Photo of Bill Rhoads by Dion Ogust
The resourceful, erudite and knowledgeable Bill Rhoads of New Paltz, emeritus professor of Art History at SUNY-New Paltz, is probably the local resident with whom one would want to drive around Ulster County if one is a student of architecture. His new work will therefore be greeted locally as an act of generosity on his part and a gesture of providence on the part of local enthusiasts of sense of place. Rhoads has completed Ulster County, New York: The Architectural History and Guide, just published by Black Dome Press. In the book, Rhoads – also author of a well-received 2003 guide to Kingston’s architecture – leads the local reader to 325 sites in the 19 townships and single city of the county. Each site is identified by a photograph or drawing.
Rhoads is about to hit the roads again. On Saturday, November 19 at 2 p.m. he will present a slide lecture at the Friends of Historic Kingston Gallery at the corner of Wall and Main Streets in Kingston. He will be available to sign books from 1 to 4 p.m. (except, presumably, while he is lecturing).
Rhoads is also scheduled to appear to sign his books the next Saturday, November 26 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Barnes and Noble on Route 9W in Ulster. On Sunday, December 4 at 4 p.m. Rhoads will give a slide lecture at the Elting Memorial Library on Main Street in his hometown, New Paltz. There will be more events, according to Black Dome publisher Steve Hoare, but the dates for them are not yet confirmed.