Nearing Stevensville, N.Y.
“Stevensville a popular and ever-charming lakeside resort, is four miles from Liberty on the road to White Lake. The village is on the outlet of Swan Lake, one of the best pickerel lakes in the state. Those who are seeking a quiet, healthful, restful home may well investigate the attractions of Stevensville and Horse Shoe Lake House. The house is situated on a hill where a view of the lake and surrounding country is unsurpassed. For amusements there are tennis, croquet, gunning, fishing, bathing and boating. For booklet, address Ernest Kiel, proprietor.” (The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. June 14, 1908.)
The hamlet of Swan Lake was previously named Stevensville in honor of the Stevens brothers who operated a large tannery there. James Eldridge Quinlan wrote in his 1873 History of Sullivan County: “Hiram and Philo Sandford were early residents in the vicinity of Stevensville, a thriving village on the west branch of the Mongaup. The place owes its existence to the establishment of a sole-leather tannery here by several brothers named Stevens. They were natives of Schoharie county, where they were bred to the business. In November, 1856, their tannery was burned, and there were circumstances connected with their affairs which led Doctor Stevens, one of the brothers, to remove from the county. It was rebuilt, and has since been owned and the business carried on successfully by Daniel T. Stevens. The village received its named in the following manner: On the 24th of January, 1848, a meeting of those living near the tannery was held, at which Hiram Sandford, the oldest inhabitant, presided, and was requested to propose a name. He suggested Stevensville, which was unanimously approved.”
The vintage postcard was published by Otto Hillig, who can be considered one of the great photographers in Catskills history. Arriving from Germany in the United States as a poor teenage immigrant he took on a series of odd jobs before developing a prosperous photography business at his adopted hometown in the village of Liberty in Sullivan County, New York. He operated a well-regarded portrait studio in the village, extensively photographed the landscapes of the region and was considered an earlier pioneer of aerial photography.
