Town Board celebrated historian
“One of my first duties back in 1993 was replacing our historian. I needed someone very, very capable to do the job and there was no one in this town that could suggest anybody better than Stella Bailey. So, I appointed her.”
Fast forward nearly 30 years, and Mrs. Bailey officially retired from that appointment at the end of 2021. On hand to celebrate her on Monday evening was the man whose words are above — the man who first appointed her to her historian’s position — Supervisor Bob Livsey.
Livsey and the Town Board took a few minutes at the start of Monday’s board meeting to thank Mrs. Bailey for her service and to present her with a plaque which reads: “Stella Bailey. Town Historian 1993-2021. Thank you for over 40 years of honorable service preserving the history of the residents of the Town of Highlands.”
It wasn’t the only gift the Fort Montgomery resident received; West Point’s Jim Fox, from the Public Affairs Office, was on hand with a Certificate of Appreciation from Garrison Commander Col. Evangeline Rosel.
“In recognition of your years of service …. the United States Military Academy and extended West Point community are grateful for your partnership in helping to preserve our local history, and to educate and inspire future generations. Thank you for your tremendous work and dedication to excellence. We wish you all the best.”
As well, Highland Falls’ Ronnie Coffey, who was officially appointed as Mrs. Bailey’s replacement in the historian’s position, took a moment at the meeting to thank Mrs. Bailey for her years of service and present her with a bouquet of flowers.
“Stella, I want to thank you so much for the service you have given the community,” Coffey said. “The records that you have kept and the artifacts you have accumulated are a wonderful gift to this whole area.”
Coffey also thanked Mrs. Bailey “in advance” for “all the questions I will be calling you to ask” in the years ahead.
Mrs. Bailey’s only comments throughout the evening?
“It was an honor and a pleasure on my part,” she said. “I’ve met so many wonderful people from around the world who were inquisitive about what was going on here in the Town of Highlands and I’m just happy I was able to help them.”
She promised to continue to help in the Historian’s Office, to remain involved in the Historical Society, and she will remain as the president of the Fort Montgomery Battle Site Association.
Highland Falls Mayor Joe D’Onofrio, members of the Village Hall staff and representatives from the offices of Senator James Skoufis, Assemblyman Colin Schmitt and County Executive Steve Neuhaus honored Mrs. Bailey just prior to Christmas.
