1924

1924

It all started with Laura Talmage Huyck, who, after witnessing the devastation of World War I, opened her home for something radical at the time: honest conversation.

She called them “Country Forums on Human Relations,” and students from across the globe came to this quiet corner of the Hilltowns to ask a big question —

how do we live together in peace?

Country on forum relations

A detailed map of Rensselaerville village from 1854, showing streets, property plots, landmarks, and buildings with labels, originating from a survey by Jay Gould of Roxbury, New York.
A sepia-toned photograph of a large, two-story house with porch and dormer windows, surrounded by grass and trees, with handwritten notes on the right side and the word "OUTLOOK" printed at the bottom.

1963

1963

Fast forward a few decades. Laura’s daughter Katharine and her husband P.L. Elmore teamed up with friends Winifred and Everett Clinchy to bring the forums back to life.

They created the Institute on Man and Science and donated their family estates to establish our 100-acre campus. Suddenly, this hillside was buzzing with world leaders, scientists, and thinkers, all gathering in Rensselaerville to tackle humanity’s biggest questions.

The institute on man and Science

A vintage poster titled 'The Institute On Man and Science' featuring four black-and-white photographs of buildings and outdoor scenes, with a small illustration of a human head in the top left corner.
A black and white photo of a classroom or conference room with a teacher or presenter standing at the blackboard, pointing at it, while several adults are seated around a large U-shaped table, listening or taking notes.

1970

1970

Building on that momentum, the campus became home to the Rensselaerville Institute, often called “the think tank with muddy boots.” The Institute was known for blending big ideas with on-the-ground action working with communities, schools, and nonprofits to turn innovation into practical change.

Rensselaerville Institute

Black and white newspaper page with the headline "Rensselaerville Institute Opens New Residence". The page features three photographs of different rooms in the new residence: a main floor lounge with a table and chairs, a manager's apartment with a brick fireplace and furniture, and an outdoor view of the residence building. The text describes the furnishings, decor, and features of the residence.
Interior view of an auditorium or lecture hall with rows of cushioned seats, wooden walls, and ceiling with exposed beams and hanging lights.
A man with a mustache wearing a white shirt and beige pants standing in a classroom or office setting with multiple old computer monitors, paperwork, and a whiteboard in the background.
A young boy with blonde hair wearing a beige shirt and striped pants stands on a stone wall in front of a wood-shingled house with large windows, surrounded by trees and a manicured lawn.

2012

2012

Carey Institute for Global Good

In 2012, philanthropist Bill Carey set his sights on rekindling that same spirit of inquiry. Although Bill passed away before completing the purchase, his family and the W. P. Carey Foundation carried the vision forward, securing the campus and fueling its future.

Their mission echoed Laura’s original impulse: create a place where curiosity, ideas, and community can spark meaningful change.

Hot air balloon with a phoenix design in black, orange, and yellow flying over a grassy field with trees and a large house in the background.
Outdoor gathering at a house with people socializing, sitting at tables, and standing on the deck during daytime.
A large white event tent illuminated from inside, set up outdoors on a grassy area under a starry night sky, with trees on the left side.
Panel discussion at the Carey Institute, with six people seated at a long table on stage, and an audience watching. A banner reads 'Carey Institute for Global Good'.

2025

2025

Hilltown Commons

We’re still asking questions — big ones, small ones, half-formed ones, and the ones that don’t have answers yet. And we believe the best place to start is by coming together.


At Hilltown Commons, curiosity is the common ground: whether through workshops, retreats, community events, or residencies, we welcome a diversity of voices and perspectives that keep our conversations alive. Nearly a century on, we continue the tradition of gathering to learn, imagine, and grow — together.

Three people sitting on chairs in a panel discussion. The woman on the right is speaking into a microphone, the woman in the middle is listening, and the man on the left is holding a microphone in his lap.
A group of people standing outdoors in front of a house, holding a colorful sign that reads 'HILLTOWN COMMONS' with a sun, mountains, and flowers painted on it, under a blue sky with clouds.
Four people hanging laundry to dry outdoors on a clothesline, smiling and enjoying a sunny day.