The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

Peru – Over many years, many people knew Ron and Carol Allen, Ron as a Peru Central School guidance counselor and Carol as Peru Central’s food service director. They retired from their professions several years ago. On July 31, 2022, Ron and Carol retired as Town of Peru co-historians, another activity they dearly loved. The position is unpaid; historians typically love history and their community. The Allens possess both qualities; they love Peru and have a mutual interest in preserving Peru’s rich history.

Shortly after accepting the historian’s position in 2003, Ron approached the town supervisor asking, “Where’s the town’s history collection?” The supervisor had no idea. Thanks to suggestions from a few residents, Allen located the collection in a two-drawer file cabinet in a former town historian’s garage.

In a few months, preserving the collection required more than a two-drawer cabinet. Ron explained, “Timing had much to do with what we did initially. At one time, Cora Stafford had been the town historian. She took a lot of notes, on the back of an envelope, on a piece of scrap paper. Then, after Cora’s passing, her daughter-in-law Muriel contacted us. She had loads of written things and pictures. So that got us started.” At about the same time, Becky Pace cleaned the downstairs area in the Peru Library. The Allens found old Peru Central School yearbooks and many unique items there.

There was, however, a significant problem. Ron explained, “We had the material but no place for it.” Fortunately, Ron noticed John and Kathy Flynn had a downstairs town hall closet for bats, balls, etc., that they used in the recreation program. He asked Kathy, “Do you think you and John could find someplace else for this?” The Flynns readily agreed. That closet, plus an adjacent closet, became the Peru historian’s office. Ron commented, “We’re proud that the historian’s office became permanent with us.”

Once there was a historian’s office, the number of donated items increased. Carol stated, “A lot of people were very generous. We’d have an open house once a year, and they’d bring in items.” Prized items include century-old photos of downtown Peru, a large timber from Benedict Arnold’s Revolutionary War Flagship, the Royal Savage, and a lock, key, and pew from Peru’s original Quaker Church.

The Allens worked with Town Clerk Kathy Flynn to restore badly deteriorated birth, marriage, and death records, some dating to the 1880s. They each allocated a portion of their budgets to hire a company specializing in records restoration. Today the documents are restored and encased in plastic. Carol said, “One of my favorite tasks has been researching those records. We get a lot of requests.”

Anyone traveling along Lake Shore Road and other local roads can see more results of the Allens’ hard work. They compiled the required documentation and received approval to erect historical markers at several of our community’s most significant locations. Those include the Peru Landing, Port Jackson, the Robert and Jonas Platt houses along Route 9, and Goshen on the River Road.

The National Park Service approved their application to include several local buildings on its National Register of Historic Places. The Heyworth-Mason Building, the Peru Community Church, the Valcour Island Lighthouse, and the Lyon Street School all received this honor.

Restoring the Lyon Street School has been Allens’ primary focus over the past several years. Long neglected, the town hired a local contractor to replace the school’s roof and restore its foundation, exterior, and interior. Ron added, “People donated several period desks. Our former dog control officer Dave Drollette did super work refinishing almost all of them.” The Allens hope the schoolhouse will soon be open to the public.

Health challenges, especially mobility issues, led to Ron and Carol Allen’s decision to retire. Nevertheless, Peru residents and visitors will never forget their contribution to our community. There’s a visible reminder of their work in almost every part of our town.