As I headed up route 209 I saw a sign for Clayton ‘Peg Leg’ Bates, thinking he was an old baseball player. Turns out he was a famous dancer from the 20’s into the 80’s, originally discovered in Harlem as a teen and proceeded to dance for all the big bands in all the big clubs. He performer on Ed Sullivan 21 times, more than any other tap dancer. Yes, he had a peg leg stemming from a mill accident when he was 12.
His connection with this area of New York State in curious. He establish a resort for blacks in an area normally known for its Jewish clientele. He had to overcome some local hostility but was successful with resort from the mid 60’s through the 80’s
I traveled on the Peg Leg Bates Highway in and out of Kerhonkson. Nice lice of history.