Las Villas of Plattekill and Ulster County - (Images of America) by Ismael Martinez Jr (Paperback)

About the Book

This is the first comprehensive historical restrospective on Las Villas of Plattekill and Ulster County ever written. Ulster County was first settled in 1652 and officially became a county in 1683. Its rural nature, scenic beauty, and the Catskill Mountains have made it a popular vacation destination since the 19th century. Describedin numerous news article as the Spanish Alps, Las Villas, as they were collectively known, was a lively enclave of Spanish, Puerto Rican, and other Hispanic summer resorts in Plattekill, New York, and the Catskill Mountains. Starting in the 1920s and for the next 60 years, the area became the most popular vacation destination for Latinos in the Northeast, with an emphasis on music, food, language and customs. -- from cover.

Book Synopsis

This is the first comprehensive historical retrospective on Las Villas of Plattekill and Ulster County ever written. Ulster County was first settled in 1652 and officially became a county in 1683. Its rural nature, scenic beauty, and the Catskill Mountains have made it a popular vacation destination since the 19th century. Described in numerous news articles as the Spanish Alps, Las Villas, as they were collectively known, was a lively enclave of Spanish, Puerto Rican, and other Hispanic summer resorts in Plattekill, New York, and the Catskill Mountains. Starting in the 1920s and for the next 60 years, the area became the most popular vacation destination for Latinos in the Northeast, with an emphasis on music, food, language, and customs.

About the Author

Ismael "Ish" Martinez Jr. is a freelance writer who was raised and worked at his parents' villa in this community of Spanish resorts. He has extensive personal knowledge and experience of the history and culture of Las Villas. He has obtained many never before published photographs from the Plattekill Historical Society, his own family's collection, and many private and public sources. The author of the book's foreword is Tito Puente Jr., son of Tito Puente, who was a well-known Latin mambo musician and celebrity of his day.