Photos sought for pictorial history of Gates

The Gates Historical Society is preparing the first-ever pictorial history of the Town of Gates and invites anyone with vintage photographs of the town and its people, places, organizations, and events to submit them for consideration in this new book.

A committee chaired by Susan I. Swanton, retired director of the Gates Public Library and founding president of the historical society, is working on a 128-page volume that will be the first publication specifically dedicated to the history of the Town of Gates since From the Wilderness was printed during the town's sesquicentennial in 1963.

The photos will be grouped into 10 chapters: schools, churches, government services, home life, community groups, the Hinchey Homestead and notable sites, farming, transportation, business and people and places, and each picture will be accompanied by a short caption. About 220 photographs will be included.

"We're looking for any and all photos that depict life and activities in Gates in years past," said Swanton. "Remember Ackerman's, Idlebrook's, the old schoolhouses, Elser's Grove, or the horse-drawn fire department hose truck? How about school or church picnics and events, our first town ambulance, the first town hall, or photos of our early roads, automobiles, and places of interest? These are the types of pictures that we're looking for."

Especially needed are photographs of any subject or location in Gates taken before 1950.

The historical society is working with Arcadia Publishing, a national firm, on the project, which will be part of Arcadia's "Images of America" regional history series. Although the book goes to press in early 2005, the committee has a deadline of March 31 of this year for acquiring the photographs to be considered for publication.

Photographs or strips of negatives can be submitted. Each will be electronically scanned by the historical society and returned to contributors, or retained if a contributor wishes to donate the pictures to the historical society.

"It will be a tremendous help to us if those loaning the photos would also provide a description, including the names of the people in the pictures, the location, and the date of the photo," said Swanton. "This will help us to write accurate captions.

"And if you have old photos and you're not sure of the names or the dates, please don't hesitate to submit them, as well," said Swanton. "We have many lifelong Gates residents in our group who can help with photo locations and identifications."

Those wishing to submit photographs for consideration can bring them to the Gates Historical Society's headquarters at the Hinchey Homestead, 634 Hinchey Road, any Wednesday between 12 noon and 3 p.m., or contact Swanton at 247-0142 to make other arrangements.

The deadline for submitting photographs is March 31.