The Peru Gazette

By Adele Douglas

The Heyworth/Mason Park has a long and interesting history that will soon be documented and displayed for the public. Volunteers are working to develop eight interpretive signs to go up in the park and along the new trail. These are the subjects of the signs:

1. Welcome to Heyworth/Mason Park

2. Native Americans

3. First Mill Site: gristmill and sawmill.

4. Other Early Industries: woolen mill, tannery, cider mill and potato starch factory.

5. A. Mason and Sons Lumber Mill Click here to review this sign

6. Heyworth Village Apartments onwards

7. The Ausable Branch of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad

8. River Ecology

We’re trying to keep them of interest to students, especially fourth graders who will hopefully be touring the site as part of their study of New York history. The images on the signs will have the biggest impact and the suggested word count limit is 300.

Over the next few months I’ll submit the draft signs to this website. Please feel free to weigh in with your comments and suggestions, either via this column or by e-mailing Ron Allen (perutownhistorian@charter.net) or me (chinadele1@hotmail.com). Thanks!