Village Life ...

Rhinebeck is one of the few remaining villages in the Mid-Hudson region. People can and do walk to school, church, the market, the hospital, restaurants or just to town to sit on a bench and watch the traffic and tourists. During warm weather youngsters, oldsters and tourists vie for space on the benches especially after school is out. Sundays it's a pleasure to wander over to the farmer's market to check out the produce, see who else is there, and lust after the pasteries.

Most houses in the Historic District have porches but not many are used these days. Some folks do, to read the paper, a book, or just to watch the traffic go by and to wave to whomever. Television and automobiles seem to have made porches obsolete even though many new homes once again have them. Are they ever used? Just for decoration perhaps?

Not much in the way of work here. Hasn't been for years. The estates, directly or indirectly, were once the primary employers. Also we once were the "violet capitol" of the world and many back yards sported one or more greenhouses. In more modern times The IBM (as the Old Man called it) provided employment for the region and many worked either in Poughkeepsie or across the river in Kingston.

The people of Rhinebeck are an interesting mixture of long time natives with roots back to colonial times, transient professionals (some who stay), retirees, weekenders and summer people. The natives descend either from the original landed gentry or their tenants.

Rhinebeck, NY ... Back to first page.