As president of Historic Cherry Hill, a nationally significant and acclaimed historic site, I was disheartened to read the letter "Use Harriman site to attract tourism," June 10. The letter proposes the region add an aquarium to the inventory of nonprofits needing support and suggests an additional great idea would be a "replica working Dutch village."
I disagree wholeheartedly with the letter's assertion that "we don't have much 'drawing power' for tourism." The Albany area is replete with authentic historic sites and artifacts. It's the marketing of these treasures that has been insufficient.
To help, Historic Cherry Hill and 10 other historic entities have established Partners for Albany Stories, a collaboration working to develop an interpretive and marketing plan that will put Albany on the map, much like Boston, Philadelphia and Charleston have so successfully done.
"If you build it, they will come" may be true in the short term, but what then? After the excitement wears off, these new institutions will need to be financially supported. Existing organizations are finding it extremely difficult to survive with inadequate support from all quarters — government, individuals and corporations. While the state has been generous with capital support, operating support has been severely diminished.
The burden of caring for genuine historic structures and collections is not one we take lightly. Cherry Hill is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, has been praised and won national awards for its preservation and education initiatives. We're doing our part.
But we must be able to count on the community to help sustain the historic resources that already exist.
Michael R. Beiter
President,
Historic Cherry Hill
Albany