Exhibiting the Pride of Esopus

To Preserve, Interpret and Disseminate
the History of The Town of Esopus

Peter was an ardent supporter of the Klyne Esopus Museum and all things historic. As Trustee and chairman of the Programs and Membership Committees, he insured that we had high quality speakers for the Spring and Fall speakers series. He was always aware that a good speaker’s program brought visitors and new members into the Museum.

Peter was born in Bay Ridge Hospital, Brooklyn, NY on December 17, 1930 to Sarah and Michael McGowan. Peter’s parents had both been born in Ireland, but married in New York City. Peter enjoyed reading, hiking, target shooting, singing, playing bridge, swimming, and all sports. He graduated from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Grammar School, Power Memorial High School, and received a bachelors degree in 1954 from St. Johns University. From 1954 to 1959 he was employed as a NYC policeman. In June of 1960 he graduated from Philip Neri (Boston College) where he studied Latin, French, and Greek. In 1962 he graduated from S. Mary College in Northeast, PA with a bachelors degree Philosophy. From 1964-1966 he attended the Seminary of Mount St. Alphonsus and was ordained a priest there on June 19, 1966. He served at Roman Catholic churches throughout the area for two years and then in 1968 served as priest at Hispanic Dulce Nombre of Jesus in Caguas, Puerto Rico. From 1971 to 1987 he served various parishes in the northeast, including Philadelphia and Boston.

Friend Bea Keyan and her husband Greg visited Peter in Caguas, PR, during his early time there. Services were held on an outdoor field. During the service chickens and animals roamed around, babies were crying, and guitars were being played. Peter’s service went on. During his time in PR, Peter was instrumental in building a fine church there, successfully raising money for the project while on vacation in his home town of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. On the Keyan’s second visit to see Peter in Caguas, they saw the lovely church that had been built with the money Peter had raised, and met many of the parishioners who felt blessed at having Peter there.

Peter’s brother, James, was a detective lieutenant and commanded a police division of the NY Harbor Waterfront Commission. James McGowan was dramatized in the 1975 film, Dog Day Afternoon. He was the lead negotiator in the hostage crisis that was central to the movie. The true story began with a bank robbery that took place in 1972. When Jim’s wife Betty saw the actual news coverage of the incident, she knew Jim would not make it home for her birthday, and he didn’t.James always teased Peter that he was “too soft” of heart to be happy as a police officer. This was true as Peter always saw the best side of people. In addition to his brother, Peter had two sisters, a nurse, Mary (Holmes), olumbia Missouri, and Dorothy (Dorot), a professional model, of Mamoroneck, NY.

Peter left the Redemptorist Order in June of 1987, and moved to Ulster Park where he worked for the Post Office on Saturday, and full-time for Ulster County alternative sentencing. His language skills were put to good use translating for the Ulster and Dutchess County courts.In July of 2006, Peter suffered a stroke, and according to his good friend, Bea Moore, he never complained, but accepted what happened to him gracefully. “He had a beautiful nature.”Peter is buried next to his brother, Jim, at Maple Grove Cemetery, Kew Gardens, NY.

Although he had left the formal priesthood, Peter continued his good work helping those in need, visiting the sick, and those sick in spirit, such as jail inmates on both sides of the river. His reassuring presence is missed by all who worked with him.

Ruth Ford, September 15, 1920 to September 14, 2005

Ruth Monroe Van Demark Ford was born in Kingston on September 15, 1920, the eldest daughter of James Henry Van Demark and Delia Monroe. She grew up on the family farm on Legett Road between High Falls and Stone Ridge. Ruth attended the two-room grade-school in Stone Ridge and graduated from Kingston High School in 1939.

She then studied design at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. It was there that Ruth met Edwin Ford. They were married in January 1942. The Ford's son, Alan, was born on November 3, 1946 following Edwin's discharge from service with the Army Air Corps. They settled in Rockville Center.

In October 1949 Ruth was diagnosed with paralytic polio. She went to the New York State Rehabilitation Hospital in Haverstraw now known as the Helen Hayes Hospital. She was home in 14 months with two leather and steel braces on her legs. Home was an apartment on Van Buren Street in Kingston for a while and then they moved to 58 Valentine Avenue where Ruth and Edwin lived for 50 years.

Ruth joined Edwin in the printing business where she ran the office while Edwin worked the presses. Her design talents honed at the Pratt Institute stood her in good stead. She designed program covers for the Coach House Players, setting up copy with an IBM Selectric typewriter. One of Ruth's major accomplishments was the 200-page book on baptisms and marriages performed at Kingston's Old Dutch Church from 1809 to 1909; all deciphered from the Domines' handwritten records.

In 1968 Ruth read that the 1827 Reformed Church in Ulster Park, the Klyne Esopus Church, was to be razed. The Reformed Church Classis did not want the building to become a factory or residence. Ruth felt strongly that something should be done to save the historic building. She researched the congregation's history and in September of 1968 she wrote an article that appeared in the Ulster County Historical Society's publication The Ulster County Gazette. In March of 1969 Ruth mailed a flyer to many Town of Esopus Residents announcing a meeting to save the church building and create a museum. An enthusiastic group of 30 joined in to save what today is the Klyne Esopus Museum. Ruth became the group's first treasurer and continued with the committee for eight years. Often honored as a founder, she was a life member of the Klyne Esopus Historical Society.

Ruth was also a life member of the Friends of Historic Kingston. She held memberships in the Ulster County Historical Society, the Old Dutch Church Heritage Museum Committee, the Hurley Heritage Society and the Ulster County Genealogy Society. As a member of the Huguenot Historical Society, she was particularly interested in the DuBois and Schoonmaker Family Associations. Following the death of Martin Luther King, she was a member of the Kingston N.A.A.C.P. for eight years. Ruth's vision, energy and love for the Klyne Esopus Museum will be missed.

Mr. Raymond Louis Monfette, November 21, 1931 to March 22,2005

Raymond Louis Monfette, 73, died on March 22 at Thompson House in Rhinebeck. He received his bachelor's degree in education and master's degree in administration from SUNY New Paltz. He was employed by Kingston City Schools for 32 years, first as a teacher and then principal of the Robert Graves School in Port Ewen for seven years until his retirement in 1990. Prior to that he taught in Poughkeepsie for two years.

Mr. Monfette was a US Navy veteran serving during the Korean War and attaining the rank of Yeoman Second Class. He was a member of the greater consistory of St. Remy Reformed Church, past member of the greater consistory of Reformed Church of Port Ewen, and active in fund-raisers for both churches. He was a board member o Port Ewen Library, past member of Port Ewen Little League, former member of Port Ewen Lion's club, served several times as president of Klyne Esopus Museum, was a member of the Town of Esopus American Legion Post No. 1298. He co-founded the School Teachers' Golf League and enjoyed bowling, golf, and reading.

Born November 21, 1931 in Mineola, he was the son of the late Edward and Antoinette Rushford Monfette. Survivors include his wife, Linda Pope Monfette; five daughters, Marliese "Lisa" Brosnan of NY City, Cynthia Whittaker of Glasco, Denice Hasenflue of Stone Ridge, Cherie Hargrove of Ulster Park, and Marion Hornbeck of Denville, NJ; two sisters, Mariette Gorsline of Kingston and Mary Clausen of Highland; a brother Roger Monfette of Massapequa; seven grandchildren; a greate-grandchild; several nieces and nephews. A brother, Guy Monfette, and a sister, Jacqueline Boisvert, died previously. Funeral was held at the Reformed Church of St Remy, Rev. David Brechter officiated.

Our condolences to the family of

• Daniel Francis Patrick "Reo Dan" Leahy

Marion Sahler, July 8, 1912 to December 14, 1957

Marion Sahler was instrumental and involved in almost every facet of the Klyne Esopus Museum's history.

She rallied interest in saving the 1827 church building when it was slated for demolition, helped acquire title for the building, participated in the group that brought the building into useable condition, helped attain approval as a museum from the NYS Education department, and participated in every event with a unique and particular love.

The Klyne Esopus’ Annual Strawberry Festival was among her favorite rituals. For more than 30 years she directed and ran almost every aspect of the event, from shopping for ingredients to baking the hundreds of biscuits (according the “Marion’s Recipe”), slicing and sugaring the strawberries, and overseeing that each and every volunteer did his/her appointed task. It was once calculated that she directed the baking of more than 9000 biscuits.

Marion was a tireless contributor to Board and Membership meetings, in ideas and content as well as refreshments: Marion’s Cake was much loved and anticipated by all.

In addition to the Museum, in which she was a life member, Marion was particularly proud of her family. Her daughter, Irene, and grandsons, Jason, Kevin, and Steven, were always there for her and for Klyne Esopus. The family worked together, to the benefit of all Esopus residents. Our sympathy goes out to all of Marion’s family.

The membership and board will miss Marion, but are comforted in knowing that all her work and dedication will always be appreciated and her life commemorated in the institution she helped to found: The Klyne Esopus Museum.

Last year the board installed a permanent brick with Marion’s name in the museum’s terrace. The board and membership celebrated Marion’s 90th birthday with a party at the museum two years ago. We all recall how pleased she was with the entire affair and the fact that it was held in the building she was so instrumental in preserving.

The following appeared in the Kingston Freeman. Ulster Park—Marion May Sahler, of River Road, died Friday, November 5, 2004, at Kingston Hospital. She was 92. Marion was a member of the Reformed Church of Port Ewen and Ulster Park Grange, a former member of Ulster Park Reformed Church (now the Klyne Esopus Museum), and a founding member of the Klyne Esopus Museum.

Born July 8, 1912, in Phoenicia, she was the daughter of the late Irving R. Krom Sr. and Addie Snyder Krom. Marion’s husband, Abraham Jason Sahler, died December 14, 1957. Survivors include a daughter, Irene Matheson of Ulster Park; a son, Phillip Sahler of Virginia Beach, VA; two sisters, Ethel Paulus and Beatrice Albright, both of Kingston; a brother, Edward Krom of Kingston.A daughter, Jeannette M. Sahler; a son, Terry Sahler; and a brother, Irving Krom, died previously. Services were held at the Keyser and Hamilton Funeral Service in Port Ewen. The Reverend David Brechter officiated and Marion was laid to rest in the Wiltwyck Cemetery, in Kingston.

Other Members who
Passed Away in 2004

Our condolences to the families of

• Joan Burridge

• C. Penny Fulton

• Peter G. Rimmer