The Ramapo Mountain People

I love the fact that the written completed extensive research and wrote from a perspective of knowledge.

I am finding the book fascinating! I am doing genealogy research on my great-grand mother who is from this area and the information is in-valuable! I saw the book in a library and decided to order it, but was told it might be out-of-print! Thankfully, not!

This is not the book by David Cohen I read in the library. This one is totally different and upsetting.

While some things in this book are based on truth, it's really not that accurate. Some people who were interviewed are not exactly family members and some were so smitten to be interviewed, they gave untrue answers and stories. I was very young, but I remember when this author was doing interviews. " Real " family members would not speak with him or be interviewed. I don't even know the people in the book and I'm pratically related to everyone in Hillburn and Mahwah. Ringwood, on the other hand, is entirely different and could have told this author anything.

Love it! It does however smell musty, but that is a minor inconvenience.

Excellent.

I was brought up and worked with Ramapough Mountain People. Many of them had high cheekbones and yellowish tan skin. In fact, I had a classmate who looked totally Indian. There definitely is Indian blood in them. So after reading this book, I could not believe all that I read even with the research. There was something else missing. I gave the book to my brother. Apparently, one of the characters mentioned worked for him. He smiled when he recognized his picture. And that is how we remember the "Ramapo Mountain People". One was my brother's team mate on the Hillside Boys Club. I so wish they had gotten their casino on Stag Hill. With the view of New York City it would have been magnificent.

The Ramapo Mountain People is an excellent history of the people residing in an area bordering the NY/NJ State line within the Ramapo Mountains. The interviews give an indepth perspective of how this group view and classify themselves, as well as how outside influences have changed their way of life over the years. Covered are the controversies surrounding the origin of these people, and how they have come to live in the Mountains for almost 250 years alongside the Dutch and local Indians. Often referred to as "Jackson Whites", the subject of racism between themselves and outsiders (black and white) as well as within their own community, is well covered. The writers have done extensive research into this subject, and have given the reader an excellent insight to a community that has, for the most part, been left to their own devices by the outside world. Genealogies for the most common families are provided, and thought provoking arguments as to the exact nationality of the Mountain People is discussed. A wonderful source of information for all aspects of the lives for those known as Ramapo Mountain People.