Cragsmoor and It’s Art Colony with Hattie Grifo

As we continue with the celebration of art history in Ulster County, we invite you to the presentation on Cragsmoor and its mountainous refuge of artists. Hatti Grifo, recently retired Cragsmoor Library Director, will present this PowerPoint program.

Cragsmoor is a tiny hamlet in the lower Shawangunk ridge just outside the village of Ellenville, where Sam’s Point and Bear Hill frame each end of “The Mountain.” Frederick Samuel Dellenbaugh, one of the more renowned artists moving to the mountaintop, built a home for his family in 1892, named “Endridge.”

Dellenbaugh designed two of the more public buildings in Cragsmoor, the library housed in a beautiful building with unique character. The hidden treasure known as the Chapel of the Holy Name Episcopal Church (aka Stone Church), is also a Dellenbaugh design. The natural beauty of Cragsmoor makes it a beloved and unique place, which has drawn the artistic and talented for many years. The artist population has continued to increase over time and remains an inspirational place. Many other visitors are attracted to Cragsmoor for its natural beauty, vacation rentals, and weddings and special events at the Stone Church, the Historical Society, and the natural wonders.

Hattie Grifo, is a long time resident of Cragsmoor, where her family first had a summer home but made a permanent move to the mountain in 1966. They bought the home of Frederick Dellenbaugh, from which Grifo moved when she married. Hattie began as a volunteer and trustee of the Cragsmoor Free Library, eventually becoming the Director on January 1, 2005. After an enjoyable tenure of just under 12 years, she retired in September of 2016. Ms. Grifo is also a member of the Cragsmoor Historical Society for which she created this presentation “Cragsmoor and Its Art Colony,” She is currently helping with the renovations of the building that houses the Cragsmoor Historical Society.

Lecture free for UCHS members, $10 for non-members.