The Life and Times of Roscoe William Smith 1877-1976

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Chester Historical Society

The Life and Times of Roscoe William Smith 1877-1976

The dark green book cover features gold text detailing "The Life and Times of Roscoe Williams Smith, 1877-1976.

Name/Title

The Life and Times of Roscoe William Smith 1877-1976

Entry/Object ID

chs-000661

Description

The Life and Times of Roscoe William Smith (1877–1976) by Margot Meyer Richter is a comprehensive biography and historical record of a man who was essentially the "founding father" of modern Orange County, New York. The book isn't just a personal history; it serves as a chronicle of the American industrial spirit during the turn of the century. Core Themes and Content 1. The Visionary Behind Orange and Rockland Utilities A significant portion of the book details how Roscoe Smith transformed the region. In 1905, he founded the Orange and Rockland Electric Company. Richter describes his relentless drive to bring electricity to rural areas that larger companies had ignored. He was a hands-on pioneer who often climbed the utility poles himself in the early days. 2. The Creation of Museum Village Perhaps Smith’s most enduring legacy covered in the book is the founding of Museum Village (originally Old Museum Village of Smith's Clove) in Monroe, NY. The Motivation: As technology advanced, Smith became concerned that the "tools that built America" were being discarded and forgotten. The Collection: The book explores how he spent his wealth and time collecting everything from 19th-century carriages and looms to complete blacksmith shops, eventually opening the museum to the public in 1950 to educate future generations. 3. A Century of Change Because Smith lived to be 99 years old, the biography serves as a "time capsule." Richter effectively uses his life as a lens to view the transition from horse-and-buggy days to the atomic age. 4. Personal Character Richter, who had access to family records and local archives, portrays Smith as a complex figure: a frugal, disciplined businessman with a deep-seated philanthropic streak and an obsession with preserving local history.

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Transcription

Copyright © 2000 by Margot Meyer Richter Please direct all correspondence and book orders to: Margot Meyer Richter c/o Museum Village 1010 Rte. 17M Monroe, NY 10950 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 99-76671 Published for the author by Gateway Press, Inc. 1001 N. Calvert Street Baltimore, MD 21202 Printed in the United States of America CONTENTS Reminiscences by: Margot Meyer Richter v Clayton Paul Smith xiv Nancy Meyer Russell xv Brief History of My Life by: Roscoe William Smith 1 Newspaper and Magazine Articles: Monroe Gazette Centennial News, June 1994: “Smith, Seaman & Quackenbush Funeral Home, Inc.” 3 Monroe Gazette: “Town Board Votes Faith In 0 & R” 61 Forbes Magazine of Business, July 1, 1951: “Museum Piece” 70 Newburgh~ News, Nov. 5, 1957: “52-Year-Old Monroe Utility to Merge with Rockland Power” 79 Cue Magazine, Sept. 8, 1951: “Roscoe Smith’s Old Village” 99 The Royle/e Forum, June 15, 1959: “The Mastodons and Mr. Smith” 104 Monroe Gazette, Nov. 18, 1965: “Monroe Post No. 488, American Legion Presents Plaque to ‘Citizen of the Year’ At Annual Veterans Day Dinner” 113 Warwick Valley Dispatch, May 20, 1964: (Smith receives Freedoms Foundation Award and Bronze Plaque) 115

Book Details

Author

Margot Meyer Richter

Publisher

Gateway Press, Inc., 1001 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

Date Published

2000

Create Date

January 15, 2025

Update Date

July 27, 2026