Walking Tour
The hamlet of Roxbury is rich in natural beauty and historic resources. Roxbury
is the birthplace of railroad magnate Jay Gould and America’s best-loved
naturalist, John Burroughs. Unlike so many upstate New York villages, the hamlet
of Roxbury has retained its seminal 19th century architecture, which has resulted
in the entire hamlet being listed on the State and National Registers.
Roxbury’s maple-lined Main Street exhibits redoubtable stylistic examples from the most humble Greek revival to the most elaborate late Victorian.
One of the truly unique historic sites in the hamlet is the Jay Gould Reformed Church, with its massive stone edifice and Tiffany windows.
Alongside the church is
Kirkside, the former summer estate of Helen Gould Shepard. This Main Street
property was purchased by Gould's daughter in 1896, and the simple seven
room farmhouse was expanded to create the magnificent, rambling Georgian style
mansion.
Ms. Gould also created Kirkside Park, an historic 14-acre treasure
adjoining the home, a masterpiece of rustic elegance designed by Ferdinand
Mangold, the groundsman at Lyndhurst, the Gould’s Westchester County estate on the Hudson now
a National Trust Historic Property. Kirkside Park was a showcase from the late
1900s to the late 1930s. Extensively landscaped and appointed with Adirondack
style bridges and gazebos, graceful paths along the stream, a small waterfall,
rustic style furniture, and stone terraces, Kirkside Park gained a deeper historical
dimension through its particular "conversation" with the Goulds’ Lyndhurst
property. 
Kirkside Park was deeded to the Town of Roxbury in 1981 in a state
of disrepair and in 1999 the restoration of this magnificent community treasure
was initiated. Over the past six years, accomplishments include 1500 lineal
feet of meticulously laid stonewalls lining the east branch of the Delaware
River, five rustic bridges, complete ball field rehabilitation, numerous
plantings and perennial gardens, and installation of 2000 lineal feet of
stone dust paths.
Another celebrated resource in Roxbury is its 1872 train depot, which was literally put under wraps (a weatherproof shield) intact, so that it could be restored before being claimed by the elements. Restoration of this National Register property is now underway. The Depot, a classic example of railroad architecture, was a keystone of everyday 19th century mountain life, and is now the final stop on the Delaware and Ulster Rail Ride.
Groups of five or more are welcome to arrange for a guided walking tour of the hamlet of Roxbury. For scheduled appointments contact Peg Ellsworth (607) 326 3722 or peg@catskill.net. Donations for guided tours are greatly appreciated.
We are in the process of developing a downloadable self guided walking tour brochure. Please check back soon.
For all of Labor Day weekend, Roxbury invites you to enter a different world,
one where all the clocks have been turned back 100 years. Townspeople will
welcome you with upswept Gibson Girl hairdos and sparkling spats in all their
Victorian finery. House proud Roxburyians will lead tours of the village's
historic homes. Railroad magnate Jay Gould and beloved naturalist John Burroughs
spent their boyhoods here, so this year there will be a new guided bus Tour
of Historic Sites surrounding the village, which will include Woodchuck
Lodge,
the Gould homestead, Yellow Old
School Baptist Church and other significant
landmarks outlying the village.