A Little Bit of the Past

Sugar Loaf has a rich and colorful history. Sugar Loaf Mountain once served as sacred burial ground for the Minisink Indians but, the Wawayanda Patent and the building of King's Highway in the late 1730's began the founding of Sugar Loaf by colonial settlers. Sugar Loaf became known as a craft and provision center for farmers and as a horse trading area. It is thought that Sugar Loaf was given its name because the big bald mountain mirrored the loaves of sugar sold in colonial times.

Patriotic Sugar Loaf residents fought in the French and Indian War of the 1750's and the American Revolution of the 1770's. During the latter, a local Loyalist sympathizer, Claudius Smith, raided area farms for their horses and sold them to the British. Sugar Loaf Mountain was rumored to be one of his hideouts.

By 1830 the villagers of Sugar Loaf prospered providing the nearby farmers with supplies and services, boasting a wagon madder, cabinet maker, carpet factory, cheese factory, tannery, two cooperages, a blacksmith, general store, a grist and sawmill.

During the Civil War, the Parsonage on Main Street was a critical link in the Underground Railroad, helping many slaves to freedom. That same period brought fame to Sugar Loaf as the birthplace of Hambletonain (1848-1876), the Father of the American Trotting Horse. Then, in the late 1960's, America experienced a craft revival. With a history of over two centuries as a center for handmade goods, Sugar Loaf symbolized this craft renaissance. New artisans received and the hamlet's population doubled in size. Now, in the 21st century many of these creative and disciplined people still live and work at their crafts with the same commitment and skill as their predecessors. Most of the working studios in the village are open to the public.

The latest addition to the village is a new, state of the art theatre, the Lycian Centre, where people can enjoy high quality, Broadway class productions, jazz concerts, art gallery, and more.

These attractions, old and new, make Sugar Loaf the "Best kept secret in New York", according to the morning TV show, Good Day New York. We agree, and hope that you visit us again and again.