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Library

Reid Bielenberg

January 29, 2024

|

Hudson, NY

Song

Recorded by

Annie Reynolds

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Summary:

This interview was conducted with Reid Bielenberg on January 29, 2024 in Hudson, New York as part of Oral History Summer School’s winter Interview Corps. Reid grew up in Red Hook, New York and has lived at Camphill Triform, an intentional community for young adults with disabilities, for almost 20 years.

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Reid begins his interview by describing a typical day at Camphill, where he works in the ceramics studio. He shares early memories of his gift for building and fixing things and names some of his early projects and mentors. Reid describes coming to his interest in ice boating, which has remained a lifelong hobby. He talks about raising his children in Germantown for the first ten years of his life, and speaks about his oldest son’s diagnosis with autism during this time. Reid mentions several projects he was proud of during his career in specialty building restoration, including restoring the Saugerties Lighthouse and conducting house repairs Daisy Suckley. He describes giving Daisy a ride on his ice boat when she was 93 years old.

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Reid expresses awe for the creativity of humans who have come before us, and reflects on the theme of care–for objects, places, and people–throughout his life. He speaks about becoming a house parent at Triform for young adults with disabilities and one of his recent projects to repair the Hudson clock tower on Warren Street. Reid concludes his interview by speaking about mentorship and the effect of global warming on the future of ice boating. He expresses a wish for young people to continue working with their hands, and to dream.

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This interview may be of interest to those researching or interested in learning more about care communities for adults with disabilities, particularly at Camphill Triform; ice boating along the Hudson River; and restoration craftsmanship.  

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Themes:
No items found.
Interviewer Bio:
Annie Reynolds
Additional Info:
Interview language(s):
English
,
Audio quality:
medium

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Permissions: 

This interview is hereby made available for research purposes only. For additional uses (radio and other media, music, internet), please click here to inquire about permissions.

Part of this interview may be played in a radio broadcast or podcast.

Oral history is an iterative process. In keeping with oral history values of anti-fixity, interviewees will have an opportunity to add, annotate and reflect upon their lives and interviews in perpetuity. Talking back to the archive is a form of “shared authority.”

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