Kevin Michael Grady, November 15, 2024
Item
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Title
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Kevin Michael Grady, November 15, 2024
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interviewee
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Kevin Michael Grady
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interviewer
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Cristal De La Cruz
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Date
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2024-11-15
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Subject
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Business
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Cooperstown, New York
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Doubleday Cafe
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Doubleday Field
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Dreams Park
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Environment
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Fire Department
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Lake Otsego
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Leisure
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Little League
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Main Street
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Tourism
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Town of Otsego Planning Board
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Description
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Kevin Michael Grady was born in 1951 in Cooperstown, New York. As a fourth- generation Cooperstown native, Mr. Grady’s involvement and contributions to the Village community have been substantial. He grew up working in a number of his father’s local Village businesses which fostered his interest in business. Starting in 1980, Mr. Grady opened two restaurants in Cooperstown, first the Pepper Mill and years later Doubleday Café. For many years, Mr. Grady has also volunteered with local organizations, including the Cooperstown Volunteer Fire Department and Little League, and on local government boards.
As he recounts his experiences in Cooperstown, Mr. Grady details the ways Cooperstown has transformed from his childhood to the present; he notably discusses how the advent of baseball tourism affected local businesses, including his own, and he describes some of the challenges he faced from the Village, locals, and others while working in local government on different projects. Mr. Grady also provides insight into local environmental issues that have affected his community over the years, including watershed management and invasive species. Some of the most interesting material in the interview concern Mr. Grady’s experiences in running local businesses and his remarks about Cooperstown and the environment.
I interviewed Mr. Grady in his home in Cooperstown. The location was quiet; however, there are three instances during the interview in which loud noises and an interjection disrupt the interview. Although now retired, Mr. Grady still supports Village activities while enjoying the company of his family, including that of his sons and grandchildren who also live in Cooperstown.
Mr. Grady’s dialogue is usually very direct and clear; I have edited this transcript mostly to remove false starts, repetition, and filler words like “and,” “so,” and “you know” to improve readability. I have also edited long phrases into shorter sentences to improve the text’s flow. Because of the liberties taken when editing, researchers are encouraged to consult the audio recordings.
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Time Summary
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Track 1, 03:19 - Growing up in Cooperstown
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Track 1, 11: 38 - Business
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Track 1, 25: 15 - Tourism
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Track 2, 01:15 - Community Involvement
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Track 2, 15: 02 - Environment
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Creator
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Cristal De La Cruz
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Publisher
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Cooperstown Graduate Program, State University of New York at Oneonta
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Rights
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Cooperstown Graduate Association, Cooperstown, NY
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Language
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en-US
