Folk Museum Hall of Fame construction to begin this spring

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Credit Mary McCoy

NEWBURGH – Officials of the Folk Music Hall of Fame hope to break ground this spring on what is believed to be the first-of-its-kind museum in the nation, in the East End of the City of Newburgh.

The non-profit corporation planning the facility has raised half of the $125,000 need to construct the museum at 67 Liberty Street, said group treasurer James Sollami.

“The mission says the purpose would be to highlight the traditions and the people involved in folk music from around the world that have had a positive impact on changing the world and improving our culture and our society,” he said.

Sollami said the hall of fame will be dedicated to the promotion and preservation of traditional, contemporary, and international folk music, folk instruments and the literary and musical contributions of famous folk musicians.

The group hopes to sell 500 memorial bricks at $100 each inscribed with a memorial message and set either inside or outside the building.