Parish's own Parish Town Historian-- Bridget Swartz is highlighted in the Half-Shire Historical Society Newsletter May-Nov. 2006----Historian Spotlight. . .

Mary Bridget Lyon Swartz was born in Clifton Springs NY , grew up in Newark NY, where she graduated from Newark High school in 1957. Her grandparents were Dutch and Irish immigrants who inspired her love of history and gardening. She graduated from Nazareth College in Rochester with a degree in history in 1961 and moved to Syracuse to take a job as a third grade teacher in the North Syracuse School System. It was here that she met her husband Fred who was a reading specialist. They married in 1962 and moved into their 1840 house on West Main Street in Parish on April Fools Day 1963. Bridget worked as a substitute teacher, served on the APW school board for 5 years and the Oswego County BOCES Board for ten years, and became director of the Ecumenical Food Pantry , a position she still holds. Fred and Bridget share an interest in local history and have an antique shop, Parish Cheese Factory Antiques and Collectibles on East Main Street.

Fred and Bridget are members of the Heritage Foundation of Oswego County and serve on the committee that recognizes buildings of historic interest in Oswego County. Bridget has served as Town and Village Historian for more than 20 years. Fred and Bridget have five children, Katherine who lives at home and works at Oswego Industries, Colleen Cicchetti who lives in Brockport and works for Lifetime Assistance, Dr Laura Swartz who lives in Maryland and works for the FDA, Jonathan who lives in Rochester and is a field representative for ISO, and Carrie Wells who lives in Rochester and works for a law firm. Fred and Bridget enjoy their five grandchildren. Bridget currently is the Director of the Parish Public Library where she has featured a large local history collection, many of which are written by Half Shire members.

The Half-Shire Historical Society P.O. 73 1100 County Route 48, Richland, NY 13144-0073 phone 315.298.3620, halfshire@hotmail.com http://halfshire.tripod.com Founded on November 15, 1972; NYSED charter: Provisional-Dec. 1973; Permanent- Feb. 1978

President: Shawn Doyle; Vice-President: (vacant)Treasurer: Mary Yerdon; Secretary: George Widrig

Membership: Annual dues are $12 per year; $25 for supporting membership, $250 life membership Payable by check to Half-Shire c/o P.O. 73 Richland, NY 13144-0073