By Ted Waddell
GRAHAMSVILLE — Augsut 22, 2006 — There’s a lot of history in hills and valleys of the Town of Neversink.
Local historian Carol Smythe and President Thomas Jefferson have one thing in common, and that’s a passion for preserving a sense of history for future generations.
“It is the duty of every good citizen to use all opportunities, which occur to him, for preserving documents relating to the history of our country,” said Jefferson (1743-1826) who served as the third elected leader of the United States.
A bit closer to home in both place and time, Smythe and a cadre of dedicated volunteers are on a mission to preserve local history and eventually display it in the Time & the Valleys Museum, which is temporarily situated at the town hall, but plans to relocate to a permanent site adjacent to the Daniel Pierce Library sometime in 2007.
“The preservation of our historical resources is essential not only to illustrate the diverse cultural, education, economic and traditional values, but also to promote health, prosperity and welfare to all citizens living within a community,” said Smythe.
“What else do we have, as members of our community actually own but our history,” she added. “preservation of our towns has long been a project of dedicated individuals in our community. The time has come for our history to have a home, a place where it can be archived and kept safe.”
The Time & the Valleys Museum will showcase the rich history of the Rondout and Neversink watersheds and the geographical area encompassing the Tri-Valley Central School District.
It will collect and display historical objects and artifacts, create exhibits and displays, and add to the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the value of the watersheds.
In addition, the museum will promote and support historical research and scholarship.
Several historical displays will highlight artifacts of local interest: “Living Exhibits”, will enhance the understanding of historical, social, political and ecological features of the Delaware River watershed and the NYC water supply system; “Under the Waters of the Reservoir,” a permanent exhibit model created by Barbara Purcell, will show the original towns and landscapes that are now covered for all time by the waters of the Neversink and Rondout reservoirs; and a photography exhibit and registry of vintage barns (50 years and older) in the tri-valley region.
During the 127th Annual Little World’s Fair at the Grahamsville Fairgrounds, the Time & the Valleys Museum displayed numerous artifacts.
The current board of directors: Carol Smythe (president), Barbara Purcell (vice president), Jack Denman (secretary) and Georgianna Lepke (treasurer).
For more information about the fledgling museum, contact Carol Smythe, Town of Neversink Historian at P.O. Box 307, Grahamsville, NY 12740; call 985-2262 ext. 313; email historian@townofneversink.org; or visit their website:
www.timeandthevalleysmuseum.org