Town of Liberty Historian and Liberty Middle School teacher Kort Wheeler was selected as a finalist in the Association of Towns Builders of America: “How Towns Have Shaped Our Country” project.

Mr. Wheeler’s love of history can be seen inside and outside the classroom. He has taught American history to seventh and eighth graders at LMS for 20 years and has been the town historian for a year.

“My love of history impacts my class so hopefully I can show the students that our history impacts us every day,” Mr. Wheeler said. “I try to get the students to know that we need to know where we came from in order to know why we are here.”

Mr. Wheeler’s family history in America goes back to the Mayflower on his father’s side, and his mother’s side of the family farmed in Harlem when they got here in 1628, he said.

A 1990 graduate of Liberty High School, Mr. Wheeler’s roots in the town go back before 1800. That local connection adds to the local history unit, which he teaches to his eighth graders each year.

“I just  want to show the kids what was here before them,” he said.

The “How Towns Have Shaped Our Country” project is a promotion for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, which is being celebrated this year. The association asked towns statewide for a brief essay about their towns and the significant role  it played in shaping the country’s overall history.

“History is a story, a story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things,” Mr. Wheeler said.

Mr. Wheeler was one of six finalists that were chosen from across the state, and he was interviewed last month for a documentary featuring the finalists that will be shown for the Association of Towns in February.

“Having a connection to the subject you teach adds an important element to learning,” Liberty Central School District Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “Mr. Wheeler’s connection to history, our community and his students is evident every time you step into his classroom.”

Town officials also voiced their appreciation for his dedication.

“We cannot be more proud of  Mr. Wheeler for this submission and thankful for his service to this community,” they said in a statement regarding the honor.

Mr. Wheeler’s full essay is below:

The Town of Liberty, incorporated in 1807, is nestled in the Catskill mountains just ninety miles north of New York City. The town has not only played an important role in both our state’s and nation’s history but continues today as the release valve for the pressure cooker that is New York City.

Historically, Liberty has been a leader among towns in so many ways. Throughout the town’s history Liberty has been welcoming to all religions and ethnicities when other areas were not. The cultural diversity shown here is unrivaled for a town of our size. A generation of entertainers got their start in Liberty at the world famous Grossinger Hotel during the “Borscht Belt” era. Grossingers started the all inclusive concept for hotels and inspired the movie “Dirty Dancing”. Every day was a “Who’s Who” of actors, sports stars, and political figures parading through the lobby of that grand hotel. Grossingers may have been the most famous, but countless more hotels were here providing the fresh air, clean water, and wonderful food that made Liberty the place to vacation. When air travel was in its infancy Otto Hillig’s airplane, “Liberty”, began its journey here; taking off from the local golf course en route to Copenhagen in 1931.

The fresh air of the mountains that pulled so many people here to vacation also brought many here to regain their health. The Loomis Sanitarium was one of the premier Tuberculosis treatment facilities in the early 20th century; combining the quality air, healthy living and accessibility from New York City.

As New York City grew in the late 1800 and early 1900’s, Liberty was a key part of that growth. The numerous dairy and chicken farms provided much needed milk and eggs to residents there. The Ontario and Western Railroad provided those necessary provisions to the rapidly growing area.

The Town of Liberty is also resilient; although the hotels of the Borscht Belt are gone, this area remains popular with second homeowners in search of weekend getaways. The mountains provide that necessary relief of the daily stresses. Liberty’s Parks and Rec department maintains two parks; Walnut Mountain and Hanofee park. Within these two parks are a town pool, softball fields, a soccer field, hiking trails, disc golf, sand volleyball, basketball, fishing and playgrounds. Pavilions are also available for use. The Town buzzes every weekend as people fill the area to look at the foliage, go fishing, hike the rail trail, take in a show or just to soak up the peace and quiet. Although only ninety miles, it can feel as if you are a world away.

The story of Liberty is not complete, the contributions that the Town of Liberty has made to the history of the State of New York, New York City and to the United States are subtle in ways and yet extremely valuable and continue to this day.