Hill City Tours
This year, the Greater Oneonta Historical Society (GOHS) introduces Hill City Tours. These Walking Tours of Oneonta’s historic Main Street will be by prior arrangement and offered by GOHS members Bob Brzozowski and Don Cook.
Bob Brzozowski is the former Executive Director of GOHS and the author of the Main Street and Walnut Street historic walking tour brochures. He was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in New England, where he majored in history and worked for a mason restoring colonial homes. After completing graduate studies in anthropology in Mexico, he returned to the U.S. and began a 30-year career in international education. He lived in Milwaukee for 16 years and has called Oneonta home since 1996. He has been interested in local history since childhood. “We are all shaped by and shape the places we live,” Brzozowski says. “Each place has a unique local history, and Oneonta’s is especially interesting. It produced the Huntingtons, the Fairchilds, and Carleton Watkins on the national scene, while those who remained here formed a vibrant community from a tiny village to the only city in Otsego County.”
Don Cook is a licensed New York City tour guide, having been employed for many years by Gray Line and recently retired to Oneonta. He was born and raised in Massachusetts. His interest in history began at a young age, when, being shown his family tree, he discovered his roots carried back 12 generations to the Mayflower. Later, after attending a teachers’ college, he made his way to New York City with an intent of a career in the theater. “Ultimately,” Cook remarked, “this proved to be a frustrating endeavor but lead me to many adventures and a variety of career moves, including 15 years as a NYC real estate broker. This gave me an appreciation for the city’s vast architectural landscape. About 20 years ago, I found what would blend all my life’s experiences: I became a licensed NYC tour guide. I was employed by Gray Line and operated my own walking tour enterprise. Now a permanent resident of Oneonta, I would like to share my love and enthusiasm for this wonderful region.”
To plan a Hill City Walking Tour (for up to twenty persons), contact Bob or Don at HillCityTours@