From the early pioneering days to the establishment of one of the premier art colonies in the nation, these are the stories of one of America's most famous small towns. Beneath the gentle slopes of Overlook Mountain lies the town of Woodstock, a thriving community of painters, musicians and craftsmen. The town's early history of wintry hardships, courageous settlers and rebellious farmers sets the stage for a saga of spirited and creative personalities. As this energetic individualism carried over into the twentieth century, the sounds of cow horns and tin pails gave way to the bacchanalian revelry of Maverick music festivals and the wailing guitar of Bob Dylan. The first hippie came to town in 1963, and within a few years this Colony of the Arts was swept up by the counterculture movement of the '60s. In this collection of essays from the Historical Society of Woodstock archives, Richard Heppner captures the unique spirit of Woodstock, where "the individual is always welcome and new and creative beginnings are always possible."