More than 65 men and women who spent all or parts of their long lives in the Town of Middletown or nearby places have generously shared their memories with HSM since its founding in 2005. Scroll down to see photos of some of our interviewees.

Our ongoing Oral History project saves family stories, traditions of work and play, school tales, community celebration and individual connections to national and world events, like wars, Depression, political upheaval and cultural change.

Cassette recordings are being digitized. They, along with born-digital recordings made since 2015, will be transcribed for use in research projects, programs and exhibits.

In 2020, more than a dozen people were interviewed about the impact the Covid-19 pandemic was having on their lives, livelihoods and organizations. These, too, will be transcribed and preserved for posterity.

Sixteen local veterans were interviewed several years ago at the Margaretville Legion hall by representatives of the NYS Military Museum and Research Center. HSM helped coordinate these video sessions which were subsequently digitized and posted on YouTube by the museum. We are pleased to provide the links to those interviews.

Harry W. Athenas
Corporal
US Army Air Forces
World War Two

Robert M. Carroll
Aviation Electronics Technician
3rd Class
US Navy
Vietnam War

James William Elliott
US Army Air Forces
World War Two

Howard B. Etts
T-3
US Army
World War Two

Daniel Gaponiuk, Jr.
Store Keeper P.O. 3
US Navy
Korean War

Robert A. Hill
Private First Class
US Army
World War Two

Willis Robert Marks
Private First Class
US Army
World War Two

Peter L. Molnar
Major
US Marine Corps
1977 – Iraq War

Andrew F. Rosa
Private First Class
US Army
1960 – 1962

Chauncey J. Schoonmaker
Chief Warrant Officer
US Navy
1956 – 1981

Stanley Herman Siegel
Corporal
US Army Air Forces
World War Two

Ralph G. Smith
Gunners Mate 3rd Class
US Navy
World War Two