EAST MEREDITH — A rare silent film capturing everyday life in Meredith nearly a century ago will take center stage following the Meredith Historical Society’s annual meeting on Sunday, June 21.
The meeting, which includes the election of officers and trustees for the coming year, is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the former Charlotte Valley Presbyterian Church, located at 10044 Elk Creek Road in East Meredith.
After the society completes its business meeting, attendees will be transported back to the 1920s through a 20-minute silent film produced in Meredith around 1925.
The film, preserved as a single presentation, actually combines two unrelated productions. One documents activities at Meridale Farms, highlighting the breeding, care and sale of Jersey cattle during an era when dairy farming formed the backbone of the local economy.
The second film focuses on butter production, illustrating methods that ranged from hand churning to the use of a dog-powered churn before concluding with scenes from a creamery operation.
Together, the films offer a rare visual record of agricultural life in rural Delaware County during the early twentieth century.
Following the screening, Gabrielle Pierce will provide historical context and discuss the locations featured in the footage, helping viewers connect the images on screen with the landscape and community that remain familiar today.
The event is open to the public and admission is free.
