October 16, 1997 - A Riot of Autumn Reds and Golds6A' • The Suffolk Times '• October. 16, 1997
A Riot of Autumn Reds and Golds
When talking with relatives from upstate last week,
they referred to this fall as if they were living in a "flow-
erpot of color." That did it for us; we'd been thinking of
sneaking off and seeing this annual spectacle of fall for
some time. We even had a preview a few weeks ago
when we took a "quickie" to Maine to see friends, but
there the leaves were just starting to show. Then when I
flew up to New Hampshire with
my son, I could see the stage was
set for a fall showing. We'd just Focus
have to get off and experience this on
pizazz of color that nature puts on
before retiring for the winter. Nature
Friends offered their cabin in the
Catskills, saying the foliage there by Paul
was at its peak. The very next day Simtenbureh
we were packed and rolling west-
ward on the expressway toward the city. How I dread that
part of the trip, but somehow each time we make that
nightmare journey across the Cross Bronx Expressway
and its approaches, we somehow get through it and soon
forget its ugliness.
Once across the George Washington bridge and onto
the Palisades Interstate Parkway, our world started to
change color. Gone were the miles of rumbling trucks
that groaned their way through the grimy canyons of
bleak buildings, gone was that continual drone of ma-
chines, gone was the tension of driving through that rat
race of boiling man -made energy. We were now driving
along a beautiful parkway, devoid of trucks, that occa-
sionally peaked out onto the mighty Hudson River.
The lure of the river pulled us off to one of the over-
looks and we got out to stretch our legs and look below.
How man has changed the landscape — warehouses
and king -size buildings of all sorts lined the opposite
shore. It was hard to imagine what Henry Hudson saw
when he sailed up this mighty outflow to the sea: clean
water, with fish and shellfish abounding everywhere. A
truly virgin world of natural beauty. Since the seasons
never change their routine, below we could see the fall
colors starting to show up. Back in the car, as we
moved northward, the colors would increase by every
mile.
Colors in Competttioft
The scarlet of the Virginia creeper seemed to be trying
to outdo the crimson poison ivy that draped its garlands
of color wherever it could climb. The honey locust daz-
zled you with its electrifying yellow glow. Even the
sumac had turned its monotone green into beautiful
shades of red and yellow, and, of course, the maples out -
shown them all. We were experiencing nature's greatest
display of magic, the turning of her greenery into fall's
majestic splendor.
Let's Kook Back
75 Years Ago
Mile after mile rolled on, the colors seem-
ingly getting more and more intense. By the
time we rolled westward on Route 17 there
was a continuous spectacle of color unfolding
before us. Whole mountainsides would flaunt
their yellow and reds and oranges, each trying
to attract our attention. At one point the yel-
lows of the roadside were so intense we
seemed to bathe in their glow. We had surely
picked the right time to see this kaleidoscope
of fall.
Occasionally there would be a burst of color
along the roadside edge. Fall asters were try-
ing to be recognized amongst the overpower-
ing color above that continually greeted us.
Here was color our own East End would never
match. Yes, we occasionally find maples or
hickories or even the oaks that show their fall
color but never in the profusion that greeted us
in these rolling hills and valleys.
Almost overcome with color, we pulled into
the famous Roscoe Diner for lunch. Inside,
with its Formica and nickel - plated spit and
polish, we soon came back to another world.
We ate and then drove around the Pepacton
Reservoir, New York City's life - giving water
supply. Soon we were off Route 30 onto a
tarred road, much like our side roads of home,
then right onto a one -lane gravel road that
wound along a sleepy creek and across a little
wooden bridge to "the cabin" that was bathed
in the fall colors surrounding it.
As we stepped out of the car, there wasn't a
breath of air moving. Not a sound. An occa-
sional leaf would break free from its anchor-
age high above and pirouette its way down to
add to the carpet of colored leaves below. Its
usefulness as a manufacturing plant was over
and so the tree released the leaf and was
sealed up for the winter.
We had arrived at the height of the fall
color. What a privilege it was to see nature in
its very best dress. How thankful we were for
friends who would let us share their wonder-
ful retreat amongst the famous Catskill
Mountains We could see why they and thou-
sands of others are so attracted to this specta-
cle each year. After we had settled in and
enjoyed dinner, we started a fire in the huge
stone fireplace. Without a television you could almost
hear the silence. It wasn't long before we were off to bed.
It was wonderful.
The next day was one of back roads and more spectac-
ular fall color. Could it get any better? As we drove along
Suffolk Times photo by Paul Stoutenburgh
POISON IVY —Look closely and you will see the charac-
teristic three shiny leaves of poison ivy. Once green, they
now have turned to their new fall colors of red and yellow.
The spectacle of fall color has reached its peak in the
Catskills by now and has just recently gotten started here
on our East End.
Oct. 13, 1922
Greetings: In sending out our first issue of The Suffolk
Times, it is with a deep sense of appreciation for the many
kind wishes and the spirit of cooperation manifested by our
friends. It is this cooperation which we trust will help us to
keep to the high standard always held by this paper. It is our
good fortune to carry on this work, the foundations of which
our predecessors have so well laid. Following their footsteps
we will edit a Republican newspaper.
Our columns will be open at all times for the discussion of
any matter pertaining to the welfare of the community, and
we assure you that it is our sincere desire to make this a home
paper in the truest sense of the word. — F.L. Corwin, editor;
A. Gladding, business manager
50 Years Ago
Oct. 17, 1947
ELIH Rates Go Up: At a meeting of the board of
directors of the Eastern Long Island Hospital Association
last week, due to increasing costs of operation of the insti-
tution it was voted to increase the hospital rates. The new
rates, effective Nov. 1, which were adopted with one dis-
senting vote: ward, $7 per day; semiprivate room, $10 per
day; private room without facilities, $13 per day; private
room with facilities, $15 per day. Maternity cases: ward,
$90; semiprivate room, $130. The above charges are for
eight days only.
25 Years Ago
Oct. 19, 1972
Case of the Missing Battery: A mem
from the Economic Opportunity Council of Suffol k
for the Head Start director in Greenport last week.
effect that Head Start would not have to put up wit
bus anymore. It would get a shining new minibus
lowing Saturday. Please to have the bus driver rep
Bay Shore garage to pick up the new bus.
Which would ordinarily seem like a bonanza. Ex
the local Head Start and its parent body, Communit
of Southold Town, didn't want a new bus that wo
only 16 people. They were satisfied with the old one
a capacity for 60 and has been available for field trip s
by community groups since it was given to CAST in
Marjorie Tuthill, a Greenport Village Trustee, c
Patchogue office and tried to explain that the Southo
in good condition while a 16- seater wouldn't answer
pose at all. But it seemed the office had gotten a g
on old buses for new ones and couldn't understand
one would prefer to keep an old bus. Frustration at
mouse - country mouse lack of comprehension led
action. When the bus driver appeared Saturday mo
drive the bus to Bay Shore he found the bus would n
The battery had been taken out.
It was returned Monday morning and Tuesday t
man of the county Head Start said he would be out
talk the whole thing over.
a bit of wind would often send leaves whirling around us.
It made you feel at times as though you were inside one
of those magical glass balls you hold in your hand and
shake to see all the colored glitter raining down.
This time we drove into the heart of the Catskill Forest
Park, where the colors seemed to be magnified as they
were now backlighted by the brilliant sun.
The surface of the road was impossible to
see as it was covered with a layer of
newly fallen leaves of every shade of yel-
low, orange and red. Rose petals scattered
before the highest dignitary could not
orandum have compared to our leaf - covered path -
arrived way that wandered up and down the
It said in mountains of the Catskills.
h its old From 9 till 2 we drove, never over 10
the fol- miles per hour, and in all that time we
repo
ailed the time, stop and photograph a waddling
ld bus is porcupine as it crossed the road, fumble
the pur- with the camera to take a picture of a
ood deal grouse by the side of the road, drive up
why any- slowly on a deer munching wild apples
the city under a tree, listen to a red squirrel chat -
to direct ter in the woods nearby, and we would sit
rning to and ponder beside a bubbling stream
't work. draped in an unimaginable array of fall -
colored leaves.
he chair- Our stay couldn't have been more per -
Friday to fect. it will go down in our memory book
of wonders. Wonders that nature alone
can produce.
to the p
passed three, possibly four, cars all day.
We were in the wilderness of the Catskills
cept that a
and only a few trail markers along the
y Action w
way told us man had once passed by. Oh,
uld hold y
yes, occasionally there would be rem -
that has n
nants of stone walls that once marked the
and use b
boundary lines of forgotten farms.
1969. W
We would pass wild turkeys, 40 at a