About the Author

Pamela Kuhlmann, a postcard collector for many years, has an avid interest in local history. Born and raised in the town of Wawarsing, she has been employed by the Ellenville Central School District as an elementary school teacher for more than 20 years.

Reviews

Title: Bookmarks: Local authors Author: Staff Writer Publisher: Times Herald-Record Date: 10/25/09
Title: 'Postcard History Series: Wawarsing'
Author: Pamela Kuhlmann, a native of Wawarsing in Ulster County, put her collection of postcards in a book so that the rich history of the town could be enjoyed by all. Her mother, Carolyn Kuhlmann, also contributed her postcards to the project.
Occupation: Kuhlmann is a first-grade teacher at Ellenville Elementary School.
How long did it take to write the book: Kuhlmann wrote the book last summer. She has been an avid post card collector for 30 years. Her first postcard was found in an attic inside an old suitcase that belong to her great-grandmother. It was of the flower gardens on Center Street in Ellenville. It was at a postcard show where she found out about Arcadia Publishing and its book project using postcards to tell the history of a town.
What was the best piece of information she found: Kuhlmann actually found out two facts she didn't already know through her research. She wasn't aware that "meenahga" is the Native American word for blueberries. Mount Meenahga was a hotel/resort for vacationers, and the mountain location always had an abundance of blueberries.
The second fact came from her friend Rickey Caruso's great-aunt Alice of Pennsylvania. Now in her 90s, Alice used to live in Ulster Heights, a hamlet in the Town of Warwarsing. When Kuhlmann brought her cards to Alice, she was able to provide more information about the original Wyndmere boardinghouse, which burned July 6, 1909. Alice said the fire was caused by someone's throwing firecrackers under the porch. Kuhlmann found the New York Times article dated July 7, 1909, that confirmed Alice's memory. The damage was estimated at $35,000 at the time. A new Wyndmere was built later.
"I've dragged postcards in for years ... if you live here, this is the school you would have gone to."
Advice to new collectors: "It's important to me because my families been here for hundreds of years on both sides. I think it's important what came first ... and how it evolved into what it is today. If you are interested in it, go for it. I knew my cards, so I didn't have to do a lot of research.
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Price: $21.99
Availability: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, eBay, limited supplies locally at Peter's Market and Matthew's Pharmacy and Ellenville Library.