1st History Makers awards given
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Quiet as a mouse in the background? No more.
Last week the Aspinock Historical Society stepped into the spotlight and recognized its first two History Makers. The annual award is made to a “resident or non-resident of Putnam, living or deceased, who has made or is still making honorable and positive impact through works, deeds and service in Putnam and/or globally with ties to Putnam.”
The inaugural awards went to Tom Borner and the late Fred Hedenberg.
John Miller, MC of the event and president of the society, said the honors went to one past and one present History Maker helping the society preserve Putnam’s history “whether in the spotlight or done quietly behind the scenes.”
Town historian Bill Pearsall said he would attend the Putnam Business Association meetings and report on what was happening with the society. “And it seemed within a couple weeks, there’s Tom with a check.”
Borner’s Putnam Area Foundation has helped the society with many donations. Miller said in addition to the help to the society, Borner was a member of the Putnam Area Industrial Corporation which was formed in the wake of the Flood of 1955. Miller added “His love for his community is rivaled only by the love for his family.”
In accepting the award, Borner said he was “humbled and touched” by the recognition. He came to Putnam 45 years ago, began working as an attorney and his business grew. “I have been thankful of all the support Putnam has given me throughout the years.”
He added: “I have done my best over the years to collaborate with community members, supporting the town of Putnam for one simple reason and that is that I love the town of Putnam.” He said he’s proud to see what’s next for the community.
To that end, Borner announced a $10,000 PAF donation to the society in honor of Fred Hedenberg. He said it could go toward the boxcar projects or to the Cady Copp Cottage project. Miller said later that the society would discuss where it should go but he was leaning toward it going to the Cady Copp Cottage project.
The Spirol Foundation is making a “substantial” grant to the boxcar museum for the construction of a pavilion near the boxcar. Miller said later that foundation has already given $5,000. The total cost of the Frederick C. Hedenberg Boxcar Pavilion/donation “has yet to be determined.” The pavilion is needed to expand the teaching capacity of the museum. “Because not too many fit inside the boxcar,” Miller said. Since it opened in 2004 there have been 10,871 visitors from around the world. The boxcar was closed in 2019, 2020 and 2021 for COVID and for renovations.
Miller said Hedenberg was involved in many organizations from Hospice to the Cub Scouts to soccer coaching to being a selectman. He was one of the catalysts who pressed the “go” button on the Aspinock Historical Society. Hedenberg procured the boxcar that became the Gertrude Warner boxcar museum. Miller said “That started with the vision of Fred.” He also started the town on the long road to transforming the Cady Copp Cottage in East Putnam into an educational facility.
Pat Hedenberg, Fred’s wife, spoke about the “content” of Fred. There were all the public things, like working in radio and being in politics, she said, but there were also the little known sides of him. He was a self-taught artist and was a writer. He loved tennis. He coached soccer and would take the kids out for ice cream, whether they won or lost. What was most important was good sportsmanship. “And I really think it was the ice cream that helped,” she said.
He really believed, she said, that with the Cady Copp and Boxcar “that maybe he could help in some small way.”
Mayor Barney Seney said the citizens of Putnam “took it upon themselves to protect our history of Putnam.”
Librarian Nicole Nichols spoke about the collaboration between the free programs at the library and the society. “As a member of both the Aspinock Historical Society and Gertrude C. Warner Boxcar Children’s Museum Committee, it is my pleasure and a top priority of the library to support local historians and authors through public programs.” The collaboration helps preserve Putnam’s history.
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Award Winners
Above: The family of the late Fred Hedenberg. Left: The family of Thomas Borner. Additional photos Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger. Linda Lemmon photos.