To the Editor:

This Saturday, Oct. 12, the Village of Altamont Archives and Museum will host the first Founders Day Celebration. Back in the spring. when members of Altamont Community Tradition came to me with this idea, we began brainstorming how we should present the information to the public.

We decided to focus on the original village board members and trustees who lobbied for incorporation on Oct. 18, 1890. Several volunteers and I began searching the archives for photographs and information on the first trustees. We found pictures of some of the original board members and began creating an exhibit based on those photos along with biographical research.

About two months into the project, one of the volunteers located a copy of the original village ordinances, which were created in December 1890, two months after the incorporation. These laws were printed on tabloid-size newsprint and posted around the village. The language and terminology used give a beautiful snapshot into what life was like in the village during that time.

We had the fragile original print photographed and duplicated. The reproduction is now hanging in the Village Archives and Museum Hallway Gallery as part of this weekend’s Founders Day exhibit.

We hope you will join us this coming Saturday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Orsini Park to take the Museum in the Streets self-guided tour or at Village Archives and Museum (115 Main Street, Altamont, NY 12009).

There will be information about the first trustees and the origin of the name “Altamont.” There will be a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. at the museum. Refreshments will be served during the reception.

Visitors will have a chance to identify unknown photos of Altamont or take the Photo Challenge to possibly win a gift certificate to one of Altamont’s local businesses.

Dan Barker

Altamont

Village Archivist