On July 24th, 2022, history buffs gathered for a presentation given by Gordon MacAdam. Gordon updated attendees on the final stages of two exciting history projects: the Town of Thompson One Room Schoolhouse Project and the fascinating historical account of the plan to dam the Neversink River! These projects were made possible by a fine group of volunteers, members of the Sullivan County Historical Museum, the One Room School House Committee, Gordon and Henry MacAdam and our Town of Thompson Historian.
At the event, our former Town of Thompson Historian Al Wolkoff was honored and celebrated. Al unfortunately passed away last year and was succeeded by his wife Judith. In Al’s honor, the committee presented the family with a plaque which will proudly hang in the Sullivan County Historical Museum by the displays.
The first of the two historical projects covered was the Town of Thompson One Room Schoolhouse project. The group inventoried, researched and obtained historical markers for the many locations of one-room schoolhouses in Thompson. We now have a display in Town Hall with information and photographs. There will also be a display in the museum.
The second project is the intriguing story of the plan to dam the Neversink River at a crossing in Rock Hill called Hackledam and flood the valley to the Town of Fallsburg. When completed there will be a 3 dimensional map of the reservoir and surrounding mountains. The planners at the time wanted to generate hydroelectric power. The ambitious project was shelved due to WW1. Hackledam was featured in the “One Room Schoolhouse Project” complete with a photo of the swinging bridge that spanned the Neversink.
We thank everyone involved for these fascinating and worthwhile historical projects. The Town of Thompson is proud of our heritage and where we are today.”