WURTSBORO — William Wurts was a prominent figure in the formation of the D&H Canal, and now his portrait will be viewable thanks to the Wurts Family.

At last Tuesday night’s meeting, Town of Mamakating supervisor Michael Robbins told of how Assistant Historian for the Town, David Lewis, got ahold of the Wurts Family, who now live in California.

The Wurts Family had come the previous weekend for the bicentennial celebration of the D&H Canal’s groundbreaking and very much enjoyed themselves.

Lewis stated that the family was very impressed with the town and the community they helped to create.

“Back then, that [the D&H Canal] was a big industrial project, forget about Zoning Laws,” Lewis humorously stated, referring to the previously discussed Zoning Amendments that were voted down that evening.

Lewis told of how the portrait traveled between the family’s Florida attic for 30 years to California where it once again went to the attic for 30 years.

“The Canal Committee came into contact with [the wife of] Andrew Wurts whose father was the fourth great grandson of him [William],” stated Lewis. “They decided that Mamakating was the best place for this to be donated and the town graciously accepted it.”

Lewis spoke of how the community was now able to enjoy it and the community they helped create for residents today. Meeting attendees met this gesture with appreciation.

As a show of thanks and admiration, they let out a round of applause.

Lewis confirmed that the portrait was commissioned by a Philadelphia-based portrait  painter who worked on the portrait sometime between 1847 and 1858.