A current exhibit at the Sullivan County Historical Society is “A History of Sullivan County Farms” created by SCHS board member and volunteer, Fred Fries.  The exhibits contain many farm artifacts and pictures donated by Fred.  The background barn siding wall is even from a building on his property.  Many of the pictures are from the Livingston Manor – Shandelee parts of Sullivan County. 

Borscht Belt, or Jewish Alps, is a colloquial term for the (now mostly defunct) summer resorts of the Catskill Mountains in parts of Sullivan, Orange and Ulster counties in upstate New York. Borscht, a soup associated with immigrants from eastern Europe, was a euphemistic way of saying "Jewish". These resorts were a popular vacation spot for New York City Jews between the 1920s and the 1970s.[1] Beginning in the 1980s the growth of air travel made the Catskills less attractive. Most Borscht Belt resorts hosted traveling Jewish comedians and musicians, and many who later became famous began their careers there.

When the colony that is now New York State established its first twelve counties in 1683, the present Sullivan County was part of Ulster County. In 1809, Sullivan County was split from Ulster County.

In the late 19th century, the Industrial Revolution and the advent of factories driven by water power along the streams and rivers led to an increase in population attracted to the jobs. Hamlets enlarged into towns. 

Lifestyle and Household furniture and neccesaties have changed a lot since the days the county was formed.

This Exhibit will show what the typical home life was like with displays of Furniture, stoves, clothing and what home life was like for the average resident of Sullivan County over the year.

In celebration of spring, 2013, the Sullivan County Historical Society has on display in the downstairs foyer glass case a collection of ladies' hats. Each of these ladies' head-dressea represents different historical eras; the earliest hat being dated as far back as 1845.

This exhibit has been created by the SCHS Museum's Exhibit Director Sharon Thorpe. With each hat style representing a particular era, Sharon, through the exhibit, challenges visitors to accurately guess the era which each particular hat represents.

As always, the SCHS Musuem is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., and on Sundays from 1 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.