The decade after WWII changed Saugerties. The bright prospects that the Thruway brought shook its confidence to the core.

Its focus had turned toward Kingston. Just as in its early history, it depended on the attention of a powerful corporate neighbor.

Saugerties embraced a new identity as a subordinate neighborhood. Housing developments, a doubling population and massive investments in schools and public facilities were all made to commit its future to that of IBM.

Saugerties' traditional values and its legacy identity were hollowed out. In its new role the century-old estates and mills were blocked from its mind.

Then IBM left. Confused, Saugerties couldn't shake the illusion it had created, and continued to justify its purpose by identifying itself in the many amenities it had created to support that lost function.

Institutional Saugerties forgot that for better then a century before it was self sufficient. It still today continues to ignore the significance of its history, thinking history prevents it from being competitive.

Yet everything considered attractive today was historically here, entirely supported by seasoned managers and active owners of a long line of businesses that guided Saugerties success from within.

There is scarcely anything that can prepare one for comprehending what functioned as commerce, society, intellectual exchange and capital in the history of Saugerties in today's Saugerties. The only thing that comes close is what is today branded a “Silicone Valley”. But even the liberality and booming aspect of that image doesn't compare to the inspirational story hidden in the mists of Saugerties' past.

This is the information every citizen and visitor needs for that story to once again be known as the true history and identity of Saugerties.