WURTSBORO—Volunteers for the Wurtsboro Street Fair wearing orange t-shirts were out in force directing traffic and making people welcome on a sunny Saturday. The town’s annual street fair on July 11 had everything: food, artists, music, unique products, and community services.
The street fair was initiated by residents who wanted to bring travelers into town. Kelly DeGuzman, treasurer of the Wurtsboro Board of Trade, said, “We’re just a small town. Sometimes we can just get passed by on the highway very easily. The street fair can help people come in and see what we have to offer.”
There was a great variety of offerings along the fair. Smokey the Bear’s forest rangers were there from the state Department of Environmental Conservation to inform street fair visitors about wildland fire safety and prevention.
Hometown Vendors
O'Tooles Harley Davidson was donating its raffle proceeds to St. Jude’s Children’s hospital. Several shiny hogs were on display at the Harley booth.
Ceramic artist Patti Anderson, of The Pour House, had a little table with the tools of her trade including a rolling pin and showed a little guest how to make a piece. Anderson creates striking ceramic bird houses complete with a ceramic leaf for shade.
The Catskill soap Company had containers of Lavender Goats Milk Slather open for trying. Owner Annie Adams said goat’s milk has a large amount of fat content. According to her website, “It’s more than a body cream but not quite a body butter. I started to make this cream as I was tired of buying lotion that burned my hands when they were dry from the winter and from making soap.”
The Canal Towne Emporium, right along the fair street, boasts an almost 200-year-old historic country store that served as a trading post for the D&H Canal. At the fair, the emporium offered a selection of Sullivan County Maple Syrup (“Catskills Comfort”), their own line of fudge, maple sugar candy, and preserves, jellies and relishes made by farms in Pennsylvania and Maryland.
A lot of hard work and planning goes into a trouble-free event. A long-time resident, Deguzman said planning for the fair starts right after the town’s winter fest at the end of January. This is the second year for the present officers. “We’re hoping that we have a routine down and it will go even smoother next year.”
Vendors set up small tents efficiently in their small spaces. The Mamakating Library had an inviting spread of books on the front lawn.
According to a state historic marker, the town was named in honor of Maurice Wurts, who participated in building the Delaware and Hudson Canal in the late 1800s.
DeGuzman is proud of her town and wants passersby to know it. “I'd just like people to get a little taste of Wurtsboro.” The street fair offered a scrumptious way to enjoy this nice small town.
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