Historic Marker Dedication and Lecture to Honor Benjamin Van
Buren at Silver Bay YMCA
Silver Bay, New York — August 6, 2024 — Silver Bay YMCA is pleased to announce the dedication of a New York State Historic Marker honoring Benjamin Van Buren, a free black settler, on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at
Morse Hall. The event will commence with a lecture by longtime Silver Bay member Liz Lastowski titled “Reclaiming Van Buren Bay: The History of Benjamin Van Buren” from 10:00 am to 10:45 am.
Lastowski, a former part-time Van Buren Bay resident, will delve into the remarkable life of Benjamin Van Buren, who settled 161 acres on Lake George from 1847 to 1879. Her lecture will explore the struggle to retain Van Buren’s legacy in the face of historical erasure, emphasizing the significance of reclaiming his name for the bay that bears it.
“We are thrilled to host Liz Lastowski, whose dedication to help preserve Van Buren’s history has been instrumental,” said Lindsey Butler, vice president of sales and marketing at Silver Bay YMCA. “Her lecture promises to illuminate a vital chapter of our local history.”
Following the lecture, at 11:00 a.m., Silver Bay will unveil the New York State Historic Marker, generously funded by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, commemorating Benjamin Van Buren’s legacy. Clifford Oliver, photographer and historical interpreter, will be part of the presentation. Thanks to the support of landowners Rich and Dawn Buchanan, the marker will be installed on Silver Bay Road and will serve as a permanent testament to Van Buren’s contributions.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Pomeroy Foundation for their generous grant, which made this historic marker possible,” said Butler. “We also appreciate the Hague Historical Museum, the Warren County Historical Society, and Charles G. Gosselink for their invaluable contributions to the grant application.”
The public is invited to attend this significant occasion honoring a pioneer whose legacy resonates through generations. For more information, please contact Talia Perrea, at 518.543.8833 or tperrea@silverbay.org.
About Silver Bay YMCA: Silver Bay YMCA, founded in 1902, is in Silver Bay, NY, just minutes south of Hague. Its 700-acre campus along one mile of Lake George shoreline offers a breadth of programs for all ages. Silver Bay YMCA is consistently ranked one of the top ten family reunion sites in the country and is on the National Register of Historic Places with the U.S. Department of the Interior. As a mission-based charity, Silver Bay YMCA offers outreach programs in addition to its core activities as a premier conference and family retreat center. Learn more about Silver Bay at www.silverbay.org.
Our MISSION: To foster relationships, strengthen communities and nurture spirit, mind, and body for all.
Our IMPACT: Because of Silver Bay YMCA, connections between people and family are stronger. People are more connected, respectful, and caring. They have the confidence to develop to their full potential and to positively impact the communities in which they work and live. As a result, communities are more dynamic, inclusive and diverse. As stewards of Lake George, we inspire people to be stewards of the environment while they are visiting our magnificent campus and in their home communities.