Harold Toles took a lot of pictures. If anything big happened in Schoharie County from 1948 to 1984, Toles was probably there with his camera.
The Old Stone Fort Museum Research Library has more than 150,000 of his negatives in its collection, as well as 13 notebooks recording a description of each shot.
Schoharie County Historical Society Trustee Pete Lindemann has been going through these photographs for the past few months and has picked out some significant shots – sexy glamour shots, 1950s automobiles, interiors of local restaurants and bars – including the Stone Pony, the Mercury Club’s Jigaramoo of 1951 and the husband-calling contest at the 75th annual Sunshine Fair.
There are even photos that Toles took of old photos – including some of Cobleskill Village in the 1870s – not seen in almost 70 years.
On Sunday, September 22nd, local historian Peter Lindemann will present “A Sentimental Journey”, a lecture and multi-media presentation on the extensive photography collection of the late Harold Toles, in the Badgley Museum Annex at the Old Stone Fort Museum. Admission is $5 for adults and free for students and Schoharie County Historical Society members. Refreshments will be provided.
The Old Stone Fort Museum Complex is located in the village of Schoharie at 145 Fort Road, off NY State Rt. 30, 2.5 miles south of Interstate 88 Exit 23.
More information on this and other events happening throughout the Schoharie County Historical Society and Old Stone Fort Museum’s 130th Anniversary year, call (518) 295-7192 or visit the museum website.
Does your historic site, museum, library, or archive have a publicly accessible collection you’d like featured at The New York History Blog? Send along a relevant photo, and description of the collection using the above format to nyshistory@gmail.com.
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