The Catskill Chronicle

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY (October 4, 2013) – The Sullivan County Historical Society has announced its History Maker and History Preserver Awards for 2013, which will be presented at the Annual Awards Dinner, Saturday, October 26 at the Rockland House, Roscoe, NY. Social Hour 3:00 p.m. and dinner 4:00 p.m.

History Maker: The late Gladys Olmstead, RN (Oct. 19, 1924–August 10, 1997), a pioneer in public health nursing began her career as Sullivan County’s first public health nurse in 1951, in an “office” with a dirt floor in the basement of the courthouse and retired 34 years later as the Director of the Sullivan County Public Health Nursing Service.

She saw great drama in public health nursing, cutting down the rate of premature infant births, helping someone with polio move a muscle.

Gladys brought the county’s public health into the mainstream, initiating programs for pre-natal care, better nutrition for babies (WIC), well baby, orthopedic and TB clinics and whatever else was needed to keep the health in Sullivan County.

She was the right woman at the right time to build an amazing foundation for Sullivan County Public Health Nursing.

History Preserver: John B. (Jack) Niflot, (February 10, 1935–June 22, 2013) Town of Frement Board Member and Historian, whose dedication and advocacy for understanding and preserving the history and heritage of the Upper Delaware Valley is best exemplified by his co-founding of the Basket Historical Society in 1980, establishing its museum in Long Eddy and publishing/editing its newsletter, the ECHO, continuously since then.

Jack, a Charter Member and past president of the Upper Delaware Heritage Alliance was recognized for his "extraordinary contributions related to local heritage" and also served as an officer and board member of the Upper Delaware Council for nearly two decades.

Jack’s photographs, research records, postcard collections, poetry and other writings have inspired so many to appreciate and enjoy the Upper Delaware and help secure its future by fostering an appreciation of its past.

Dinner is $30. For more information and reservations please contact the Sullivan County Historical Society at 434-8044. Box 247, Hurleyville, NY 12747. sullivancountyhistory.org.