Good almost-Spring to
all,
It is Annual Report
time again. About 100 of you are receiving this by email; another fifty
are receiving the paper copy via regular mail. (Even the expired
subscriptions receive this issue.)
I
trust late-winter is finding all in good health. The flu struck early, and
then was not a major factor, except for the few of you who suffered
through it. And the winter, that had been a typical winter until
mid-January, gave new meaning to an old-fashioned winter. For those of you
who stayed in the area, you get a gold star.
I have forgotten now what the groundhog prognosticated for the
winter but I vote that we listen to a different groundhog next year. All
of us in the Greenville area became imparters of old-time winter lore, no
matter our age. February 2015 was the coldest February that most of us
have ever lived through. But mid-March is flexing a little muscle and soon
we will be raking lawns. On to non-weather.
For
the first time ever (1989 on), we had no share sessions this year!
However,
we managed to sneak in a few minutes most meetings for ideas waiting to be
shared. And, in fact, we have taken a couple of what would been share
session topics and made them regular programs.
The
2014 programs included:
==>
Freehold Airport
history, with Clem and Rita Hoovler (April)
==> Mary and Allyn
Shaw’s Medical Mysteries (May)
==> 40 Years of St.
Patrick’s Day Parades (May)
==> Pine Lake Manor and
our boarding house history (June)
==> Chuck D’Imperio’s
Upstate NY Little Known Museums (July)
==> Photo slide
presentation of the lesser known corners of the town (August)
==> General stores –
John I’s, Grapeville General (September)
==> GLHG 2015 Calendar
presentation (October)
==> Walter Ingalls
Reminiscing (November)
Included
in the newsletter were several other significant pieces
==> Robert Archer material
==> St Patrick’s Day
material
==> Recipes and tonics
from the Shaw Medical Mysteries
==> Russell Lewis’s
Eagle Scout Project – historical marker
==> GCS dedication article
(from Lew Knott)
==> A few photos in most
issues
Again,
feedback about 2014’s programs seemed overwhelmingly positive and worthy
of replication. I have used some of your ideas for programs, and am always
appreciative of your whispering to me an idea or two.
And,
certainly worth repeating, an appreciative thank you goes to Stephanie and
Christine for providing the “light refreshments.”
A
highlight of 2014 was the production of the 2015
calendar. As always, I
hope that the 50-75 hours of effort results in a practical historical
artifact that shows a range of
hamlets, of time periods, of new and old acquisitions, of seasons, and of
buildings and people.
Final
figures for sales of the 2015 calendar replicated those of 2014—the
calendar broke even, with a few dollars to spare. Whew.
We
thank the community spots that hosted our calendar—Tops, Kelly’s
Pharmacy, the Library, and GNH. Town Clerk Jackie Park kept a display copy
to remind her travelers-through where to purchase a copy; thank you,
Jackie.
When
our margin is so close, every sale counts. In addition, I must note that
over 40% of our sales happens in Kelly’s. I dare to say that without
Kelly’s, we might not produce a calendar.
This
past year found us in a different and welcome financial situation. With
the contributions from Russell Lewis’s Eagle Scout project and from the
Connie Teator memorial contributions, we were in the favorable spot of
almost funding the calendar from the beginning. For a number of years, I
have fronted the money, and hoped to break even, causing a bit of stress
and concern about the viability of the calendar. For now, optimism reigns.
The
2016 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 before I make final decisions.
Our
2016 recognition was decided by our most recent vote. So, the 2016 GLHG
calendar will recognize Mary Heisinger. Thank you all for your help in
this choice, and congratulations to Mary.
My
scanner was busy this past year, with several hundred pictures added to
the archives. I am currently scanning a few hundred photos from the
O’Hara collection from O’Hara’s Corners, some of which will be the
basis for the upcoming program.
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, as well as the two years previous.
The
contents of the Historian’s Files are also linked on the web page.
One
topic that has taken a back seat for a while is the boarding house
project. I have managed to add a few pieces to it; it begs for much more
time. (I should also note that Mary Lou Nahas has a Facebook page about
Town of Durham boarding houses—Boarding Houses, Hotels and Resorts in Durham
NY—that is a delight to scroll through. And worth a program sometime.)
I
had another project or two to delve into this winter but my list was
longer than I thought, and prepping for Italy has consumed a chunk of
time, all of it welcome.
And,
of course, keeping track of the paper documents while knowing where the
photos are is a constant challenge.
I
won’t repeat my list from last year, but I always encourage people to
work on some project. If you need ideas, or have an idea, let me know.
Membership has grown
the past three years, most of it because of the digital age, with nearly
one hundred email subscribers, and growing.
Attendance
at meetings this past year varied from 15 to 60. Those of you who were
regular attendees in the “old” days remember an average of 15 or so.
This
year’s schedule is mostly set, and shown below. I have not been able to
definitely fill September and November yet, was growing a little antsy
about it, but, after considering three or four good leads and
possibilities, I am enjoying the anticipation of filling them as summer
arrives. Whatever we cannot fit in this year schedule might be able to
wait until next year. Of course, if you can think of other ideas, let me
know.
We will continue to
meet the second Monday of the month, at 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
For now, the tentative schedule is:
==>
April:
a Wednesday (April 8), a
combined meeting with the Civil War Round Table, the 150th
anniversary of the end of the war (the third time our two groups have
joined forces). Peter Lindemann will talk about With
High Hopes for the Future: Lincoln in 1865
==>
May:
sorry, but no meeting. Deb and I will be practicing our Italian; if
someone has an idea, let me know real soon. Otherwise, we will suspend our
meetings for May.
==>
June:
O’Hara family history, O’Hara’s Corners history, led by Peter and
John O’Hara
==>
July:
Main Street, Greenville; with help some “old” Main Street regulars
==>
August:
Greenville slide show #4 (with Greenville Library), a continuation of the
July Main Street program
==> September:
waiting for a decision
==>
October:
2016 calendar presentation
==>
November:
waiting for a decision
Note:
Remember to support other area local history groups.
The
Cairo Historical Society has been active the past few years, and is
seeking support for their proposed museum. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nygreen2/cairo_historical_society.htm
will take you to their
web site.
Mary
Lou and Nick Nahas have done a nice job for Town of Durham, especially Oak
Hill, material. Mary Lou’s Facebook page was mentioned above.
Of
course, there is the Greene County Historical Society that I know several
of you are members of. (gchistory.org will take you to that website.)
And
I enjoy the Mountain Top Historical Society’s offerings, especially
since I see the Escarpment from my back porch every time I look out my
kitchen window. (mths.org is their website.)
My
apologies for leaving out others but these are the four that garner my
attention most closely.
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, 1506 means your paid subscription expires in June 2015.)
(Ignore this paragraph is you use only the electronic method only.)
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.
A
few of you receive both email and paper.
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:
==>
Included
are photos from scans I have taken this past year or two.
==> I
stay in touch with a few members who cannot attend the meetings but would
like to be remembered. Among them are Rosemary Lambert (my Gayhead person)
and June Clark (one of the original members).
==> One
more note: The Civil War Round Table, under Mary Heisinger’s leadership,
meets the second Wednesday of every month, and we are part of the April
meeting.
I
hope to see you at the April 8 (Wednesday,
7:30 pm) meeting with the CWRT.
Until
then, take care.
|