Published: August 21, 2008 09:07 am         

Citizens honored at Hartwick Days

By MICHELLE MILLER
Staff Writer

HARTWICK — The Hartwick Historical Society has chosen two citizens to honor this year and recognized them last weekend during the annual Hartwick Days. This year’s honorees are John Mott and Frederica Hornbeck.

According to society president- Barbara Potter, in the past the historical society has selected people who have contributed to the small town, but the soiciety has not done so in a few years. She said she would like to see it become an annual occasion.

A display of photos and a short essay about each of the honorees were exhibited this weekend at the annual book sale that was held at the Hartwick Community Center this past weekend.

Carol Goodrich made the display for her father, John Mott, who passed away in April at the age of 95.

Goodrich said her father was always community- oriented, and that he had a particular interest in local history and photography. Mott grew up on a family farm in the White House District of Hartwick, and developed an early interest in local history especially related to agriculture, according to Goodrich. Mott taught agriculture and shop at Mohawk and Laurens schools before returning to operate the family dairy farm from the 1930s to the mid-1960s.

He completed the Cooperstown Graduate Museum Studies Program and went to work at the Old Sturbridge Village Museum in Massachusetts, where he developed and supervised the 1840’s living farm demonstration along with continuing related research on early farming methods, period barns, early animal breeds and local history. Goodrich said her father worked for the museum for about 20 years, and in 2000 returned to live in Hartwick, where he continued his local history and photo interests along with his long-time hobby of crafting reproductions of early American period furniture.

In the 1960’s, Mott printed many of the Smith-Telfer pictures from plate negatives for the New York State Historical Association (NYSHA). In 2004 and 2006, Mott enlarged, printed and framed over 20 early Hartwick area photos for the Hartwick Historical Society to be donated for display in the Town Hall. The photos can be seen in the town boardroom.

Goodrich said her father chose to provide photos for the published “History of Hartwick” book and had written a book and a number of historical research accounts (with photos) such as his early life growing up in the White House area, memories of farming, history of agriculture and of the hop industry and the development of the farm at Sturbridge Massachusetts.

In 2004, he was presented with an Historic Preservation Award for his lifetime achievements.

Goodrich said she thought it was very nice of the Hartwick Historical Society to recognize her father. ‘’It’s special,’’ said Goodrich. ``He (Mott) would have been pleased.’’

Potter made the display that honored Hornbeck, who passed away this year at the age of 89. According to the essay that Potter wrote about her aunt through marriage, Hornbeck ``was what a good citizen should be.’’ The essay said Hornbeck never talked about other’s faults, would welcome those new to Hartwick with goodies such as her no-bake cookies and always looked out for others. According to the essay, Hornbeck took it upon herself to call the “shut-ins” to make sure they were okay.

Hornbeck graduated from Hartwick High School in 1937 and attended the State University of New York at Cobleskill, where she graduated in 1939 with an associate degree in nursery education. For a time, Hornbeck was employed in the field of childcare at Hill and Hollow Farm, a boarding school for young children in Hyde Park, and was later employed at a nursery school in Glens Falls. It was during her years in the Hudson Valley that she met Everett Hornbeck. The two were married in November 1942. In 1946, the couple moved to Hartwick, and settled on Frederica’s family farm on County Highway 11. In the mid-1980s, they moved to her great-grandparents’ home, the Barney House, on North Street in the Village of Hartwick.

Throughout her life, Frederica was always involved in church and community activities. According to Potter, Frederica especially enjoyed teaching Sunday School and was always sustained by her faith. Frederica was a member of the Hartwick Historical Society, involved in 4-H, served as a volunteer for many years at the Kinney Memorial Library and was an active member of the Hartwick Senior Citizens group. She was also supportive of the Milford and Schenevus senior citizens groups and enjoyed participating in the Hartwick Community Exercise Group, which she did right up until her death. Potter said the Hartwick Historical Society wants to continue recognizing citizens of the Town of Hartwick and would like to get the public involved. She said the society hopes to get a panel of judges for the selection next year. The society would also like to get the town board involved in the selection process. Potter said if people already have nominations, they can send a letter of recommendation to the Hartwick Historical Society at P.O. Box 1, Hartwick N.Y., 13348.

``I think it’s a good idea,’’ said Potter. ``People should be involved with the people of their town.’’