News
May 30, 2024“Why I like Sundials” Program Announced
In recognition of the summer solstice, The Saratoga County History Center Board is pleased to announce a unique program on sundials from ancient times to today. Jere Blackwelder, former President of the History Center’s Board of Trustees will travel through the centuries, exploring how civilizations have viewed time since the beginnings of agriculture through numerous cultures to the modern age with sundials as the common element. This event will be held on Tuesday, June 25, at 7 pm at Brookside Museum, 21 Fairground Ave, Ballston Spa.
Blackwelder’s lifelong fascination with this ancient timepiece will be on full display as he explores how early civilizations used numbering systems to measure time in hours, days and months. He will use his own homemade replica of the oldest known sundial as well as an astrolabe, a small pocket universal dial and a simplified garden style dial to illustrate how time is measured.
Jere Blackwelder, a native of Atlanta Georgia, had a long career as a business owner in North Carolina and Texas in such varied fields as office equipment, microbrewery and software development before moving north to Saratoga County in 2009 with his wife Julia. They will celebrate their 60th anniversary on the day of the solstice in June. His final career stop as Fundraiser and Director of ReStore Operations for Habitat of Humanity in Bryan Texas, exemplified his involvement in civic activities throughout his life. Most recently he has served as President of the Ballston Spa Rotary Club and the History Center at Brookside Museum
“Jere has a wider range of interests than anyone else I know. His lifelong interest in sundials isn’t surprising, but that he’s actually built one from the ground up maybe is,” said Stephen Williams, fellow member of the Ballston Spa Rotary Club. and editor of the Saratoga County History Center newsletter. “Jere has worked to improve people’s lives in every community he has ever lived in, through involvement and leadership in organizations like Rotary, Habitat for Humanity, and the History Center.”
To join Jere in his colorful presentation, please register at brooksidemuseum.org
