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County Museum
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& HISTORICAL SOCIETY AT HURLEYVILLE, NY
November 2006
The Sullivan County government will keep our museum open permanently. The
museum is host to the Sullivan County Historical Society www.sullivancountyhistory.org , Sullivan County
Dramatic Workshop, Frederick Cook Society, Lawerence Cooke exhibit and the Catskill Art Society. I would
like to thank everyone who supported our effort. Every person who wrote a letter, made a phone call, signed
the petition certainly made a difference. Continued support will be needed to ensure that the doors of this fine
cultural center remain open for all.
Here is a link to the article announcing it: Sullivan to open museum all year
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Times Herald-Record
October 07, 2006
Closing Sullivan County Museum could damage artifacts, archivists say
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Times Herald-Record
October 04, 2006
Sullivan county budget cuts jobs, hikes property tax
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July 21, 2006
Sullivan legislators restore most funds
By Victor Whitman
Times Herald-Record
vwhitman@th-record.com
Monticello - Sullivan County legislators yesterday restored most funding to 14 outside agencies that had faced deep cuts this summer.
Instead of 50 percent cuts, those agencies, which include Cornell Cooperative Extension, Sullivan County Head Start and the Partnership
for Economic Development, will now receive 10 percent less than originally budgeted this year.
Legislators also restored money to the Sullivan County Museum in Hurleyville and Fort Delaware. The museum will stay open through the
summer.
Fort Delaware, which has been closed, will reopen July 29 on weekends and Mondays.
Facing a $240,000 cut, Cornell staged a rally at the Government Center June 1, saying its farm, nutrition and consumer education programs
were in danger. Now the agency won't have to cut any programs, though it still won't fill some vacant positions.
"We are glad to have most of the money back," said Judy Essex, Cornell's executive director. "With the $15,000 (cut) it is still going to be
tight."
Lawmakers restored a total of $684,000; $350,000 of which came from a state grant obtained by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther,
D-Forestburgh.
County lawmakers blamed Gunther for refusing to carry forward a half-percentage point increase in the sales tax, which would have raised
about $4 million this year. Gunther said in a news release yesterday that she was happy to assist the agencies.
Lawmakers voted 8-1 to restore the funding, with Finance Committee Chairman Jonathan Rouis voting no. Rouis said the county can't
afford it right now. Next year, Rouis said, it will be tight. Other lawmakers have also said there is no guarantee that the agencies will be
funded at the same level next year.
But Geri Newman of Neversink, who traced her family's lineage back several generations to Ireland by combing records at the county
museum, is optimistic that the museum will stay open. She got more than 1,000 people to sign a petition to stop the county from closing it.
"I am not going to allow that to happen," she said.
"I will get an army out."
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Our letter to the Sullivan Co. Legislature
June 2006
The Sullivan County Legislature recently proposed the closing of the Sullivan County Historical Society /
Museum in Hurleyville, N.Y. as a way to balance the county budget and threatens to do so in the near future
unless we, the people of Sullivan County, make our voices heard in opposition.
To myself and to thousands of other citizens here in Sullivan County, this is a tragic blow not only to the memory of
our past but also to the generations of young people who reside in and visit our county. Future generations deserve to
know the history of Sullivan County, and its founders, movers & shakers, hotels & farms, heroes & villains as well as
many of their personal family genealogy.
The SCHS/Museum offers invaluable archives of genealogical information as well as wonderful exhibits and is also the
home to the Catskill Art Society and the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop. It offers many programs, many
free of charge to children and adults alike.
The SCHS/Museum is primarilly staffed by volunteers who provide tours, guidance, invaluable knowledge, and an
array of other services free of charge to all who enter the museums doors. Those of us who are educators know how
important a museum is to our children. The learning experience offered at the SCHS/Museum offers children an
opportunity to develop a sense of pride and belonging in their community. Most of our county schools have taken
advantage of field trips that have included thousands of children over the years. What a shame it would be for the
children just coming up in school to lose this wonderful opportunity! Never forget: Our past is their future!
I have included direct links to our local Congressman, Maurice Hinchey, the members of the Sullivan Co. Legislature,
Gov. George Pataki and hope that you will voice your opinion strongly on this subject to these public officials. By
doing so, you will be taking a giant step to keep our wonderful museum open. Please take a moment and do so. That's
all it will take to make a difference. I have also included a link to the museum web site:
www.sullivancountyhistory.org
Take a look at it and see all the benefits it offers to the public. A moment of your time could make all the difference
---- Please make yourself heard on this issue.
I thank you for your consideration and effort to keep the museum open. The museum you help to save is your own!
Sincerely,
Geri E. Neumann
Ellen A. Neumann
Sullivan County Legislature
NYS Govenor George Pataki
Congressman Maurice Hinchey : Representing the 22nd District of New York
Sullivan County Historical Society Museum