Brewster Folk Artist Brings History Through Music to Hudson Valley

A Brewster musician has taken it upon herself to share her love of Putnam County history through song and poetry with all who will listen.

Delia Raven Stanley-Arrigo, a New York native, organized Saturday's "Folk & Friends Variety Show" as a way to explore the local Hudson Valley history in a unique way. 

Stanley-Arrigo said her intense interest in local history started after moving to a cottage on Old Mine Road. The cottage sits on the site of the Tilly Foster Mine open pit that collapsed in the late 1880s, killing 13 miners. Along with a few other local musicians, she created a band called "Local Folk," and plays songs relating to local Hudson Valley history. 

On Saturday June 28th Stanley-Arrigo and friends will kick off the first of two nights of music, tales and poetry about mines, trains and The Hudson River. They will read and tell stories and old poems from a book called, "The Ballads of Old New York." Stories include that of The Old Leatherman, as well as a collection of Hudson Valley books and some artifacts and minerals that relate to the mine history of the area.

The event will take place at the Freight House Cafe in Mahopac which used to be an old service car for "Old Put." 

Other local musicians to play on Saturday, include lPaul Pi and Drew Dorsey. At the August event, Ray Soto will join the band to play old folk tunes and original music that represent the new folk of the area.

Stanley-Arrigo explained the different examples of music to be played on Saturday: "To represent mining history, we have songs like "Sixteen Tons and Dark as a Dungeon." To speak to our train history, we have "Freight Train, Nine Pound Hammer" and a modern arrangement of "900 Miles." 

One of her favorite songs is a Hudson River specific song called "The River that Flows Both Ways," which she said is a history lesson in itself.

Collaborating with local musicians for shows and projects fuels her fire and love of music and the local arts scene. Stanley-Arrigo plays a regular weekly gig at Croton Creek each Wednesday. 

A true lover and promoter of music and the arts in the local area, Stanley-Arrigo also runs a Facebook page called "Music Mondays" where she shares local musicians' videos and music.

The Folk & Friends Variety Show takes place June 28, 2014 from 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. at The Freight House Cafe, 609 Route 6 in Mahopac. Call (845) 628-1872 for reservations. 

The second event will take place on Saturday, August 23rd, at the same location.