The Heart of the Catskills

The Heart of the Catskills by Bob Steuding, author of the popular and highly acclaimed The Last of the Handmade Dams: The Story of the Ashokan Reservoir describes the early settlement of the part of the Catskills centered on its highest peak, Slide Mountain; the area's exploitation by the tanning industry; and the building of the Grand Hotel near Belleayre Mountain. He presents the stories of colorful personalities, such as Jim Dutcher, the mountain man; John Burroughs, the writer and naturalist; and others, who once peopled this wild and beautiful place.