Legislature recognizes Bill Grohoski’s efforts to preserve the history of the Black Dirt Region

PINE ISLAND — The Drowned Lands Historical Society takes great pride announcing the Orange County Legislature has issued a resolution proclaiming William Grohoski of Pine Island the official Black Dirt Historian.
From the resolution: “William ‘Bill’ Grohoski was one of three founding members of the Drowned Lands Historical Society.
"Formed in the early 1970’s on an ad hoc basis, the Society collected archives and artifacts related to farming in the Black Dirt Region.
"A descendant of Polish immigrants and a lifetime resident of the area, Bill lived through the furor surrounding the proposal to construct a jet port on the Black Dirt in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, the devastating Black Dirt fire of 1964, and other events relating to farming these ‘Drowned Lands.’
"Bill is the Vice President of the board of trustees of the now chartered, Drowned Lands Historical Society.
“Now, therefore,” the resolution continues, “it is hereby resolved, that we, the Orange County Legislature, do hereby formally recognize the contributions and service of William Grohoski in preserving Orange County’s history in the Black Dirt Region and recognizes him as the official Black Dirt Historian.”
The vote was 21-0.