Putnam Historian Offering Limited-Edition Gifts

The Putnam County Historian’s Office has released a holiday gift guide with two limited edition items direct from the Archives, gifts sure to please any fan of local history.

“The 1829 David H. Burr map of Dutchess and Putnam counties is a really unique gift idea,” says Melinda Miller of the Historian’s Office.  “It is based on the oldest original map in our collection and it is a beautiful piece of local history!”

The color print map of the counties of Dutchess and Putnam features town lines by color, stage roads, county roads, villages, post office, flouring mills, manufacturers, forges, marble quarries, sawmills, and churches. The New York and Albany railroad lines, lakes, creeks, ponds, and mountain areas are included on the map, as well as a 1300-foot high notation at Sugar Loaf Hill in Philipstown.

The original map, now secured in the Putnam County Archives, was digitized by The Highland Studio, a family owned and operated business in Cold Spring, New York.  “They are our go-to in Putnam County for the highest quality scanning and professional treatment of our important and sometimes fragile maps and images,” says Miller.

In 2020, a limited number of 24 x 36-inch reprints were authorized by Putnam County Clerk Michael Bartolotti who is also the Records Management Officer and oversees the Archives.  Large format printing was executed by another family-run Putnam County business, Millennium Printing & Graphics in Brewster, New York.

The high-quality prints are available this holiday season in black or brown frames for $54.99 and available for pick up and by appointment only at the Historian’s Office, located at 68 Marvin Avenue in Brewster, NY.  Prints can be ordered for $29.99 (includes first class USPS shipping).

For those looking for a smaller sized gift, the limited edition of the Collaborative History of Putnam County, New York is a great resource book for new and old county residents alike. This hard cover book, produced by the Putnam County government to celebrate the County’s 200^th birthday in 2012, contains over 375 pages of local history.  It is on sale this holiday season for $25.00 (includes USPS media mail shipping).

“The nice thing about this holiday offering is that proceeds to the map sales go to preservation efforts for the Historian’s Collection and historic marker restoration throughout Putnam County,” says Miller.   “We’re happy to offer a unique, safe and socially distanced gift buying opportunity this holiday season.”

Please note there are limited quantities and it is first come, first served by cash, check or money order payable to Putnam County Historian’s Office.

For more information contact the Historian’s Office at 845-808-1420 or email historian@putnamcountyny.gov.