Library Story Time, Activities & Shop at Basilica’s Spring Farm & Flea

Posted on April 2, 2019 by Brenda Shufelt

Photo courtesy of Basilica Hudson

Program Description: Story Time programs, crafts and activities, raffle prizes, and a shop will all be in the library tent at Basilica Hudson’s Spring Farm & Flea. The library’s Tween Advisory Council is selling t-shirts they designed and the History Room has items including tea towels, tshirts, postcards and notecards with historic Hudson image and giclèe prints of 1881 and 1923 Aeroview maps of Hudson. Come by Basilica Hudson’s amazing Farm & Flea and support our Tween Advisory Council and our History Room! Admission is $5 for the weekend, children 12 and under are free.

Date/Time: Saturday and Sunday, May 11 and 12, 10am-6pm, Sunday Story Times: 11-11:30am Pamela Badila & Folktales; 1-1:30pm Drag Queen Story Time

Location: Basilica Hudson, 110 South Front Street, Hudson, NY

Local History Talk on Gothic Revival House on Fairview Avenue

Posted on March 2, 2019 by Brenda Shufelt

Program Description: The library presents the latest in its History Room Local History Speaker series: “Still Standing: The Farrand House on Fairview” by Paul Barrett. This historic and architecturally unique house has been in the news lately as there are plans to tear it down. Come and hear the history of the house while it is still standing!

Date/Time: Thursday, April 11, 6-7:30pm.

Recommended Audience: All are welcome. No registration necessary. Continue reading →

Local History Talk: ‘Colonial New York’ and the World of Jacob Leisler

Posted on February 28, 2019 by Brenda Shufelt

Courtesy of the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library

Program Description: Lou Roper, Professor of History at SUNY-New Paltz, speaks on seventeenth-century colonial New York and the Hudson River Valley in the context of the larger Atlantic World. This local history talk is a collaboration of the library, Jacob Leisler Institute for the Study of Early New York History, Gotham Center for New York City History, and Greenport Historical Society.

Date/Time: Thursday, March 21, 6-7:30pm Continue reading →

Dr. Voorhees Discusses Women’s Role in the Leisler Rebellion

Posted on December 19, 2018 by Brenda Shufelt

Program Description: The library, in collaboration with the Leisler Institute for the Study of Early New York History and the Gotham Center for New York City History, presents How Their Poor Wives Do: The Role of Women in Late Seventeenth-century New York Politics by David Voorhees. Widespread female violence against men is found in the records of the 1689 New York uprising popularly known as “Leisler’s Rebellion.” This talk by the director of the Leisler Institute explores this outburst of activism among New York women a generation after the English takeover of New Netherland.

Date/Time: Thursday, January 10, 6-7:30pm Continue reading →

Give the Gift of Hudson History This Holiday Season!

Posted on December 1, 2018 by Brenda Shufelt

Bird’s Eye View of Hudson, New York, 1881

Not sure what to give that hard to shop for person? Not feeling the Black Friday madness? Looking for a unique gift that will create memories? The Hudson Area Library’s History Room can help with gifts that reflect the richness of the history of Hudson and Columbia County. Items for sale this holiday season include:

Notecards & postcards of historic Warren Street & other images of Hudson’s past
tshirts of historic Warren Street
giclèe prints of an original 1881 “Bird’s Eye View of Hudson, New York” (32.5” x 21.5”) map and a “1923 Aeroview of Hudson, New York” (43” x 22”) image created from a dirigible!

Interested shoppers can stop by the main desk at the library or go online where the History Room Shop is open 24/7 on our website at this link. Some of the History Room items will be featured at the library’s Winter Walk location, 427 Warren Street, on December 1, 5-8pm and all items are available at the library. Continue reading →

The Hudson Trolley Arrives at the Library

Posted on November 30, 2018 by Brenda Shufelt

Early in the 20th century, a trolley ran up and down Warren Street. Is there anyone who remembers riding the trolley?

More recently many resident of the Hudson area may remember fondly the holiday window displays at Elijah Slocum Antiques on Warren Street owned by Bob & Marie Rasner. Bob is a train (& Hudson history) enthusiast and created a train set window display with some of Warren Street’s historic buildings (a project he created himself) and some creative license of trains and trolleys running through. His local history holiday scene will be recreated in the children area of the library for all to delight in.

Visit Our Two Locations during Hudson’s Winter Walk 2018

Posted on November 11, 2018 by Brenda Shufelt

The library joins the festivities of Hudson’s Winter Walk 2018, December 1, 5-8pm, in two different locations. Our Tween Advisory Council has created a winter hut in honor of the library and some of their favorite children’s literary characters including Peter from Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, Harry Potter, and Gerald from the Elephant and Piggy series by Mo Willems. “It’s always a wonder to see the dedication our Tween Council members give when they participate in community projects. Creating a library scene in one of the winter park huts is very special because it’s for the younger children and the community to enjoy. There’s something nice about seeing a 10-year-old take responsibility for things,” stated the library’s Youth Services and Program Assistant. Come and view this display in Public Square (7th Street Park) across from the St. Charles Hotel.

In addition, the library’s History Room will have an exhibit at 427 Warren Street (the former City of Hudson Police Station) featuring examples from the library’s Historic Hudson Postcard Collection and other historic images including photos of the holidays in Hudson from years past by Howard Gibson. Our local history researchers will be on hand to answer questions and discuss our resources. Friends of the Hudson Area Library will provide home-baked desserts. And, the History Room, will have tshirts, notecards and framed and unframed giclèe copies of Hudson maps from 1881 and 1923 for sale as well as rare local history books.

Emily Chameides, Library Director, commented, “We’re excited to take part in this beloved community event and we are particularly proud to have the work of our Tween Council and the wonderful resources of our History Room celebrated through our participation.”

Kelley Drahushuk Leads Cedar Park Cemetery Tour with New Additions!

Posted on October 5, 2018 by Brenda Shufelt

Last year’s tour was a big hit!

Program Description: The library and Greenport Historical Society is once again offering Kelley Drahushuk’s very popular Tales from Hudson’s Crypts: The Tour . Kelley will speak about the history of the original cemetery, more recent discoveries as well as its current layout and she will discuss specific histories of some of the more prominent people buried there. New information will be included in this year’s tour. The tour will finish with cider and Trixie’s Oven cookies, courtesy of Rich Volo, who is forming a Friends of the City of Hudson’s Cemetery group.

Time/Date: Sunday, October 28, 12-1:30pm (We’re ending in time for attendees to make the Hudson Trick or Treating (2pm) and Halloween Parade (4pm at Public Square) activities!

Registration: Registration is required. The tour will be limited to 30 participants so register as soon as possible by emailing programs@hudsonarealibrary.org, calling 518-828-1792 x101, or visiting the main desk in the library. Continue reading →