The New York Susquehanna & Western heading north along the Delaware River to “The Gap” owners, the facility was renamed Camp Karamac, and Fairview House became Karamac Hotel. In 1924, the hotel accommodated 100 visitors at $15.00 per week each, and a round trip ticket from New York City on the NYS&W cost $3.59. The rail line discontinued service to Pennsylvania in 1940, however, and today this one mile stretch of the abandoned NYS&W rail bed forms Karamac Trail. M uch of this article came from member Harold Fredericks . During our membership meeting in November, Harold entertained us with his "Surprises of a 1924 Vacation". When in your lifetime have you ever had a chance to hear a centenarian tell about the NY Susquehanna and Western Railroad in 1924? It was great! Harold Fredericks, a NYSWTHS lifetime member turned 101 this summer. In fact, during the show, which he recited from memory, he hesitated for a minute and proclaimed,” I am sorry, I am not as sharp as I was at 100!” Harold’s talk was about a young man who went on a train trip from New York City to the Karamac Inn by the Delaware Water Gap. Sadly the inn is no more and the tracks are abandoned. But gladly the railroad beds were turned into rail-trails used by hikers, bikers and equestrians. Harold Fredericks was born on August 19th in Oak Ridge, NJ. His father was the railroad station agent in Oak Ridge and his mother was the postmistress. When he turned 5, he walked ½ mile to his one room grammar school. When he was older, he rode a bus for 10 miles each way to attend Butler High School. After graduating from college in 1937, he pursued a career as an engineer for a conduit manufacturing plant in Orangeburg, NY. Married in 1940, Harold and his wife Alice raised and educated two children as well as built their own house in Pearl River, NY. Having grown up in Oak Ridge when his father was the station agent for the NY Susquehanna & Western RR, Harold developed a love of railroads and came to know their history well. The picture at the right was taken during the meeting with Harold Seated in the center. Left to right, Gus Aversa, Harold Fredericks, Chris Cotty. In the rear, Martin DenBleyker, Nick Zisa, Les Coleman and Victor Zolinsky. 4 With the coming of the railroad to “The Gap” the tourism industry flourished and some amazing resorts were built. Above is a post card from the Kittatinny Hotel in Delaware Water Gap, Pa.
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