olumbia County Historians Launch History Website and Historic Sites Map
The Columbia County Historians group has unveiled a new website devoted to Columbia County history that includes a map of the county’s historic sites. The website can be found at https://historian.columbiacountyny.com.
The website aims to encompass everything of significance relating to the history of the county and its many localities. It includes links to some 35 municipal historians, historical societies, and other historical organizations active in the county, as well as links to historic sites open to the public, libraries, museums, and other resources for the study of local and county history.
An important feature of the website is a detailed county map showing the location of historic sites and markers, with descriptions. The sites range from well-known public attractions to many lesser-known local landmarks. The map is an ongoing project, and more sites are being continually added.
In 2018, under the leadership of Austerlitz Town Historian Tom Moreland, more than 50 municipal historians, citizen historians and historical societies and organizations formed the Columbia County Historians to share information about individual town projects and pursue collaborations of mutual interest. This became the impetus to create the website and the historic sites map.
“The Columbia County Historical Society has long played a leadership role in preserving the rich history of Columbia County,” said William Better, Columbia County Historian. “In addition, all 23 towns and villages have their own municipal historians, and there are other active historical societies in the county. It made sense to link up these resources to promote the study and appreciation of our shared history.”
Better views the website as a “one-stop resource for anyone with an interest in Columbia County and its history.”
Shari Franks of the Columbia County Human Resources Department created the website, and Don Meltz of the Columbia County Planning Department designed the historic sites map, using content provided by the Historians. Their involvement was arranged by County Historian Better with Matt Murell, Chair of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors. “We could hardly have conceived of a project this ambitious, much less brought it to the public, without the dedicated work of Shari Franks and Don Meltz,” said Moreland.
Columbia County Historians welcomes the active involvement of residents interested in Columbia County history. For more information contact Tom Moreland at tmoreland@austerlitzny.com.
