Matt Watros named deputy historian

On April 14, the Newfield Town Board voted to appoint Matt Watros as deputy town historian under Town Historian Alan Chaffee.

Watros, who answered questions for this article via phone and email, was born and raised in Tompkins County and Newfield. Some branches of his family have lived in the area since the 1790s.

“My biggest influence for studying Newfield’s history is to learn more about my family, as well as helping others learn about their own Newfield ancestors or Newfield properties, etc.,” Watros wrote.

Watros has been interested in history for as long as he can remember. According to him, the root of the interest is most likely from hearing his grandmother, Nancy Watros, tell him about her own upbringing in the 1940s and 1950s, as well as stories from her grandmother about her childhood in northwest Missouri and Nebraska in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Matt volunteered at the old Dewitt Historical Society when he was a teenager and also held positions in the Newfield Historical Society and worked in the Newfield archives. In the course of his work, he has transcribed hundreds of family and local letters, several journals and diaries and other documents. He has also written what he calls a “historical faction” — fiction based on fact — novel titled, “Gabriel: A Novel of the American Civil War,” based on his great-great-great grandfather, Gabriel R. Ballard, of Dryden.

“Everyone likes a good story, whether it comes from a video game, a good book, a movie or YouTube clip, etc.,” Matt wrote. “Newfield’s history is full of good stories, many of them stranger and even more entertaining than fiction.”

The position of deputy town historian is not a new one, although it has not been filled in the past few years. Rosemary Rowland, a friend of Matt, filled the position until she stepped down a few years ago. When she did, Chaffee approached Matt and asked him to take the position, but Matt declined.

Matt works as a firefighter in Newfield, a job that requires him to work multiple days each week. Because of that, and because he raises three children, it is difficult for him to commit to work for the historical society and archives on a fixed schedule. But the same does not apply to being deputy historian, which is why he eventually pursued the job.

“Deputy historian work can be done whenever and is not on a set schedule, which is more conducive to my work and parenting commitments,” Matt wrote. “It allows me to still be involved with local history.”

Chaffee, who is in his 50th year as town historian for Newfield, hopes to retire in the relatively near future and believes Matt would be a good replacement.

“I think he would be a great one to do it because he has such an interest in the people and in the history,” Chaffee said about Matt.

Now that Matt is deputy town historian, he has some goals for furthering the study of Newfield’s history. He also wants to apply to the William G. Pomeroy Foundation so more historical markers can be put up around the town.

Michael Allinger, town supervisor for Newfield, said documenting history is important for Newfield.

“As with any small town, there’s a lot of history that needs to be passed forward on to generation after generation, not only for the people who live here and may have lived through those historical moments, but the people who moved here who used to make Newfield their home,” he said. “It’s important for them to know what the town has been through, what the people have been through. By understanding that, you help to understand your neighbors, and you become better neighbors and citizens of the community itself.”

Chaffee has known Matt for a long time and appreciates Matt’s interest in history, particularly how he sees historical figures as real people.

“He thinks of the people in the 1800s and 1900s as actual people,” Chaffee said. “They’re [not] just names and dates and stones in cemeteries; they’re actual people.”

Allinger is confident that Matt is a good choice for the deputy historian job.

“The history, that’s where the rubber hits the road with this appointment, and I think Matt is a good candidate to carry us forward,” Allinger said.

Chaffee has the utmost confidence in what Matt can bring to the job.

“I think Matt Watros is going to be an excellent deputy historian, and I think his knowledge and thoughts on history are excellent and valuable,” Chaffee said.

Newfield Notes appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com.

In brief:

No school Friday in Newfield

There will be no school for Newfield Central School District students, faculty and staff as part of a “snow day giveback” approved at the May 5 school board meeting.

Newfield Town Board to meet

The Newfield Town Board will hold its regular monthly meeting at the Town Hall on June 9 from 7 to 9 p.m.

For more information, including the agenda and the Zoom link, visit the town website at newfieldny.org.

Newfield school board to meet

The Newfield Board of Education will hold its first monthly meeting at 6:30 pm. June 2. For more information, including the agenda and a link to the YouTube stream, go to the district website at newfieldschools.org.

Newfield Public Library holds movie night

The Newfield Public Library will hold a movie night from 7 to 8:30 p.m. June 10. The movie being shown and other details have yet to be finalized.

For more information, go to newfieldpubliclibrary.org/events/movie-night-700-4/.