Prattsville

Thick hemlock forests, abundant wildlife, and cool mountain water lured the Mohawk and Dutch, English, and German settlers to this area. In the early 1800s, Zadock Pratt, a tanner in nearby Jewett, saw an opportunity and seized it, using the tannin from the trees to establish a tannery that yielded $500,000 in profits by 1825. To celebrate his success, Pratt built 100 Federal-style buildings in the area, forming Prattsville; 80 of them still stand. Not content to rest on his laurels, Pratt went on to become a banker, and, eventually, a U.S. congressman. These days, second-home owners, out-of-towners, and locals enjoy the slow-paced life here. Main Street is lined with Arts and Crafts bungalows, Victorian houses, and Gothic Revival and Greek Revival buildings.