If you listen closely, the sounds of the Rondout Valley form a mosaic. They buzz, echo, hum, ring and sing the valley's history.
Marbletown Church Bells A lost sound?Clarions have replaced the ringing of bells in many churches, but early residents can still remember when the bells used to ring. Since we visited the Marbletown Reformed Church in April 2007, we have learned that the bells are being rung again on Sunday mornings. Evelyn Civill, Stone Ridge, Recorded May 2007. Robert Van Wagenen, Lomontville, Recorded June 2005. Ron Mapstone, Stone Ridge, Recorded April 2007. All recorded by the Sound and Story Project.
Amphibian Chorus One of the first signs of spring is the trilling of the Eastern Gray Treefrog. Van Wagenen Lane Lomontville, NY Recorded April 2007 by the Sound and Story Project
Crop Duster If you live near on of the valley's cornfields, this may be a familiar sound to you.
Black birds Singing Imagine an ensemble of small black birds tuning their instruments, or eating, until the conductor motions and in synchrony they begin the concerto, or take flight. Eileen McAdam recorded, what she describes as hundreds of small black birds in a meadow in Stone Ridge, March 2009, for the Sound and Story Project.
Bats Chat Listen to these local bats congregate in caves in Rosendale. Recorded by Jim Metzner for the Sound and Story Project.
Cow Cafeteria Cows and calves anticipating their breakfast at 5:30 in the morning. Recorded by Eileen McAdam at the Brooks and Sons dairy farm in Stone Ridge, NY, for the Sound and Story Project. Cattle Call Waiting in line for their breakfast cows perform a call and response. Recorded by Eileen McAdam at the Brooks and Sons dairy farm in Stone Ridge, NY, for the Sound and Story Project. Cacophonous Cows Listen as calves graze outside the barn. Recorded by Eileen McAdam at the Brooks and Sons dairy farm in Stone Ridge, NY, for the Sound and Story Project. Dairy Dance Listen to the dairy industry work. Recorded by Eileen McAdam at the Brooks and Sons dairy farm in Stone Ridge, NY, for the Sound and Story Project.
Photo of cows in front of the New Paltz Creamery (1930-1933), courtesy of Hudson River Valley Heritage.
