Treasures of Cambridge #18 Treasures of Cambridge #18

John Oakley pictured in front of the vault in the former Bean Head’s Coffee House lives in Cambridge, NY for just over a year now, but has a many decade relationship with the area.

John says, "People," and his family are his connections to the area. Currently, he lives in the house owned by family members and he feels it helps makes living here, "a magical place." John, a recently retired architect, says he is, "just embarking on one of the most wondrous, wonderful periods of my life. I am a visual guy, in love with many parts of this place, including it's music, and with my neighbor who helps make some of that music!"

John’s introduction to Cambridge came when he first lived here some thirty-five years ago, and he has been coming back to this area ever since. This special place has been the source of a host of important friendships he has maintained all his life.

John’s prop is his bicycle, which is his way of interacting with the town. "In very private moments, I am able to experience the innermost and outer most parts of the town simply by turning the wheel and going, taking my camera and focusing on, and looking at being involved with the people and places that just appear." "My bike is a great vehicle, it goes all the way back to my childhood, when the bike was the way to get out of our home for the first time, it is a great machine."

John is also a emerging documentary filmmaker. Amongst other projects, he is currently working on a deeply personal and heartfelt piece about the Battenkill Chorale.

John wants to be remembered as, "someone who is open… to the moment," and it doesn’t get much better than that!