This project was completed during six library classes under the direction of Librarian, Kenneth Behling, retired librarian, JoAnn Margolis, the archivist of the Historical Society of Woodstook, and storyteller and oral historian, Jill Olesker. Students incorporated research from old books about Woodstock’s history, school reports created by Onteora Middle School students in the 1960‘s and 70‘s, old maps and other resources found in the Historical Society of Woodstock Archives. Richard Heppner, Woodstock Town Historian, Evelyn Stone, longtime resident and teacher and Carl VanWagenen, local genealogist and historian came to the school to discuss aspects of the project with the students.
Working in pairs, students researched the history of a local road to learn how it got its name and then they wrote a short narrative. Mr. Behling helped students create Wiki websites and a custom class Google map where they identified their road and added a short history. Class websites and maps will be available for viewing on Mr. Behling’s Library webpage.
The Historical Society of Woodstock will have a celebration of the students’ work in an exhibit at their museum on Comeau Drive on Sunday, May 20 from 2-4 PM.
Thanks to OTA for helping to fund this project with a 2012 mini-grant.
~ Kenneth Behling