The History of Here - Book Talk with Akum Norder

When is a house a time machine? When writer Akum Norder takes you from the settlement of Albany's Pine Hills neighborhood, through the construction of her house, and explores the lives and times of the families that lived there before hers. Join us for a reception, talk, signing and after-party with cabaret singer Eileen Egan Mack. RSVP for dinner!

Author Akum Norder Discusses The History of Here:
A House, the Pine Hills Neighborhood, and the City of Albany
University Club hosts Reception, Talk and Book Signing on 1^st Friday, March 2

Writer Akum Norder will discuss and sign her book, The History of Here: A House, the Pine Hills Neighborhood, and the City of Albany (SUNY Press, February 2018) on Friday, March 2 at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany at 141 Washington Avenue.

The book tells the story of how the Pine Hills neighborhood in Albany, New York, changed and grew, as reflected in the history of one house and the lives of its residents.

A meet the author reception will begin at 5:30 with the presentation commencing at 6:00. A book signing will follow the program, and books will be available for $20. The program is free but reservations are appreciated and may be made by calling the Club at 518-463-1151; by sending an email to mfahy@universityclubalbany.com; or with the links on this page. Co-sponsored by the Society of Architectural Historians, Turpin Bannister Chapter and the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association, the event is presented by the University Club of Albany Foundation and one need not be a member of the University Club to attend.

When you buy an old house, you get much more than a house. In all its quirks, its alterations, in fragments of memory and traces left behind, you get a bundle of small mysteries. Who used to live here? Why did they come here, and where did they go? Whose name is that written on the attic wall? When did that odd little bathroom get shoehorned in there, and what did the room look like before? If you’re lucky, one or two of your house’s mysteries might unfold into stories. Akum Norder was very lucky.

The History of Here follows Albany’s Pine Hills neighborhood through more than one hundred years of change. At its heart is the story of Norder’s 1912 house and the people who built and lived in it. As Norder traced their histories, she came to see the development of her house, her street, and her neighborhood as a piece of Albany’s story. In the lives of its residents, their struggles and triumphs, she saw a reflection of twentieth-century America.

Drawing on interviews, city records, newspapers, out-of-print books, and other sources, Norder’s narrative makes a case for city neighborhoods: their value, their preservation, and the grassroots involvement that turns a jumble of houses into a community. Funny and thought-provoking, readable and relevant, The History of Here celebrates the sense of place that fuels the new urbanism.

Reception guests are invited to stay for an after-party in the Club’s Grille Room with vocalist Eileen Egan Mack. With a background in classical music and Broadway, she’ll explore the Great American songbook with accompanist Scott Bassinson. The performance is free and open to the public as part of the Club’s celebration of 1^st Friday, the downtown arts walk that showcases Albany's thriving and lively arts scene, but seating is limited. Please RSVP by calling the Club at 518-463-1151; by sending an email to mfahy@universityclubalbany.com; or with the links on this page.

Akum Norder is a writer who lives in Albany, New York. This is her first book.

The University Club of Albany Foundation is a 501c3 corporation formed in 2009 to recognize and maintain the unique historic and architectural significance of the National Register-listed University Club building, its historic neighborhood and the city of Albany, where it has been located since its inception in 1901. Support for educational programming at the University Club is provided by AT&T.

For more information about the University Club, visit www.universityclubalbany.com.