The Town of Angelica, New York now has a new town historian. The town historian is a position in town governments in New York state. In 1919, the New York state legislature, recognizing the cultural and social importance of preserving history, passed a law requiring that every city and town have a town historian. The town historian is tasked with preserving the history of the town; ensuring that important records of the town’s history are protected. Beyond this official requirement, the town historian often assumes a role of helping to provide and promote knowledge of the town’s history and of the history of historical people and things relevant to the town’s history.

On January 9^th, 2017, the Town of Angelica held its annual town organization meeting, in which I, Jonathan Makeley, was appointed the town historian. This is the first time that the town of Angelica has had a town historian in over 17 years. In 1999, the previous town historian, Bob Dorsey, had left his position. After that, the town had not been able to find a person willing to volunteer for the position, until the summer of 2016, when I had found out about the position’s opening and volunteered for it. In this time, I have received support from a number of people in town, especially among my family, as well as Tracy Cassidy and the other members of the newly emerging Angelica Historical Society. In the intervening months, I waited in hope that the Town Supervisor would decide to appoint me. I was overjoyed when I came to the town meeting and was received confirmation that I was accepted for the position. After signing some paperwork at the end of the meeting, I officially became the new town historian, and the first Angelica Town Historian of the 21^st century.

Now that I have been appointed, I may now turn to the task of serving in my new role. Although it has been only a few days, I have begun thinking over plans for my coming work. The first matter to take care of is the town’s documents. Once I receive the box containing the old town historian material from the town, I can look over it and see where to proceed. Once I am able to look over the material, I can determine what is there and what other important information may need to be added. At the very least, I know that anything from the town’s 21^st century history will need to be added. I will likely then turn toward working on making electronic versions of the documents, to help ensure preservation and better ease of access.

I intend to also work on other things to advance the town’s history. I will try to work where I can to find additional historical information and to help expand access to it. I have been considering possibilities for this, which I may look into. In the past, I have given historical lectures in town. I will likely continue to do this, and use this as an opportunity to help inform people on history relevant to the town and its surrounding context. I intend to look into ways to cooperate with various people and groups in town, such as the Angelica Historical Society and the Angelica Boosters, to engage in larger projects to promote the town’s history. Also, in this past year the county’s historians had come together to produce the County Historical Week. I had received information that there are plans being made for another County History Week this year. With recent developments, our town may be in a better position to help highlight our town’s history and contribute to events during this week. As I progress in my work, I should be able to further develop plans and advance efforts for preserving and promoting the town’s history.

The effort to preserve and promote the town’s history is a worthy endeavor. This town has a rich history; from our founding, to our reformist history, to our modern striving toward a better future; from the Churches, DuPonts and D’Autremonts, to Moses Van Campen and Evert Van Wickle, to Rev. Calvin Fairbank, to William Rochester and Judson Sherman; from the first schoolhouse to Angelica Central and Genesee Valley; from our early loggers and farmers, to today’s loggers and farmers, as well as todays antique stores, printers, and so on. Our history is an important part of our community; it is what made it, it is a part of what makes it lively, and it can be an important element for helping chart its future. It is not without reason that the saying of our town is Angelica, A Town Where History Lives. I look forward to serving our community and working with others who care for Angelica and its history, to help give our town’s history the condition and regards which it deserves.