OGDENSBURG — The city historian has launched a new initiative to help catalogue and archive the oral history of residents living in Ogdensburg and the surrounding area.
Mayor Wayne. L. Ashley on Monday praised the new program, created by Heuvelton Central School teacher and Ogdensburg Historian Julie Madlin. He said it provides an excellent opportunity for city residents to dig through their photo albums and china cabinets to find family heirlooms.
The mayor himself said he plans to participate.
“I’ve got an 1856 railroad certificate that says ‘Ogdensburgh-Watertown-Rome Railroad,’ that I plan to bring in,” Mr. Ashley said. “I want to know more about it.”
He also praised the city historian for organizing the project, designed to glean oral history from those with ties to the Ogdensburg community.
“For the past few years, since she’s been our historian, she’s done an excellent job in educating people about the history of Ogdensburg, especially those that weren’t even aware about it,” Mr. Ashley said. “I know it is something I will attend. Ms. Madlin is one of the best local historians I have seen in a long time. She is a credit to Ogdensburg and the region.”
Ms. Madlin said the Ogdensburg mayor’s viewpoint and interest in local history are exactly what she is hoping to inspire.
“I had it kind of rummaging around in my head for the last four years,” Ms. Madlin said. “Part of it is the oral history aspect of it, but what I really want is for local history to be more accessible. If you hold a symposium or a lecture I think people are intimidated by that. I want this to be something where people can drop by, bring something historic they own and talk to about their history and the community.”
Ms. Madlin said she plans to record, document and then archive the personal histories of those who attend.
The new Ogdensburg History Coffee Hour is being billed as a free public program that will be held on a rotating basis at various locations around the city. The first event will take place on Oct. 13, 2018 at 10 a.m. at the Ogdensburg Public Library. The goal is to allow citizens a venue to share stories about growing up or working in Ogdensburg or bring an object for show and tell, according to Ms. Madlin.
“Right now the Ogdensburg library, the Remington Museum and the Sherman Inn have all said they would like to host one of the events,” she said. “It’s nice to know there is so much public interest already.”
Local author and historian John Austin will be joining participants in the inaugural Ogdensburg event. The program is part one of a continuing series, Future programs will include Sister Mary Christine Taylor and David Martin, according to Ms. Madlin.
She said the new oral history initiative in Ogdensburg is made possible through the Friends of the Ogdensburg Public Library, and the Northern New York Community Foundation. Ms. Madlin said the community foundation provided a $4,500 grant to help foster the program.
For more information contact Julie Madlin at jmmadlin@gmail.com.
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