Brockport authors William G. Andrews and William Heyen will read excerpts from and sign their newly released books celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Village of Brockport. Andrews' book, Early Brockport, is a narrative history from the Senecas to 1865. Heyen's book, Brockport Sunflowers, contains his selections of previously published poems and open letters about Brockport. The books will be for sale at the event which is co-sponsored by the 175th Anniversary Committee of the Village of Brockport and the Western Monroe Historical Society's historic preservation committee. Andrews' book will be available at the event at a pre-publication price of $10. After that, the retail price will be $12. The price of Heyen's book has not been determined. Proceeds from the sales of the books will go to the 175th Anniversary Committee. Andrews and his wife, Monika, have lived in Brockport for 35 years. He is emeritus professor of political science at SUNY College at Brockport. Heyen, emeritus professor of English and poet in residence at the college, has lived in Brockport with his wife, Hanny, for more than 40 years. Through Andrews' initiative, the village recently was named a federal Preserve America community. A former Brockport village historian, Andrews' efforts also resulted in the village's downtown district being placed on both the state and federal registers of historic places. Both books are commissioned by the 175th Anniversary Committee of the Village of Brockport. Early Brockport is a paperback with 70 illustrations, 13 maps and 21 tables. Andrews conducted extensive research at public and university libraries in Rochester, Syracuse, Brockport and the New York State Archives. "Early Brockport was written for the general reader and it shows that early Brockport was an exciting place to live," Andrews said. Some exciting points about Brockport, Andrews said, are in the visions and achievements of some of its early residents. The book also describes life in early Brockport, covering such aspects as cultural activities, newspapers, amusements, businesses, politics and government and why the canal was important to the village. Brockport Sunflowers contains a selection of Heyen's poems and open letters about his hometown. He was selected as one of five finalists for the National Book Award in Poetry for 2004. A nationally renowned poet, much of his writing has been inspired by his home town. Although Heyen's poetry has global reach, most of it originates in the writing cabin in the woods behind his Frazier Street home. The reading will be Wednesday, March 30 at 7 p.m. at Brockport's Morgan-Manning House, 151 Main Street. The event is free and open to the public. |
