Off and On

As typical, remembering to post to the blog is not my forte. So many things have been taking place in the last month that I don't know where to begin.

I have been talking quite extensively with Pasty Costello of the Hyde Park Historical Society. Her knowledge of Hyde Park, past and present, is significant and I hope to be working with them more in the next few weeks. I understand that there is a file full of photos that need to be archived and I hope to help with that effort.

Last week I spoke with Steven Mann and Stephanie Mauri at the Dutchess County Historical Society. In talking with them, I got a understanding of Hyde Park and Staatsburg as it relates to Dutchess County. They have also are willing to provide support and put me in touch with their members. I look forward to this association.

Finally, this past Saturday was my first day at the Hyde Park Farmers Market. I will now be spending my Saturday mornings meeting and talking with people there instead of at the Library. This will be a much more public way of connecting with the community.

Memories of the Past

There are times in your life when you relive a moment that has long been forgotten. This happen last week for me at a meeting of the Hyde Park Historical Society. I was attending the meeting to give a short talk about my efforts with the Hyde Park Visual History Project.

Before I spoke, Vicky Goldman of the local Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter gave a presentation. Hearing her speak brought me back to a moment, when at the age of 11, I received an award from the DAR for a paper I wrote on George Washington. The ceremony took place at an old church in Green Bay with tradition wood paneling and a tall steeple. The members of the local DAR were dressed in period garments that connected them to the Revolutionary time period.

This makes me think about how early my interest in history started. I've always had a connection to events in the past as a way of thinking about where I am now. There is a strong sense of pride in where I come from and who I am.

I would make these same comparisons to people in Hyde Park. There are many people here with strong connections to the area and this is what I want this project to tap into. I think we forget how much the locality means to us and how rarely we take the time think about it. My hope is that in the future these connections will again be front and center. Especially with concerns about gas and food.

Tuesday

This morning, I had a meeting with Chris of Scenic Hudson at the drive in to see the site and discuss the installation. I was able to get a sense of how redevelopment talks were going for the site and how Scenic Hudson is using the site in the next two years. We are still negotiating how to access basic amenities, but those will be resolved in the near future.

I also spoke with Patsy Costello at the Hyde Park Historical Society. She was very kind to suggest that I come see what the Historical Society has in its archives. We also discussed attending their next meeting of March 25th, which I will do. This will be a great opportunity to get those interested in the history of the town involved in the project and have them think about the future history of Hyde Park.