Events

Join the Putnam History Museum for our 118th Annual Meeting, free and open to everyone! You can attend in-person at the Putnam History Museum or stream it live online, just be sure to register here: https://www.putnamhistorymuseum.org/events/putnam-history-museums-118th-annual-meeting/

Putnam County Historian, Jennifer Cassidy, will explore the life and times of Willitt Carpenter Jewell (1889-1966), newspaperman, public servant, and historian, as celebrated in the newly reprinted work, Willitt C. Jewell’s Putnam County. Best known for his extensive newspaper reporting with a lifetime career with The Putnam County Courier, Jewell was also known as a pillar of the community through his local church, his role in local politics, as a member of the Board of Education, Carmel Fire Department, the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and more. His daughter Dorothy G. Jewell (1915-1997) served as his managing editor and left his photographs, personal papers and hand-written manuscript of a contemporary history of Putnam County, published in 1946 under Southeastern New York, to the Putnam County Historian’s Office. Although an amateur photographer, many of the photographs in this illustrated talk were taken by Willitt Jewell with his “Speed Graphic” camera and capture Putnam County up through World War II. Copies of the book will be available for purchase through the Putnam County Historian’s Office and during the event. Schedule of Events 2:00 pm: PHM’s 118th Annual Business Meeting 2:30 pm: Jennifer Cassidy presents “Willitt C. Jewell’s Putnam County” 3:30 pm: Light refreshments served