6/14/26 - From Napoli to the Catskills: Southern Italian Labor and the Construction of the Ashokan Reservoir
Immigrant labor built America — and nowhere is that story more visible, or more local, than the Ashokan Reservoir, which still supplies roughly 40 percent of New York City's drinking water more than a century after its construction. Join local historian Steven Caselli for a presentation and conversation about the Southern Italian laborers who built it — who they were, where they came from, how they worked, and how they navigated a new culture while holding onto the one they brought with them. We'll also reckon with what was lost: the towns purchased, demolished, and flooded to make way for the reservoir, and the communities forever changed by its creation. Traditional Italian cookies will be served, and an optional guided walking tour of the reservoir follows the discussion.
About the PresenterSteven Caselli is a Kingston-based historian, podcaster, and public history student at SUNY Empire State, best known as the host of the Empire State History podcast, which explores the colonial and 19th-century history of the Hudson Valley and New York State. His work focuses on bringing historic sites to life through immersive and interactive experiences. He also conducts oral history research on Italian-American food traditions and cultural identity as part of his master's thesis — work he regularly shares on Radio Kingston's Tutto Italiano. This program reflects his deepest interests: the people behind the history, and the cultures they carried with them.
This event is free, but seating is limited—please reserve your spot in advance.
We suggest a donation of $15 to support the Sunday Salon Series and the work of the Ulster County Historical Society. You can contribute online when you RSVP or donate at the event itself via cash, check, or credit card.
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