By John Antonowicz

Correspondent

In celebration of the Chenango County Historical Society’s 50th anniversary of being open to the public, the first five articles have been a history of the museum. However, all of those fifty years would not have been possible without the endless efforts of dedicated volunteers. Without the late Minnie Mae Smith, the historical society would not exist on the scale it does today.

Mae, a native to Norwich, was born on September 28, 1923, and became a graduate of the Norwich High School class of 1942. After graduating, Mae advanced her education by taking history classes at Morrisville State College and also by attending numerous seminars on local history at the New York State Historical Association in Cooperstown. She also took part in numerous workshops by the Regional Conference for Historical Agencies. Mae later worked for the Chenango & Unadilla Telephone Corporation. After leaving this company, she gained interest in the newly formed museum.