that Markert had placed a hex on Adam Heidt and his family which had led to personal illness, prevented their cows from giving cream, the death of several their cattle, the death of a horse, killed their crops and frustrated business plans. The Heidt’s also believed that Markert’s hex had led to the death of several family members.

Joseph confessed to the crime, but defended himself by claiming self-defense. He testified that he only went to the bridge to have Markert lift the curse off his father. Joseph was convicted of the murder and spent 20 years in prison. Adam Heidt was acquitted, but was committed to an insane asylum the following year.