 Figure 1 (l to r) County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus, County Clerk Kelly Eskew, Executive Secretary Yvonne Marse and County Historian Johanna Porr Yaun at the Orange County Veteran's Day annual ceremony in Goshen. OFFICE OF THE ORANGE COUNTY HISTORIAN Johanna Porr Yaun, County Historian Nicole Nazzaro, Senior Clerk (845) 360-6978 1841 Courthouse 101 Main Street Goshen, N.Y. 10924 2021 Annual Report The Office of the Orange County Historian works to research, preserve, explain, and promote the historical intricacies that are at the foundation of our society today. The department maintains a research library that is open by appointment; staff and volunteers in the office provide historical information to answer public inquires related to Orange County’s past; staff plan and host special programming, lectures, professional development and community workshops. The County Historian writes for local publications, makes speaking appearances at events and coordinates research projects amongst local stakeholders. The office consists of 1 full-time historian, 1 full-time senior clerk and occasional part-time temporary clerical positions. In 2021 we were able to hire a temp/clerical employee to help to organize records and books in the 1841 Courthouse and redesign our website. The office is funded by taxation. Figure 2 County Historian Johanna Porr Yaun presents to the Orange County Legislature, Education and Economic Development Committee in Goshen. Research/Presentation Requests & Public Appearances Requests for in-depth research on a variety of topics were plentiful in 2021. Invitations to speak through video conferencing or appear at local events were spread throughout the year with a concentration in the summer and fall months.
Several YouTube videos were prepared including a history of Weigand’s Tavern for the America 250 Foundation and a memorial service for Dr. David Schuyler about the life and legacy of the horticulturalist A.J. Downing, these videos were filmed, edited and spliced with images using a combination of borrowed and personal digital film equipment and software.
We attended historic marker unveilings in Cornwall-on-Hudson and New Windsor.
Figure 5 Research can take on a variety of forms, some records are digitized, others are copied and some our stored in original form, making the tasks of organizing and locating records complicated process. Family History Research On a regular basis we receive inquires related to family history, house history, or newspaper archives. Depending on the topic and availability of documentation, we sometimes research for answers or sometimes refer the questions to other departments. This includes referring people to the Orange County Clerk’s office for vital records, land records, deeds, mortgages, maps, or naturalization records and to the Orange County Surrogate’s Court for trusts, estates, and legal documents. Many family history questions are researched by the volunteers in the Orange County Genealogical Society who provide this service from our shared space in the 1841 Courthouse. We also receive a steady stream of offers to obtain family records and papers, each of these scenarios has to be considered on an individual basis related to the collection’s relevance to the County office, usefulness to the genealogical society, space and climate concerns. Urban Renewal Research A group of SUNY professors received a grant to build a web-based research compilation of documentation related to the Urban Renewal programs in Albany, Kingston, Newburgh and New York City. I provided them with some information in the spring and then met with them in Oswego, NY while at the APHNYS conference. In the fall, I began reviewing a collection of 2,000 photos of Urban Renewal that are in a private collection owned by Jerry Mastropaolo and we are developing a long-term plan for preservation and exhibit of the extensive slide collection. Figure 6 One of our four gravestone cleaning workshops in 2021 was held in conjunction with the Annual Hudson River Valley Ramble. Gravestone Cleaning Workshops The 2021 season was our last in collaboration with Gravestone Preservation Services owned and operated by Marianne Greenfield. During the partnership from 2015-2021, we hosted over 35+ cemetery care programs and trained over 500+ Orange County residents in the proper law and techniques prescribed for cemetery upkeep. We hosted four cemetery workshops in 2021 which were held in Walden, Port Jervis, New Windsor and Otisville. We were able to survey several cemeteries throughout the year such as the Potter’s Field at Valley View, Howells cemetery, Monroe Community cemetery, Slate Hill cemetery, Hillside cemetery and participate in Wreaths Across America at the Cemetery of the Highlands. We hosted a gravestone cleaning workshop in conjunction with the Hudson River Valley Ramble. In 2022 we plan to continue offering the gravestone cleaning workshops although we will be seeking a new instructor for the series. Website Redesign A part-time/temp employee, recent high school graduate John Castricone, was hired for several weeks during the summer of 2021 to work with us on several projects including organizing the collections and redesigning the Historian page on the Orange County website. The old material was wiped clean and new tabs were created including research FAQs, links to help direct inquires to the proper department or agencies, information about our collections committee, gravestone cleaning workshops, the WWI exhibit and the Tavern Trail. We did not have enough time John to continue on to creating video content or a digital archive that could be assessable online, but he was able to get the basic structure up and running and we hope to expand upon it if resources are available in the future. Conferences and Webinars Staff was able to take advantage of the new widespread usage of Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and other video conferencing programs. Staff attended digital programs and conference seminars hosted by the Association of State and Local History, American Alliance of Museums, Greater Hudson Heritage Network, Association of Counties, Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, Office of the New York State Historian, Hudson River Valley Institute, Warwick Library, American Genealogical Studies, etc. Nicole was able to attend the Annual Conference of the Association of Gravestone Studies remotely. I attended the annual conference of the Association of State and Local History in Oswego, NY and participated in several seminars related to archival training and skills, compelling storytelling, newspaper digitization and the Semiquincentennial, I was able to tour historic locations including Fort Ontario, the Richardson-Bates Museum and also made a detour to explore the William Seward (Orange County native) house in Auburn and meet with the staff there. Painting Restoration We obtained an estimate for the restoration of two historic paintings. The painting once hung in the Orange County Government Center but were identified to be aged and tattered during the renovation of the building. Since that time the paintings have been in the basement of the 1841 Courthouse stored in extremely poor climate conditions. In 2021 we requested and received funds to cover the cost of the refurbishing through a Capital Plan budget. The money will be dispersed in the 2022 budget cycle. Figure 7 A walking tour of Newburgh's historic district was hosted by the Orange County Historian for SUNY Westchester students enrolled in the Historic Preservation Certificate program. Adjunct Teaching at SUNY Westchester I continued to teach the Intro to Historic Preservation course offered by SUNY Westchester from their Peekskill Campus. This includes preparing and presenting a series of lectures on a range of topics such as preservation law, historic district ordinances, hertiage tourism, cemetry care, historic marker care, public archaeology, controversial monuments, the economic benefits of historic preservation, the environmental impact of demolitions of historic structures and the impact and history of the Urban Renewal program in the Hudson Valley. Orange County Semiquincentennial Commission A great many strides were made in establishing the 13-member commission and beginning to host regular meetings to plan for the America 250 period which will occur from 2024-2033. The commission has begun the process of collaborating on a field guide which will be produced in 2022 to provide teachers, museum professionals and local historians with unifying themes and resources to help in framing future programming. Sections were assigned to different individuals for completion in early 2022. Documentation about the Bicentennial and material produced for the Bicentennial was extracted from several sources and reviewed. Strategies to digitize and make these materials public was explored. Figure 8 Vietnam War veteran and retired teacher Dave McTamaney pays his respects to the fallen soldiers of the 107th Infantry Regiment in France, one of the images on display at the Orange County Government Center. World War I Centennial In 2021 we placed an order for a display case to accompany the photo exhibit showcasing the 2018 Orange County Centennial Delegation to France and Belgium which is already on display on the third floor of the Orange County Government Center. A uniform from a Goshen soldier, a collection of metals and a few maps related to the topic are ready for installation when the case arrives. A new WWI themed tour to the trenches and museums of Belgium and France was designed this year through EF Tours for the summer of 2023. The new tour will focus on the histories, sites, battlefields and monuments of the 369th NY Infantry Regiment. This is the beginning of an effort to compile research and documentation that illustrates the history of the African American soldiers from Orange County who fought with the 369th including the famous painter Horace Pippin, and Elmer Earl who received a Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic deeds, Earl had ties to Goshen and Middletown. Figure 9 Learning and teaching historic preservation techniques such as historic window repair. Historic Preservation Trades I continued to teach the Intro to Historic Preservation course at SUNY Westchester in 2021. As part of the program I also offered site tours of Orange County landmarks to students. I participated in training in historic window restoration through a program offered by Hudson Valley Houseparts and attended the historic crafts days at the Edmonston House. Arrangments were made with Real Property and the Parks Department to partner on brainstorming ways of better mantaining and restoring the 1860 stone house at Cronomer Park. We are thinking of ways to incorporate public programming related to preservation trades training. Historic Markers We successfully applied for a new historic marker through the William G. Pomeroy Foundation in 2021. We also provided the paint and supplies necessary for community officials and local historians to repaint their damaged or weathered historic markers including for Port Jervis (Kelly Decker), Montgomery (Brian Fitzpatrick), and Highland Falls (Stella Bailey). Figure 10 Matt Kierstead of Milestone Heritage Consulting explains the history of the powder mill site to Orange County officials at Algonquin Park. Algonquin Park Progress was made this year in working out a plan to target the first row of stone structures for masonry stabiliation and repair. Plans were draw up, partners came together to exaimne the site, a series of remote meetings worked out a strategy and a safety fence was installed to ensure the safety of the public while the project proceeds. Recommendations were were compiled for a possible updating and expansion of the National Register designation to include W.P.A. era structures and powder milll structures that were overgrown and overlooked during the first phase of nomination in the early 1990s. The map, history brochure and poster created by Milestone Heritage Consulting for installation on site are ready to be installed. Frederick Douglass Project Although off to a shaky start with the pandemic impacting both the 2020 and 2021 annual events, through the work of Gabrielle Burton-Hill, Naomi Ringskog- and others, the program continued. There are plans to expand this celebration of African American history in Orange County and establish a template to follow each year. Research about Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth was rewritten for local publications. Figure 11 The public archaeology program at Weigands Tavern led by County Historian Johanna Porr Yaun was featured in the Times Herald Record and on Spectrum News. Weigands Tavern Public Archaeology For two weeks in the summer of 2021 I led an archaeological excavation of the dirt from the basement of the historic property known as Weigands Tavern. This public archaeological dig engaged the neighboorhood and taught basic archaeological theory and skills to voluneter community members. Along with the group of volunteers we constrcuted archaeological screens, documented the site, sifted the soil, extracted artifacts and cataloged the findings. The discoveries were vast and varied and included 18th and 19th century objects such as glassware, ceramics, coins, building materials personal items such as buttons and kitchen refuse such as oyster and clam shells. We were able to unearth about 1/3 of the potiential of the site and plan to return in the summer of 2022 for further excavation. Covid-19 Recordkeeping and Service We continued in 2021 to collect material related to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic for archiving. Nicole also allocated time towards helping the Emergency Services department in covid data entry Figure 12 A ceremony was held at Downing Park to honor the late author David Schuyler with a tree planting with County Historian Johanna Porr Yaun as M.C. A.J. Downing Project Throughout 2021 there has been a focus on studying the life and legacy of the landscape architect and tastemaker of the 1840s, A.J. Downing, and producing research that can be used for interpretive materials. At various times I toured horticulturalists and surveyors around the original Highland Gardens property to point out remnants of Downing’s estate. This included the country’s leading expert in Ginko trees, Peter del Tredici, who was able to estimate dates for the trees and confirm Downing’s planting of them. I supported the promotion of the art installation in the Culbert House/ City Club and helped to provide research about Downing’s life to the non-profit who hosted the series of events there. We also secured a William G. Pomeroy grant in collaboration with the Fullerton Cultural Center to fund the production of a traditional blue and yellow roadside historic marker which will be placed on the site of Highland Gardens. In the spring, I was the M.C. for a ceremony and tree planting honoring the late author David Schuyler at the Shelter House in Downing Park. Historic Structure Advocacy We made phone calls, wrote letters and garnered public support to advocate for the preservation and/or extraction of historical elements of endangered historic buildings in Orange County. These included 32 W. Main Street in Washingtonville which had suffered a fire, it was unfortunatly demolished. Anthoer advocacy project was to raise awareness for the last mansard roof mixed use commerical building at 242 Broadway in Newburgh. At the close of 2021, the fate of the building is in litigation and pending decsion. During the outreach for the protection of this historic structure, we were able to collect over 100 letters and 1,600 petition signatures in support of the Architectural Review Commission’s recommendations to retain the building. Letters were written to advoacte for the extraction of a time capsule at the Salesaian School in Goshen. We photographed the Balmville School and the New Windsor School before and during the demoltion of those historic structures. Figure 13 Many meetings and presentations were held via video conferencing in 2021, including this gathering of the NYS Historian's "New York 250" advisory committee. Committees and Commissions I continued to serve as the Orange County representative to Hudson River Valley Greenway and the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area advisory committee although the meetings were entriely via phone conference this year, I was invited to serve on the newly formed Dutchess Quarry Cave Site Advisory Committee and attended two meetings chaired by Orange County Legislator Leigh Benton to stratigize plans to protect and interpret the pre-historic and archaeological relevance of the caves. I continued to chair the Orange County Semiquincentennial Commsion but have also continued to participate as a member of the New York State “NY 250” advisiory committee orgainzed by the New York State Historian Devin Lander and was invited to join the leadership team for the “Revolutionary NYC” non-profit which is being formalized in 2022. Through connections in the Orange County Semiquincentennial Commission, I was introduced to the St. Eustatius Island Historian Walter Hellebrand and took him on a tour of local sites with connection to Carribbean trade networks and swapped research. I also contnue to chair the Orange County Collections Committee which meets 4 times per year to discuss possible acquisitions to the County archive. 1841 Courthouse Collections We did our best this year to continue the work of organizing the county collections. After the 1841 Courthouse was emptied for the renovation in 2014 and the items were returned in boxes in 2017, there has not been serious investment into properly staffing the building. Our department requests for a records care professional have been denied. There was once a full-time curator position in the 1980s and 90s which has not yet been restored to the budget. Without full time staff to help in this endeavor, much of the work of reframing images, scanning newspapers, cataloging maps, culling the bookshelves, installing new archivally secure organizational systems, creating exhibits and cataloging the vast collections of DVDs, CDs, books, photographs, slides, cemetery records, scrapbooks, maps clothing, paintings and other items is impossible to accomplish. We have done our best to consistently bring in part time/temp clerical help and to cultivate volunteers to do basic organization, but it is not enough if we want to have a professional research center that we can be proud of. Figure 14 The endeavor to document and to tell the story of the African American soldiers from Orange County who fought in WWI will require new primary source research. Outlook and Recommendations In 2022 we will focus on three in-depth research projects:
Figure 15 A sample of images from the County Historian's activities and projects during 2021. Creating a field guide for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution which will be distributed by the Semiquincentnnial Commission to help local educators, museum staff, and local committees with resources to help unify the commemorative efforts. The field guide will include themes, timelines, historical information to set the foundation for programming. events and exhibits that are on the horizon for the 2024-2033 timeframe.
2021 Top 5 ReportACCOMPLISHMENTS
3.A research project to gather information about Orange County soldiers who fought in Co. K of the 369th New York Infantry Regiment (aka Harlem Hellfighters) during World War I was organized. This work includes compiling information about the soldiers, sourcing out personal letters and newspaper materials that will give a sense of what they experienced and creating presentations for schools using the primary documents. We are also partnering with a Veterans non-profit (YIT Foundation) to connect descendants of the soldiers to the possibility of retroactively applying for their ancestors’ metals (due to racial segregation in the military at the time, the black soldiers fought under French command and therefore were often overlooked for the decoration they deserved.)
LINKS to 2021 VIDEOS: Newburgh: 300-year-old bits of history unearthed at Weigand's Tavern https://www.recordonline.com/videos/news/2021/07/26/newburgh-300-year-old-bits-history-unearthed-weigands-tavern/8071807002/ Unearthed artifacts tell story of Newburgh's first residents https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/hudson-valley/news/2021/07/30/unearthed-artifacts-tell-story-of-newburgh-s-first-residents Downing and Vaux: Collaboration and Friendship https://vimeo.com/659091867 A.J. Downing's Life and Legacy: In Honor of Biographer Dr. David Schuyler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14XUKkDg9YA History of the County House https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Idmwl-L9MyM&t=102s Almost President: William Seward and Geraldine Ferraro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKEkkuqzdrI
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OFFICE OF THE ORANGE COUNTY HISTORIAN
Johanna Porr Yaun, County Historian Nicole Nazzaro, Senior Clerk (845) 360-6978 1841 Courthouse 101 Main Street Goshen, N.Y. 10924 2020 Annual Report The Office of the Orange County Historian works to research, preserve, explain, and promote the historical intricacies that are at the foundation of our society today. The department maintains a research library that is open for public hours; staff and volunteers in the office provide historical information to answer public inquires related to Orange County’s past; staff plan and host special programming, lectures, professional development and community workshops. The County Historian writes for local publications, makes speaking appearances at events and coordinates research projects amongst local stakeholders. The office consists of 1 full-time historian, 1 full-time senior clerk and occasional part-time temporary clerical positions. In 2020 we were able to hire a temp to work as our collections professional, organizing the research library and digitizing records and compiling research related to Covid-19 pandemic as it unfolded. The office is funded by taxation. The year started out with big plans for public programming and the kickoff of the Orange County Semiquincenntennial Commission. In January I attended the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Golden Hill lecture and tour hosted by the Sons of the Revolution at Fraunces Tavern. In February I presented a PowerPoint about “Benedict Arnold & the Betrayal of West Point” to local senior groups. In the first week of March I attended the 250th anniversary of the Boston Massacre with a cemetery ceremony hosted by the Daughters of the American Revolution and a lecture at the Massachusetts Historical Society Historical Society. On March 16th, I was informed by County leadership at a Department Head Meeting that we must close the 1841 Courthouse and send staff home to work remotely. We instituted weekly staff meetings via Zoom and shifted our work to respond to the immediate need for pandemic responsiveness. This new approach included five goals: · Business-As-Usual We continued to maintain responsiveness to public inquires. Without access to the County archives at the 1841 Courthouse nor access to local library history rooms for several months, this process was more time-consuming. But we did our best to give answers or explanations with previously established regularity. When we returned to the office in the summer, we noticed that we were receiving fewer calls then in previous years but by October we were flooded with requests from researchers once again. · Long Term Projects Staff prioritized long term projects, using this time of remote work to develop new presentations and focus on the meticulous tasks of compiling resources on a variety of County history topics. Converting to Remote Programming Staff rescheduled public programming and public meetings to digital platforms and maintained communication with the State and Local historians via email and video conferencing. · Long term research projects have been prioritized for times of remote work. Prioritizing Morale Projects With citizens of Orange County asked to make sacrifices and remain close to home, we worked to reach the public through a variety of methods. This included the e-newsletter, press, social media opportunities and videoconferencing events. We prepared a list for the Times Herald Record request for a “12 Books to Read in Quarantine” list and disseminated Association of State and Local History and our own GoogleDoc templates to the public to encourage individuals to document their personal experiences and contribute to the Orange County archive. · Collecting Material Related to the Local Covid-19 Response It is the official duty of a government appointed historians to document not just the past but also the present moments of historical significance. As we lived through this pandemic of international magnitude, staff documented the local emergency response and community experiences as the virus impacts daily life. Due to social distancing measures, the work was done remotely gathering news stories, images, social media comments and personal experiences for the archive. Despite the budgetary setbacks resulting from the pandemic that we faced in 2020, the staff was able to accomplish many important tasks. Highlights included: · Cemetery Care Workshops Senior Clerk Nicole Nazzaro took the lead in ensuring that the cemetery care workshops were able to continue. New rules and procedures were developed to ensure adherence to social distancing guidelines. These events were more successful than ever before due both to the longevity of the series gaining a reputation and also because it is an outdoor group activity that lends itself well to distanced socializing and learning. · Contemporary Collecting When the pandemic began, we were lucky to have Temp Clerical Joseph Geidel on staff and he successfully shifted his approach from one of primarily organizing records to a focus on building a living archive of Covid-19 information. This included work on a Facebook page “Documenting Covid-19 in the Hudson Valley” and in creating a GoogleDoc that could be filled out and submitted by members of the public. Remote Conferences and Webinars Staff was able to take advantage of the fact that many programs were rescheduled as remote events. Staff attended digital programs and conference seminars hosted by the Association of State and Local History, American Alliance of Museums, Greater Hudson Heritage Network, World Monuments Fund, Hudson River Valley Institute, etc. Frederick Douglass Project During the summer, the Frederick Douglass Project Commission had to cancel the plans that had been on the calendar for a two-year planning process in order to reimagine the 150th anniversary of Frederick Douglass’ visit to Newburgh to fit social distancing guidelines. The event series was consolidated into a one-day presentation and I was asked to deliver a talk exploring the events surrounding Douglass’ 1870 appearance. Orange County Semiquincentennial Commission In the first quarter of the year I participated in several events and lectures related to the America 250 anniversaries. Due to the pandemic, the later commission meetings were moved to Zoom. The panel discussion I had scheduled to host as a partner with Sergio Villavicencio of the New York City committee at the American Association of State and Local History Annual Conference in Las Vegas was postponed to next year. · World War I Centennial In February we partnered with the Veterans Affairs Department to offer free viewings of the film 1917. In October, the photos and panels showcasing the 2018 Orange County Centennial Delegation to France and Belgium were placed on display on the third floor of the Orange County Government Center. · Urban Renewal Research A group of history professors at SUNY received a grant to build a web based research compilation of documentation related to the Urban Renewal programs in Albany, Kingston, Newburgh and New York City. Throughout the year I have helped to compile information and add to their databases. · County History Research During the year, Orange County Bar Association requested information about the history of the District Attorney’s office. The Orange County Legislature requested information about the history of Orange Farm/Valley View and the Sheriff’s department requested information about the history of past Sheriffs. As we unpack and reconstitute the archives, we have been trying to identify and organize these files in particular. · Heritage Trail Interpretation Plan In the fall we worked with Matthew A. Kierstead of Milestone Heritage Consulting to develop an interpretive plan and cost analysis for placing historic markers along the full length of the Heritage trail. Developing New Presentations Throughout the year we’ve used our remote time to enhance educational materials. This includes refreshing old PowerPoint presentations and creating new lectures. · Educational Programming The lectures and walking tours that were planned for the Desmond Campus at Mount St. Mary College duirng the 2020 term were cancelled but I was able to continue teaching Intro to Historic Preservation at SUNY Westchester as the school switched to remote learning via Blackboard and Zoom. · DAR Membership After several years of work to prove my lineage documentation, I was accepted into the Daughter of the American Revolution Quassaick Chapter at an outdoor ceremony held in Algonquin Park. With three DAR Chapters in Orange County, this is an opportunity to support local historical service efforts and bring more people into the work that we do on the County level. The office goals for 2021 are to continuing organizing the Orange County history archives and to continue enhancing accessibility to the records. We are also continuing our efforts to develop new presentations that can be adaptable to alternative platforms. The budget cuts that were made as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic will cause a reduction in our office’s ability to offer a speaker series or launch any new programming in the upcoming year but we hope to maintain the popular Cemetery Workshop series. The Office of the Orange County Historian works to research, preserve, contextualize and promote the historical intricacies that are at the foundation of our society today.
The department maintains a research library that is open for public hours; staff and volunteers in the office provide historical information to answer public inquires related to Orange County’s past; staff plan and host special programming, lectures, professional development and community workshops. The County Historian writes articles for local publications, makes speaking appearances at commemorations and coordinated research projects amongst town historians and local museums. Staff, Intern and Volunteer Projects As a continuation of the centennial events commemorating World War I (2014-2018), an effort was made to document the accomplishments of the previous years. Staff selected 50 photographs from the September 2018 trip to Belgium and France to have printed and framed for display. Historian Aaron Lefkowitz was hired to write detailed captions for the photographs. The exhibit will be put on permanent display in the Government Center in 2020. Heritage consultant Matthew Kierstead of Milestone Heritage Consulting was hired to complete the second phase of a collaborative effort between the Orange County Historian’s Office and the Orange County Parks Department to document and plan for a restoration of the ruins of the powder mills at Algonquin Park. Last year a masonry study was completed which gives the County guidance as to how to phase out long-term stabilization, repair and reconstruction efforts at the park. This second document includes a review of known historical sources related to the active powder mill and subsequent WPA program additions from the period after the powder mill was no longer in operation. The report also includes recommendations for public access, signage, maps and interpretation strategies. During the summer months Aaron Lefkowitz returned as a temp clerical employee to compile an inventory of all historical institutions in Orange County. He reached out to the staff and volunteers at each to include feedback from them such as their visitation numbers, annual budget, staffing, etc. The final list numbered over 65 institutions in Orange County (not including the offices of municipal historians) who are engaged in museum work, exhibits, collection and advocacy for history and heritage in Orange County. 1841 Courthouse Archive & Collections Committee The work of unpacking and sorting the books and papers in the County collection continued, as we were able to extend temp clerical employee Joseph Geidel into the spring. He was successful in roughly sorting the books by theme and helping to get most items out of boxes and off of the floors. The challenge of caring for the collection continues into the 3rd year, as we do not have a staff member dedicated to this time consuming task. As part of the unpacking process, the “jury deliberation room” at the back of the courtroom has been repurposed as a media center. Any computer discs, VHS, DVDs, USBs and slide projectors that are unboxed, are being placed there with the plan that we will be able to set up computers and screens in the room for public research access. In the fall, a sign was ordered so that he room could be dedicated in honor of former County Historian Ted Sly. We have begun referring to the room as “the Sly Room.” In the possession of the County Historian’s office since the County Clerk moved back into the Government Center, we have two large 8 foot tall painting depicting the beginning and end points of the original Erie Railroad. The first painting depicts a train leaving Piermont and the second depicts the newly constructed 1841 Courthouse building. In brittle and torn condition, the paintings are in need of a professional restoration. Art restorer Lisa Rosen was hired to create an estimate for restoration so that we may be able to allocate necessary funds in 2020. After completion we hope to hang the paintings in public view at the Government Center. The Collections Committee reviewed and accepted several donations including a photo album from the Stewart/ Denniston family from Ulster County Habitat Restore, Stereoscope and slides from Chris and Kathleen Ashman, a vintage cigarette machine from Jeremiah Ventry-McGee, and a Woodstock roadside from Judge Joseph Owen. The Committee also purchased a World War I metal given to soldiers in Newburgh when they returned from active duty from Ebay. Orange County Semiquincentennial Commission In 2016, U.S. Congress passed H.R. 4875 establishing the framework for commemorating the 250th anniversary of American Independence in 1776. As the plans trickled down to the States and then the Counties, it became clear that the celebration period needs to be expanded to include events that took forth between 1775-1783 in order to fully bring local stories into the commemorative plans. Therefore in August of this year, County Executive, Steven M. Neuhaus signed Executive Order No. 2 of 2019 which establishes a commission of 13 members to design education materials, plan programming and engage the public in learning about the many events of the Revolution that took place in Orange County. As the chair of this commission, the County Historian has been active on planning meetings such as one hosted by the Association of State and Local History in Philadelphia and several hosted by the New York State Historian in Saratoga, New Rochelle and New York City. Workshops & Public Programs This year we brought back the tradition of hosting speakers in the courtroom space. The Summer Speaker Series was moved to Friday afternoons to correspond with the Goshen Farmer’s Market. We encouraged attendees to bring their lunch or buy one from the market in order to join us at lunch hour. Topics for the series included Edgar Allan Poe at West Point, Orange County Diary Farms, World War I Harlem Hellfighters from Orange County and the history of cookbooks. On November 1st – the birthday of Orange County—and beginning of New York State History Month, we held the Annual Historian’s Conference, inviting all of the City, Town and Village historians from Orange County to attend and participate. This was the first time the conference was held at a full scale since 2015. Topics included cemetery law and maintenance, Pomeroy Foundation grant process for historic markers, Semiquincentennial planning, and a keynote by Warwick Historian Dr. Richard Hull to mark the 100th anniversary of the Municipal Historians Law. We partnered once again with Town of Delhi Historian Marianne Greenfield to offer a series of cemetery workshops during the summer months. In addition to the training that we have offered in previous years, we added a workshop focused on how to reset stones that have fallen. Research & Presentations We conducted researched for a variety of public inquiries throughout the year. Research topics included the history of Stewart Airport, the history of railroads in Orange County as it pertains to expanding and interpreting the Heritage Trail. Public programs were created regarding mastodons for both Mastodon Day in the local schools and for an adult learning program at the Desmond Campus. Past and new research on Newburgh architects and architecture was compiled into a presentation and delivered several times around the county. We began an effort to compile the history of Valley View as per a request from the County Legislature. As a speaker at the 2019 Hudson Valley Green Tech Festival in Newburgh, I spoke about Thomas Edison’s role in electrifying Newburgh and participated in discussions about how historic preservation can be seen as a tool for protecting the environment. I also appeared at SUNY Orange to speak at the annual Sojourner Truth awards and shake hands of the recipients. The speech conveyed Truth’s legacy and connections to local history. A highlight of this year’s research was arranging to interview Judge Joseph Owen about his role in creating the local law that blocked Woodstock festival from taking place in Orange County. I also escorted Judge Owen to the Woodstock museum in Bethel, NY to reunite with others who were involved in that era and see the 50th anniversary exhibit. Additionally, our staff attended the 50th anniversary academic conference at Marist College. Preservation Efforts Although Fishkill Supply Depot is in Dutchess County, I dedicated some time to advocacy related to the development threat facing the burial site along Route 9. This included appearing at planning board meetings to speak about the importance of the location in context of the Revolution War period. I also appeared at City of Newburgh Architectural Review Commission meetings and was interviewed by local news sources to contribute to the discussions about a request for demolition submitted by the pastor of the A.M.E. Zion Church on Washington Street. In the fall we were contacted by the Highlands Masonic Lodge with a request that they be allowed to remove a time capsule that they believed was behind the date stone of the Masonic Lodge on Grand Street in Newburgh. With help from Scott Razzano and Upstate Concrete and Masonry Company, the box was carefully removed. State Museum conservator Maria Holden and the current members of the masonic lodge, assisted in ensuring that the objects uncovered were properly cared for. Advisory Positions Since 2014, the County Historian has served as the Orange County representative on the Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council and as an advisor on the National Heritage Area committee for the Hudson Valley region. As a longtime member of the Tower of Victory fundraising Committee, I was part of an opening ceremony of the newly renovated structure on the grounds of Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh. In 2019 I was invited to help create a certificate program in Historic Preservation that will be debuted in 2020 at SUNY Westchester Peekskill campus. OFFICE OF THE ORANGE COUNTY HISTORIAN
Johanna Yaun, County Historian 845-360-6978 101 Main Street Goshen, NY 10924 Annual Report 2018 The Office of the Orange County Historian works to research, preserve, contextualize and promote the historical intricacies that are at the foundation of our society today. The department maintains a research library that is open for public hours; staff and volunteers in the office provide historical information to answer public inquires related to Orange County’s past; staff plan and host special programming, lectures, professional development and community workshops. The County Historian writes articles for local publications, makes speaking appearances at commemorations and coordinated research projects amongst town historians and local museums. Staff, Intern and Volunteer Projects The office consists of 1 full-time historian, 1 full-time senior clerk and occasional part-time temps. This was an extremely successful year regarding our staffing arrangement. As a full time clerk, Nicole Nazzaro has been able to accomplish all general office procedures, as well as take on the coordination of public programs including taking a lead on planning cemetery cleanups throughout the County. With the addition of Joseph Geidel as a part-time temp to work on collections, the office was able to operate efficiently and meet the demand of public inquires and programming. With quality staff in the office, I was able to attend many local history events and prepare lectures for schools, community groups and historical societies. 1841 Courthouse Renovation In August of this year, the Historian’s Office regained access to the courtroom and four offices on the second floor (The Tourism office is occupying two rooms). Former intern, Joseph Geidel who had previously organized several boxes of paperwork related to the Brinks Trial while in the office as and intern, was asked to return as a temp to unpack the hundreds of boxes that DPW was able to retrieve from the basement. During the process several boxes were found to contain mold and we had to discard of the books after recording the titles for future replacement. Mr. Geidel was able to organize and shelf about 80% of the collection by the end of his term and we plan to invite him back in 2019 to complete the task. The Orange County Genealogical Society resumed holding heir monthly board meetings in the courtroom as of September. World War I Centennial Orange County has a longstanding tradition of honoring the 40 men who died on September 29, 1918 with a memorial service at the Orange County Veterans Cemetery held annually. For the centennial year, 2018, a very special trip was planned to hold the ceremony on the burial ground in Bony, France. In preparation for the centennial trip to Belgium and France, we teamed up with the Company of Military Historians to host a special behind-the-scenes tour of the World War I collections housed at the West Point Museum. This tour included a presentation from military historian Frank Licameli about the 107th New York Infantry Regiment in the lead up to the breaking of the Hindenburg Line in 1918. Throughout the summer we also hosted three info sessions at the North Plank Road Tavern to discuss the upcoming trip and plan the centennial day commemorations. This large coordinated effort included having several historians in the County present the history of these soldiers in the month’s leading up to the trip. The County Historian Johanna Yaun, City of Newburgh Historian Mary McTamaney, Town of New Windsor Historian Glenn Marshall and West Point museum staff all participated in planning lectures, tours and exhibits related to the centennial. Aaron Lefkowitz conducted and compiled research related to the World War I monuments that were erected for soldiers who served in the 107th Infantry Regiment and Yvonne Marse and Richard Goring provided stories to the local newspapers. The sweater worn by Private Walter Allison was restored and returned to Newburgh Free Academy for display. In conjunction with all of these events, the Newburgh Brewing Company named a beer in honor of Pvt. Allison. The highlight of the commemorations was the trip to Belgium and France coordinated by the Orange County Historian. Fifteen delegates from Orange County traveled together from September 24 – October 2, 2018 following in the footsteps of the local soldiers. The group visited graveyards, museums and trenches and they connected with dignitaries in Europe who have been caretakers of the graves of our local men. On the day of the centennial of the Breaking of the Hindenburg Line, the Orange County delegates met up with 30 travelers from New York City and held a joint service at the Somme American Cemetery. Workshops For the third summer in a row, the Historian’s office offered free training in the techniques and best practices regarding the care and cleanup of cemeteries. Marianne Greenfield returned to host the events, training 16 people per session to properly care for headstones. This year the programs took place at St. James’ in Goshen, Little Britain Cemetery in Rock Tavern, Chester Cemetery in Chester, and the Old School Baptist Cemetery in Warwick. Collections Committee The committee met four times in 2018 to discuss a variety of concerns related to storage, preservation, accessibility and acquisition policies related to the materials in possession of Orange County. As boxes were opened and books were shelved, the committee was able to make recommendations about organizing the collection. Many articles of clothing and other objects were uncovered during the unboxing process. Some of these items were put into display cases and other await determination about how they will be stored. We received several donations in 2018 including: a usb loaded with new research, maps and documents about the Palatine Germans who settled Montgomery in the early 18th century and the entire contents of a 18th century oak paneled parlor from the Colden Ruins. We also received and/or purchased several books for the research library. Research & Presentations In 2018 I prepared talks for presentations at the Company of Military Historians, BOCES History teacher Conference, Desmond Campus, Orange County Student Day luncheon, Battle of Minisink battlefield commemoration, unveiling of the Brewster forge at Edmonston House, Mel Johnson’s funeral, and Hudson Valley Greenway. Topics for these presentations included: the roots of Orange County’s Half Shire, the history of Thornton M. Niven’s twin courthouses, Orange County’s dairy history, Loyalism in the Hudson Valley during the American Revolution, Charles Willson Peale’s Mastodon, the preservation of Washington’s Headquarters and Storm King Mountain, Orange County natives in the White House William Seward and Geraldine Ferraro, and most frequently the centennial of the 107th Infantry Regiment’s forays in World War I. I filled in as a host of the County Executive’s weekly WTBQ radio show on two occasions in 2018 to discuss the centennial of World War I. And also represented the County Executive at events such as the DAR 125th celebration, Newburgh Memorial Day Parade, New Windsor 4th of July and presented a ceremonial check at the Newburgh Illuminated fundraiser on behalf of eth County. Preservation Efforts In the 1930's curators of the American in the Metropolitan Museum of Art sent buyers to Montgomery to strip the carved paneling from the deteriorating former home of Cadwallader Colden, Jr. Some of that wood was used to create a period room in the Manhattan museum and the rest was maintained in storage. Decades later the museum decided to de-accession the unused items, they ended up in the hands of antiques dealer for a time but ultimately were returned to the Town of Montgomery. The County was contacted over the summer to remove historical wood paneling from the Montgomery Town Hall in order to find a more appropriate storage location. Montgomery Town Historian John Pennings created an inventory list and corresponding labels to keep track of the individual pieces of wood as they were moved County storage. Later in the year, the Village of Walden Historian, Mary Ellen Matise and I spoke with the Education and Economic Development Committee of the Orange County Legislature to make them aware of the historical Colden Ruins that still remain along Rt. 17K in Montgomery. During 2018, the congregation of the historic A.M.E. Zion Church in Newburgh submitted a request to the Architectural Review Commission (ARC) to demolish the 1905 structure. I was asked to weigh in on the historical value of the building which is listed as a contributing structure to the East End Historic District. As a result, I spoke at several ARC meetings and wrote letters of concern to the local newspapers. In the spring I participated in a podcast program called “the State of the City Address” in which participants discussed a variety of political and social issues affecting the City of Newburgh. During those sessions I was asked to weigh in on the proposed redevelopment of the Dutch Reformed Church (built 1835 by A. J. Davis) and City Club (built 1852 by Downing & Vaux). In the fall of 2017, consulting firm, Lacey Thaler Reilly Wilson Architecture & Preservation LLP, was selected through a RFP process to produce a report on the masonry conditions at the historical gunpowder ruins of Algonquin Park located in the Town of Newburgh. In the spring of 2018, they sent a crew to survey the property through a variety of techniques including sending drones into the collapsed sluiceways. The results of their study were compiled into a document submitted in November that includes recommendations on how the County should phase out a restoration process. E-Newsletter & Social Media Outreach The Orange County History and Heritage online newsletter was released 1 to 2 times per month. The content included updates on local exhibits and collections, acknowledgements of local residents who have distinguished in the duty of historic preservation, updates on Orange County history, and upcoming event announcements. This has become a popular form of communication between the County and 1,600 municipal historians in New York State and beyond. And, because of the success of the newsletter and level of writing, we've been invited to submit articles to the New York State History blog that has a reach of 20,000; this not only promotes Orange County historic sites well beyond our borders, but illustrates the commitment of our current Government officials to our place in American history. A quick tally of our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin followers demonstrates that our posts reach an audience of 9,500 through online outreach alone. Advisory Positions Since 2014, the County Historian has served as the Orange County representative on the Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council. Continuing this role through 2018, I collaborated on projects ranging from organizing local events on the annual Hudson River Valley Ramble to planning for the new Empire State Pedestrian Trail that will lead hikers through the Hudson Valley on a trek from New York City to the Erie Canal and on to the Canadian border. As an advisor on the National Heritage Area committee for the Hudson Valley region, I helped to facilitate Federal grant money to regional projects such as the Teaching the Hudson Valley program and an MTA mobile app that provides historical and environmental context to passengers as they ride the Hudson Line train along the route from Grand Central Terminal to Poughkeepsie. The NHA program bring approximately $300,000 in Federal money for cultural sites into the region each year. I also helped to scout sites and review NHA designation applications for historic sites and museums who wished to be included in the brochures and website. Planning for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the 50th anniversary of Woodstock were initiated in 2018 and I have committed to serving on these committees in the coming year. As a member of the Tower of Victory Committee, I supported the efforts of the fundraising committee to raise over $1.25 million in funds to restore the Tower of Victory Monument at Washington's Headquarters. This commitment included writing contextual material for newsletters and mission statements, researching the local archives for historical documentation related to the 1880's structure and photographing the progress of workers as the restoration process took place. In August I was invited to climb to the top of the Tower as part of a re-dedication ceremony. I was invited back to serve a second year on the Arts Mid-Hudson grant committee as a juror and program auditor. Orange County Poet The Orange County Poet Robert Milby (2017-2019) coordinated speaking engagements with the County Historian including joint participation in the annual Writer’s Institute summer program at Museum Village. Mr. Milby also published a book of Orange County inspired poetry in 2018. Annual Report for 2017 From the Office of the Orange County Historian 1841 Courthouse Renovation Since moving back into the 1841 Courthouse in 2016, the office has been operating with limited access to the archives. 60% of the collections and books belonging to the County are in boxes in the basement because there is not enough office space available to unpack them yet. Fortunately the entirely of the Orange County Genealogy Society's records have been returned to the shelves (encompassing three large rooms on the main floor and two large storage rooms in the basement) and have been a resource for the dedicated volunteers to answer inquiries. We are looking forward to 2018 when we will regain the second floor offices spaces and be able to complete the unpacking of the archives. Staff and Intern Projects In May, our part-time clerk MJ Goff vacated the position. A temp, Cher Vickers, was brought in for three months to handle office affairs and work on a special project scanning Urban Renewal documents. In October, a new full-time Senior Clerk, Nicole Nazzaro, began taking on office responsibilities. From October to December, Nicole was busy with year-end closing procedures and Oracle training. Ellen Russell, Executive Secretary and Administrative Assistant in the Planning Department, was particularly helpful in volunteering to assist Nicole's transition into the office procedures. Tavern Trail The Tavern Trail Series from 2015-2016 was brought back in 2017 for a one night program at Baird Tavern in Warwick planned by Milestone Heritage Consulting. On snowy evening in December, the event attracted over 75 people and served to highlight the latest renovation of the historic "Washington-Slept-Here" authentic 18th century stone inn. In September, I traveled to Austin, TX to attend the annual conference of the Association of State and Local History where I was presented with a "Leadership in History" Award for the success of the Tavern Trail Series. Workshops In continuation of the Cemetery workshop, which was very well received in 2016, we created a series of cemetery clean up events at a variety of locations in Orange County. Marianne Greenfield returned to host the events and teach a group of 16 people per event to properly care for headstones. The program took place at Circleville Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Temple Beth Jacob Big Rock Cemetery in Newburgh, Washingtonville Presbyterian Church Cemetery and the Gumaer Family Cemetery in Cuddebackville. For the fourth year in a row, we invited Nicole Scholet, the Vice President of the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society, to present her expertise and advice on using social media to promote historic society, museum and public history material to a broader audience. We also began a new program series to discuss the needs and challenges associated with attracting the Spanish speaking community into local history membership and programs. Sergio Villavicencio spoke to a group of history professionals about the history of Central and South American counties and which themes are common threads that can be used to reach out to new audiences. We hope to continue this conversation into 2018. Collections Committee The committee met three times in 2017 to discuss a variety of concerns related to the storage, preservation, accessibility and acquisition policies related historical materials in possession of Orange County. The bulk of the collection remains in storage at this time. It was easier this year than it was in 2016 to navigate the stacks because interns had been put to work in organizing the most used volumes. We plan to bring the rest of the books upstairs in 2018 as the Courts will be vacating the 2nd floor spaces. In the meantime, a temporary display related to the World War I centennial was installed in the main hallway. Many historical items were donated to Orange County in 2017. This includes: A) A map of Crawford farms from the 1830's found in Michigan. B) Two binders of photo slides taken by archaeologist Jack Meade, when he examined the Haskett, Colden, and Edmonston homes in the 1960's. C) Two research papers about the "Asylum Baseball Club" in 1880's Middletown. D) A collection of papers, letters, and emails related to the citizens' group founded in Warwick to advocate for the preservation of the Paul Rudolph building. E) A collection of newspaper clippings of the Newburgh Optimist Club in the 1950's. Ted Sly's interview series has been located from the storage boxes and will be organized when the 2nd floor offices are available. We have made an effort to begin interviewing people again to add to the collection of local reminisces. In particular we have been focusing on collecting stories related to the history of the City of Newburgh from 1945-1975 including those who were associated with the Urban Renewal project. Collections funds were used to preserve important one-of-a-kind artifacts related to the history of our County including: A) clean and convert a fragile "Silverchrome" cassette to DVD, containing a video of the opening of the Orange County Government Center on October 16, 1970. B) stabilize and clean the NFA football jersey that was worn into battle by Private Walter Allison at the Hindenburg Line on September 29, 1918. C) properly box the Allison jersey and build a case that is secure and light sensitive for long term display at the newly renovated Orange County Government Center. Research & Presentations In 2017 I prepared talks for presentations at two local rotaries, several schools, twice to the Good Work Institute, the West Point Parents Association, SUNY New Paltz history students, County & Borough Historians Institute, Hudson Valley Greenway the Orange County Legislature, and several local historical societies. Topics of these presentations included: Claudius Smith/Roots of Loyalism, Weygant's Tavern, the Battle of Newburgh, Mastodon Day, Orange Mills/Algonquin Park , the preservation of Washington's Headquarters and Storm King, the Palatine settlers of Newburgh, Paul Rudolph's OC Government Center, Judge William Fullerton's 200th birthday, Lustron Homes, Women's Suffrage convention, AJ Downing's steamboat accident, etc. I was also invited to be a guest on Richard Hull's radio show "History Alive" twice in 2017 to discuss topics related to the future of the historical enterprise. Historic Markers A Legend & Lore Historic Marker featuring Claudius Smith was dedicated in October in front of the 1841 Courthouse. E-Newsletter The Orange County History and Heritage online newsletter was released every two weeks. The content includes updates on local exhibits and collections, acknowledgements of local residents who have distinguished in the duty of historic preservation, updates on Orange County history, and upcoming event announcements. This has become a popular form of communication between the County and 1,600 municipal historians in New York State and beyond. And, because of the success of the newsletter and level of writing, we've been invited to submit articles to the New York State History blog that has a reach of 20,000; this not only promotes Orange County historic sites well beyond our borders, but illustrates the commitment of our current Government officials to our place in American history. A quick tally of our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin followers demonstrates that our posts reach an audience of 9,500 through online outreach alone. Advisory Positions Since 2014, the County Historian has served as the Orange County representative on the Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council. Continuing this role through 2017, I collaborated on projects ranging from organizing local events on the annual Hudson River Valley Ramble to planning for the new Empire State Pedestrian Trail that will lead hikers through the Hudson Valley on a trek from New York City to the Erie Canal and on to the Canadian border. As an advisor on the National Heritage Area committee for the Hudson Valley region, I helped to facilitate Federal grant money to regional projects such as the Teaching the Hudson Valley program and an MTA mobile app that provides historical and environmental context to passengers as they ride the Hudson Line train along the route from Grand Central Terminal to Poughkeepsie. The NHA program bring approximately $300,000 in Federal money for cultural sites into the region each year. I also helped to scout sites and review NHA designation applications for historic sites and museums who wished to be included in the brochures and website. As a member of the Tower of Victory Committee, I supported the efforts of the fundraising committee to raise over $1.25 million in funds to restore the Tower of Victory Monument at Washington's Headquarters. This commitment included writing contextual material for newsletters and mission statements, researching the local archives for historical documentation related to the 1880's structure and photographing the progress of workers as the restoration process continues. This year I was invited to join the grant advisory committee for Arts Mid-Hudson as a juror and program auditor. Orange County Poet In 2017 the County Poet position was revived. After a competitive search, Robert Milby of Florida, NY was chosen to serve from 2017-2019. The appointment event was held under the "Poe Arch" at the West Point cadet Library in May. the Annual Report for 2016
Office of the Orange County Historian Compiled by Johanna Yaun 1841 Courthouse Renovation During the summer of 2014 the County Historian’s records, artifacts and research material had been packed into boxes and sent to long-term storage at the Orange County Airport. That fall, the office located at 101 Main Street in Goshen was closed for renovation and the office’s operations were moved to a room in the SUNY Orange Newburgh campus. The Orange County Genealogical Society moved their materials to a space at the Valley View campus. This made our work very challenging because we were unable to provide access to books related to public inquiries and unable to research within the County records for our own programs. The separation of the offices led to communication difficulties and even now, we hear from residents who have had a hard time finding us despite our outreach. In spring of 2015, we had adjusted to the temporary locations, but since we were unable to invite visitors to any particular address, created an agenda of proactive programming out in the community. For example, the first incarnation of the Tavern Trail, school talks, radio appearances and a community forum to discuss current issues in the field. We spent 18 months in the temporary office. In the early months of 2016, DPW helped to return our belongings to the 1841 Courthouse. We began the arduous task of unpacking boxes upon boxes, and began addressing inquiries that have lingered during the long displacement. Meanwhile we continued providing successful and proactive programming into 2016. As of the end of 2016, the unpacking was only 30% complete. Even with the help of interns and DPW, the process of carrying boxes and books, and delicate items up from the basement, organizing them in the decreased space is a time consuming and delicate process. Meanwhile, we now have many new inquiries that, depending on the topic, we either farm out to the appropriate source, or handle ourselves. The unpacking has to take a back seat to county business, fiscal affairs, daily inquiries, speaking engagements and the research duties of the County Historian. These difficulties have had the positive affect of fostering collaborations with the Orange County Youth Bureau and Orange County Clerk as each have hosted our staff and belongings at times and assisted in training our new staff this year. New Staff and Intern Projects A vacant part time clerk position was filled in February of 2016. With a second person in the office, responsiveness of public inquiry, processing of internal protocols and effectiveness of programming has improved. This has also manifested itself in the success of the e-newsletter. Contributions have ranged from site visits to local museums to highlighting the accomplishments of local historical societies. Having help in the office also enabled us to create an intern program in which four interns (two college students and two high school students) worked in the County Historian’s office at various times in the year. The intern projects included compiling cemetery records, building a database of specialized talks in local museums, helping to unpack and organize books from storage and editing our municipal historian and e-newsletter contact lists. Tavern Trail The Tavern Trail event series continued into 2016 after the success of the program in 2015. We improved the program greatly by joining forces with the Dutchess County Historian, whose addition of seven historic sites on their side of the river, with our own seven taverns created a schedule of fourteen events in total. These events, as you well know, highlighted the history of our great historic taverns and inns, and the owners who continue to promote local history. In order to improve programming, Matt Kierstead from Milestone Heritage Consulting was hired to plan speakers, arrange restaurant specials, design a signature cocktail and create merchandise for event raffles. The events grew in audience size to the point where a podium with speaker system had to be set-up, and larger spaces had to be explored. Historical research for press materials was sourced from local municipal historians and historical society archives. Promotion was done collaboratively between the County Executive’s staff, Orange County Tourism office and though our e-newsletters. An economic impact report for the 2016 Tavern Trail series was presented to the Orange County Legislator’s at a budget meeting in October. Workshops Several workshops were added to the County offerings in 2016. These events were held at the EMS center in Goshen. The series included a workshop for museums and historical society volunteers on how to improve outreach and fundraising efforts through free social media tactics. Moderator, Nicole Scholet of the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society, touched on a variety of social media platforms and highlighted ten ways to improve a public Facebook page. We also hosted a Cemetery workshop moderated by Marianne Greenfield, Cemetery Preservationist, and the Town Historian of Delhi. Attendees learned about the best practices associated with cemetery care and cleanup, and also an historical overview of burial symbolism and headstone artistry. Greenfield also provided a hands-on demonstration on properly cleaning lichen from cemetery stones. Lastly, we coordinated with Erin Tobin of the Preservation League of New York State and Middletown’s Thrall Library to offer an update on historic preservation for the homeowner and business owner, and ways to navigate NYS’s Historic Tax Credit program. All these workshops were well attended and we heard great feedback from attendees. Collections Committee With the collections and archives slowly returning to the 1841 Courthouse in 2016, the Collections Committee was able to revive regular meetings (4x per year) and return to a status of active collecting. A temporary collections policy remains in place and items are reviewed by committee members as necessary. Once all vacancies on the committee are filled, a revised collections policy will be discussed and implemented. In 2016, the Collections Committee approved the acquisition of a 1920’s voting machine that was found in storage at Minisink High School, and purchased two newly published books related to Orange County history. In collaboration with the Orange County Parks Commissioner we reviewed some of the historic structures that are owned and operated by the County. This included visits to and research related to Dutchess Quarry Cave, Hill-Hold and Brick House Museums, the D&H Canal Park and Algonquin Park. With $25,000 in funds provided by the Orange County Legislature for a masonry study at Algonquin Park, we drafted an RFP which has been sent to be reviewed by the legal department and will soon move forward. Research & Presentations Programs related to the following topics were prepared and presented to various groups around the county including local schools, professional associations and at historical commemorations: the centennial of WWI; the history of the Orange County seal; architectural preservation; the legacy of the mastodon; public history best practices; heritage tourism trends; strategies for experiential programming at historic sites and Loyalism in the Revolutionary war. Our office receives many inquiries for historical lectures throughout the year, and we try to accommodate as many requests as we can. In support of the documentation of the Paul Rudolph designed Orange County Government Center, we have been compiling research related to the history and recent transformation of the building. We are also working with photographer Isaac Diggs as he creates an art exhibit related to the renovation process of the building. I was called upon twice in 2016 to fill in as the host of the County Executive’s weekly radio show on WTBQ. The topics were a) promoting the agricultural and culinary crossover programming that was being planned by various local historical sites called “A Taste of History” and a discussion on the importance of Main Street revitalization. I was also a guest with Warwick Historian, Richard Hull, on “History Alive!” and with Clare Sheridan on “Crossroads of Rockland History.” Commemorative Planning Committees were convened to plan for upcoming commemorations. The Centennial of the US involvement in World War I begins in the spring of 2017 and ends November 2018. Planning was discussed for the continuation of ‘Mastodon Day’ which has occurs each September since 2014. New programming for these commemorations will be handled through collaboration with West Point Museum, Moffitt Library, SUNY Orange and Museum Village. Historic Markers Applications for grants to fund three historic markers were submitted to the Pomeroy Foundation in 2016. The proposals are for markers related to local incidences in the lives of Andrew Jackson Downing, Claudius Smith and Susan B. Anthony. E-Newsletter The Orange County History and Heritage online newsletter is released every two weeks. The content includes updates on local exhibits and collections, acknowledgements of local residents who have distinguished in the duty of historic preservation, updates on Orange County history, and upcoming event announcements. This has become a popular form of communication between the County and 1,600 municipal historians in New York State and beyond. And, because of the success of the newsletter and level of writing, we’ve been invited to submit articles to the New York State History blog that has a reach of 20,000; this not only promotes Orange County historic sites well beyond our borders, but illustrates the commitment of our current Government officials to our place in American history. A quick tally of our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin followers demonstrates that our posts reach an audience of 7,600 through social media alone. Advisory Positions Since 2014, the County Historian has served as the Orange County representative on the Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council. Continuing this role through 2016, I collaborated on projects ranging from organizing local events on the annual Hudson River Valley Ramble to planning for the new Empire State Pedestrian Trail that will lead hikers through the Hudson Valley on a trek from New York City to the Erie Canal and on to the Canadian border. As an advisor on the National Heritage Area committee for the Hudson Valley region, I helped to facilitate Federal grant money to regional projects such as the Teaching the Hudson Valley program and an MTA mobile app that provides historical and environmental context to passengers as they ride the Hudson Line train along the route from Grand Central Terminal to Poughkeepsie. The NHA program bring approximately $300,000 in Federal money for cultural sites into the region each year. I also helped to scout sites and review NHA designation applications for historic sites and museums who wished to be included in the brochures and website. As a member of the Tower of Victory Committee, I supported the efforts of the fundraising committee to raise over $1.25 million in funds to restore the Tower of Victory Monument at Washington’s Headquarters. This commitment included writing contextual material for newsletters and mission statements, researching the local archives for historical documentation related to the 1880’s structure and photographing the progress of workers as they began the restoration process. Continuing as a member of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route committee, which reports to the National Park Service, we continued a long-term project of connecting sites related to the joint army’s march to Yorktown in 1781. This project has been underway since 1999 (I joined the committee in 2009) so the research and selection work is behind us. This year the group coordinated the delivery and configuration of several historical markers from the DOT. These markers are spread throughout the Hudson Valley. In Orange County we unveiled one historic marker in the series at Washington’s HQ Newburgh in September 2016. I also serve, in minor roles, on several historical society and advocacy boards such as the Calvert Vaux Preservation Alliance (Hoyt House/Staatsburg), the Newburgh Landmarks Conservancy (Dutch Reformed Church/Newburgh), Fullerton Cultural Center (Fullerton Mansion/ Newburgh). And MJ Goff serves as a member of the County Executive’s Arts Grant Program Review Committee. Historic Trades Education There are two separate Historic Trades programs being created in the Hudson Valley at this time. The Calvert Vaux Preservation Alliance has contracted the Boston Architectural College to run an onsite restoration course at the Hoyt House in Staatsburg. This program is being offered to local students through SUNY Dutchess. Here in Orange County a historic trades program is being designed as a collaboration between the Business department and the Architecture department at SUNY Orange and will be hosted at the Newburgh campus. I have been involved with both efforts this year and have been a conduit to keeping each apprised of each other’s progress. Conferences, Training and Forums Staff and volunteers from the Historian’s office attended many conferences and training sessions in 2016. This included a conservation and collection care workshop hosted by Boscobel, the Greater Hudson Heritage Network’s annual conference, the Association of Public Historians of New York State annual conference, the Museum Association of New York conference and streamed a public engagement webinar presentation hosted by the Association of State and Local History. We even participated in two #twitterstorian discussions hosted by AASLH on Twitter. I attended the State Historian’s “Promoting New York History” County Historian and Clerk conference at the State Museum in Albany, the "Founding Mothers Celebration" part of the NYS Women's Suffrage Centennial featuring Anne Hutchinson's birthday event series, the Association of State and Local History annual conference in Detroit, and two regional meetings (one in Hyde Park and one in Albany) related to setting a course for State-wide collaboration of professionals in fields related to historical preservation and advocacy. At the AASLH conference in Detroit I was a speaker at the Current Issues Forum in which we discussed the nature and quality of civic engagement in historical institutions. I was also invited to participate on a panel discussion hosted by Congresswoman Nita Lowey in honor of a visit by Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell. This discussion commemorated the centennial of the National Parks Service and focused on topics related to the next 100 year of historic preservation. Many of the topics that are touched upon in the 2016 annual report can be looked at in greater detail on e-newsletters and blog posts from the year.
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