Trip Report to Millerton, Dutchess County New York

The New York State Delorme Atlas shows Millerton way up in the northeast corner of Dutchess County. Nancy heard about it from Jayne Anne at Homecomng Farm. “It’s a little historic village with not many tourists.” We have a few other destinations in mind…the New York State Fair in Syracuse and Rhode Island. A ferry ride across the sound and a two hour ride sounded better.

We were the last car on the Port Jeff Ferry ( and the second last returning). I took the opportunity to take a photo of the New Republic railing and Long Island Sound. Out of Port Jefferson Harbor, the immense power of the ships engines leaves a long contrail behind the boat. Sail and powerboats slowly dissolved as we left Long Island Bluffs. Slowly those bluffs dissolved as the shores of Connecticut appeared. Ferrying is good business. As we departed, a long lineup awaited the next ferry to New York.

Jayne Ann is right. Once we arrived in Millerton, many historic buildings lined Main Street . Nancy booked two nights at the Millerton Inn which is right in the heart of town. Our room had a balcony, king sized bed and old fashioned sink.

We noticed three beautiful churches, no litter, a slower pace, galleries, a bookstore, a diner, a historic train station and old school house, and a huge antique shop.

There was a railroad line that passed through town. Besides the train station, not a real estate agency, the train bed is now a Rail to Trails recreation site. Nancy and walked a mile of this trail which eventually will stretch 43 miles. The trail had several bridges that passed over Webatuck Creek. I was happy to see a charming, clean stream with riffles and pools. The railroad crews had to blasé through two rock ridges to clear the way. The rock layers dipped showing earth’s tectonic movement during the formation of the Appalachian Mountain Range.

I sketched two historic buildings on Main Street. One, called Terni’s sells newspapers, magazines, fishing tackle, and expensive wool shirts. The store has an old fashioned soda fountain. Art Terni is the third generation to own the place. I asked if they sold post cards. They did. I bought the only post cards with the message Hello from Millerton. The pictures  showed a tractor pulling a hay wagon, cows standing in a stream,  s rower in a nearby lake. These rural images remind me that the village of Millerton is not interested in tourism. Here was a village that had no postcards of the many charming historic buildings.

Oakcrest Diner had a line out the door. They were local families with children. We waited on line until we found out there was counter space. Our Burgers were delicious with local grass-fed beef.

Nancy wanted to visit Rogers Bookstore in Hillsdale. The shop was located in the middle of a forest way off the main road. 80 year old Mary Rogers owned and operated this quaint, charming out of the mainstream oasis of booiks. Hundreds and hundreds of used books shelved neatly and labeled. I languished in the nature section and recognized many books I read 30 years ago. There were several visitors a sign that there are good books to be found.

We headed south on Route 7 for Kent, Connecticut. By this time, Nancy and I had visited several used bookstores and by now, we had the “bug”. We visited the Eric Sloane Museum Sloane was an artist and collector of old wooden tools. He considered wooden tools works of art. Many tools in his vast collection are housed in the museum. The museum has replicated his studio.

We booked a room at the Starbuck Inn right in town. Peter Starbuck, proprietor welcomed us. I was impressed with the great living room that had antiques, old books, and a lovely nook with captains chairs, table with snacks, and a bottle of sherry. Our view from here was an expansive lawn and mountain beyond.

The Kent library has a huge used book sale every weekend. It is outdoors and left there during the week having been covered with canvas tarps. Kent has tourists, art galleries, restaurants, and a Train station turned into drug store. Beyond the train station is a bathroom shower facility. Appalachian Trail Hikers stop here to replenish. They pick up packages they’ve mailed to the Kent Post Office and continue their trek north or south.

Our breakfast at Starbucks was exquisite. A table cloth, fruit cup, frittata with bacon, juice and coffee. The Inn is spacious and well appointed. It was easily the best B & B we’ve visited.