Jewett Names New Historian, Groundwork Set for Veterans Monument

JEWETT - Groundwork is set for creating a Veterans Monument in Jewett, paying historical tribute even as government leaders have addressed a gaping hole in pursuing history, naming a new town historian.

Town board members, at a meeting last week, continued to make steady progress toward placement of the monument, hoping dedication ceremonies can unfold on Veterans Day in November.

That hope is highly feasible based on what has occurred thus far in terms of envisioning the memorial and raising the necessary funds to make it a reality. Every hope has happened lickety-split.

Councilman John Giordano presented the concept last winter, carrying forward an idea initially offered by town justice Stephen Canfield.

While everyone embraced the plan, nobody had a clue where the money would come from to implement it, getting a price tag of $20,000 from Henderson Monuments, based in Catskill.

Within a few short months, however, the 20 G’s was secured, due largely to a $10,000 grant from the Greene County Legislature, along with donations through area citizens and working with VFW Post #1545 in Windham.

Then, as if by magic or fate or both, a second grant was received from the legislature for $25,000, tapping American Rescue Plan Act funds earmarked for veterans or youth projects.

The ARPA funds were being shared with all towns and villages throughout the county, arriving in Jewett as if on dulcimer wings.

“This lets us accomplish even more than we originally thought,” Giordano says, imagining a brick walkway leading to a small green where the new monument would be set, alongside an existing 9/11 memorial.

And as long as dreams were coming true, plans were drawn up to include landscaping, fencing and a new flag pole as part of the green, peacefully awaiting visitors along Route 23C, across from the municipal building.

Ah, but wait. There wasn’t room for all that but the Greene County highway department appeared from the mist, needing to replace some old culverts just above the site, agreeing to coordinate with the town.

That work has been completed, not only improving existing ditch lines, also installing a mega-sized concrete box culvert below the site and what town supervisor Greg Kroyer calls a “beautiful little glen.”

Colarusso and Son Contractors, hired by the county for the culvert jobs, crafted the network of stones and small pools on Town House Creek, flowing under Route 23C and next to the municipal building.

“This is meant to be. It’s how the universe works,” Kroyer says, pondering the many separate pieces of the project that have come together as if predetermined and right on time.

Kroyer says the foundation for the monument could be prepared “any day,” noting a swale was also built behind the site, deflecting potential flood waters toward the creek and glen.

In the meantime, names that will be added to the monument, numbering over 300, are being checked and double-checked for proper spelling, setting the stage for final engravings.

A crosswalk is expected to be added in the future. In the present, “we are extremely appreciative of what the county has done and for everyone involved in helping to bring this together,” Kroyer says.

In other matters:

—Council members appointed former town board member and local author and painter Elaine Warfield as the town historian.

The selection seems etched in synchronicity. Warfield has long been a history aficionado, recently approaching board members regarding a project surrounding local historical markers.

Warfield wished to work through the town to apply for assistance from the Pomeroy Foundation to help finance and facilitate the project.

“There are many places with historic significance in Jewett that might not have landmark signs right now. I wanted to start searching for them and possibly getting them more identified,” Warfield says.

Warfield spoke to government leaders last month, receiving their support. They then approached her about the historian’s position, replacing Janet Nicholls who retired two years ago.

The job pays a meager $700 annually but, “I don’t care about that. I just love this kind of stuff,” Warfield says.

She is currently, on her own, collecting oral stories from seasoned citizens, preserving them for posterity.

“Many of our older residents are gone. Once these folks are gone, they and their stories tend to disappear unless we can get them saved, on paper or in their voices,” Warfield says.

“Some people may think their stories are insignificant, that no one would want to hear them. That’s not true. All of them are significant.”

Warfield is well known for her photography books and the massive painting on the side of her barn, at her home along Route 23C, a few miles up the road from the municipal building.

She helped found the East Kill Valley Historical Association and would like to present slide shows at the municipal building in the future for guests of senior citizens' nutrition program and all interested residents.