PRESS RELEASE
May 30, 2023
Seeking unusual photos of Walnut Mountain House
LIBERTY — The Walnut Mountain House was built in 1887 at the top of Walnut Mountain. Standing five stories high, it provided a broad view of the town of Liberty below and its foundation can still be seen at the summit. The land was purchased by the Town of Liberty in the 1960s and developed into a park. There is a project underway to add an interpretive sign at the foundation site to honor this piece of Liberty history.
In an effort to gather more information about the Mountain House’s history, a search has begun to locate photos which show people who worked there or reveal more about the hotel’s last days. Anyone with a family history connected to the Walnut Mountain House, or with unusual photos is asked to participate in sharing that knowledge. To kick this off, there will be two public sessions at the Liberty Library, 189 N. Main Street: Tuesday June 20 and Thursday June 29 from 5:00 to 6:30 PM. Volunteers, working with the Town of Liberty, will be available to gather these details and scan unusual photographs. To minimize waiting time, persons interested in participating should contact volunteers Ruth Huggler at 845 482 5136 or email rah4088@gmail.com or Lisa Lyons at morganoutdoors@hancock.net to schedule a convenient time. Those not able to attend a session are encouraged to contact one of the volunteers to arrange an alternative. This is a great opportunity to help solve a few mysteries and be part of a community effort.
Photo Caption:
This private family photo of the Walnut Mountain House has only one person identified—William Gerow, a carpenter from Liberty known to have worked on building the hotel.
Media Contact: Ruth Huggler, 845 482 5186
