The Peru Gazette

Peru is one of the many communities featured in “Lake Champlain Monuments and Memorials.”

Anastasia and her five previous books

By John T. Ryan

August 31, 2023, Peru – Anastasia Pratt has accomplished many things since graduating from Peru High School in 1994. Many people know her service as Clinton County Historian; others as an accomplished bass player, vocalist, and member of several area musical groups. SUNY Empire State University students know her as a history professor. Her love of history led Anastasia to author five books between 2014 – 2016. On July 1, Arcadia Publishing released her latest book, “Lake Champlain Monuments and Memorials.” 

The book is one of Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series, celebrating the History of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country. Its 128 pages feature 200 captioned black and white photos of memorials and markers on both sides of Lake Champlain from the Canadian Border to as far south as Glens Falls. Anastasia quoted a Lake Champlain Basin Program statement, “The history of the region is inseparable from the lake.” Peru, NY, Anastasia’s hometown, is the location of several of the nation’s most historic places, such as Valcour Island. 

Anastasia’s interest in our region has its roots on Lake Champlain’s eastern shores. The book’s sources include local historians, historical newspapers, diaries, letters, published histories, her parents, and her Vermont relatives who have a keen interest in local History. Sometimes, deciding what to include in the book wasn’t easy. Anastasia explained, “I easily had four times as many photos as what I used. Part of my decision on whether or not to use a photo depended on how much good information I could find. Sometimes, I’d see a monument I loved, but there wasn’t enough information to go forward.”

Research, organizing, compiling, and then committing history to the written form requires deep devotion to History. It begs the question, Why is history important? Anastasia expressed her opinion eloquently, “I think we don’t know who we are unless we have some understanding of who came before us and have a sense that there were people before us who were doing things similar to what we’re doing. It helps us grow, move forward, and succeed.” She compared the development of water power that powered Peru’s Hayworth/Mason Mill three or four generations ago to the Hamilton family’s current goal of developing a solar farm. She asked, “Would you be opposed to that mill? Having that historical knowledge can make a difference in our lives.” 

Anastasia’s experiences at Peru High School have also influenced her life. Asked if she had special teachers, she quickly named history teacher Dick Bulriss. “He was an amazing teacher. He made history come alive. I joke about it, but it’s true: everything I learned about American History I learned in his classroom. I went to college and graduate school, but the foundation for everything was there.” Her college education includes a BA in history at SUNY Plattsburgh and a Ph.D. in history at the University of Michigan. 

“Lake Champlain Monuments and Memorials” can be found at Bookburgh in Champlain Centre and the Route 3 Kinney’s Drug store.

Anastasia Pratt’s earlier books include “Clinton County” (Arcadia Publishing 2014), “Public History, Adult Students and the Community” University Press of New England 2014), “Plattsburgh Through Time” (Foothill Media 2015), “Remarkable Women of Clinton County” (The History Press 2015) and “Constructing and Preserving History Through Community Art Projects” (Routledge 2016). She donates all her book’s royalties to local historical societies.

Playing the bass is Anastasia’s way to relax.