Archive: Around Town

The History Center In Tompkins County Celebrated The Second Annual History Awards Ceremony On Sunday January 29Th 2017 At Marcham Hall In The Village Of Cayuga Heights. The History Center's Trustees And Employees View The Awards As A Way To Honor Those Who Are Making History, Engaging With Local History, Interpreting Local History, And/Or Whose Work Resonates With Thc's Mission Statement. Six Special Honors Awaited The Awardees.

The Event Was Festive With Well-Deserved Recognition, Beautiful Music By "Johnny Russo's East Hill Classic Jazz Trio," Light Refreshments, Americana Vineyards Wine Tasting And Conviviality. Rod Howe, Executive Director Of The History Center, Gave An Introduction Pointing To The Importance Of Celebrating Local History. The Introduction Was Followed By The Village Historian Beatrice Szekely's Presentation On The Cayuga Heights History Project. Shortly After, Jim Johnson, Trustee And Treasurer, And Rod Howe Proudly Recognized The 2016-2017 Awardees.

Lifetime Achievement Award Was Justly Given To Carol Kammen, Tompkins County Historian. Carol Has Been An Articulate Spokesperson For The Role Of Local History To Enrich Our Lives And Connect Us To Place. She Has Done This As An Author, As The Tompkins County Historian, And As An Academic. Carol Is Immensely Creative And There Are Many Examples Of That In Her Long Career, Including The County's Bicentennial This Year.

The Cayuga Heights History Project Members (Beatrice Szekely, Village Of Cayuga Heights Historian, Pat Longoria, Deputy Historian, Carole Schiffman And Randi Kepecs) Were Honored With The Illuminating History Team Award For Having Created An Amazing Local History Resource Guided By The Motto: "Everybody Has A Story. Tell It. Every House Has A Story. Learn It." Their Initiative Weaves Together Village History And House History, As Well As Personal And Community Experiences.

The Local History Engagement Award Was Given To Robert (Bob) Baxter, Ceo Of Dryden Mutual Insurance Company. Bob Has Been A Strong Supporter Of Engaging The Community With Local History. He Has Done This Through His Involvement With The Verne Morton Photographs, The Eight Square Schoolhouse And Most Recently Through His Support Of Historyforge. He Has Provided Opportunities For Many To Experience The Power Of Local History.

The Prolific Work Of The Tc League Of Women Voters Was Celebrated With The Making A Difference Award. The League Was Founded In 1920 And Is A Champion Of Voting, Being An Informed Citizen, And Participation In Government. The League Is An Important Part Of Our Local History And It Is Fitting That The Organization Has Been Recognized In 2017 As We Celebrate The Centennial Of Women's Suffrage In New York State.

Thc's John Marcham Research Library Youth Volunteers Eli Zhang And Francesca Chu Were Recognized With Youth Awards. Eli And Francesca Went Above And Beyond To Help Thc With Numerous Tasks. They Have Become Our Key Volunteers Helping Out In The John Marcham Research Library, Participating In The Youth-Elder Oral Histories Initiative, Doing Exhibit Work And Careful And Painstaking Collections Work For The Archives.

A Separate Tribute Should Be Paid To The Host Of The Ceremony - Marcham Hall In The Village Of Cayuga Heights. Its Slate Roof, A Chandelier Or Two From New York City's Hotel Martinique, A Picket Fence Imported From France, Fine Ironwork Hinges And Handles On The Doors And Windows, A Greenhouse, And A Charming Sundial On The Outside Wall Made The Event Genuinely Historic And Festive.

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