Veterans Day Memorial Show

Shortly after the conclusion of the Second World War Anita Smith—at the behest of James T. Shotwell—sent every member of the armed forces, men and women, in Woodstock, NY, a questionnaire to fill out. Many former members responded with service photos, letters and filled-out forms. These were collected into a database that was presented to the town. In addition, some of the responses formed part of a chapter of Anita Smith's Woodstock History and Hearsay. This chapter was titled "The Soldiers' Stories: Woodstockers Share Their War Experiences." Pictured at left is an artistic sketch of Woodstock's Observation Post, Adam 51.

On November 7th, in honor of Veteran's Day, the Historical Society of Woodstock will present The Faces of World War II—Woodstockers Go to War. The exhibit will feature more than 70 photographs of service personnel from Smith's database. The show will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, November 7/8 and November 14/15, at the Society museum, 45 Comeau Drive.

In addition, Anita Smith's book includes a reference section that lists the 288 responses to the questionnaire. Exhibit-goers can look up all 70 service persons in the show and obtain a brief abstract of their armed forces record from her book.

Hands-On Experience

The Hudson Valley is often referred to as America’s Rhine. Mid-way between Albany and New York City and under the shadow of Overlook Mountain is Woodstock, NY. The beauty of the area and the human landscape is deftly evoked via Anita Smith’s Woodstock History and Hearsay.

As an early painter in 1912 she felt she needed to know the history of the land before she could depict it on her canvases. She met many Catskill Mountain farmers who shared their family stories at quilting bees and canning parties. In time she became herbalist and worked the soil herself.

After the Second World War she started writing her book. Undoubtedly her connection with the earth/soil guided Smith’s herstory. For example, her book opens with the Native American story of how the area came to be formed. “When the great sea subsided and the Catskill Mountains emerged, the Indian god Manitou sent down from the sky the first woman in the form of a tortoise—and she became the ancestor of the Mohicans…”