Annual Endowment Appeal
Dear Harpersfield Historical Society Members & Friends,
The year 2021 was an excellent year for the HHS in spite of the Covid-19 restrictions.
- Last years endowment drive was exceptional, due to the kindness of all who donated, we are hoping this year's drive will be fruitful.
- The New York State Education Department has granted us an absolute "permanent" charter, which consummated 12 years of preparation for this to happen.
- The Barn was opened with a salute to the farming community which culminated four years of effort.
- 54 years of newspapers are in the process of being digitized. A grant from The Robinson Broadhurst Foundation, The O'Connor Foundation and funds supplied from HHS.
- A climate-controlled building is expected to be started before the winter. The purpose is to house the newspaper collection and many other historical documents. The funding for this building and for the propane generator was made possible by grants from the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation, The O'Connor Foundation and funds supplied by the HHS.
- 10 historical markers are currently being processed at the foundry and will be placed in designated areas throughout Harpersfield. The funding was made possible by a grant from the Delaware County Local Development Corporation and funds from HHS.
- Our Outreach Program is moving forward, despite the problems encountered with Covid-19 restrictions. A curriculum guide was developed by one of our members involving the great hotel era. This guide will be sent to the Superintendents of the five school districts representing Harpersfield students.
We have come to a point with our growth where we are in dire need of legal and financial advice, we are looking for that person willing and available to help. One area we need to improve is having people act as greeters, meeting the public when we are open. Anyone interested and has the time, please contract the Historical Society. It would also be helpful if there were someone to put articles taken from the newspapers we have in our archives, starting a hundred years ago, and putting them into our local newspapers periodically. We are still growing with great visions for the area, so please contact us and come and assist. Your Harpersfield Hisotrical Society has a wealth of information thanks to the kindness of people trying to keep the local history alive for many generations ahead.
Thank you,
Thomas Kendall, President