NEW SCOTLAND — Shakers stressed aspects of community and unity; however, individuals that made up these villages had personalities, idiosyncrasies, and life experiences that made up dynamics within each Shaker family and sometimes led to surprising interactions, close friendships, or even divisions within the community.

Some of these unexpected stories will be told by Samantha Hall Saladino, education director at the Shaker Heritage Society, for the New Scotland Historical Association program held at the Wyman Osterhout Community Center, off of Route 85, in New Salem on Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 7:30 p.m.

Saladino is the Fulton County Historian in Johnstown as well as the education director for the Shaker Heritage Society in Albany.  She has bachelor’s degrees in history and English from Russell Sage Collage and a master of arts degree in museum studies from the University of New Hampshire.

She has presented several historical programs, including “Shaker Identities:  he Shakers as Social Service Providers” in 2014, at the Researching New York Conference in Albany. Her Oct. 6 talk in New Salem is titled  “The People of Watervliet: Unexpected Stories of Life in the Albany Shaker Community.” 

The program is free and open to the public.  For more information, please call 765-4212. 

Editor’s note: Ethie Moak is the publicity chairwoman for the New Scotland Historical Association.