Our events have people talking
So much going on lately! Last Saturday in Ulster Park, the Klyne Esopus Museum had its opening reception introducing theits new exhibit, ESOPUS SINCE THE DISCOVERY. I spent time chatting with members, guests and friends while browsing through museum artifacts which tell the cultural, commercial and historical history of Ulster County. I especially like that the museum is housed in this amazing Dutch Reformed Church built in 1827. And, throughout the event I was aware of the fact I was standing in a space, rich with history that really made me feel connected to everything that had gone on hundreds of years ago.
The exhibit provided an intimacy quite different from a big city museum experience. But the real plus was the narrative history taking place. These people really know about the past and take pride in local history with their quadri-generational knowledge. Now this was amazing. I was having a conversation with one woman about human rights activism, way back then, and with that, she told me how Sojourner Truth was born within a mile of the Klyne Esopus Museum and spent many years in Ulster Park. Sojourner Truth was one of the most important civil rights activists, and advocated for people without a voice in the early 18th century. Who would have thought such a big heroine would come from such a small town? During that period, with the Dutch heritage of Ulster County still so ingrained, Sojourner Truth spoke only Dutch as a child! There’s a museum for her too, but it’s in Michigan…a little too far for a weekend trip. Currently, there is a private fundraising drive in Ulster County to erect a statue of Sojourner Truth on the banks of the Hudson River, close to where she lived.
This week marks the beginning of a huge initiative to nationalize this kind of local knowledge, which is hard to find if you aren’t lucky enough to be standing in a tiny museum in a little town in the Hudson Valley and happen to mention the right topic at the right time to the quadri-generational person with the knowledge. Thanks to The Quadricentennial opening, a lot more people will have access to this kind of information..
Looking ahead it’s going to be a busy week – plenty going on in the Hudson Valley to take a look at!
