The building known as John L. Edwards School is to be sold to Adirondack Community Development to be repurposed as affordable housing. Last Tuesday, the Hudson City School District School of Education voted unanimously to approve the deal. What remains is for the developer to get the City of Hudson to amend its zoning to allow more stories to be added to the building, to complete the SEQRA review, and to secure tax credits to fund the project, and for voters in the Hudson City School District to approve the sale of the property for $3 million in a referendum. As the process of transforming a school building into an apartment buildings moves forward, what of the man for whom the school was named?
In recent days, Ken Sheffer has researched and written a biographical sketch of Dr. John L. Edwards, which Gossips has the honor of publishing. The biography can be found here. One of the great takeaways from Sheffer's biography of Edwards is that Hudson fifty years ago seems to have been quite a different place.
COPYRIGHT 2012 CAROLE OSTERINK
Wow. Very interesting.
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ReplyDeleteThe intended recipients are those who profit from the poverty industry: Galway, Tiffany Garriga, Linda Mussman, the mayor, the council president among other locals and their carpetbagger cronies.
DeleteYou're right, John Friedman, and I'd add that those listed above (and their cronies in City government and the local non-profit community, but let's not name names) have made a lot of noise about housing affordability but done nothing to improve the income opportunities or social mobility of low-income residents.
DeleteExploiting the desperation of financially stressed communities and giving themselves a coat of progressive veneer with whatever virtue signaling keywords are in vogue can't hide the moral rot that seeps through the surface over time.
What a wonderful account of a life well-lived. I knew nothing about JLE and now want to send Ken’s story to everyone involved in its future. Also to Hudson middle and high schools. Share the story in classes! Maybe we could have a Hamilton-inspired production of JLE!
ReplyDeleteAnd next you can add Dr. Bliss to Bliss Towers, and someone can research the street names in Hudson, I.e. McKinstry Place, Warren St., Harry Howard Ave., Jenkins Parkway, etc.
ReplyDeleteGossips has already written a great deal about the McKinstry's.
DeleteGreat idea! HAL History Room I’m sure will take note!
ReplyDeleteI was the recipient of the Dr. Edwards prize in my 5th grade year (the $50 savings bond was quickly cashed and used for one of Benny Murell's buses to Yankee Stadium).
ReplyDeleteWe were provided a fact sheet of Dr. Edwards achievements and even at such a young age I was impressed by the quality of life he had lived.
48 years later I think about the fact they had no children and what a wonderful wife he must of had.
Thanks Ken Sheffer for all you do, this story is important and barely scratches the surface of all he did for our community.
Wasn't that school built with taxpayers money?
ReplyDeleteWhy does HCSD get the $3M ?
Watch HSCD still increase their tax rate next cycle !
And thanks for reminding me, Jennifer, of another “thank you” needed — thank you, Carole, for publishing many such stories, bringing local history alive.
ReplyDeleteVincent – Don’t lose sleep over the $3million for John L. Edwards. The HCSD will never tell you how they spend it. Yes, it was a taxpayer referendum that paid for the school. Ask for a refund.
ReplyDeleteCharlie – It was heartwarming and fun to learn of your Edwards’ bond. Glad you cashed it in. He would have done the same thing. He wasn’t one to wait around either.
The real heroes in all of this is the Hudson Library, its history room and two volunteers in particular……the brilliant and generous John Craig and Jim Hoon. If Hudson was giving out medals of honor they should be the first in line for what they have done for our city. And now with the coordination of Brenda Shufelt my felt feel light again about Hudson’s future.
As for the Edwards’ building, there is a secret time capsule behind the 1963 cornerstone with the history of the property and maybe other things in it. It was placed there by Edwards and Dr. Whitbeck. Now that the school is being turned over to others they would have wanted us to open that box. Hint, hint, hint!