+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Preservation - It's Not Just For Buildings! 4th Annual Albany History Fair Slated for May 4 ALBANY, NY - April 7, 2003 - The 4th Annual Albany History Fair will be held on Sunday, May 4, from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center at Quackenbush Square. The History Fair is a program of Historic Cherry Hill and is co-sponsored by the Visitors Center. The event will celebrate the history of the city and its neighborhoods, and encourage young preservationists to nourish this legacy for generations to come. From tours of the First Church of Albany and Albany Pump Station to advice on how to preserve family heirlooms, the History Fair will help participants explore the history that's woven through the people, places and things that we see and do every day. "Even in our fast-paced, dot-com world - the recipes we download, the pictures we take, the choices we make - we're making history right now," said Liselle LaFrance, director of Historic Cherry Hill, which boasts some 20,000 objects from the everyday life of the house's residents. "Five generations of one family lived at Cherry Hill from the Revolutionary period to after World War II. The house, and its family, are a window through which we can look back on our city and its people. It may be one family's history, but it's also an amazingly intact illustration of our city's historic legacy." The History Fair will take place rain or shine, is free and open to the public and will feature historical exhibits and demonstrations, music, walking tours and activities for the entire family. New this year is the presentation of Sense of Place awards. Albany neighborhood associations and community groups have nominated the most historically significant events, structures, or people in their neighborhoods. Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges, and awards will be made at the Fair to the top three entries. According to Kathy Quandt, Director of Operations at the Visitors Center, finding out what gives Albany's citizens a sense of place is key to preserving our history for future generations. "From artifacts under our feet to historic buildings over our heads, from events that took place centuries ago to decisions we'll make next week, our history connects us to the past and contributes to our vital community. In Albany, history is all around us - the Albany History Fair helps us come together to celebrate it." Contact Liselle Lafrance at Historic Cherry Hill (518-434-4791) if you have questions about the event.