Hobart Village

Hobart Village Hall is located at 80 Cornell Avenue, Hobart NY 13788; phone: 607‑538‑9700.

Incorporated in 1888, formerly know as Waterville and Tinkertown, Hobart today is promoted as "Book Village of the Catskills," its four vintage book stores, unique in a village of such small size and population, less than 400 residents. Hobart's grass-roots development plans are modeled after "Hay-on-Wye," an English book village catering to tourists with more than 30 book shops and other businesses.

Beginnings [1]

• The Mansion House hotel was opened about 1830.
• Charles Whiting built a foundry in 1849.
• The Hobart Agricultural Society was organized in 1876.
• The Hobart Independent Newspaper was established in 1885.
• Village incorporated in 1888.
• First elected village president was Dr. J. S. McNaught.
• First tavern kept by George Foote.
• First physician was Dr. Joshua H. Brett, who was also the first judge to serve in Delaware County.
• Cyrus Beers opened the first store.
• First lawyers were J. B. Spencer and Andrew Beers.
• First postmaster was William Trotter.
• A fire department was organized in 1886, incorporated in 1894 as the Star Hose Company No. 1.
• A creamery was established in 1888 by L.B. Halsey and J. V. Jordan under the name Jordan & Halsey.
• The Union School of Hobart was organized in 1891.

1. David Murray, LL.D., editor, Delaware County New York, History of the Century, 1797-1897, Centennial Celebration, William Clark Publisher, Delhi, N.Y., 1898.