Cascade Brook:  Cascade Brook is a Catskill Mountain stream known by three different names.

Some maps, as well as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, refer to this Esopus Creek tributary as the Giant Ledge Stream, perhaps since it’s not far from DEC’s Giant Ledge Trailhead.  Yet the United States Geological Survey (USGS) once maintained a gaging station here.  Station number 01362192 was online from 2001 through 2009 and referred to this brook as the Panther Mountain Tributary.  However, Ulster County may have the proper name of all three.

Following the historic Hurricane Irene, the county built a new bridge over this often minuscule trickle after angry stream flows washed out UC 47 creating a chasm some seventy-five feet across and fifty feet deep.  On that bridge Ulster County placed a memorial plaque referring to this stream as Cascade Brook and this name has historical significance.  The plaque is in memory of Steve F. Fischer, an Ulster County native and employee of the county Department of Public Works.

Richard Lionel De Lisser, in his turn-of-the-century book Picturesque Ulster, included photos of an Esopus Creek tributary he called Cascade Brook, but specific details of its location were lacking.  Essentially the black and white photos depict various waterfalls.  One such waterfall, perhaps Blossom Falls, is located immediately below UC 47.  Another falls, the one pictured in the painting below is located some two-to-three-hundred yards upstream of UC 47.  So perchance this stream is appropriately named after all.

As if three different steam names aren’t enough, some Oliverea locals also refer to this general locale as Crazy Nels.

Cascade Brook, second falls, 14x11: