Hudson Falls showing a future
The Front Page
Morning Update
Monday, September 20, 2021
By Ken Tingley
Kendall McKernon was talking my language.
Over a half hour or so we tried to top each other about what we liked best about this region. When we were done, we were in agreement: This was the greatest place in the world to live.
McKernon knows something about the world. He grew up and went to school in Hudson Falls, spent his college years at the Pratt Institute in New York City studying interior design before moving on to work in Cleveland - “It seemed like the sticks to me after New York City,” McKernon said - before returning to Hudson Falls.
He now runs The McKernon Gallery a few doors down from the renovated Strand Theater in downtown Hudson Falls.
This past week McKernon reached out to me and asked to sell my first book “The Last American Editor” in his gallery, He said he liked the book’s theme about real people from local communities dealing with the triumph and tragedy of daily life.
He also wanted to give me a tour of the Sandy Hill Arts Center.
I had forgotten about this project. I vaguely remember news stories about local lawyer Bill Nikas’ purchase of the old Masonic Temple downtown and the planned renovations to benefit the community.
Sadly, most of these projects never quite work out, but this one did with Nikas leading the way.
Just a year ago, in the midst of the pandemic, a grand opening was held for the Sandy Hill Arts Center. On Friday, McKernon gave me a tour of the renovated building.
The $2 million project refurbished the 1901 building in grand style. McKernon’s gallery is on the first floor. Previously there had also been a dance studio. There are plans for an Italian restaurant to open in the back of the building. The second floor houses the Council for Prevention offices with artists studios available on the upper floors.
There are also two large exhibition spaces that have all kinds of potential. The space is being rented for weddings already.
Combine the Sandy Hill Arts Center improvements with the recent renovations of Strand Theater a couple doors down and the new plans to revamp Derby Park there is good reason to be optimistic about the future of Hudson Falls.
Kendall had me convinced.
As we talked some more, he talked about being discouraged from time to time because many people are still struggling to grasp the possibilities of the future. Some seem to be fighting it.
I went to the Strand earlier this year to see a Doors tribute band. It was nice night and the venue is nice. They have an entire schedule of events throughout the fall.
Ultimately, this region is a great place to live, but more importantly, with people like Nikas and McKernon it has a great future.
Warrensburg store
When I pulled up in front of the Maple Tree Bookstore in Warrensburg, owner Tom Duffy was sitting on the front step talking to another man. I soon learned why. There wasn’t any room inside.
Books were stacked floor to ceiling and overflowing everywhere. Duffy was getting ready for his busiest day of the year - the World Largest Garage Sale is October 1-3 this year and Duffy has boxes and boxes of books organized outside under a long tarp.
If you are looking to stock up a winter’s full of books, you might want to stop by and see Tom.
And he also agreed to take a few copies of my book as well.
Flying off the shelves?
Well, not quite. But I did get a call from one of the stores that is selling my book asking for another order because they were almost out. That was good to hear.
The books are for sale at the following locations:
Chapman Museum, Glens Falls; The Silo, Warren County Historical Society and Ace Hardware, Queensbury; Lake George Historical Society, Lake George George Steamboat Company Gift Store, Lake George; Maple Tree Books, Warrensburg; The McKernon Gallery, Hudson Falls; Trees Adirondack Gifts and Books, Bolton Landing; Battenkill Books, Cambridge; and Northshire Books, Saratoga Springs.
