Dear List Members,

 

I am displeased, disappointed and saddened to read in the Daily Freeman that Florence Prehn, Town of Esopus Historian, was not reappointed because "the upcoming [Quadricentennial] events would have required too much work." 

 

Florence is a dedicated historian and has contributed greatly to Ulster County history.  

 

It is unfortunate that many of our historians are unpaid, rarely thanked, and in Florence's case, discriminated against because of age. What The Town of Esopus could have done in this case is establish an ad hoc Quadricentennial committee  in which the historian could have been an advisor. It is my opinion that the duties of the historian as suggested in the article below  is above and beyond the role of any single unpaid volunteer.

 

Sincerely,

 

Karlyn Knaust Elia

Ulster County Historian

 

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Port Ewen - The Esopus Town Board will form a committee to recommend the appointment of a new town historian, whose duties in part will include planning celebrations of significant historical events along the Hudson River.

At a Town Board meeting last week, officials said Florence Prehn, who has been historian for several years, was not reappointed to the unpaid position because the upcoming events would have required too much work. The town this year is expected to participate in events marking the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton's voyage up the Hudson in his North River steamboat, dubbed the "Clermont", and, in 2009, the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's journey up the river later named for him.

"A lot of the communities up and down the Hudson River are going to be participating, and we really need someone who is going to be proactive and work with the town," Councilwoman Deborah Silvestro said.

Silvestro said she would like to see a candidate who could seek grant assistance to pay for upcoming projects. The position would remain unpaid.

"Perhaps it could be...an intern, a history student with the community college or state university," she said. "Perhaps if they'd like to do an internship for a year, that's a possibility. They could approach the (committee) that's going to be formed and make a proposal."

Officials said they will seek candidates for the committee in the coming month.

 

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