The Howland Public Library is pleased to present Beacon’s West End Story: Summer of 1966, an exhibition of photographs by Michael Raab. The exhibit will be on view in The Community Room from February 10th to March 3rd.  An artist’s reception will be held on Saturday, February 10th, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

In 1966, Michael Raab, an aspiring photojournalist, was working as an assistant to a commercial photographer in Greenwich Village. During the summer, when work slowed down, he picked up a copy of The Village Voice and saw a back-page ad that read: “Help wanted in racially-torn city.” Intrigued, Raab called the number in the ad. "A few days later, I found myself walking up the hill from the Beacon train station to St. Andrew’s Church and one of the best summers of my life," said Raab. 

The ad was placed by Rev. Thomas Moneymaker of St. Andrew’s Church, who was looking for help with his summer youth day camp. The church was offering camp counselors $20 a week plus room and board. The programs offered by St. Andrew’s Church played a central role in the lives of young people in the West End Community and grew into what would later become the Martin Luther King Center and Library. 

Raab's beautiful black-and-white photos capture the energy of the young people and the friendships formed at St. Andrews during the pivotal year of 1966. Also on view during the reception is a short video interview featuring photographer Michael Raab and Sandy Moneymaker of St. Andrew’s Church sharing their memories of the Summer of 1966. 

The Howland Public Library is located at 313 Main Street, Beacon NY 12508. The Community Room Exhibit Space is open during regular library hours. Please note the gallery cannot be visited during library programs. Please consult the library calendar before your visit.