CLAY — Local history author Jim Farfaglia will present a program about his various book topics at the Clay Historical Association’s monthly open house. The event will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21, at Clay Historical Park (4939 Route 31, Clay).
Farfaglia’s books have covered memorable events such as the Blizzard of ’66 and its impact on Central New York; the Nestlé factory in Fulton, for decades the largest chocolate-making facility in North America; the muck farms of Oswego County, one of the few places in the world where this organic-rich method of farming takes place; and the Oswego County Search and Rescue Team, the first professional volunteer search team in the Eastern United States.
“I select topics for my books that are not only unique to Central New York but will also evoke rich memories,” said Farfaglia, a resident of Fulton. “In the case of the Blizzard of ’66, I interviewed 200 people who managed their way through the storm. With the Nestlé book, I talked to workers from every department that produced the one million pounds of product produced daily during the factory’s heyday. I research my books’ topics for accuracy, of course, but equally important to me is to hear from those who know my subject firsthand.”
Farfaglia illustrates his books with photographs that also tell a topic’s story. During his Clay Historical Association presentation he will share a slideshow showcasing the blizzard’s impact, the art of chocolate-making, search and rescue team efforts and farming on muck land. The program will also include the opportunity for questions and comments from the audience.
“I look forward to spending time with the Clay Historical Association to discuss my previous books and to offer a sneak preview of my new book, due out in October, which covers historic snowstorms of Central New York. For this book, I searched as far back as the 1780s to uncover stories of how local folks survived some of our biggest winter storms. I can’t wait to share what I discovered,” Farfaglia said.
Farfaglia’s upcoming release is titled “Great Central New York Snowstorms of the Last Two Hundred Years.” To learn more, visit jimfarfaglia.com.
For more information about the Aug. 21 event, please call 315-927-7573 or visit CHA’s Facebook page.
