City of Hudson & Its River: Oral History Excerpts, Discussion

The Hudson Area Library will host “The City of Hudson & Its River: Discussion & Excerpts from the Hudson Area Library’s Oral History Collection,” a virtual presentation set for Thursday, March 24th.

This program will feature a selection of audio and video clips from the Hudson Area Library (HAL) and the Black Legacy Association of Columbia County (BLACC) Oral History collections, both housed at the library and soon to be available online. A panel will discuss these excerpts, photos of the river from the collection, and their own stories of how the river has impacted the residents of Hudson.

Joining History Room on Zoom host and board trustee Gary Sheffer are Leo Bower, Shantytown historian, and Peter Tenerowicz, past Commodore of the Hudson Power Boat Association. Discussion and questions and answers will be interspersed throughout the evening.

Gary Sheffer is a library trustee and chairman of the library’s History Room Committee. He has worked in journalism and communications for more than 40 years and is a professor of public relations at Boston University. Gary grew up in Hudson and now lives in Livingston with his wife, Barbara.

Leo Bower is also a lifelong resident of Hudson and recalls his childhood on Front Street prior to urban renewal fondly despite its hardships. He first became enamored of the culture and characters of Shantytown when he reconnected with his father who had a shack and a fishing business there. He is a Hudson-phile and resident historian with a special expertise in the history of Shantytown. He and his wife Michele currently reside in Greenport.

Peter Tenerowicz grew up in Hudson and Greenport and is past Commodore of the Hudson Power Boat Association. He is a part-time musician and stay-at-home dog dad. He sails his Capri 22 sailboat regularly on the Hudson River.

The event will begin at 6 pm and will be held via Zoom. For more information or to register, visit the Hudson Area Library website.

Photo of two men on boats in the Hudson River by Shantytown during a 1948 flood courtesy Hudson Area Library Ciancetta/Rowles Photo Collection.