ANDES - A little-known chapter of New York’s rural history will be brought to life on Friday, Feb. 6, when Calico Rebellion, a documentary examining the 19th-century Anti-Rent War, is screened at the Andes Presbyterian Church.
The film recounts the grassroots resistance mounted by tenant farmers in the Hudson and Catskill regions against the remnants of the feudal land-lease system, a conflict that reshaped property law and political power in New York State. Through archival material and contemporary voices, the documentary traces how ordinary residents, often disguised in calico gowns, challenged entrenched landlords and the legal system that supported them.
The screening will begin at 7 p.m. at the church, located at 71 Delaware Avenue. A snow date has been set for Friday, Feb. 13.
Following the film, audience members will be invited to participate in a discussion and question-and-answer session with the filmmakers and individuals featured in the documentary. A reception will follow.
A suggested donation of $20 will be accepted at the door, though organizers emphasized that attendees may contribute what they wish and that no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
The event offers both a historical reckoning and a community conversation, connecting past struggles over land and power.
