At least one image will come to mind for most area residents when thinking about the Village of Altamont — its annual fair. A new book aims to highlight a few more historic images, too.
Village resident Keith Lee’s book, “Altamont,” was released Monday, Aug. 4, as part of Arcadia Publishing’s “Images of America” series, and features more than 200 historic images. There will be a book signing and reception held Sunday, Aug. 10, from 3 to 5 p.m., in the community room at Altamont Village Hall.
The book is broken into seven sections — beginnings, getting around, community, government, a summer retreat, rest and recreation, and the fair — featuring several previously unpublished images. The majority of images are from the village’s Archives and Museum, which were primarily collected through donations over the years.
“There were times it was a bit of a challenge, but now that it is done, I am just so pleased to finally be able to show it to people,” said Lee.
Marijo Dougherty, curator of the village Archives and Museum, spurred the idea for Lee to create the book. The “huge trove” of photographs provided a good starting point, according to Lee.
After getting the idea for the book, Lee, who is the longtime partner of Altamont Mayor James Gaughan, said he looked to see if anything had been done before. There was a small chapter included in Arcadia’s book for the Town of Guilderland, but nothing as substantial as the now completed book.
“The residents, particularly the older ones, have a very definite sense of history,” Lee said. “The people that became aware of the process of doing the book … were encouraging and proud of the concept.”
He said the most challenging aspect of the book was selecting images to use because each one had to tell a story.
“You have to imagine the story you can tell in 70 to 100 words per caption,” he said. “Everybody has a story.”
John McEneny, a former state assemblyman representing part of Albany County, wrote the foreword for the book. McEneny described Altamont as a “unique American community,” whose history is a “vital part of our heritage.”
“The story of Altamont is the story of people from many backgrounds who have collectively created what is to so many residents and visitors a truly special place in our nation and in our hearts,” McEneny said in the book’s foreword.
Lee’s favorite photo was one nobody in the village had seen for a long time, if ever.
He said there were some residents who claimed to remember a two-story gazebo, but a photograph of the image had never surfaced. Shortly after the proofs for the book were sent to the publisher, the long-awaited evidence turned up.
Guy Gamello Jr., who lives near Kinderhook, contacted village officials about a couple of images he found in the attic of his family’s home. The image of the two-story gazebo was on a glass negative.
Lee quickly notified the publisher of the surprising discovery and was able to swap out one image and place the rare gazebo photo in the book. Lee said sharing the photo was a “nice achievement.”
Seeing the completed book was a rewarding experience for Lee, who has lived in the village for 30 years and did extensive research on the community. He is a volunteer of the village Archives and Museum and writes the brochure for the Victorian Holiday Weekend House Tour.
“It felt great to see it,” Lee said. “I have read a lot of different Arcadia series books, but to have it — just the fact it is Altamont … and I had a hand in it — is a great feeling.”