NEVERSINK  — Town Historian of Neversink, Roger Edwards, addressed the Town Board on the activities he had been involved in from January 4th of this year up to the present – including renovations of his workspace, such as safely transporting donated artifacts from and adding new furniture, intended to assist in the studying of longer maps and development of other large projects.

“I thank [Town Clerk] Staci
Conjura, [Deputy Town Clerk] Michelle Goodman, and [Bookkeeper] Teri Lockheart for helping me to obtain thispiece of furniture,” said Edwards. “I moved the rest of the office furniture into place and completed the room set up on July 5.”

Another project he delved into starting January 8th was “develop[ing] answers” to over 25 inquiries related to ancestry in the Town of Neversink as well as historical topics such as the history of the Quaker Church.

He has a copy of the complete cemetery listings for 33 burial grounds within the Town of Neversink and surrounding areas.

These are a result of 50 years of development and making part of the Town Historical Records.

Edwards was also hard at work developing over 300 new files to be used for historical research and are part of the permanent files in the historian’s office. In this same office, he is also seeking a permanent storage location for the Tri-Valley Townsman Newspaper in that office as well, which will start with 1947.

“The articles in these newspapers are a tremendous source of new information,” added Edwards.

Looking to the future, he hopes to further research the thousand-acre Wynkoop track of land in Neversink as well as refer some historical background for the Hardenburgh track of land.

“I want to continue to integrate...our records pertaining to this area’s earliest settlers. known as the Hardscrabble Years which covered the period before 1820,” stated Edwards. “I want to thank all the people who have helped me during this year, and I’m looking forward to another year doing what I love to do.”

Forthright praise for fire response

Larry Bracken spoke on behalf of the Grahamsville Fire Department regarding the recent blazes on the mountains in the Peekamoose area. Bracken made it a point to try and show up at the meeting that night because of his gratitude.

He wanted to thank the town and everyone that was involved with the fires  in the Greenville, Sundown, and Peekamoose area.

“There was many, many people that helped out,” acknowledged Bracken. “I personally wan’t here, I know that but it was an amazing response from our Town. It was amazing what happened in those couple of days.”

Town Supervisor Chris Mathews shared the sentiment that he was also grateful for the Town’s collective efforts in assistance.

Mathews also thanked Bracken for the praise on the Town’s efforts.