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Post by Nalkarj on May 22, 2017 15:30:15 GMT
Now, this isn't paranormal, and it may even be cruel to Oniontowners to put it here (for which I would apologize), but I can think of no other place to put it: Has anyone here heard of Oniontown, NY? A fascinating story of a small community that, as this Vice article puts it, "...seem[s|] forsaken." |
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Post by BATouttaheck on May 23, 2017 0:14:29 GMT
Now, this isn't paranormal, and it may even be cruel to Oniontowners to put it here (for which I would apologize), but I can think of no other place to put it: Has anyone here heard of Oniontown, NY? A fascinating story of a small community that, as this Vice article puts it, "...seem[s|] forsaken." Interesting article. Paranormal seems as good a place as any for it. Might make a good film. |
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wanton87
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Post by wanton87 on May 23, 2017 5:16:26 GMT
Interesting article. I worked with a guy that was from upstate New York. It’s basically two different states; New York City, and all the rest of New York. I’ve known of a few towns that fit this profile. I also remember my father telling me that there was a hobo town near the railroad tracks by where his cousin used to live. They would actually go down there and visit, and no one harmed them. The article kind of reminded me of some of the real life characters from Phil Garlington’s book; Rancho Costa Nada: The Dirt Cheap Desert Homestead. theava.com/03/1203-costanada.html |
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Post by Nalkarj on May 23, 2017 20:54:19 GMT
Thanks, fellas.
Bat, I agree completely that it'd make a good film. I'm intending on writing a (fictional) story with that kind of backdrop one of these days. It reminded me, for one, of a few of Lovecraft's early tales, in which he was more interested in Old New England folklore (a favorite subject of mine too) than in creating an organized mythos.
Wanton, I'm originally from New York, and I agree with what your co-worker said, except that I'd say that Long Island's a third state making up "New York." It has enough of a different feel from both Upstate and the City, especially when you get out of Nassau County and into the real heart of Suffolk. While I know of a few hobo towns, the story--and the whole idea of this community--has a kind of a surreal feel to it. I'm sure the Oniontowners just want to be left alone and would never dream of wanting to intrude on their prerogative here, but--well!--it all seems a bit eerie to me. Not the people, per se, but how unconnected it is from the surrounding area (and world), and how deep-rooted the stories about it are.
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Post by BATouttaheck on May 23, 2017 22:40:14 GMT
Difficult part to imagine a town like this being a veritable stone's throw from NYC. This place is easier to picture in the stereotypical "Back country of the Ozarks" or "Out West in the Hills somewhere" scenereo. The inhabitants were probably doing the best they could with what they had until intruders found it "fun" to come and bother them. Wonder if any of the "intruders" told them words to the effect of "If you don't like us, why not just ignore us !"  |
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wanton87
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Post by wanton87 on May 24, 2017 4:49:43 GMT
Thanks, fellas. Bat, I agree completely that it'd make a good film. I'm intending on writing a (fictional) story with that kind of backdrop one of these days. It reminded me, for one, of a few of Lovecraft's early tales, in which he was more interested in Old New England folklore (a favorite subject of mine too) than in creating an organized mythos. Wanton, I'm originally from New York, and I agree with what your co-worker said, except that I'd say that Long Island's a third state making up "New York." It has enough of a different feel from both Upstate and the City, especially when you get out of Nassau County and into the real heart of Suffolk. While I know of a few hobo towns, the story--and the whole idea of this community--has a kind of a surreal feel to it. I'm sure the Oniontowners just want to be left alone and would never dream of wanting to intrude on their prerogative here, but--well!--it all seems a bit eerie to me. Not the people, per se, but how unconnected it is from the surrounding area (and world), and how deep-rooted the stories about it are. I suppose that’s probably true of most people living in such areas Salzmank. You see a lot of towns like this in northern CA, particularly north eastern CA, that are quite removed from society. Towns that look like they were forgotten by time, and have changed very little since the 19th century, many with their one room churches and schools still standing. Towns like Madeline or Litchfield, are good examples. Very remote, and 40+ miles from anything.
www.ghosttowns.com/states/ca/madeline.html |
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wanton87
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Post by wanton87 on May 24, 2017 17:30:14 GMT
Slightly off topic Salzmank, but I thought that I might add that 15 miles from the tiny burg of Litchfield (Pop 195) lies Susanville CA. Susanville was the birth town of Frank Cady, also known as storekeeper Sam Drucker from Green Acres and Petticoat Junction. |
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Post by xystophoros on Jun 5, 2017 17:46:54 GMT
This article is exaggerated to the point of malice, but it contains some truths. I was a staff writer at the regional daily newspaper covering Dutchess and Ulster counties for seven years, and one night I had to drive out to Dover Plains after hearing chatter about a double murder on the scanner. IIRC some guy had killed his wife and one of his children. The next day my editor sent me back out there again to find some people to speak to about the murders. You know -- small town, murders don't happen here, that sort of thing. NO ONE WOULD TALK TO ME. No one. Finally I find a trucker who's heading through town. He didn't know about the murder and wasn't local, so he didn't have much to say, but he invited me to tag along with him to the local hick bar, where townies would be in spades. This place was like walking into the 1960s -- a dingy, dimly lit little dive bar with a row of old men on the stools and a salty female bartender, everyone getting drunk at 2 in the afternoon. I ordered a beer, sat down next to my new trucker friend, and tried to make small talk. Keep in mind I'm in a fucking tie, dress shirt, etc., and these guys are all in filthy wifebeaters or flannel. I'm a down-stater with an audibly different accent, driving a Honda Accord in a town where no one drives anything but trucks, asking them about a murder in their town. I tried to ask the bartender and she shut me down promptly and rudely. Half the others wouldn't even acknowledge me. I finished my beer and left. What the article does not say is that Dover is right on the border with Connecticut -- it's not exactly isolated. Also, Dover borders Millbrook, which is home to the country estates of investment bankers and celebrities like Robert Deniro. There are also day camps up there that host city kids for fresh air programs during the summer. I know the state police investigator, Eric Schaeffer, who warned people to stay out of Oniontown, and the quote is legit since it tracks back to the Daily Freeman, a newspaper across the Hudson in Kingston, Ulster County. This abandoned women's school, Bennett College, is also nearby in Millbrook and it's exactly the sort of abandoned, run-down place people love to photograph: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_College_(New_York)To give you an idea of what kind of place this is, there are still two drive-in movie theaters operating in the area, including this one: www.overlookdrivein.com/ |
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Post by Nalkarj on Jun 5, 2017 22:54:46 GMT
Thanks for the information, xystophoros , and for the great story. Much appreciated. One question, though: did you go to "Oniontown" proper, or Dover Plains in general? |
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Post by RiP, IMDb on Jun 19, 2017 4:21:57 GMT
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Post by Nalkarj on Jun 19, 2017 15:12:23 GMT
RiP, IMDbBolinas sounds fascinating, Rip. Thanks for letting us know about it. It does strike me, though, that it's less secluded than Oniontown. I mean, the town has a Wikipedia page, and there's a picture of its main street, with a cafe. There's also a museum, apparently. Still an interesting place to "get away from civilization," it seems.
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Post by hi224 on Jun 26, 2017 7:20:47 GMT
Now, this isn't paranormal, and it may even be cruel to Oniontowners to put it here (for which I would apologize), but I can think of no other place to put it: Has anyone here heard of Oniontown, NY? A fascinating story of a small community that, as this Vice article puts it, "...seem[s|] forsaken." such a weird story. |
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jessica
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Post by jessica on Jul 31, 2017 7:07:04 GMT
That was an interesting read,that could be a good idea for a movie.I actually live in upstate new york and always have and i never knew about oniontown.
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Post by Nalkarj on Aug 1, 2017 22:53:06 GMT
That was an interesting read,that could be a good idea for a movie.I actually live in upstate new york and always have and i never knew about oniontown. Thanks, Jessica. I was born on Long Island and (I think) know the whole of New York State very well, and I'd never heard of it either. And welcome to the boards! |
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camimac
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Post by camimac on Aug 1, 2017 22:57:30 GMT
Is Oniontown, NY a real place or is it just passed the outskirts of Garlic Ville? Or, Durian City? Or, the Twilight Zone? |
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Post by Nalkarj on Aug 1, 2017 23:09:44 GMT
Is Oniontown, NY a real place or is it just past the outskirts of Garlic Ville? Or, Durian City? Or, the Twilight Zone? Amusing! It's a real place, but less a town than simply a census-designated place. Still, I could definitely see Rod Serling saying this introduction: |
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Post by hi224 on Aug 2, 2017 7:29:38 GMT
Is Oniontown, NY a real place or is it just past the outskirts of Garlic Ville? Or, Durian City? Or, the Twilight Zone? Amusing! It's a real place, but less a town than simply a census-designated place. Still, I could definitely see Rod Serling saying this introduction: it could be a good place for a tv show actually lol. |
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Post by taylorfirst1 on Sept 25, 2017 21:47:33 GMT
NalkarjOMG, Salzmank! I so wish I had discovered this thread sooner. I was born and raised in Amenia NY which is about 5 miles north of Dover up Route 22. For most of my time there, Oniontown was a punchline. Many of the men around town delighted in making jokes about Oniontown. For the most part my family and I only went to Dover to go to the movies because it was the closest theater to our home (after the drive-in in Amenia closed) or to go to highschool sporting events when our team played Dover. I only remember a few times when we had occasion to drive past Oniontown but we always tried to get a good look without ever stopping. The article you linked is certainly exaggerated but Oniontown does exist and it is a very unusual place. I left that area in the late 1980's and would love to see what Oniontown is like today. I may have to look up some of the youtube videos.
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