In the early 1800s it was Lemuel Winchell's dream to put Shokan on the Map. He ran a carding mill, a sawmill, a gristmill, and a foundry. His son Peter and grandson Jacob inherited all this when he died in 1827 and helped shape the area for growth. The Esopus Valley with its wildlife filled forests and clear running trout streams was a wonderful place to raise children, so Jacob Winchell went ahead and raised 10 of 'em. Of course he had help from his wife Sally, whose maiden name was Van VelsoNews came that New York City, in its grave need for water, was buying up the whole valley so that a mammoth reservoir could be built. By 1915 the Ashokan Reservoir was completed and the hamlets of Shokan, West Shokan, Olive City, Broadhead Bridge, and Brown's Station were all underwater. It was Henry Elmendorf who had vision enough to see where the center of New Shokan would be. He bought the Town Hall at Brown's Station and moved it up alongside the Dugway(old Rt 28), a stone's throw from a tiny place called Hogsback, NY. He used a flatcar from the Ulster Delaware Railroad to move it part way, then dragged it up the hill with a team of horses to where it sits today. When Henry opened his General Store with its Post Office and Phone Central it revived hope in the areaq and suddenly Shokan was on the map again. Azarias Winchell, who had the area and suddenly Shokan was on the map again. Azarias Wenchell, who had run the store in Old Shokan,later bought Henry out and, with his son Elwyn, continued to sell general merchandise. Elwyn's wife sold hearty soups from her famous "bottomless Pot". There was a movie theater upstairs with a stage for special events, (it's still there). For a stretch in the 1930s there were swing bands every Saturday night. Today, the Ashokan Reservoir is much appreciated for its spectacular view, great hiking and superb fishing. Vistors from all over the country insist there's no place quite like it. At Winchell's Corners you can still browse through two floors of antiques or buy a bowl of solup from the famous "bottomless Pot." excerpts from "Winchell's Corners", History authenticated by Vera Van Steenbergh.