Mary Lou Nahas is a local historian who contributes stories for Greene county as a columnist for Porcupine Soup News.

She has lived in Greene County for over 30 years and is well known in Durham and surrounding communities due to her many contributions to the area. She is an active member of many organizations that serve the Durham, Oak Hill area.

These include the Greene County Historic Society since 1998, where she has opened her house for tours, organized tours of Durham and has served on several committees, as well as the Durham Task Force since 2000.

In 2000, she organized the Durham Historical Preservation Committee and served as secretary 3 for 20 years. Since 2004, she has served the Oak Hill Preservation Association and was elected to several offices; organized Oak Hill Day; maintains a Facebook page, and writes articles for historic registers. She has been a member of the Clematis Garden Club since 2008 and served as an officer between 2010 and 2014, as well as the Federated Garden Clubs of NY.

In 2014, she joined the Durham Chamber of Commerce and served as Secretary. In 2016, she originated the Durham Book Club and the Homesteading Groups.

Mary Lou is a trustee at the Durham-Oak Hill Methodist Church where she secured grant funding, helps to maintain the property and manages the church’s Facebook page.

In 2020, under COVID, she joined the Durham Connect History Working Group and has worked on a map project and cemetery stone cleaning program. She annually serves on the Irish Cultural Center’s Memorial Day Festival committee and was the organizer of the 9-11 Memorial Program. Under the Durham Community Center, she has organized several programs. She is passionate about preserving the history of her community. Mary Lou can be found at almost any community event, town meeting and always with a smile and kind word.