Big Indian in Ulster County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
History of Big Indian and Oliverea
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 3, 2019
1. History of Big Indian and Oliverea Marker
Inscription.
History of Big Indian and Oliverea. . The Legend of Big Indian , The hamlet of Big Indian takes its name from an 18th century Native American named "Winnisook," who was said to be over seven feet in height, strong, well-built, and fearless. Much of the legend surrounding Winnisook's activities in Ulster County were undoubtedly embellished over the years by local guides and lodging owners seeking to attract visitors to the area with an enticing, romantic tale. However, one fact is certain: the first reference to "Big Indian" as a location was recorded in surveys dating from 1786. , Winnisook, a member of the local tribe called the Munsees of the Lenape Nation, lived in the Marbletown area of Ulster County. There Winnisook fell in love with one Gertrude Molyneaux, the daughter of an early Huguenot settler in the area. However, Gertrude had been betrothed to a Dutch settler by the name of Joseph Bundy, a man said to be of questionable character. , After a brief, unhappy marriage to Bundy, Winnisook succeeded in getting Gertrude to elope with him back to his village and thereafter fathered several children with her., Several years after this very public humiliation of Bundy, Winnisook led a livestock raiding party against the Dutch farmers in the area, which resulted in a number of their cattle and sheep being driven away by the Indians. , In response a posse was formed, including Bundy, to track down the raiding party. Allegedly, Bundy and company caught up with Winnisook in the area now named Big Indian. It was here that Bundy succeeded in finally getting his revenge by firing the bullet that killed Winnisook. , There are many versions of Winnisook's death, one more romantic than the next, including stories of a huge oak tree that stood at the crossroads with Winnisook's enormous outline carved into the bark. One version of the legend is likely true; that upon Winnisook's death Gertrude moved her family to the area we now call "Big Indian" to be near Winnisook's grave. Evidence of this can be found in old land title records that carry Gertrude Molyneaux's family name on land in the Lost Clove valley of Big Indian., Thanks to Gary Gailes for his telling of the legend., The site of Aley's General Store, recently known as Morra's Market, is believed by many to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad in the 1800s, helping slaves from the South escape to freedom in the North. The original building stood at the intersection of Route 28 and Oliverea Road., Logging, lumber milling, and furniture making were early industries of this region. All that lumber was needed to build and furnish many fine and fancy inns, boarding houses, and summer resorts for hundreds of thousands of visitors who fled the sweltering city each year. Some still stand today. , Founded in 1886, Oliverea’s famous Winnisook Club sits at the base of Slide Mountain, 2,660 feet above sea level. In 1887 a lodge was built on the private club’s 1,600 acres, and eventually 14 private homes were added, with ownership passing down through the original owners’ families. , Winnisook Lake, which empties into the headwaters of the Esopus Creek and the Neversink River, was dammed to form a five-acre lake for recreation. It is the highest lake in the Catskills. Many historical celebrities have visited the club, including Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan and famous naturalist John Burroughs., Jake Moon built the original building that was once Rudy's Big Indian then Jake Moon Restaurant. Jake was part Native American, six foot six, and employed as a guard for a railroad yard in the 214 notch between Chichester and Phoenicia. He was caught in a landslide in front of an oncoming train but miraculously survived and decided it was ordained for his family to settle here. In 1994, his great-great-great grandson Daniel E. Smith became the owner and manager of Jake Moon Restaurant. Today the original building has been somewhat expanded into the Peekamoose Restaurant, located on Route 28 and Lasher Road.
The Legend of Big Indian The hamlet of Big Indian takes its name from an 18th century Native American named "Winnisook," who was said to be over seven feet in height, strong, well-built, and fearless. Much of the legend surrounding Winnisook's activities in Ulster County were undoubtedly embellished over the years by local guides and lodging owners seeking to attract visitors to the area with an enticing, romantic tale. However, one fact is certain: the first reference to "Big Indian" as a location was recorded in surveys dating from 1786.
Winnisook, a member of the local tribe called the Munsees of the Lenape Nation, lived in the Marbletown area of Ulster County. There Winnisook fell in love with one Gertrude Molyneaux, the daughter of an early Huguenot settler in the area. However, Gertrude had been betrothed to a Dutch settler by the name of Joseph Bundy, a man said to be of questionable character.
After a brief, unhappy marriage to Bundy, Winnisook succeeded in getting Gertrude to elope with him back to his village and thereafter fathered several children with her.
Several years after this very public humiliation of Bundy, Winnisook led a livestock raiding party against the Dutch farmers in the area, which resulted in a number of their cattle and sheep being driven away by the Indians.
In
Click or scan to see this page online
response a posse was formed, including Bundy, to track down the raiding party. Allegedly, Bundy and company caught up with Winnisook in the area now named Big Indian. It was here that Bundy succeeded in finally getting his revenge by firing the bullet that killed Winnisook.
There are many versions of Winnisook's death, one more romantic than the next, including stories of a huge oak tree that stood at the crossroads with Winnisook's enormous outline carved into the bark. One version of the legend is likely true; that upon Winnisook's death Gertrude moved her family to the area we now call "Big Indian" to be near Winnisook's grave. Evidence of this can be found in old land title records that carry Gertrude Molyneaux's family name on land in the Lost Clove valley of Big Indian.
Thanks to Gary Gailes for his telling of the legend.
The site of Aley's General Store, recently known as Morra's Market, is believed by many to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad in the 1800s, helping slaves from the South escape to freedom in the North. The original building stood at the intersection of Route 28 and Oliverea Road.
Logging, lumber milling, and furniture making were early industries of this region. All that lumber was needed to build and furnish many fine and fancy inns, boarding houses, and summer resorts for hundreds of thousands of visitors
2. Marker detail: 375 Million Years Ago Panther Mountain Impact Footprint
A meteor hit Panther Mountain in Oliverea, creating a 7-mile-wide crater. Or did it? In the 1970s, geologist Yngvar lsachsen, intrigued by the curiously curved question mark shape of the Esopus Creek, began to study the area and discovered fractures in the rocky streambed and other microscopic evidence of a meteor strike. According to this theory, the meteor would have been about 1/2 mile across and the explosion equal to 11 trillion tons of TNT. The shattered rock allowed water to flow more freely, influencing the shape of the Esopus hundreds of millions of years later. Abnormally weak gravity in the area is also thought to be the result of the impact, perhaps making your hike to the top of Panther Mountain just a little bit easier!
who fled the sweltering city each year. Some still stand today.
Founded in 1886, Oliverea’s famous Winnisook Club sits at the base of Slide Mountain, 2,660 feet above sea level. In 1887 a lodge was built on the private club’s 1,600 acres, and eventually 14 private homes were added, with ownership passing down through the original owners’ families.
Winnisook Lake, which empties into the headwaters of the Esopus Creek and the Neversink River, was dammed to form a five-acre lake for recreation. It is the highest lake in the Catskills. Many historical celebrities have visited the club, including Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan and famous naturalist John Burroughs.
Jake Moon built the original building that was once Rudy's Big Indian then Jake Moon Restaurant. Jake was part Native American, six foot six, and employed as a guard for a railroad yard in the 214 notch between Chichester and Phoenicia. He was caught in a landslide in front of an oncoming train but miraculously survived and decided it was ordained for his family to settle here. In 1994, his great-great-great grandson Daniel E. Smith became the owner and manager of Jake Moon Restaurant. Today the original building has been somewhat expanded into the Peekamoose Restaurant, located on Route 28 and Lasher Road.
Location. 42° 6.18′ N, 74° 26.756′ W. Marker is in Big Indian, New York, in Ulster County. Marker can be reached from New York State Route 28, 0.1 miles west of Oliverea Road, on the left when traveling west. Marker is mounted in an interpretive kiosk at the east end of the parking lot in Big Indian Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8280 New York Route 28, Big Indian NY 12410, United States of America. Touch for directions.
(left) Risely Mill in 1908 (right) Steam powered Cruickshank Mill of Big Indian Wood Products Ltd. around 1930
5. Marker detail: Rohaly's Budapest Rest, Full Moon Resort, Cold Spring Lodge
Rohaly's Budapest Rest (right), is being rescued from the ravages of time, and the smaller building on the left is now a Baptist camp along Route 28. The Valley View (top left) is now the Full Moon Resort, and the Cold Spring Farm (bottom left) is now the Cold Spring Lodge.
6. Marker detail: William Jennings Bryan & John Burroughs
8. History of Big Indian and Oliverea Marker Kiosk
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 3, 2019
9. Winnisook "Big Indian" Statue near park entrance
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 3, 2019
10. Winnisook Statue Marker
This statue honors Winnisook An 18th-century Native American inhabitant of Big Indian, NY Dedicated August 29, 2009
Credits. This page was last revised on March 30, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 29, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 2,247 times since then and 608 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 29, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 6, 7. submitted on March 30, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 8. submitted on March 29, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 9, 10. submitted on March 30, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.