Woodstock NY Question (Saugerties, York, Glen: 2015, house, shop)

[Mike from back east]

Referring to the Woodstock that is near Saugerties, NY.

Within the town of Woodstock there allegedly was an area called "Russell's Corners" which became the subject of several paintings by artist George Ault. See Ault's work at this link, then click this link to the gallery.

I cannot find "Russell's Corners" on google maps and assume it's the old name for an intersection of what were the old roads in the early 1940's. Does anyone know what those street names would be today?

EDIT: 2-23-2015 to add THIS LINK to images since the link on the WaPo page is no longer extant.

[someonelikeyou]

I am very intrigued by your question. I grew up in Woodstock, NY.

I've looked at Ault's work and, for some reason, I keep thinking back to Old Forge Road. This is a small lane that runs alongside the Dutch Reformed Church that stands on the village green.

I attended that church as a child and I have memories of the side exit leading to a small parking lot, and the lane (Old Forge) with similar barns/structures at the end.

I have no idea if this is, indeed, the location, but it keeps creeping into my head.

[rhenning]

The painting of the barns looks like it might have been in the vicinity of the old Wittenberg PO where rhe road from Bearsville intersects the road from Glenford. It is hard to tell since most of the barns that were in Woodstock in the 1940's are now gone and some were even gone by the 1960's and 70's when I started visiting the Woodstock area

[lucy leeman]

To me, the location looks like the corner of Lower Byrdcliffe and Rock City Rd.

The barn on the far side of the street is where Folk Art used to be.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by lucy leeman

To me, the location looks like the corner of Lower Byrdcliffe and Rock City Rd.

The barn on the far side of the street is where Folk Art used to be.

Lucy, thanks, you nailed it. I did a google maps drive by and found THAT white house with the twin dormers right on the edge of the road, as in this painting. How nice that it's still there.

If I did it right, here is the google street photo.

[someonelikeyou]

Yes! That is the place I believe.

I remember going into Folk Art with my mom as a young girl. I wish I could remember the name of the woman who owned it.

[BRIAN MACSHANE]

I grew up in Woodstock in the 60-70s and am pretty sure I know Russells Corners,,They are what used to be (before rte 375 was straightened) the magnificent (for driving) ess curves just passed Maverick Rd. on rte 375 ending about where Tischler dental is today Several red barns were precariously just there to stop you if you got out of the racing line. These barns were burned (some say by the racers-who knows) in I believe the 80s AND THEY WERE KNOWN AS THE RUSSELL BARNS-Owned by the ussell family. Thanks B MacShane

[PhantomEngineer]

Yes Lucy you are correct that is the location: Rock City Road and Lower Byrdcliffe. However he has shifted the buildings around a little. He has also adjusted the angles from which you see some of these buildings. One of those buildings (the red one next to the white barn--an old blacksmith shop) has been torn down. See "George Ault: The Woodstock Years" by Eila Kokkinen, Woodstock Art Association, 2001.

[FXDeRosa]

I went to the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco today to view the Exhibition, "Cult of the Machine" and saw George Ault's "Daylight at Russell's Corners" and "Bright Light at Russell's Corners". Quite distinctive paintings that leave a powerful impression. I went researching Russell's Corners in Woodstock and came across your thread. Thank you for locating it! I also found a post from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art with an article, "Greetings from Russell's Corners on George Copeland's Birthday" dated Oct 11, 2017. The author also located the site of the paintings as Lower Byrdcliffe Road and Rock City Road in Woodstock. Here's a link to the article:
https://crystalbridges.org/blog/gree...ults-birthday/

[Mike from back east]

FXDeRosa, welcome to City-Data and thanks for the updated info and new links.

That old white house by the road still stands and is exactly the sort of old building my wife and I love to visit, along with old defunct mental institutions, hospitals, train stations and the like. Key for us is OLD places, rich in history and architectural touches like pocket doors, amazing woodwork, and other touches. I'm a sucker for history.