Q & A with Sara Slocombe-Almekinder: About History

Sara Slocombe-Almekinder, Naples Historical Society (NHS) Board Member

I live in the Italy Hills with my husband, Jason, and daughter, Clara. I enjoy gardening, singing, and taking long walks with our yellow lab, Otis. I will celebrate my 18th anniversary at Paychex in October, where I am a manager responsible for Service Technology.

Why did you join the NHS? I joined the Naples Historical Society because my friends invited me to go to a dinner at the Mill. The dinner was for NHS members, so I joined. I became more involved because I value Naples Historical Society programs and they are only possible because of volunteers. This is our place in the world and I want to contribute to keeping it a beautiful, welcoming place to live and visit.

What is one of your favorite stories from Naples, NY history? A creation story is hard to beat! According to Seneca legend, Clark’s Gully at the south end of Canandaigua Lake is the birthplace of the world.

What does history teach us about ourselves? History IS us. We think of history as something that happened a long time ago to long ago people, but every moment that passes is history. Each stone in the Pioneer Cemetery represents the life of a Neapolitan who lived, loved, and died in our valley. They were modern people in a modern age until time marched on and left them behind. History reminds us that we too are in time.

Why is history important in our modern world? Remembering history should make us humble and compassionate. The modern world needs more of both.

In [one hundred years], what do you hope the Naples Historical Society will tell folks about what Naples was like [today]? In 2119, I hope Neapolitans will hear about the origins of the Cleveland House museum and marvel that it’s still intact 225 years after the home was constructed. I hope they’ll see photos from when we broke ground for the water treatment plant and appreciate that it’s still keeping their water clean after 100 years. I hope there are stories about how we celebrated when the Historic Naples Hotel re-opened after a brief hiatus in the summer of 2019. I hope we’re remembered for keeping Naples’s streets tree-lined, quiet, and free of McDonald’s, Starbucks and stoplights. I hope we’re remembered as a community that respected and cared for all its citizens and that we lived life fully!

— Above interview originally appeared in The Neapolitan Record Issue 47, Sept/Oct 2019