FRIENDS OF HISTORIC GROOMS TAVERN

P.O. Box 1166

CLIFTON PARK, NEW YORK 12065

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Alexandra Verrigni

September 2, 2008 (518) 399-2446

TOWN AND FRIENDS TO HOST CLIFTON PARK WATERFRONT LECTURE

Clifton Park’s Waterfront: An Historical Perspective

CLIFTON PARK, New York – The Friends of Historic Grooms Tavern, a not-for-profit association dedicated to Historic Grooms Tavern, and Town of Clifton Park will co-sponsor an historical lecture by Town Historian John Scherer on Friday evening, October 3, 2008 at 7:00 pm at the Grooms Tavern, corner of Grooms and Sugarhill Roads, Rexford, New York. Mr. Scherer’s talk is entitled, “Clifton Park’s Waterfront: An Historical Perspective.”

The Town of Clifton Park’s southern border is along the Mohawk River providing almost 13 miles of waterfront.  The northern borders of the town touch on Ballston Lake and Round Lake and the Stony Creek Reservoir is completely within the town.  The presentation will explore how residents used this waterfront over time, from first settlement to present day.  Chief among the uses were for transportation, industry and recreation.  Vintage photographs will highlight the importance of the river and lakes to the history of Clifton Park.

John Scherer is an advisory member of the Board of Directors for the Friends of Historic Grooms Tavern and Town of Clifton Park Historic Preservation Commission.  He was instrumental in founding the Clifton Park Historic Preservation Commission and served as its first chairman.  He has been Historian for the Town of Clifton Park since 1978 and is senior Historian at the New York State Museum representing the Commissioner of Education on the State Board for Historic Preservation.  He has been curator of decorative arts at the New York State Museum since 1967. 

The lecture is part of the opening day festivities for River Days, a weekend celebration of Clifton Park events observing the long heritage of the town with the Mohawk River and surrounding waterways. The public is invited to attend. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.