Catskill flyfishing legend celebrates 108 years young

By Jameson Barrera | Manor Ink

Agnes Van Put of Livingston Manor has turned 108 years old. She celebrated her birthday on Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center Museum Pavilion along with 58 family members and close friends. For her party this year, there were homemade dishes brought by guests who came from as far as Long Island, New Jersey and Vermont to help her celebrate.

Ms. Van Put is famous for her homemade cookies and especially for her soups, which she has been ladling out at the Museum every April 1, the traditional Opening Day of the region’s flyfishing season, for the past 40 years.

Agnes’ friend Joan Wulff was guest at the party. “She’s there for you in all aspects of life,” Wulff explained. “When I first met her, we had just opened the flyfishing school, and she immediately said, ‘I want to bake some cookies for the school.’ So every Friday night before we started, she had cookies. Back then I was traveling a lot with my husband, Lee Wulff, and she said, ‘Would you like me to stay in your house while you’re away?’ And so she did that for us for many years.”

Ms. Van Put credits the clean air of the Catskills, as well as a positive attitude, for her long life. She advises young people, “Be friendly. Never go around grouchy. Stay happy. I always try to do that.”