Observations, insights and opportunities from the Catskills.

1. Observations
Insights
Think Opportunities
Local Linda Norris
www.lindabnorris.com

2. Down the Road
Many of the observation questions
seemed to imagine that we go to
chain stores or malls—but that’s not
true for all of us. I live in the country
and my observations are on two
places in New York’s Catskills: Table
on Ten in Bloomville and Barlow’s
Store in Treadwell.

3. Observations in Context
• Bloomville, approx 250 residents
• Treadwell, approx 250 residents
• Both in Delaware County, NY
• Delaware County Stats:
– 47,599 people in 1442 square miles (33.2 people/sq mile)
– Per capita income: $22,928 (NYS average $30,948)
– Approx 50% of property owned by non-residents

4. Observation Station 1: Table on
Ten
Café, Micrcshop and Farmstand opened
in 2012 by husband and wife, cabinet
maker and model, transplants from
New York City. Described on their
website as a gathering place, not just a
restaurant.

5. Observation:
What Does Local Mean?
Focus on Local Sourced Food
Above: homemade bread with NYS grains, local
cheese, organic poultry—but not a local recipe:
chicken curry soup. Meeting growing interest in
locally sourced food—but who’s this local sourcing
for and how does it reflect values?

6. Observation: Connections and
Cross Fertilization
Informal gathering places—
and big tables—provide
places to make connections
and fertilize ideas. Here’s a
diagram of our evening.

7. Observation:
We Like to See Things Made
We went on Pizza Night, and began the evening, curious
eaters all, by asking lots of questions about their
handmade pizza oven. It’s great to see your food being
made.

8. Observation
Station #2:
Barlow’s
In business since 1841;
new owners this year.
General store in the
classic meaning of the
words. Husband and
wife are the team of
new owners.

9. Observation:
Multi-Use Spaces
You can do lots of different things at Barlow’s: have a cup
of coffee, browse the community bulletin board, buy nails
and batteries, talk to your neighbors, sign a petition.
Although the spaces are slightly segregated by function,
it’s a multi-use space that’s not just about retail.

10. Observation:
What does
Locally Made
Mean?
In the past, my county has
supplied bluestone for New
York City’s sidewalks and
lumber for clipper ships.
Now, local may mean gourds,
handknit items and candles.
What does that mean for
making a living?

11. Observation:
Choices not Judgments
It’s not just local. A local business survives by selling what
people need and want, including potato chips and cigarettes.

12. Observation:
Community
Connections
Barlow’s continues as a
community meeting place. The
new owners have installed this
large table in the front window.
On the morning I was there, the
election inspectors were meeting
to go over the ballot for next week.

13. Opportunities for
Museums & Cultural
Organizations In
These Spaces
• Create pop-up exhibits in these community places. Start
small: why not a surprising historic photo each month on
the community bulletin board?
• Create programs here rather than in your own space:
science cafes, book discussions…
• Connect local history museums and local food.

14. More Opportunities for
Museums & Cultural
Organizations In
These Spaces
• Why not put museum catalogs or other publications here
for people to browse?
• How about an installation where customers are invited to
share their thoughts/ideas/photos about the place to
become a part of the historical archives at the museum?
• Use a place like Barlow’s to address issues of class in the
way museums are perceived, who they are for.

15. Opportunities for
Museums & Cultural
Organizations In Their
Own Spaces
• Amplify the purposeful use of museum spaces by
offering more amenities: free wifi, easy-to-use
meeting space, etc.: be the third space.
• Be open when people need you to be.
• Offer options for both use and content
development. Don’t be judgmental about
interests and commitment.

16. More Opportunities for
Museums & Cultural
Organizations In Their
Own Spaces
• Create some way for cross-fertilization of ideas and
skills. Can museums be hubs for skill banks?
• What role can museums and cultural organizations play
in small town sustainability? Could we crowdsource
local stores?
• We like to see things made: let’s make our museums
makerspaces.

17. Insight: Reinforcing
The time spent observing and
thinking helped strengthen
some beliefs I hold about
changing museums—but also
made me think about different
ways of sharing those ideas.

18. To Explore More
• You can find Tables on Ten, Barlow’s Store & the
Uncataloged Museum (my blog) on Facebook.
Historic photos of Treadwell can be found at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41782878@N03/ and of Bloomville at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sunnyann/bloomville.htm
l