History of Saugerties NY: From Tanneries to Tourism

Early Settlement: Dutch Roots

Saugerties' history begins with Dutch settlement in the early 17th century. The name "Saugerties" is believed to derive from the Dutch "Zaagertjes," meaning "little sawyers" — a reference to the early sawmill operations along the Esopus Creek that drew European settlers to this stretch of the Hudson River valley.

The Industrial 19th Century

Saugerties reached its industrial peak in the 19th century, driven by several overlapping industries that took advantage of the town's water power, river access, and natural resources:

• Tanning: The Catskill Mountains' abundant hemlock forests provided the tannin needed to cure leather, making Saugerties and the surrounding region a major center of the American tanning industry. The smell of the tanneries was reportedly overwhelming — and the business was lucrative.
• Bluestone quarrying: The region's distinctive bluestone — a fine-grained sandstone quarried from hillside outcroppings — was used to pave the sidewalks of New York City and other eastern cities. Saugerties was a major quarrying and shipping center.
• Brick manufacturing: The Hudson River Valley's clay-rich banks supported numerous brickworks that supplied building materials for New York City's explosive 19th-century growth.
• Paper manufacturing: Mills along the Esopus Creek converted wood pulp into paper, adding another industrial thread to the town's economy.

The Hudson River School

While Saugerties' industries boomed, its landscapes were simultaneously being celebrated by the Hudson River School of painters — America's first major artistic movement. The dramatic scenery of the Catskill Mountains, as seen from the Hudson Valley, became famous worldwide through paintings by Thomas Cole, Frederic Church, and their contemporaries. This artistic legacy would prove more enduring than the industries.

20th Century Transition

As tanning, quarrying, and manufacturing declined in the early 20th century, Saugerties evolved into a quieter residential and agricultural community. The town's physical fabric — its Victorian architecture, historic churches, and working waterfront — survived the transition largely intact, preserving a built environment that would later attract artists and cultural refugees from the cities.

The Arts and Tourism Renaissance

From the mid-20th century onward, Saugerties began attracting artists, musicians, and creative professionals drawn by affordable housing, natural beauty, and the cultural magnetism of nearby Woodstock. Today, the town balances its authentic working-community identity with a growing role as a Hudson Valley destination — embodying the best of what the region has to offer to both residents and visitors.