Our Town – Ilion, New York: A selective look at 300 years of history. Vol III

Description

With the publication of a third volume of Our Town—Ilion, New York: A selective look at 300 years of history—which completes my hometown trilogy—potential readers might justifiably wonder: how can any new stories possibly remain untold after over a thousand pages have been written? But the truth of the matter is that sufficient topics exist to fill additional editions. Since the immediate vicinity of Ilion has welcomed settlers for almost three hundred years, the village and its environs possess a long and rich historical narrative comprised of diverse tales that make for interesting reading.

As in my previous two books, the format remains consistent: stand-alone chapters arranged in as much of a chronological order as possible. The exceptions are two new treatments: one visual quiz, based on recognizing bygone locations; and another viewing buildings and streets around Ilion using vintage panoramic pictures. Whenever possible, chapters are supplemented with period photographs and original maps.

Like the two preceding companion works, this third volume of Our Town—Ilion, New York was developed using a variety of resources. Foremost among these, the files, scrapbooks, and records held in trust by the Ilion Free Public Library proved extremely valuable. Period newspapers, accessible online and at the state library on microfilm, were quite useful. Not forgotten and no less important were the individuals who spoke with me about personal recollections of people, places, and events germane to their hometown.

As is generally the case, one individual did the writing, but it was the collective input of Ilionites past and present that brought the book to life and helped fill its pages with engaging stories about their village’s long history. The same e pluribus unum that is a fundamental tenet of our monetary system also has applicability in the process of creating original literature.