NEWS RELEASE: Historic Huguenot Street Announces First 2016 Event with Historian Ronald G. Knapp and Photographer Michael Neil O'Donnell

NEW PALTZ, NY (January 6, 2016) – Historic Huguenot Street has announced its first 2016 event: a talk and book signing with Ronald G. Knapp and Michael Neil O’Donnell, authors of The Gunks (Shawangunk Mountains) Ridge and Valley Towns Through Time, will take place Saturday, January 16, at 2 pm at Deyo Hall (6 Broadhead Avenue, New Paltz).

Knapp and O’Donnell’s 2015 book provides an illustrated history of the Shawangunk Mountains and the surrounding ridge and valley towns, including New Paltz, Gardiner, Rosendale, Accord, High Falls, and Marbletown. Nearly 200 vintage and contemporary photographs reveal how the region has changed over the past century. The book is adorned with full-color images throughout and detailed captions packed with historical information, with photos by Fred Gerty, John Hayes, Maxine Kamin, Glenn Koehler, Susan Koehler, Susan Lehrer, Michael Neil O’ Donnell, and Carol Rietsma. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the talk ($24.83).

“We’re happy to welcome Ronald Knapp back for another program at Historic Huguenot Street,” said Director of Public Programming, Kara Gaffken.  “He and Michael Neil O’Donnell have created a compelling book that allows viewers to see The Gunks region as it appeared through the decades of the last century.”

Ronald G. Knapp has been carrying out research on the cultural and historical geography of China's countryside since 1965 and more recently in the United States. Trained in geography and history at Stetson University (BA 1962) and the University of Pittsburgh (PhD 1968), he has analyzed, celebrated, and promoted understanding of China's domestic architectural heritage through his writings and lectures. His early interest in local historical geography has led to two new books focusing on regions of the United States. He is the author, editor, or contributor of more than 20 books, including The Gunks (Shawangunk Mountains) Ridge and Valley Towns Through Time.

Michael Neil O'Donnell, a landscape photographer, pairs a modern aesthetic with classic principles to create simple, bold, ethereal interpretations of the Hudson Valley's natural beauty. His images have been seen at exhibitions throughout the Hudson Valley and he is a contributor to the publications of the Mohonk Preserve, Open Space Institute, and Riverkeeper.

Coffee and refreshments will be served. $5 Members, $7 Seniors and Military, $10 General Admission.

A National Historic Landmark District, Historic Huguenot Street is a 501(c)3 non-profit that encompasses 30 buildings across 10 acres that was the heart of the original 1678 New Paltz settlement, including seven stone houses that date to the early eighteenth century.  It was founded in 1894 as the Huguenot Patriotic, Historical, and Monumental Society to preserve the nationally acclaimed collection of stone houses. Since then, Historic Huguenot Street has grown into an innovative museum, chartered as an educational corporation by the University of the State of New York, that is dedicated to protecting our historic buildings, conserving an important collection of artifacts and manuscripts, and promoting the stories of the Huguenot Street families, from the sixteenth century to today. 

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Contact
Kaitlin Gallucci
Communications & Marketing Manager
(845) 255-1660
media@huguenotstreet.org