Katsbaan, New York facts for kids
Katsbaan is a small community, also known as a hamlet, located in the town of Saugerties. It's in Ulster County, New York, in the United States. You can find Katsbaan north of the village of Saugerties and south of Catskill.
This hamlet has a long history, going back at least to the time of the American Revolution. Its unique name, Katsbaan, has an interesting story behind it.
Contents
What Does Katsbaan Mean?
The name "Katsbaan" comes from a Dutch word that means "tennis court." When early Dutch visitors came to this area, they saw native Iroquois people playing a game. This game was lacrosse, but the Dutch thought it looked a lot like tennis. So, they called the place "Kaatsbaan."
How Katsbaan Named the Catskill Mountains
The name "Katsbaan" is also connected to how the famous Catskill Mountains got their name. In Dutch, players on a "kaatsbaan" were called "kaatsers." North of Katsbaan, there's a stream (which the Dutch called a "kill"). This stream was originally known as "Kaatsers kill." Today, we call it Kaaterskill Creek. This creek then gave its name to the mountains where it begins.
Early Settlers and the Stone Church
Katsbaan was settled by Dutch farmers and German Palatines even before the year 1730. By 1732, the land was given to the Dutch Reformed Church.
The Historic Stone Church
Around that time, a stone church was built in Katsbaan. This church was so well-known that it was used as an important landmark on maps from Colonial America. Amazingly, this historic stone church still stands in Katsbaan today!
