BETHEL – The No Trespassing signs are up, but carloads of hippies continue to pour in to Max Yasgur's old homestead, anticipating a three day alternative Woodstock celebration.

Roy Howard and his wife, Jeryl Abramson, who own the land about a mile from the field where A Day in the Garden concerts begin today, insist they're not hosting a party.

"There is nothing happening here," Howard said yesterday, referring to a Woodstock bash. He did say there will be a political rally at the farm tomorrow.

As for the people already camped out on the farm, in nearby woods and on the front lawn of a house on the property?

"Guests," is what Howard calls them.

"There are some people here, but they are just guests of my tenant's and guests of mine," Howard said. "I am not charging, vending or soliciting anyone."

Several people camping on the tenant's lawn said yesterday that they believe between 250 and 300 people are now camping on the property where Yasgur once lived.

One camper, Brett Williams, even made laminated passes which say "Yasgur Farm Reunion and Peace Rally." He's selling them for $5 each and giving the proceeds to Howard for legal costs. He's raised $1,000 so far.

Williams said he made the passes on his own, on his home computer.

"Howard had nothing to do with me making these," he said.

He and another man, Bill Burke, said they chose to camp at Yasgur's farm because the people illustrate the real spirit of Woodstock.

"They desecrated the original site," Williams said.

"This is a friendly gathering," Burke said. "We've got to keep this alive."
But Howard and Abramson said they didn't invite anyone to their farm this year.

"I don't know how many people are coming here and I have no control over who's coming," Abramson said yesterday. "This happens every year."

Howard posted the signs Wednesday night in compliance with a court-ordered permanent injunction Town of Bethel officials secured against him in June. The injunction was sought after a crowd of 1,500 assembled on Howard's farm last year to celebrate Woodstock. At the time, Howard had no mass gathering permit or other licenses in place to host the crowd.

The permanent injunction forbids Howard from having a concert, festival, musical event or any other event in violation of the town code.

Howard put up the signs after he received a hand-delivered memo from Bethel officials reminding him the permanent injunction still stood.

The letter was sent after Bethel officials noticed advertising for a political rally tomorrow at Yasgur's farm on Howard's Web site.

Howard said yesterday that the rally is still on. It's being organized by his lawyer, Michael Sussman, in protest of what he and Howard call favoritism by town officials to A Day in the Garden promoters.

Bethel officials said they don't know what they'll do if the rally takes place.

The Times Herald-Record Print Edition
Copyright August, 1998,
Orange County Publications, a division of Ottaway Newspapers
all rights reserved.