“The Summers Lasted Forever” 1940-1960:

The Huguenot Street Memories Project

The Huguenot Historical Society, New Paltz, NY

I've had a love affair with New Paltz for as long as I can remember… It's true, I go up Main Street and I see all the changes and I go get teary-eyed, but Huguenot Street has never changed — has never let me down. It's as it was and hope to God it always will be. [Gladys Gottlieb].

Welcome to the Huguenot Street Memories Project, the first ever oral history project undertaken by the Huguenot Historical Society. The goal of this project is to document, through firsthand accounts, life in the New Paltz area in the 20th century. We hope you enjoy our first exhibit, "The Summers Lasted Forever," which highlights the childhood recollections of our town's most respected citizens who grew up in the 1940s and 1950s. From playing with toys to serving our country, from Stone House Day to rock & roll, and from farming to supermarkets, their stories offer a colorful glimpse of life in our town during this important period in American history.

(Note: This online Memories Project was done in Flash and you will need Flash Player to view it.  You can download Flash Player.)

Growing Up

Serving Our Country

Huguenot Street

A Democratic President Comes to a Republic Town

We want you to share your memories about growing up in New Paltz and thoughts about this project. Click here to go to our wikispace and share! It is easy and fun. Become part of the Huguenot Street Memories Project.

Credits and Acknowledgements:
Eric J. Roth and Nancy E. Gentile, Exhibit Curators

The exhibit curators and the Huguenot Historical Society would like to extend a heartfelt thank you all of the contributors to the Huguenot Street Memories Project:
To the Thomas and Corinne Nyquist Foundation and the New Paltz Community Foundation for their generous financial support.

To the following individuals who so willingly donated their time, stories, memories, and personal effects: David Lent, John Litts, Dina DuBois, Gladys Gottlieb, Jack Klix, Joyce Minard, John Cunningham.
(Click here for short biographical sketches of these generous friends of local history).

To the HHS staff members and volunteers who conducted and transcribed the interviews:
Laura Hertle, Dawn Elliott, Kathy Bischoff.

To the libraries who contributed photographs and archival documentation: Haviland-Heidgerd Historical Collection at the Elting Memorial Library, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library and Museum, the SUNY New Paltz Sojourner Truth Library, and the Kline Library at the  University of Northern Arizona.

And to our web designer, Bonnie Roll.