Residents of Downsville knew what was coming soon, in early 1950.
The village had been a “boom town” since all the workers and engineers had come to build the Pepacton Reservoir beginning in 1939. Within about four years, the work force was about to leave for other projects, and the village would take on a slightly different identity.
As seen in the March 2, 1950 edition of The Oneonta Star, with the dateline of Downsville, a question was posed, “Does this village of some 600 inhabitants want to continue its existence as it has for approximately 30 years or do the villagers want to dissolve its incorporation as such?
“This unique situation will be unraveled March 21 when local residents will vote for continuation or dissolution at a special public hearing on this question.
“The public referendum was brought about within the last two weeks when 163 Downsville taxpayers signed a petition demanding that the question be put before the people.
“These citizens and other proponents who favor the village’s dissolution are of the opinion that a Downsville unincorporation will have much lower taxes in the future.
“Village Atty. Francis Paternoster holds the almost opposite viewpoint that taxes will decrease under the new setup very slightly if at all.
“If dissolution is approved, according to Attorney Paternoster, Downsville will come under control of the Town of Colchester and will function as two separate improvement districts.
“Origin of the problem seems to be the location of Pepacton Dam being built by the board of water supply of New York City. The dam, when completed, will have an assessment larger even than the entire Town of Colchester. It lies outside of the Village of Downsville and assessments are now being paid to the town and villagers believe they are deprived of money that would come to them. Operating as districts, a larger amount of the assessment would come back to them and reduce their taxes per capita, they believe.” The dam was completed in 1954 and the flooding completed in 1955.
The debate continued until the votes were cast, and as The Star reported on March 22 the dissolution was approved by a narrow margin. A total of 148 votes were cast, and a two-thirds majority was needed to carry the proposition. Vote for dissolution was 99, and two-thirds of that was 96.6 votes. There were 46 against the dissolution.
“The two incumbent trustees, Harland France and Raymond Dalrymple, were both defeated for re-election. Their successors, elected for one and two years respectively, actually will serve for only six months, when a special election will be necessary to authorize establishment of special districts for management of the village light and water system.” Those elected were Donald Weber and Archibald Campbell to wind down the village business for those final months.
As anticipated after the dam’s completion, many moved away. The high-paying wages ended. As The Walton Reporter asked in its Feb. 4, 1955 edition, “The one big question in the minds of the long-time residents is what will happen to Downsville when the workers, engineers and families move on to their next project. Will it be a ‘Ghost town’? It is my guess because of the territory, and the large body of scenic beauty of the surrounding water, Downsville will become a summer resort. Motels and summer cottages will spring up and the trade from tourists and vacation seekers will keep the little community alive.”
As the present-day Colchester Historical Society laments on its website, “That prophesy has come to pass. One of Downsville’s major sources of income has been from tourism and service to others who visit and pass through our community. The village and township have survived because more than two-thirds of our tax levy is paid by a single property owner, the City of New York. Also now more than half of the property in our town is owned by non-residents.”
Downsville was named after Abel Downs, who arrived in the town of Colchester in 1794. The name replaced the previous one, Shack Port, in 1847.
This weekend, continuing the Catskill-New York City connection, the big city police found a resort in our region more than 100 years ago.