Patriots’ Day presentation in West Kill to celebrate nation’s 250th

WEST KILL―The nearly century-old West Kill Lexington Community Improvement Association is making fresh history through an essay scholarship program for Hunter-Tannersville school students.

Two high school juniors will be awarded $1,000 apiece to help continue their education as part of the writing contest, according to Lorrie Kaufman, the association’s board president.

Pieces must focus on the “importance of volunteerism in our society” and be postmarked by April 15, Kaufman said, noting an old-fashioned pen-and-paper twist is part of the literary event.

“We will only accept hand-written work,” Kaufman explained, adding that one scholarship will be awarded for each an on-campus student and a BOCES student.

Volunteerism can be explored in multiple manifestations such as public service, firefighting or EMS.

“This is a new venture for us,” Kaufman said. “We want to interact more with the school and find out what our young people today are thinking about volunteerism which is vital in so many ways.”

“We won’t be dictating what the students do with the award specifically, other than furthering their aspirations,” Kaufman said.

Those goals could include attending college or perhaps securing materials and accessing whatever is required to pursue a career in the trades. Guidance counsellors at HTC have all the needed information.

While the essay contest is a first-time effort for the association, their role in the hamlet of West Kill and town of Lexington is deeply embedded, particularly as it concerns the venerable Community Hall.

“That’s our baby,” Kaufman said, detailing many projects that have been accomplished including the installation of new windows, infrastructure restorations and routine maintenance.

Before it was the Community Hall, the building had been a private home in the village of Gilboa.

Accentuating the historic connections of the center, beyond its vitalness to residents, the older wing of the Community Hall was first moved to its current site on Spruceton Road in 1932.

“The construction of the Schoharie Reservoir drowned much of the village of Gilboa. The house that became part of our Community Hall was acquired by New York City and used as living quarters for engineers working on the reservoir,” according to the association.

When engineers finished with the Schoharie Reservoir project, the house they had used as living quarters was abandoned.

“A group of Lexington and West Kill residents―the first WKLCIA―bought the old house from New York City for a nominal sum and had it moved to the current site in West Kill,” the association notes.

The Community Hall has proved wildly popular with dances held every Saturday night in the summer.

“In 1939, the newer wing was added to allow for bigger dances.  A stage was added to the upper story in the old wing and there were popular theater productions,” according to the association.

Over the years, the Community Hall has been enjoyed as a meeting place for farm organizations and children’s groups like Scouts and 4H. A library was even housed upstairs.

“Today, the West Kill Lexington Community Hall is used for community barbecues, brunches, square dances, and potluck dinners,” the association noted. “Holiday markets, Hunters Expos, and Historical Society events are held here. The Hall is also available for rent and has been used for weddings, birthday parties, and other meetings,” according to the association.

In that spirit, the Community Hall will be the site of a special Patriots' Day presentation on Saturday, April 11, at 1 p.m., celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Constitution and American independence.

Greene County Historian Jonathan Palmer will share an array of primary source materials and traditional accounts that tell the story of the American Revolution in Greene County.

Palmer’s visit is sponsored by Lexington Town Historians Mary Palazzolo and Chris Dwon. There will be refreshments served and raffles.

The Community Hall is located at 141 Spruceton Road in West Kill.