COPAKE — There is an awesome exhibit at the Copake Town Hall — not to be missed. Fortunately, it is now a permanent display, welcoming all to the municipal building following a ribbon-cutting ceremony that was held Saturday, Aug. 13.
The exhibit brings an amazing history to light — expansive, curated in a manner that honors each important town event on its own, with photos and text that’s easy to read.
There are 24 panels to enlighten viewers about Copake’s 200 years of community history, painstakingly put together by Copake artist Nick Fritsch. He spent untold hours designing each panel, assisted by Town Historian Howard Blue and former Town Clerk Vana Hotaling.
The Copake Town Board pegged the project in early 2020. Blue wrote the texts and provided photographic images obtained from numerous Copake families; Hotaling served as a consultant. Fritsch did the artwork.
Town Supervisor Jeanne Mettler and many others in town also helped make the exhibit happen, and all were celebrated on the 13th.
Copake Town Hall is a light, airy structure, located at 230 Mountain View Road. It’s ideal for this type of exhibit.
Some of the historic events covered in the display include how five kidnapped Germans became leaders in Copake and how Chief Big Thunder (aka Dr. Smith Broughton) was arrested and given a life sentence during his anti-rent movement. Other panels depict local waterfall, Bash Bish Falls; the town’s ill-fated movie theater; and Elinor Mettler, founder and publisher of the former town newspaper, The Roe Jan Independent.
Former students from local elementary schools, some whose parents and possibly grandparents once attended school there, are among those featured in the panels. One highlights Howard McGhee, former U.S. post master and beloved coach.
Another panel answers the question if Winston Churchill had a Copake connection.
There’s information on Superman creator, Carroll Rheinstrom and his wife, Irene. The couple lived on a 1,000-acre plot of land in Craryville. The Rheinstroms were philanthropists who eventually willed their acreage to the Audubon Society.
Blue, a retired teacher and author, wrote about the superhero creator in the book, “Carroll Rheinstrom; the Man Who Sold Superman to the World.” He has done much research on these topics and more as the town historian.
Make sure not to miss two beautifully executed works by Fritsch that are hanging in the courtroom at the Copake Town Hall, behind the dais. The works are original. One depicts the “First Town Meeting, 1824,” the other is entitled, “Depot.” Both are on loan by Fritsch and not part of the permanent exhibit.
Those who visit the exhibit now will get to enjoy them, though, along with a large brass bell on display in the courtroom — a relic of long past days when horse racing and trotters were a part of life in Copake.
The display also includes enlarged postcards contributed by Robert Callahan; paintings on loan from William Clark Vreeland and Donna Louise Vreeland may also be viewed in the Rheinstrom Conference Room.
Many attended the grand opening on the 13th to enjoy the exhibit, with a great many were present from the Roe Jan Historical Society. So, too, was New York State Senator Daphne Jordan (R-43) and her staffer, Halie Northrup.
Funded by grants from the Rheinstrom Community Foundation and the Bank of Green County, the exhibit may be seen weekly, Monday through Thursday, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays, from 9 a.m. until noon.
Groups interested in viewing the exhibit may make arrangements through Town Historian Howard Blue at copaketownhistorian@gmail.com.
NORTH CANAAN — Dr.f Donald Terance “Doc” Martin, 86, of North Canaan, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, at his home in North Canaan, which was his last wish. Dr. Martin was a dentist in Canaan, retiring in 2014. He served the community and their needs whether they could pay or not, and at all hours of the day and night. They do not make men like Don “Doc” Martin anymore.
Born on Aug. 27, 1938 in Walla Walla, Washington, he was the youngest of George T. and Anna Mae (McGrath) Martin’s eight children. Don proudly served in the US Navy with the Seabees during the Vietnam War. He adopted the Seabee’s “Can Do” attitude that served him for the rest of his life. Don married Lynne Horner in 1964.
Don was a 50-year friend of Bill W. He sponsored numerous others through his devotion to Alcoholics Anonymous. When people asked how he managed to stay sober for five decades, he said, “Don’t drink. Go to meetings. And don’t die.” And, “If you’re going to get old, you should do it in the program.”
Don fiercely loved his family, and he embraced his community. Wherever he went, people shouted, “Hi, Doc!” He enthusiastically supported local causes. In the early 1980s, he founded Friends of Football, a booster club for the Housatonic Valley Regional High School’s football team. He was a regular at Housy athletic events during his children’s years as students there, and continued to support the teams even after his youngest child graduated.
In addition to his loving wife of 60 years, Don is survived by a son, Rick Martin of Canaan, and two daughters, Kelley Marshall and her husband, Bill, of Hyde Park, New York, and Laura McCarthy and her husband, Neil, of Berlin, Connecticut. He is also survived by four grandchildren; William Marshall, V, Meagan Marshall and her fiancé, Cameron Jones, Maxim Martin and Meave McCarthy; a special friend, Jeff King, cousins Ann Kaufman, Jay Martin, Kathy Horner, Dan Horner, John Horner, Katherine Edlund, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, at the North Canaan Congregational Church, 172 Lower Rd, East Canaan, with Pastor Mark Brady officiating. The repass follows from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at the VFW Post #6851, 104 S. Canaan Rd., Canaan, CT. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Doc Martin should be made to the Fishes & Loaves Food Pantry, P.O. Box 306, North Canaan, CT 06018 or VFW Post #6851, P.O. Box 913, Canaan, CT 06018. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home, 118 Main Street, Canaan, CT.
Busy as he is these days, Santa took a bit of time to join in congratulating Wassaic’s Citizen of the Year, Ana Hajduk, following a presentation ceremony at the Wassaic Fire Department on Saturday, Dec. 14, all in conjunction with the 2024 Wassaic Parade of Lights.
WASSAIC — Wassaic residents turned out to celebrate the 2024 Parade of Lights on Saturday, Dec. 14, enjoying the traditional parade and festivities with refreshments at the firehouse.
One of the highlights was the naming of Wassaic’s Citizen of the Year, Ana Hajduk, honoring her many contributions to the improvement of community life.
Presenting the award certificate was Amenia Town Supervisor Leo Blackman who spoke of Hajduk’s talents as garden designer and her work with designing and faithfully tending the small garden in front of the post office where a veterans’ memorial stands.
She also looks after the needs of the newly planted pine tree which has replaced the old Wassaic Christmas tree. She also lends her talents to tending the beds planted by the Amenia Garden Club. And, she has successfully conquered the mugwort infestation at the Borden plant.
Blackman praised Hajduk also for her work with the Fountain Square plantings, and her willingness to lug buckets of water to a variety of growing things.
Hajduk lived for a time in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where her mother had rehabilitated an abandoned rail line to create a six-block long public park over a period of 20 years.
“Ana has it in her blood to improve the places where she lives,” Blackman said.
Mary Albasi, resident of The Fountains at Millbrook, knitting for one of the community’s donations.
MILLBROOK — A long-established tradition of giving to deserving community organizations is continuing throughout the holiday season at The Fountains at Millbrook.
Three area charities were selected for this year’s charitable giving. The Center for Compassion in Dover Plains has received 26 bags of food and several boxes of clothing collected by Fountains residents since the Thanksgiving season and continuing through the holidays. The extensive history of giving was described on Wednesday, Dec. 11, by Lisa Rieckermann, community life director at The Fountains.
Infants housed at the Care Net Pregnancy Center in Poughkeepsie are being kept warm by hand-knit items produced by the Knit/Crochet Group at The Fountains. Resident Mary Albasi was praised by Rieckermann for her dedication, having created more than 100 pieces for the center.
“Mary’s passion is truly shown through the dedication she has for her work,” Rieckermann said.
Families at the Grace Smith House, a domestic violence support center in Poughkeepsie, are also being assisted by residents at The Fountains. This month, Rieckermann reported, Terri Smith, a staff member in The Fountains’ Café, is raising funds for gift cards to be provided to the Grace Smith House. Skilled at crafting, Smith is using her talents to create centerpieces for Café tables. Residents purchase the centerpieces, thereby raising the funds to purchase the gift cards.
“It makes my heart happy to give back,” Smith said.
Residents also maintain an ongoing interest in supporting the Holiday Toy Drive with the American Legion and the Hudson Valley Animal Rescue organization.
Dutchess County Legislator Chris Drago and Town of North East Councilwoman Meg Winkler help welcome Habitat for Humanity homeowners Anthony and Vanessa Macagnone (center) to their new home on Rudd Pond Road in Millerton, Wednesday, Dec. 18.
