In the summer of 1931, Jerome and Josephine Gibbs launched a weekly magazine in Woodstock called The Overlook. Priced at 15 cents, it featured first-person essays, cultural commentary, poetry, advertisements, and reports on timely happenings. A seasonal publication aimed at tourists and passersby, it provided a platform for artists summering in Woodstock to reflect on the community’s cultural landscape.
When our steering committee set out to name this publication, they turned to Woodstock historian Richard Heppner to better understand what came before. This led to poring over old editions of the original magazine. While it wasn’t focused on journalism per se—it was a cultural chronicle, amplifying strong voices and thoughtful observations.
Today, The Overlook carries that same spirit of storytelling but with a distinct mission: we are a weekly news publication dedicated to covering news and culture across six towns—Hunter, Hurley, Olive, Saugerties, Shandaken, and Woodstock. Unlike the seasonal magazine of the past, we are committed to delivering consistent, in-depth reporting on the issues that shape our communities year-round.
Much has changed 93 years on. In the former magazine’s second weekly issue, from June, 1931, in a column titled “From the Editor’s Scrapbasket,” the editors reflected: “The first issue off our minds, it was a job to get over the feeling of relief and start work on this second number.” How relatable.
Some updates:
- Subscribers will now receive The Overlook’s weekly newsletter on Friday mornings.
- We are expanding our team of independent journalists to provide more coverage of our six towns. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do so [here].
- As part of our commitment to transparency, we will publish individual profiles of each candidate running for town supervisor in the coming weeks, offering voters a closer look at their platforms, experience, and vision.
- Candidates running for town board positions will be invited to participate in a group discussion, ensuring a fair and balanced forum for their ideas and policies.
Our mission remains clear: to provide the communities we serve with meaningful, well-reported journalism that informs and engages.
Noah Eckstein
Editor-in-Chief
Send correspondence to noah@theoverlooknews.com.
Featured illustration by Matteo Farinella.