How do we know anything about history? Not everything was written down at the time that it happened. Writings could be from many years or lifetimes later. Even when events were recorded in writing at the time, aspects can be misremembered, misunderstood, exaggerated and more. Events and the purpose of human manipulated features can be lost to history, rediscovered, or reinterpreted over the years as similar structures or more evidence is found.

Historic knowledge that is not passed on generationally can be lost. The importance of history is deemed by those who seek it and pass it along. History that is important to an individual, family, group, region and beyond, may just be a footnote in the grander scheme of things to others. An interest in history can come from a simple conversation, where a topic could jog someone’s memory and bring up something that they may have thought to be insignificant, but it may go a long way in completing the picture.

There has never been a uniform approach to how people interpret or interact with their surroundings. Something that may be historically significant to some, such as wells, old foundations, mines, canal locks, stone walls, abandoned millstones and even old farm dumps, may be less significant or insignificant to others.

The significance of a place or feature can change in the eyes of some through the connection or association with a name. The remains of a stone foundation are one thing but linking that foundation to a family name or individual comes with at least a small level of built-in interest. Even if it is not a family connection, having that information displayed or conveyed in some manner has the potential of making a human connection. Going from, ‘someone used to live and or work here,’ to “Eli’s family home” or “Benjamin and Catharine’s tavern”, humanizes the information.

The human connection tends to reach more people. Those who have the curiosity and drive to put in the effort to research, rediscover and pass on what they find to the best of their ability to make those connections are also due recognition and to be remembered.

On July 1, 2024, Mohonk Preserve held an event to celebrate Robert “Bob” Larsen, his decades of work at the Preserve, his passion for the people of the Shawangunk Ridge and the establishment of the Bob Larsen Cultural Heritage Endowment, which will help carry on his work. This date marked what would have been Bob’s 100th birthday. The ceremony included the dedication of a new bench and signage in his honor along the High Peters Kill Trail, and across from the Enderly burial ground, both of valued highly by Bob.

Bob first came to the area for rock climbing. After relocating and becoming a ranger at the Preserve, he developed a deep passion for the area’s history. He dove into the research and built connections with the descendants of families that once lived on lands that are now part of the Preserve.

The Trapps Hamlet was a major passion project that built connections to the Van Leuven, Fowler, Burger, Davis, Enderly and more families, as well as descendants in the area and beyond. The project culminated in the restoration of the last remaining Trapps Hamlet structure, known as the Van Leuven Cabin, the Trapps Hamlet Path and the establishment of the Trapps Hamlet Historic District.

Bob’s passion extended beyond the Trapps Hamlet, including the Clove and other areas around the Preserve. His work, along with many others, helped pave the way for countless more to develop a passion for the area.

During Bob’s time at the Preserve, he worked with Norman Van Valkenburg, a land surveyor. I don’t think I ever actually referred to them as the “dynamic duo”, but something along those lines certainly fits. Between their historic research and written accounts of field work, they have helped me build connections, not only for work, but to my own family history in the area.

An interest in an area or a particular place in history can be inspired by many things, including family connections, previous works or curiosity being sparked from a walk in the woods. Taking that interest and inspiring others is how historical knowledge lives on. Efforts to understand the past and how it influences the present will persist and, along with thinking about how the present will impact the future need to continue. It is my hope to play at least a small role in that.