To the Editor:

In a new exhibit created and compiled by the Clarksville Historical Society, the hamlet of Clarksville and its history will be celebrated at New Scotland Historical Association’s museum. The exhibit will be open to visitors starting on Sunday, Sept. 24, from 2 to 4 p.m.

The hamlet of Clarksville was established as West Bethlehem on June 27, 1812. At this time, the town of New Scotland was still a part of the original town of Bethlehem.

On April 16, 1833, after the town of New Scotland was formed, the name was changed to Clarksville, after Adam A. Clark who was the postmaster. At that time, Clarksville was the largest hamlet in the town of New Scotland.

By the early 1800s, Clarksville was a busy waystation on the Delaware Turnpike with hotels, blacksmith shops, wagon shops, saw and grist mills, general stores, doctors, lawyers, and a shirt factory.

Clarksville became popular as a summer vacation destination for people all over New York state. The Clarksville Cave was a tourist attraction, along with the many boarding houses that opened during the summer offering city folk a chance to enjoy time in the country.

The Clarksville Historical Society’s exhibit has been developed to highlight the many aspects that made up the fabric of this community.

New Scotland Historical Association’s Museum will be open Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m., on Election Day, and for a half-hour before NSHA’s monthly programs. It is located at the Wyman Osterhout Community Center in New Salem on 7 The Old New Salem Road. 

Sandy Slingerland

Don Slingerland

Marilyn Miles

Clarksville Historical

Society’s Exhibit Committee

Judy Kimes

NSHA Publicist