Marking this Moment in Local History

Marking this Moment in Local History
Historical societies and arts organizations are asking people to document this odd time in world history, when the coronavirus has shut down towns and cities. This photo of Millerton taken a month ago shows an eerily empty village center. 
Photo by Kaitlin Lyle

Area history and arts organizations are beginning to record the ways the coronavirus is changing our world. 

Edward Downey, president of the North East Historical Society and the town of North East’s historian (the town of North East, N.Y., includes the village of Millerton), sent out an email blast recently  asking people in town “to write down or orally record their thoughts and experiences as our community makes its way through this challenge. Take photos that document this period. And when you do, please send a copy to the North East Historical Society, P.O. Box 727, Millerton, NY 12546 or email me  eddowney12@gmail.com.”

The Dutchess County and New York state historians are also collecting data, as of course is the Connecticut Historical Society (CHS), which posted at its website (www.chs.org) a request for: writings, signage, photos that document the world around you as well as drawings, paintings “and other forms of art you’re creating and documenting and short videos.” Find instructions on how to  make submissions at www.chs.org/covidinct/. 

In New York, for the state and county sites go to www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/History/Documenting-COVID-19-in-Dutchess-... and www.aphnys.org/historians-start-documenting-covid-19.

If you are an artist and want to create work while in quarantine, check the ongoing shows online at Standard Space gallery in Sharon, Conn. (www.standardspace.net) and Millerton’s Re Institute (www.thereinstitute.com).

The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council is also curating an online show of work created during quarantine, called “Resiliency.” Work should be sent with the subject line “VIRTUAL GALLERY SUBMISSION” to info@artsnwct.org. For more information on what type of work to send, go to www.artsnwct.org.

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