On January 1, 1982, Dr. Sidney Forman, the Historian for the Town of Highlands at the time, published a book called ‘Hudson Highlands Hill People’.

It was a short essay on the Hill People of this region of the Hudson Valley, specifically Cornwall, West Point, Highland Falls, Fort Montgomery and Bear Mountain, and included some vintage photos. It is 18 pages long.

One has to wonder if Dr. Forman, a Fort Montgomery resident who died in 1992, could have imagined that in September 2024, two dozen or so people would be sitting in the American Legion Hall in Highland Falls going through his little book.

That did indeed happen, at last week’s Sit & Chat local history group meeting. Hosted by Agnes Saffoury and sponsored by The Center of Highland Falls, the session started with Saffoury noting that, from reading the book, she just recently learned she is a descendant of those ‘Hill People’.

“I was shocked,” she said, and pointed to some research that her niece, Ruthie Marcolina, who was also at the gathering, had found that probably means quite a few local residents may find out, or already know, they are too.

Who were the Hill People?
Literally, they were small encampments of people who, for a variety of reasons, lived “up in the hills” above what is now the Towns of Highlands and Cornwall.

“They were independent people who lived off the land,” Saffoury said. “Some were fleeing the law, some were living in poverty, some were hiding, some were immigrants, and some were considered ruffians.”

But, she said, it appears many were happy with their lifestyles, working as hunters and trappers, charcoal makers and woodcutters, who made money by selling their goods to those in the established communities. They also came to get goods and services in the towns and villages, and, in the case of some, even went to church on occasion there.

“But for the most part, they were not assimilated with the general population. Many had a cow and chickens, and grew their own foods,” she continued. “The lucky ones lived in log cabins, others lived in shanties made of sod, tree bark and limbs. It was not unusual for one family to live in one room.”

She called their lifestyle a “harsh” one, and spoke about how the children growing up in that environment helped sustain them by gathering chestnuts, hickory nuts, cranberries and wild cherries for food. The families ate fish they caught, as well as small game, like rabbits and partridges.

Using Dr. Forman’s book as her guide, she noted how the Hill People first showed up in history in the census after the American Revolution, and said that the ‘land grabs’ by the state and federal government are what likely pushed those living in the hills down into developed areas.

Saffoury and the group spent some time during the session talking about how much of the history from the Hill People, and others, is due solely to “oral history” because decades ago, people didn’t necessarily have the time, or even ability, to write down their family story. They also discussed how the term ‘family’ took on a greater meaning at times, with one’s fellow church-goers known as family, school friends became like family. “People were blessed back then by more than just biological families,” Saffoury said, adding that is a lucky thing to find in modern day America.

From the audience, Bobbi Fallon suggested that those who haven’t read them pick up current Highlands Historian Ronnie Coffey’s local history books. Saffoury agreed, and also said if some are interested, she will see about getting more copies of Dr. Forman’s book printed.

Also from the audience, Pharoby Ripa, who noted she didn’t grow up here, but “married one of those Hill People descendants”, says that while not too much is known about them, “they had grit; I admire them”.

So, what are some of the last names of the local Hill People families that were found? Familiar community names like Pavek, O’Dell, Cox, Dillon, Gibney, Smith, Clark, Redner, Curry, Gee, Lewis, Carpenter, McLellan, Zint, Diller, Weyant, Vanzo, Potter, Goodsell, Lafurge and Adolf.

Sit & Chat will meet again in October and November, at 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month at the American Legion Hall. Upcoming speakers include women’s contributions to the community (October 2) and long-time families and their contributions (November 6). Saffoury also asked if anyone had interest in her trying to find a Native American speaker to talk about that history in the Highlands. There was; stay tuned!