Local Oral History Project

A Series of Personal Stories While We Are All Self-Isolating

This is an oral history project to record views of key members of the Roe Jan community at this unique moment in our history.

Below is access to video interviews conducted by Peter Cipkowski, former head of the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society, and Jeanne Mettler in April and May 2020.

Rob Lagonia

An interview with Rob Lagonia, Austerlitz supervisor and chair of Columbia County’s Health and Human Services Committee. April 2020.

Jeanne Mettler

An interview with Jeanne Mettler, supervisor of Town of Copake. April 2020.

Matt White

An interview with Matthew White, a Hillsdale business owner. April 2020.

Neil Howard

An interview with Dr. Neil Howard, superintendent of the Taconic Hills Central School District. April 2020.

Janet Mackin

An interview with Janet Mackin, secretary of the Copake Grange, nurse with a career in healthcare education administration, and member of the Copake Public Health Emergency Task Force. April 2020.

Edgar Masters

An interview with Edgar Masters, long-time resident of Copake Falls and founding member of the Friends of Taconic State Park. April 2020.

Betty White

An interview with Betty White, long-time resident of Copake Falls and Hillsdale and president of the Roeliff Jansen Food Pantry. April 2020.

Peter Cipkowski

An interview with Peter Cipkowski, the former supervisor of the Town of Hillsdale, NY. April 2020.

Jack Lindsey

An interview with Jack Lindsey, co-chair of Ancramdale Neighbors Helping Neighbors. May 2020.

Reverend John P. Thompson

An interview with the Very Rev. John P. Thompson, rector of St. John in the Wilderness, Copake Fall, NY. May 2020.

Brian Peacock

An interview with Brian Peacock, owner of Dad’s Copake Diner, in Copake, NY. May 2020.

Richard Herrington

An interview with Richard Herrington, vice president and general manager of Ed Herrington, Inc., based in Hillsdale, NY. May 2020.

Seung Suh

An interview with Seung Suh, Ancramdale resident and proprietor of the Copake General Store, in Copake, NY. May 2020.

Andrew Appel

An interview with Andrew Appel, Hillsdale resident, harpsichordist, and artistic director of the Four Nations Ensemble. May 2020.

Watch and listen to the March 19, 2020 concert, The Violin at Versailles: Olivier Brault, Loretta O’Sullivan & Andrew Appel, performed at the Masonic Temple in Hillsdale, NY, as we began our time of social isolation HERE.

Dennis Wedlick

An interview with Dennis Wedlick, architect. Dennis talks about housing issues in Columbia County.  May 2020.

Lesley Doyel

An interview with Lesley Doyel, Copake resident and president of the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society.  May 2020.

Nicole Friedrich

An interview with Nicole Friedrich, Taghkanic resident and manager of the Copake Hillsdale Farmers Market.  May 2020.

Jill Sims-Elster

An interview with Jill Sims-Elster, branch manager of the Bank of Greene County in Copake and Hillsdale town board member.  May 2020.

Jenny Elliott

An interview with Jenny Elliott, co-owner of Tiny Hearts Farm & Flower Shop in Hillsdale, NY. June 2020.

Rachael Bradway

An interview with Rachael Bradway, business partner for Robert Bradway’s Plumbing & Heating, Inc., in Hillsdale, NY. June 2020.

Caroline Stewart

An interview with Hillsdale, NY resident Caroline Stewart about the development of Roeliff Jansen Park. July 2020.

Tammy Gaskell

An interview with Tammy Gaskell, the director of Roeliff Jansen Community Library in Copake, NY. July 2020.

Mary Burntitus

An interview with Mary Burntitus, head of the Taconic Hills Central School District’s Backpack Program in Craryville, NY. August 2020.

Bonnie Hundt

An interview with Bonnie Hundt, an Ancram resident and town board member, and a Millerton small business owner. August 2020.