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Good mid-winter to
all,
I trust mid-winter is
finding all in good health. I have forgotten now what the groundhog
prognosticated for the rest of winter but I vote that we no longer consult
the 2014 groundhog, not after our spells of snow and cold weather,
prompting more than one of us to hearken back to winters past.
This annual
report—a look back at 2013 and a look ahead to 2014—is emailed to
those who have shared email addresses. Otherwise, everyone else is
receiving the “hard” copy. More about electronic vs paper later.
We started the year
with a share session, finished with a half of a share session, and snuck
in a few sharing minutes during a couple meetings in between. For the
second year in a row, we generally hewed to a program schedule—a trend
that is likely to continue unless we have a few researchers whose findings
must be heard more regularly. Otherwise, I will try to organize a program
that might assimilate what might have been a “normal” share topic. So,
I have now shared my waffling about what to do with share sessions.
The 2013 programs included: a trip to Baumann’s Brookside for
boarding house history (May); Chuck D’Imperio regaling us with upstate
history (June); a combined meeting with the Civil War Round Table to meet
General and Mrs. Grant (July); the second Greenville history slide show
(August); an interview of Roberta Roe (September); the 2014 GLHG Calendar
presentation (October); and selection of our calendar recognition
(November).
Included in the newsletter were several other significant pieces:
Mary and Allyn Shaw’s showing of antique appliances (a crowd favorite);
Harriett Rasmussen’s list of genealogy folders; Con Baumann’s history
of Baumann’s Brookside; Kathy Kieffer’s donation of postcards to the
files; our support of Russell Lewis’s Eagle Scout project
(re-establishing a long lost historical marker); the Jessie Van Vechten
Vedder award; and Phyllis Beechert’s regular contribution of brochures,
flyers, etc., to the files. And a whole list of smaller topics could fill
a half page.
Again, feedback about last year’s programs seemed overwhelmingly
positive and worthy of replication. I have used some of your ideas for
programs, and am always appreciative of your sharing of program ideas.
And, certainly worth repeating, a thank
you goes to Stephanie and Christine for undertaking the
refreshments.
A highlight of 2013
was the production of the 2014 calendar. After a calendar-less 2013, I
promised to dedicate the 50-70 hours needed, an effort made worthwhile by
the final product. The 2014 calendar shows a range of hamlets, of time
periods, of new and old acquisitions, of seasons, and of buildings and
people; another dozen topics that show off Greenville are now part of our
public collection.
The
2014 calendar sales was satisfying. After the final tally in mid-January,
and with a contribution earlier in the year, we finally broke even for the
calendar’s printing cost. Whew. I think this was the first time in a
long time. A thank you goes to the community spots who hosted
calendars—Tops, GNH, Town Clerk (a first, and thanks, Jackie), Kelly’s
Pharmacy (a first time there, and the best-selling spot by far), the
Library (the anchor of dependable sales), Read and Read Again (another
first time), and Hilltown Agway (thank you, Stephanie, for taking care of
the northern end). All the help was most appreciated.
The
2015 calendar is in the works, with the photo selection mostly done, and a
good chunk of the research started. If you have an idea of a photo we
should use, let me know.
Our
November voting for the 2015 recognition settled unexpectedly, again—the
second consecutive vote ending in a tie. Thus, the calendar will recognize
both choices. And, drumroll…., the selections for 2015 are Pat and Dave
Elsbree, and Richard Ferriolo. Thank you all for your help in this choice.
The boarding house
project has loomed large in my local history work. A link to my website (www.dteator.com)
and then to (Greenville Boarding Houses) will show a page listing all the
“resorts” I can find evidence for; almost all have a separate link—a
couple pages reasonably full, several pages beginning to blossom, and a
whole bunch with boilerplate info. If you have info for any of them, feel
free to pass it along. I’ll be taking time at one meeting to show off
the overview and the new work. (I could devote this year’s efforts to
this topic and probably make a dent; however, too many other pesky but
worthwhile topics are grabbing my attention.)
My
scanner was busy this past year, with several hundred pictures added to
the archives. I need to find an efficient way to meld the old negative
numbers with a system that keeps track of electronic photos. And this is
also a lesson about preservation, one that might be worth a program.
Also
available on my website are all of last year’s local history group
newsletters.
And
online, but not specifically intended for GLHG attention, is a project I
took on in Dec 2012. The GCS After-School Enrichment program invited me to
contribute, and I led a Local History class, once a month, an hour long,
for six months for about eight students. Some of the content is on my home
page.
And,
of course, keeping track of the paper documents while knowing where the
photos is a constant challenge.
(A repeat idea from
last year’s newsletter.) One hope is that the long stretch of winter has
allowed, and allows, for some work on local history projects to be shared
during the coming year, and there are many ways to contribute. One useful
way is to preserve some piece of Greenville’s history. This may happen
by the saving of an artifact or knick-knack; however, the part that is
tougher to save is the collection of memories and stories.
In
the past, I have urged you to audiotape or write your memories of
Greenville people, events, and places. Although daunting at first, this
recording becomes more and more useful with the continual adding of
sources. And, whatever method you choose to share our local history, it is
appreciated here. Below, I have listed, by example, possible topics.
==>
write up your own family history, dates, stories, related material
==> write about a person in the community (even better, write on
a regular basis, for yourself, our newsletter, or community newspaper)
==> write up a community event that is just a memory, or write
up a community event that is current but worth noting now while the
information is there. Examples:
==> Greene County Firemen Parades;
==> the Hot Air Balloon fest;
==> the snow drags at Balsam Shade;
==> the Greenville Drive-In;
==> GCS musicals; GCS graduation programs;
==> a GCS class history;
==> Memorial Day parades;
==> Eagle Scouts in Greenville;
==> winter storms;
==> floods;
==> an organization (Kiwanis, C of C, Rotary, IOOF, Knights of
Pythias, etc.)
==> a genealogy of a Greenville family
==> a house history
==> a street history (who lived where, during a certain time)
==> last of the dirt roads
==> technological changes
==> the pond area, and dredgings
==> mom & pop stores
==> indexing obituaries – loose/in newspaper
==> indexing main stories in Greenville Locals on file
==> re-reading a year, or two, or decade of the Greenville Local
and present an overview
==> make a photo album – you choose the topic
==> history of a school house
==> a waterway in the Town
==> politics of a selected era
==> budgets (of town, or school)
and I could keep adding another twenty quite easily but I will spare you
for now.
Our membership numbers, well…, I used to add meeting attendees
with newsletter subscribers and come up with a number. That result usually
numbered in the 65-75 range. However, the availability to view the
newsletter on line, or to receive them by email, is increasing that
number, and I cannot really tell to what degree. Increasing the
“member” number further still are the attendees who came out for one
or two of the summer programs. My best guess, for now, is we have nearly
seventy-five of you “hard core” followers of the GLHG while another
seventy-five check us out occasionally.
Attendance
varied greatly, with about ten in April, to nearly seventy in August, with
an average of 30-35 from May to August.
This year’s schedule is almost set, with only a couple
half-months available (and I still had three or four more good ideas that
will have to wait until 2015). If you think of other ideas, or think we
should be trying other things, let me know.
For
now, the tentative (and some not so tentative) schedule is:
April:
Town of Greenville Aviation (Freehold Airport)
May: Mary’s Mysteries, St. Patrick’s Day Parades
June: Pine Lake Manor (meet there)
July: Chuck D’Imperio (Presentation #2)
August: Greenville slide show #3 (Gr. Library)
September: John I’s store, and other area general stores
October: calendar presentation (room for a short topic, perhaps
Rotary)
November: 2015 recognitions (room for a short topic)
I am not used to
having the whole year laid out in front of me. As usual, your feedback
helps my planning.
We will continue our second Monday of the month, Large Community
Room,
7:30
schedule (I heard nothing about starting a
half-hour earlier. If you like the idea, let me know, and we could
consider that for next year.)
A few notes about
subscriptions.
==> Email
newsletters: No cost. And
forward as you desire.
==> Web site viewing: No
cost.
==> Mailed newsletters:
To cover postage, envelopes, and paper, ten
dollars ($10) will keep a paper copy of the newsletter coming to your
address for a year (usually April – November, plus the annual report).
On the address label, the four digit number above your name gives
expiration info. The first two digits is the year, the next two digits is
the month. (So, 1406 means your paid subscription expires in June 2014.)
Anyone
wanting to start or to renew a mailed subscription should send $10 for a
year (if by check, made out to Don Teator): 3979 Rt 67, Freehold NY 12431.
Also, if your address label needs changing, let me know. In
addition to my address, I can be reached at 518-634-2397, and, for the
computer literate, I can be emailed at dteator@gmail.com.
Although
I am not espousing any one of these methods of keeping up to date, I will
not be offended if you choose the electronic route, especially if it is
easier, better, and/or more economical for you; and the content will be
the same, (I will continue to print a paper copy for my records)
Other quick notes:
Ed
Volmar recently gave me a tour of the Potter Hollow Schoolhouse and the
work that has been done to make it a community resource. Foundations have
been bolstered, siding has been painted, windows have been protected, some
landscaping has made access easier, and Ed is acting as a facilitator for
the project. Richard Ferriolo has shepherded this project for years, and
finally progress is visible with the efforts of the Greenville Education
Foundation and with the assistance of area businesses and able volunteers.
This project could use more help; if interested, let me know.
A
sewer in Greenville, mentioned in last year’s annual report, is a year
closer to reality. When it happens, a wise historian will note the
near-future changes that are bound to happen.
And
last year, I mentioned the new zoning ordinance was taking shape. For a
while a half-year ago, it appeared a quite radical ordinance was going to
be rammed down our throats. It still might be but wiser heads have
hesitated and may be looking for a more intelligent solution. The proposed
document was so poorly drafted that a different town is mentioned a dozen
times where Greenville’s name should have been. The Gang of Six
(self-selected, no public input) that was going to foist this ill-advised
“improvement” upon Greenville knew how to copy and paste but forgot to
edit, and, in my mind, forgot about what is good for all of Greenville.
(Excuse my open opposition but seldom have I seen such a lack of public
input and poor leadership on a major Greenville issue as this one.)
On
a much more pleasant note, there is the prospect of the former gasoline
station property on the four corners blossoming into an aesthetically
pleasing business. I believe Brian Wickes and Tom Briggs are responsible
for this new venture, and I wish it, and them, the best. Brian has
contacted me about the use of some historic photos for the interior, and
it finally seems that one focal point for travelers entering Greenville
will be commendably upgraded
One more note: The
Civil War Round Table, under Mary Heisinger’s leadership, meets the
second Wednesday of every month. The March 12 meeting features Harrison
Hunt who will talk about the Company C 74th NY Volunteers. And
on April 9th, Steve Trimm, a guide at Grant Cottage, will
portray General Grant and talk about the Cottage.
I hope to see you at
the April 14th share session (2nd Monday of April; 7:30
pm). Instead of opening with a share
session, we will host Clem Hoovler who will talk about the Freehold
Airport and aviation in general in Greene County.
Until then, take care.
Don
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