Prattsville

Thick hemlock forests, abundant wildlife, and cool mountain water lured Mohawks and Dutch, English, and German settlers to the area. In the early 1800s, Zadock Pratt, a tanner in nearby Jewett, saw an opportunity and seized it, utilizing 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 which still stand. Not content to rest on his laurels, he went on to become a banker, and, eventually, a U.S. congressman. These days, second-home owners, out-of-towners, and locals enjoy a slow-paced life here. Main Street is lined with Arts and Crafts bungalows, Victorian houses, and Gothic-revival and Greek-revival buildings.