IT’S ELEMENTARY – Lessons from the New Baltimore Schoolhouse

A COLLECTION OF ORAL HISTORIES

Francine Matalon-Degni’s collection of oral histories and the photos that accompany them shed a sociological, cultural, experiential and historical light on people whose lives were anchored by the four-room, Union Free District 10 elementary school in New Baltimore, New York from the 1930s to the early 1960s. Walk up the Church Street hill and climb the nine front stairs to a beloved place of learning, teaching and creating. Share in the games of imagination and school humiliations, play on the big rock, wade across culverts, swim across the Hudson to Hotaling Island and back; run through this hamlet free as a bird, then return to the schoolhouse for lessons in friendship, generosity, community, and respect. No matter where you grew up, you’re sure to be captivated, informed and inspired by nineteen people who are happy to share their schoolhouse with you.

THE AUTHOR
Francine Matalon-Degni is a photo stylist in New York City who was a confirmed city girl until she heard the cardinals sing in New Baltimore.

PRAISE
This book is truly a gift to the community, but its greater importance may be in how it contributes to strengthening that community. — Janet Angelis, Past President, New Baltimore Conservancy

This collection of memories preserves an understanding of life in a small town along the Hudson River. Nostalgic offerings reveal the rites of passage and sense of community experienced by children in an idyllic time. — Carol Melewski, New Baltimore Conservancy

Projects like this will live on for a long time. Imagine the joy of a researcher in the future finding an image of their grandparent or great-grandparent in grade school. That joy makes a local historian happy and underscores a reason to keep going to preserve local history.  — Robert Hallock, President, Greene County Historical Society

Matalon-Degni’s charming oral histories will joggle every readers’ memories and the photographs will tickle their hearts. They did mine. — Harry Sturges, Historian, Town of Coeymans

Additional Information