Woodstock History

COMING EVENTS

2009-02-22T09:47:00.000-08:00

Saturday, April 4 - Remembering Woodstock at the Woodstock Library 5:00 PM

Readings from the new publication of the Historical Sociey of Woodstock, Remembering Woodstock (The History Press)- by Richard Heppner, Tinker Twine and Deborah Heppner.

A Tale of Two Communities - Friday, February 27 at 7:30 PM

A Tale of Two Communities – The Evolution of Rhinebeck and Woodstock will be the subject of a panel discussion hosted by the Rhinebeck Historical Society this Friday evening at the Starr Library in Rhinebeck. Discussing the parallels, differences, and uniqueness of their respective communities will be Woodstock Town Historian Richard Heppner, author of Remembering Woodstock; local Woodstock historian Janine Fallon-Mower, author of Woodstock from the Images of America series; Cynthia Owen Philip, author of books on the history of Rhinecliff; and, Dick Hermans, a member of one of Rhinebeck’s first families and owner of the Oblong Book Store. This free event will begin at 7:30 PM and will be held in the local history room of the library located at 68 West Market Street in Rhinebeck. For further information, contact B. Lewis at 845-876-4205.

Woodstock before the Festival - The Roots of 69

2008-08-06T14:05:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Soundouts

In 1967, John “Jocko” Moffitt began producing a series of outdoor concerts called Soundouts. These took place just outside Woodstock on Pan Copeland’s farm. I remember attending one that year. Parking was in a field and tickets were a couple of bucks. Opposite to the stage—back about fifty feet was a light show group.

People were camped out around fires with tents and teepees. There was an audience in the hundreds. I have heard that at some of the events there were upwards of two thousand people. As I recall, that night there were quite a few acts including Bunky & Jake, Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry and of course Cat Mother & the All Night Newsboys.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Roots of 69 Woodstock Festival set for August 9, 2008

Click here to view PDF poster

Roots of 69
Backstory Panel Discussion and Soundout
August 9, 2008
Colony Café
22 Rock City Road, Woodstock, NY (MAP IT)
12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
The subject of the discussion will be the events leading up to the Woodstock Festival of 1969, including the Soundout festivals that took place in and around Woodstock for several years in the late 1960s. Moderator:
Geddy Sveikauskas Publisher, Woodstock Times and other newspapers

Panel:
Michael Lang
Woodstock resident and legendary ’69 Festival promoter
Jean Young
co-author with Lang of Woodstock Festival Remembered
Bill West
who was in local government in the 1960s
Jeremy Wilber
former Town Supervisor, who was tending bar during the late sixties at the Sled Hill Café
Paul McMahon
iconic local musician and Mothership impresario

Soundout
FREE EVENT
The following musical acts are scheduled to appear:
Hair of the Dog
Becki Brindle
Joey Eppard
Frankie (without his Fingers)
Spiv
Paul McMahon
Peter Walker
Jeremy Bernstein of Stoney Clove Lane
Ben Vita
Naked

Contemporary Soundout
2:45 to 5:00 p.m.
Produced by Paul McMahon
and more

Sponsored by:
Historical Society of Woodstock and the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce & Arts
woodstockhistory.org
woodstockchamber.com

For more information call: 845.679.8111

HSW Receives Grant

2008-03-16T13:31:00.000-07:00

Historical Society of Woodstock Receives Get Set Grant

Deborah Heppner, president of the Historical Society of Woodstock is pleased to announce the receipt of a Get Set grant to retain the assistance of a museum specialist. Through the grant, the Historical Society has secured the services of Linda Norris to assist in further developing the Society’s strategic plan. The process is designed to solicit both board and community input in the creation of a five-year strategic plan and a one-year work plan for the organization.

Ms. Norris is the former head of the Upstate History Alliance and is currently managing partner of Riverhill, a consulting firm specializing in planning, interpretation and exhibitions. She is a graduate of Cooperstown's History Museum Studies Program and holds an AB in American History from Cornell University.

The Get Set grant is one in a series of grants administered by the Upstate History Alliance and funded by the New York State Council on the Arts. Designed to help museums and historical societies strengthen and develop their institutions within the community they serve, this is the second in the series of grants received by the Society.

Woodstock TimeBank / Fair Share

2008-02-11T09:23:00.001-08:00

On Feb. 7th the Society joined the Woodstock TimeBank (see the link for more info: http://www.timebanks.org/ ). Yesterday JoAnn and Sylvia Margolis and I attended a TimeBank Share Fair at Woodstock Fire Co. # 1. We reached many new people on behalf of the Society including some who didn’t know we existed. In addition, we handed out newsletters, received positive feedback and even raised a little money via book sales.

Weston Blelock

Heat in Comeau Building

2008-01-16T12:25:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the Historical Society of Woodstock passed another milestone. Kosco (under the supervision of Richard Heppner) was at the Society’s building all day and added heat to the venerable building. This initiative was made possible by former supervisor Jeremy Wilber. Last year he applied for a grant from Senator John Bonacic and the latter provided funding via a grant. Part of the grant also provided insulation that was installed last fall. During the next few months the building’s interior will be gradually modified to house the Society’s records.

Weston Blelock

2008-01-01T07:50:00.001-08:00

Woodstock Years Volume ll

2007-12-09T17:15:00.000-08:00

My first read in the just published 'Woodstock Years Volume ll' was just delicious, Richard. Paul Smart's - John Ernst story solved the mystery for me as to where in Woodstock I can find the 3 peak mountains Ernst painted...Tonight's desert is your Homeland Security piece, Happy's music on Monday, Tinker's '50s on Tuesday, and Michael Perkins' Hart Crane on Wednesday....Renee Kristol

Get Set Workshop

2007-12-09T11:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Historical Society of Woodstock (HSW) trustees met with Linda Norris, of River Hill Partners, to move the Society towards a strategic plan of action for the year ahead, and beyond. It was gratifying to find that each member of the board was on the same page as far as planning direction was concerned. The Society will soon move into its new home at the Comeau and will need to ready it in the months ahead to house the town's amazing collection.

A blog was one of the initiatives offered to make the planning process a more inclusive one for all our shareholders--locally and farther afield. Hats off to Richard Heppner for getting this up and running.

Weston Blelock

Welcome

2007-12-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Woodstock History Blog site. Here, members of the Board of Directors of the Historical Society of Woodstock will discuss their work and the many plans, activities and ideas they have for the Historical Society. We look forward to hearing from you.