History to Song:

Summary

For me, it all began in the Paul Smith’s College Library, looking at historical photos of Paul’s hotel with the librarian, Neil Surprenant. Neil kept telling me how major parts of the Paul Smith empire were the idea of his wife, Lydia: the electric company, the sawmills, the training of their sons in hospitality. As he finished telling me their story, I asked why there was no large portrait of her on campus, and only a dormitory named after her. He said, “You’re a songwriter; write her a song.”