To the Editor:
For our May program, Dennis Ulion, life-long Voorheesville resident and educator, will discuss Italian immigration to the Voorheesville area in the early 1900s from the personal perspective of his family (the Iulianos and Riccis) and other local families of Italian descent.

A wave of Italian immigration to the United States peaked from about 1880 to 1921. The promise of better wages and the possibility of property ownership attracted many of these families.

During this time, Voorheesville was a rapidly developing railroad town in need of railroad and foundry workers, as well as purveyors of groceries and meats. When the Iuliano (Ulion) and Ricci families came and settled in Voorheesville, their labors contributed to meeting their new community’s needs. Mr. Ulion will share his personal insight into their stories.

Dennis Ulion served the Voorheesville School District as an educator and coach for 32 years. He has special interests in history and community service.

In conjunction with the Voorheesville Public Library, Mr. Ulion, as local history guide, has been leading Voorheesville History Walks to raise awareness of how Voorheesville became what it is today.

At the New Scotland Historical Association’s May program, Mr. Ulion will be offering his firsthand knowledge with all who would like to attend — from the comfort of our folding chairs!

This program will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3, at the Wyman Osterhout Community Center in New Salem at 7 The Old New Salem Road. Admission is always free.

On the same day and at the same location, please take the opportunity to take in the exhibits at the New Scotland Historical Association Museum, featuring the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II.  The museum will be open for a half-hour before the program.

The association is also happy to announce that we were given permission to reprint Village Historian Dennis Sullivan’s popular book, “Voorheesville, New York: A Sketch of the Beginnings of a Nineteenth Century Railroad Town.” This book will be available for purchase at the museum.

Judy Kimes

Publicist

New Scotland

Historical Association