Historical Society offers free commemorative Copake scrapbook

Roeliff Jansen Historical president Lesley Doyel says the attendance was “thrilling” with some 70 viewers at this July 6 unveiling of the Society’s free Bicentennial exhibit, “Mementos, Maps & Milestones: Copake at 200.” Visits will be available each Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. until Sunday, Oct. 6. Doyel says the exhibit, along with the town’s Bicentennial events such as talks, the town picnic, parade and fireworks, has “rekindled an interest in Copake history.”

Photo by Peter N. Fritch
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Historical Society offers free commemorative Copake scrapbook

COPAKE — The Roeliff Jansen Historical Society is offering a way for those who care about the Copake area to hold onto the past with the publication of a free “Commemorative Scrapbook” which will be distributed starting at a launch at the Society’s headquarters at 8 Miles Road, Copake Falls, on Sunday, Sept. 8 from 5 to 7 p.m.

According to Society president Lesley Doyel, the booklet uses the words of “the people of the time... and is comprised of a lot of clippings from the period.” It also includes writings by Herold Faber, a New York Times editor and former president of the RJHS and Elinor Mettler, a founding member of the Society and editor of RoeJen Independent.

Doyel says members of the Society’s board, who are mainly natives or longtime residents, “took things from past and put it all together” with Peter N. Fritsch managing the graphic design.

Among other things, the scrapbook tells the story of the RJHS and the growth of historic societies across the country, the rescue of the old church which became their headquarters, their historic marker, the railroad, the town’s 200th Anniversary and the objects in the current exhibition, “Mementos, Maps & Milestones: Copake at 200.”

According to a Society release, “Donna Platt and Nancy Thorson will speak at the launch of the booklet about growing up in the area and about Copake Falls post office signage and the antique fire truck bell they recently donated to RJHS. Then Catherine Mikic will speak about Copake’s Heritage Guide” with copies of the Guide available.

The Society will feature a series of talks by Judy Ackley Whitbeck on Saturday, September 14 from 2 to 3 pm on growing up on her area farm and the phone company; by Ross Mauri and Mike Fallon from 2-4 pm focusing on artifacts ; and Janet Mackin on Sunday, September 22 and Sunday, October 6 discussing the Grange.

Books and reproductions of posters from the Copake Theatre will be for sale.

For more information, visit www.roeliffjansenhs.org or the Society’s social media.

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