CATSKILL MOUNTAINS – Purple Mountain Press (PMP) is proud to announce the publication of Peter Pan in the Catskills and Other Historical Essays, a delightful collection that evokes the magic of the region, from Rip Van Winkle to Maude Adams’s “Peter Pan.” This engaging
and beautifully illustrated volume celebrates all that is extraordinary about the Catskill Mountains. In 33 essays, by 28 writers, we dig deep into Catskills culture and history, bringing to light fossils, flora, and fauna, as well as art, railroads, baseball, and so much else.
Selected and with an introduction by renowned Catskills writer Bill Birns, Peter Pan in the Catskills is the first original title issued by PMP since its new owners took over in January of 2025. The essays originally appeared in the esteemed journal Catskill Tri-County Historical Views. A portion of the profits from its publication supports the Gilboa Museum.
A Sampling of Titles/Topics
● “Rip Van Winkle at 200,” by Vernon Benjamin, relates how “Rip” first came to be through the hand of Washington Irving and its enduring legacy.
● The titular essay, “Peter Pan in the Catskills: Maude Adams, Actress,” by Elisabeth Henry, explores the fascinating theatrical history of Peter Pan and the role played by the Catskills High Peaks in its success. 
● “Freddy Goes to Roxbury” by Michael Cart looks at
author/illustrator Walter R. Brooks’s beloved children’s
book character, Freddy the Pig (illus. at left).
● “Bluebirds, the Catskills & John Burroughs” by Ed
Renehan, Jr. describes our Catskills bard at the dawn of
his writing career.
● “FDR and the Catskills” by the volume’s editor, Bill Birns, offers up some of the area’s presidential history.
About the Editor
Bill Birns has lived and worked in the Catskills for fifty years. He taught a couple generations of Catskill Mountain kids, both at Margaretville Central School and Onteora High School. A graduate of Union College, Bill holds a Ph.D. in rhetoric and linguistics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. His 1986 dissertation was a study of the dialect of the Catskills. Birns is also the author of A Catskill Catalog (Purple Mountain Press, 2011).
Praise for Peter Pan in the Catskills
“This collection of articles from the Catskill Tri-County Historical Views journal is a true delight for anyone interested in the history, culture, and natural world of New York’s Catskill Mountains. Broad in topical reach, yet focused geographically on the legendary Catskills region, this volume is a fine example of the creative and engaging work that is done within the realm of local public history. I highly recommend Peter Pan in the Catskills: And Other Historical Essays to anyone with an interest in New York State’s unique history.”
–Devin R. Lander, New York State Historian, Head of Museum Chartering, Co-Editor, New York History, Co-host and lead researcher, A New York Minute in History podcast
“Hooray! This volume is a joyous celebration of the Catskills, taking the reader on a captivating ride through Ice Age valleys and the world’s oldest forest, over hills, chugging along with the old Delaware and Northern Railroad, as we listen for the sweet songs of bluebirds and the Catskills’ own Bicknell’s thrush, stopping to visit Rip Van Winkle and his good, if misunderstood, wife. The voices that speak to us include some of the Catskills’ finest and most knowledgeable, historian Vernon Benjamin, novelist Christine Wade, and geologists Robert and Johanna Titus—to name a few. This beautifully illustrated collection captures virtually every aspect of Catskill history and lore, and reminds us that what Washington Irving knew is still true today, that there is magic in our mountains.” –Leslie T. Sharpe, Author, The Quarry Fox and Other Critters of the Wild Catskills
“The Catskills have shaped my life and work, and this collection beautifully reflects the same deep love I feel for these mountains, their communities, and their future. In these essays, the region’s rich cultural, historic, and natural stories are brought to life, revealing how the Catskills have long inspired imagination, resilience, and a powerful sense of place. It is a joy and an honor to celebrate this work, which so thoughtfully preserves and shares the many voices and histories of the Catskills.”
–Jeff Senterman, Executive Director, Catskill Center for Conservation and Development
Upcoming Events
April 11: Hobart Exchange, Hobart, book talk & signing with Bill Birns at 2:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
April 18: Delaware County Historical Association, Delhi, book talk & signing with Bill Birns, 2:00 p.m.
May 7: The Hound Books, Roscoe, book talk & signing with Bill Birns, 6:00 p.m.
May 9: Woodstock Library, book talk with Bill Birns & Leslie Sharpe hosted by The Golden Notebook, 4:30 p.m.
May 23: Fleischmanns Memorial Day Street Fair, table and author signing with Bill Birns
June 6: Mountaintop Library, Tannersville. Bill Birns in conversation with Elisabeth Henry. 11:00 a.m.