LIBERTY – What does Liberty mean to Douglas Yaun?
Yaun doesn’t simply answer. Instead, he traces it through history and his family’s deep roots in the Sullivan County town, founded in 1807. Liberty grew from a lumber, tannery, and dairy farming area into a popular Catskills tourist destination.
Yaun’s connection to his hometown inspired the local historian to create “Liberty to Me,” a crowd-driven exhibit exploring the many meanings of liberty as the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
“The purpose of ‘Liberty to Me’ was never to tell people about myself,” Yaun said. “The importance of liberty and freedom relies heavily on the people you surround yourself with, as well as having a strong constitution. While having a connection to the Revolutionary War may seem important during our 250th year, it does not mean you need to be an ancestor to pursue liberty.”
The initiative invites community members to share their own interpretations of “liberty,” whether tied to the town itself or the broader concept. Those reflections will be compiled and displayed at the Liberty Museum and Arts Center over the next seven years.
Yaun’s America 250 exhibit will run from Memorial Day through Independence Day, open Fridays through Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.
“Doug Yaun is the most energetic person I have ever met,” said the exhibit’s curator, Naomi Frumess. “His family dates back to the pre-Revolutionary era, and that heritage drives him to encourage others to discover what draws them to our region, Liberty, Sullivan County, and the Catskills, and to keep their families here or inspire them to return to the area. He believes that history is an important part of the purpose of The Liberty Museum and Arts Center.”
Many who recognize the Yaun name associate it with the Yaun Company, a century-old distribution business founded by his great-grandfather, who also helped establish the Sullivan County National Bank. The company supplied heating, plumbing, and electrical products across the tri-state region. It also played a key role in training contractors and helping residents maintain their homes, with an early vision of converting seasonal properties into year-round residences. The company installed one of the first rural oil furnaces in upstate New York at a time when wood and coal were the primary heat sources.
Yaun’s cousin, Ray Yaun, assisted Russian Jewish immigrant Irving Berlin, composer of “God Bless America,” in finding refuge along the Beaver Kill in Livingston Manor.
On his mother’s side, Yaun’s ties to Liberty run even deeper. An ancestor, Thomas Crary, served as the town’s first supervisor and justice of the peace. By examining his family’s history and the broader story of the town, Yaun has sought to understand why the name “Liberty” was chosen.
Ultimately, he hopes “Liberty to Me” will foster a deeper sense of awareness, pride, and connection within the community, celebrating it through a shared understanding of what liberty means.
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