Curtis honored by Sullivan Historical Society

ELDRED — Recognizing her efforts over a 20-year career as historian with the National Park Service (NPS) on the Upper Delaware, the Sullivan County Historical Society named historian and storyteller Mary Curtis as the 2001 recipient of its History Preserver Award on August 12.

Curtis was introduced by congratulatory remarks from interim NPS Superintendent Sandra Schultz, who brought greetings and commendations from both her predecessors, John Hutzky and Calvin Hite.

Upper Delaware Heritage Alliance president Laurie Ramie said, “…the name Mary Curtis has become synonymous with Upper Delaware history.”

In her own remarks, Curtis said she never intended to become a historian. The influences of her father Valleau Curtis, an avid amateur historian, and Hutzky, who hired her, took her on her historical path.

Curtis, who will retire from the NPS later this month, said she will continue as the Town of Delaware Historian, while she edits a manuscript prepared by her grandfather. “I’m not going anywhere,” she reassured the audience at the Eldred Preserve Restaurant.

In addition to Curtis, the society posthumously honored the first woman school superintendent in New York State history, Emma Cooke Chase for her work over 40 years in shaping Sullivan County’s public school education system.