Library Celebrates Reopening of the History Room

Tomorrow--Thursday, October 7, at 6 p.m.--the Hudson Area Library invites the community to celebrate the official reopening of the reorganized the History Room.

The History Room at the library has long been a valued repository of rare documents and books relating to the history of Hudson. Authors and historians, people researching family genealogy and house histories, or those just curious to see what some local politicians looked like in high school have long relied on the History Room and its resources. Over the years, however, the collection has suffered from both inappropriate atmospheric conditions and too lenient access policies. So a few years ago the library embarked on a conservation and preservation project for the History Room. While the work was being done, the collection was virtually inaccessible to the public, but now it’s back, and tomorrow everyone is invited to visit the History Room to observe the results and learn about the process.

Those attending should be forewarned that the History Room looks essentially the same as it did before. The improvements were not cosmetic but directed entirely toward assessing and protecting the collection and making it more easily and safely accessible to the public. Preservation consultant Wendy McDaris, who supervised the project, will be on hand tomorrow to explain what was done.

The event also includes an exhibit of some of the more interesting items in the History Room collection and features a slide presentation by historian and author Roderick H. Blackburn on the history of Hudson and Columbia County. Wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served after the presentation.

Reservations are recommended. Please call 518 828-1792.

The map of the Fourth Ward used here is from the 1873 Beers Atlas found in the History Room.