The Catskill Chronicle

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY (October 11, 2015) — Each year the Sullivan County Historical Society presents deserving groups or individuals with awards honoring them as either Sullivan County history maker or Sullivan County history preserver.

This year’s award recipients are Harold Gold as History Maker and Elsie Winterberger as History Preserver.

The importance of the History Maker Award recognizes efforts made by Harold Gold, a resident of South Fallsburg, for his over 65 years of community involvement and his role, as a charter member of the College Board of Trustees, with the establishment of the Sullivan County Community College. Mr. Gold is well known throughout the county and does not need much introduction. He has worked tirelessly in many organizations, both within his town and throughout the county, always taking the long view. While the education of young people has always been of great ongoing value, there was a time when it was not clear if Sullivan County would ever have a school of higher learning to attract students and teachers from all over the world. It took a major fight to navigate the paperwork, the politics and the financial wherewithal to make the college a reality. Harold Gold is a popular civic leader and the last remaining member of the nine original College Trustees. He is well deserving of the History Maker Award for this and untold community organizations in which he participates.

The importance of the History Preserver Award recognizes the efforts made by Elsie Winterberger, a past resident of the Town Forestburgh. Elsie spent seventeen years as Forestburgh Town Historian, contributing to the historical preservation of the details of historical events large and small, yet all of specific interest to many. Appointed in 1974, her activities included not only gathering of historical material, but also spearheading many preservation projects within the town. Most importantly, Elsie shared her historical knowledge though a weekly newspaper column, Forestburgh Lore, in the pages of the Sullivan County Democrat and other local publications beginning in 1977.

The 2015 honors will be presented their awards during the SCHS Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner on Sunday, October 18th at the Rockland House, in Roscoe, New York. The event will begin with a 4:00 p.m. social hour followed by the dinner served at 5:00 p.m. The cost of the dinner is $30 per person.

The public is also invited to support the nominees by advertising in the SCHS Annual Meeting and Awards Diner Journal.

Dinner reservations for the opportunity to honor these deserving recipients and for more information concerning placing journal advertisements please contact the Sullivan County Historical Society at 845-434-8044. It is hoped that the public will take this moment to share in celebration of the honorees’ achievements.