Kinderhook is the birthplace of Martin Van Buren*, also where Tony Soprano dispatched his cousin in a mercy hit. Not much here to see except an extraordinary rock shop run by an extraordinary man - Donald Fisher, New York State Paleontologist emeritus. As much a museum as a shop. Dr. Fisher was kind enough to open his shop for me and chat for about an hour about, what else, mineralogy and New York geology, gossip about common acquaintances (Steve Chamberlain and Vandall King), lament the closing or petering out of nearly all the NY collecting localities (Powers Farm, ZCA, Hastings Farm,Alden Creek, Middleville, Ellenville, Kerhonkson,....). He also straightened my out on some misconceptions I had about NY geology, some of which appear in my postings about Chenango County. Dr. Fisher is author of a very readable book about the geology of the Taconic Mountains (pictured). Buy the book*! It's super. A most enjoyable outing.
*aka Old Kinderhook, shortened to OK, as in okay
The fossil tracks are real. The coelophysis is the only known New York dinosaur - 3m long, 39 kg
*"The Rise And Fall Of The Taconic Mountains - A Geological History of Eastern New York" Donald W. Fisher with Steven L. Nightingale, 2006, Black Dome Press (www.blackdomepress.com)
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