Annual Fund

Dear Friends in Preservation, 

One (of many) reasons you are receiving this letter is because you may have attended one or more of Historic Albany’s many programs, whether it was a workshop where you learned about taking care of your historic home, a lecture you attended about an Albany building that fascinates you or a walking tour with me through one of our city’s beautiful historic neighborhoods. You might have just been introduced to Historic Albany Foundation, or you’ve come back, again and again, to enjoy Albany’s rich architecture with us for decades.

I have been a “usual suspect” with Historic Albany Foundation for nearly 50 years as a tour guide, lecturer, Moveable Feast host, musician at BUILT, current advisory board member, but most often as an avid volunteer. I first got involved with Historic Albany Foundation while conducting building research on Dove, State and Lancaster Streets, contributing to what became the Center Square / Hudson / Park Historic District in 1980. Soon after, I began giving tours of those newly minted historic districts.

“I know that while it may often look effortless, there is a lot of research and work that goes into putting together HAF’s Walkabout Wednesday summer tour series, bicycling tours, themed walking tours, First Friday Van Ostrande-Radliff House tours, members-only tours, technical workshops, bookclubs the Bender signature lecture each fall, the new Tool Library How-To Workshops, and so much more each year….”

As an architectural history student in college at what we then called “Albany State” back in the day, I got a job as a tour guide at the New York State Capitol. I overcame any hesitancy about speaking in front of large groups and became hooked on the idea of talking about historic buildings to people. To me, teaching about historic architecture helps people to understand the mission of Historic Albany Foundation and provides an entry into the multitudes of different programming the Foundation offers.

Over the years, I have appreciated the variety of HAF’s programming, always having something for everyone, whether you are interested in ornate 19th-century architectural styles, the clean lines of the mid-century modern, or the comfortable design of vernacular bungalows. It’s a bit like having 600 or more like-minded friends who are all passionate about the same things you are, and you all get together to chat and feed your passion.

As a tour guide, I know that while it may often look effortless, there is a lot of research and work that goes into putting together HAF’s Walkabout Wednesday summer tour series, bicycling tours, themed walking tours, First Friday Van Ostrande-Radliff House tours, members-only tours, technical workshops, bookclubs the Bender signature lecture each fall, the new Tool Library How-To Workshops, and so much more each year. Please know that Historic Albany Foundation is able to offer many of these tours for free or at a low cost to participants because of the generous support of patrons like you through our Annual Fund.

Please join me in supporting HAF’s efforts through your generous gift to this year’s Annual Fund. And, if you choose to become a monthly donor, you will be among the first to receive the brand new 2023 HAF wall calendar as our way of saying thank you!

I look forward to seeing you during the 2024 tour season – we are already planning some new and unique opportunities.

Sincerely,