History books may help future generations learn the facts about the past, but memories are much more personal.
That was the thinking of members from the New Scotland Historical Association when they created their book “Times of Ours Lives: New Scotland Memories.” So popular it is now in its second printing, the book contains dozens of stories from before 1970 written by previous and current New Scotland residents.
“They are such real stories about real life,” said book organizer Peg Dorgan, a New Scotland Historical Association member.
The historical association had previously released a local history book on New Scotland through Arcadia Publishing. Dorgan said the book was popular, but didn’t tell the personal tales of residents or convey the emotions behind them.
The group then advertised for people to write about their favorite New Scotland memories to contribute to the book. Some stories are not of great length but all are important, according to Dorgan.
“They take you back to what it was like to live here in those days,” said Dorgan. “For young people, it might be about stuff their grandparents talked about and for people my age it helps you re-live the life you had.”
Some contributions include stories about the 1959 Voorheesville fire, long-gone buildings, “school antics and of leisure-time activities before computers and cell phones.”
New Scotland Historical Association Chairwomen Ethie Moak wrote several stories for the book. One memory told of attended second grade in a two-room building that had been converted from an old horse wagon shed on Maple Avenue in Voorheesville.
“Snakes use to come up out of holes in floor in the bathroom of the girls room,” she said. “We still talk about it every reunion.”
Judy Kimes of Clarksville contributed several stories as well. One was about how she obtained her pet duck Wilbur who continued to live for years on her family’s farm.
Kimes said her father raised chickens and had an egg route. On Easter, many of the families in Albany would by pets for their children on Easter like baby chicks, rabbits and ducklings. Soon they realized having such pets in an apartment complex wasn’t the best of ideas, and they needed to get rid of them.
“Wilbur was an Easter rescue, we adopted him,” she said. “Of course we were surprised some time later when he turned out to be a girl. We found out because he started laying eggs, but we never changed the name.”
Kimes said she wanted to contribute because she enjoyed that period of her life and she wanted to pass on what she remembered. “Plus, I like hearing other people’s memories as well.”
Dorgan said the book could be used as a teaching tool in local schools, but did warn memories can be faulty, so readers should beware.
Since its first publishing in May 2011, nearly 400 books have been sold. Because of its popularity the historical association is again taking orders for a second publishing of the book. Dorgan also said the group received so many stories and got such good feedback, they have enough to put together a second book.
All of the profits from the book will help the raise funds for the historical society, but Dorgan said “the money is really not what’s important.”
“It’s more about sharing the stories,” she said.
Each book costs $20 and can be found at the New Scotland Town Hall and Museum.
