Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge featured in Vassar College show, opening January 15

"Bridging Three Centuries: A History of the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge," an exhibition organized and curated by Vassar College Senior Andrew Albertson, will open in the James W. Palmer III '90 Gallery in the College Center at Vassar College on Monday, January 15. The exhibition will remain open through Tuesday, January 30.

An opening reception is scheduled on Wednesday, January 17, at 4 p.m.

The exhibition includes blueprints, photographs, postcards, souvenirs, and other artifacts that trace the history of the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge from its conception in the 1870s to the present day.

Albertson first proposed the exhibition when he applied for admission to the American Culture department two and one half years ago. He began contacting collectors and historical societies last September.

Albertson is a native of Staatsburg, New York. He attended the F.D. Roosevelt High School in Hyde Park and first became interested in the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge while in the eleventh grade, in 1995. As part of his American studies team-taught English and history courses at the high school, he worked with several other students to produce a film documentary. His group of five decided to focus on the railroad bridge and the questionable future of the structure.

"My interests have changed somewhat since then," said Albertson. "While I am still very interested in the bridge, I hope to pursue curatorial and museum studies, not film, in graduate school. This exhibition is right up my alley; it is giving me a chance to use my internships and course work in a realistic manner."

Albertson has interned in the past for the Adriance Memorial Library's Local History Collection, the Wilderstein Preservation, Eleanor Roosevelt's Val-Kill, through Hillary Clinton's "Save America's Treasures" organization and for the National Park Service, and in New York City at the Museum of American Folk Art and the Skyscraper Museum. As an intern, he has served in a curatorial capacity, whether cataloging furniture, photographs, or helping to preserve historic structures.

"Bridging Three Centuries" is composed of objects from over a dozen sources including private collectors, the Adriance Memorial Library, the Vassar College Libraries and Special Collections, the Town of Lloyd Historical Society, the Poughkeepsie Journal, and the Dutchess County Historical Society.

Albertson received funding for the project from the Program in American Culture, the Office of the President's Hewlett Mellon Presidential Discretionary Fund, and the Office of Campus Activities.

The James W. Palmer III '90 Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For information call (845) 437-5370. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Cathy Jennings, office of campus activities, (845) 437-5370, as far in advance as possible to request appropriate and reasonable accommodations. Vassar is located on Raymond Avenue in Poughkeepsie.

EDITOR: The following images from the show are available at their corresponding Web addresses:

Banquet Advertisement from the cornerstone laying of the bridge from the Local History Collection of Adriance Memorial Library.

http://images.honesty.com/imagedata/h/360/57/23605715.jpg

;Photograph from the construction period of the bridge from the collection of Charlie Hulsizer.

http://images.honesty.com/imagedata/3/2/0/17031320.jpg

Pin from around the turn of the last century from the collection of Fred B. Briggs.

http://images.honesty.com/imagedata/3/2/1/17031321.jpg

Souvenir stereoview card of the bridge from the collection of Andrew Albertson.

http://images.honesty.com/imagedata/h/360/64/23606484.jpg

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations or information on accessibility should contact Campus Activities Office at (845) 437-5370. Without sufficient notice, appropriate space and/or assistance may not be available.

Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college founded in 1861.

This article was posted on Monday, January 15th, 2001.