The Friends’ 2008 Summer Picnic took place under clear skies on Tuesday August 19. About 50 people came. Thanks to the  generosity of Karen Osborn-Shanley, we enjoyed a program of live jazz. Site Supervisor Erica Uramkin provided everything needed for our cookout, and a grand time was had by all.

A highlight of the evening was the unveiling of a memorial bench dedicated to the memory of Hank Lysaght.

Hank, was a long time member of the Friends, a personal friend to many of us, a community activist, and a gentleman. He was instrumental in helping the Friends to digitize and publish online historian Ken Newcomb’s book, The Makers of the Mold. We hope everyone will visit his memorial bench, which is located on the bluff that overlooks the silk mill. It will be a great place to come and look at Echo Bridge.