The Claryville Reformed Church lies between two mountains on the edge of the Catskill Preserve. Claryville also has a preserved one-room schoolhouse museum, the collection at the Claryville Art Center, and the Russian Mule Brewery with its kitchen. These places bring together a connection to the landscape, local history, art, and specific opening hours for planning a day out.

A Church Between Mountains

The Claryville Reformed Church was founded in 1849 and has played an important role in the life of the local community for more than 170 years. Its location between two mountains on the edge of the Catskill Preserve connects a tangible sense of place with the history of the area. The two time references emphasize different things: 1849 marks the church’s founding, while its role for more than 170 years highlights its longstanding importance to the community. The church can therefore be understood both through its location and its role in local life.

A Schoolhouse Preserved as It Was in 1956

The one-room schoolhouse museum is next to the fellowship hall of the Claryville Reformed Church and has been preserved exactly as it was when it closed in 1956. Unlike the church, whose role spans more than 170 years, the schoolhouse centers on a clearly defined point in time: its condition at the time of closing. This connection between a historic schoolhouse and a specific point in time makes the history of education a distinct part of a visit. The years mark different reference points: 1849 is the year the church was founded, while 1956 marks the schoolhouse’s closure and the date represented by its preserved condition.

Art at the Claryville Art Center

The Claryville Art Center is a two-story art gallery converted from a barn and large enough to host parties and events. It houses the permanent collection of Russian-born American contemporary artist Alexander Kaletski, including his retrospective “Forty Years in America.” Throughout the year, it also hosts various exhibitions featuring artworks and creations by local artists and artists from the Anna Zorina Gallery. Kaletski’s permanent collection offers a different point of reference from the various exhibitions held throughout the year. If you want to see a particular exhibition, check the current program before planning your visit.

The distinctions are clear when choosing a cultural focus: the church and schoolhouse museum represent religious and educational history, while the Art Center focuses on art collections and exhibitions. This makes it possible to take different cultural interests into account when planning, without presenting the individual places as a single experience.

Russian Mule Brewery Opening Hours

The Russian Mule Brewery in Claryville is open Thursdays and Fridays from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 9 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. The kitchen closes one hour before closing time: at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 5 p.m. on Sunday. Check the opening hours before your visit, as they may change. Compared with the rest of the week, Sunday closing is three hours earlier than on days when the brewery is open until 9 p.m.

Discover more destinations: Wurtsboro, Monticello, Cochecton, Callicoon, Livingston Manor, Liberty, Roscoe, Barryville

For the broader travel overview: Sullivan.