Fall 2011 Fall 2011 - Greene County Historical Society

Fall 2011
MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER
OF THE
G R E E N E C O U N T Y H I S T O R I C A L S O C I E T Y, I N C .
Fall 2011 Contents
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The Bronck Museum’s 13-sided barn
with the Adirondack Raffle Chair
painted by local artist Ellen DeLucia.
President’s Message
New Board Members
Beecher Award
Heritage Craft Fair & Fall Events
Ask Shelby
Notes from Home
What was Old Is New Again
Summer Intern
Bronck Barrack & Hunter Education Center
Vedder Research Library Notes
Digitalization at VRL
New Collection Additions
Around the Society, Events & Activities
Spotlight on Membership
2011 Beecher Scholarship
Greene History Notes
Speak Out
Fundraising
2011 Schedule of Events
Letter from the President
Greene County Historical Society
Board of Trustees
Dear Members & Friends:
350
Here it is Fall 2011. It was 349 years ago when Pieter Bronck purchased this site
from the local Indian tribe. In 2013 it will be 350 years since the house was built
and what is now Coxsackie was populated by the Dutch. It is truly a time to
celebrate history here in Greene County. You will hear more about this celebration
in the coming issues of The Messenger.
It was a busy spring and early summer.
� School groups visited the Bronck Museum in addition to receiving educational
programs in the classroom conducted by several volunteers and staff.
� Professors from NYC came here to research the Bronck crest.
� An all day session was hosted with
lectures and a tour for a group of
educators from Ulster County BOCES
who were studying the Dutch in the
Hudson Valley.
� GCHS’s first summer intern, Jenna
Melewski, a senior at Duquesne, who
works on our school units was appointed.
� The septic tank was installed at the
Hunter Education Center as well as a
walkway along the back of the Bronck
Barrack where visitors will eventually be
able to see the exhibits in the spaces.
General Greene (aka President Bob Hallock) visits
� Rev. Johannes Schuneman and Leonard
Coxsackie Elementary School to conduct an
educational program for the 4th grade students.
Bronk exhorted the visitors to the site to
sign the Coxsackie Declaration (Articles of
Association) and Schuneman read the Declaration before the signings.
� Two new Bronck Family at Home programs were held on house cleaning and
decorating. During the programs visitors got to use 17th and 18th century brooms,
do laundry, hear the unusual ways they cleaned their house and receive tips on how
to decorate a 17th or 18th century home.
� Our 35th Annual Tour of Homes was hosted in New Baltimore followed by a walk
and talk program the next morning to the old papermill site in New Baltimore,
followed then by the Bronck Family at Home decorating program on Sunday
afternoon. We made a ‘weekend of history’ in Greene County.
� Our first ‘Asking for Volunteers’ event was held which brought in several new
interested and enthusiastic volunteers.
Who said history is a dull subject? The second half of the season promises to
have much of the same: Events, programs, visitors, new additions to the Bronck
Museum and Vedder Research Library’s collections and, as yet, unknown events will
make history here as well.
Financially we continue to do well being able to continue our programming,
educational events, staff and maintenance and repairs. Some other historical
societies and museums have seen hard times – cutting hours, cutting staff, reducing
programming or in some cases, going out of business. Thanks to our members,
our staff, our Board of Trustees, our officers and committees and all the volunteers
for your assistance.
Much of what we do is now financed by our endowment funds, fueled by
bequests over the years. Some large, some small, but all managed in a way to get the
most benefit to the Society. This spring we received a nice bequest from our late former President Olga Santora. Please consider the Society when you are determining
what to do with your estate. Certainly we would like financial bequests, but
historical papers or other materials are also welcome.
Just remember, Three Five O starts next year.
Sincerely,
Bob Hallock, President,
Greene County Historical Society, Inc.
FA L L 2 0 11
MESSENGER
P AG E 2
Joseph Warren, Chairman
Robert Hallock, President
Jonathan Donald, Vice President
John Dickinson May, Vice President
Jim Planck, Vice President
David Dorpfeld, Treasurer
Thomas Satterlee, Financial Secretary
Ann Hallock, Recording Secretary
Christine Byas
Robert D’Agostino
Karen Deeter
Wanda Dorpfeld
Harvey Durham
W. Bradford Ellis
Rick Hanse
Robert Hoven
Stefania Jozic
Emily Dorpfeld Kunchala
Regina McGrath
Richard Muggeo
Dennis O’Grady
John Quinn
Barbara Spartaro
Denise Warren
Staff
Shelby Mattice, Bronck Museum Curator
Steven Pec, VRL, Librarian
Jennifer Barnhart, Operations Manager
Jason & Amanda O’Donnell, Caretakers
Published Semi-annually by
The Greene County Historical Society, Inc.
PO Box 44, Coxsackie, NY 12051
The Bronck Museum: 518.731.6490
Vedder Research Library: 518.731.1033
http://www.gchistory.org/
Jennifer Barnhart, Managing Editor
Harvey Durham, Copy Editor
James Dustin, Designer
Contributors
David Dorpfeld, Wanda Dorpfeld,
Ann Hallock, Robert Hallock, Shelby
Mattice, Steven Pec, Thomas Satterlee
Membership Matters
Membership renewal notices for 2012 will be
going out around Thanksgiving. In anticipation of renewal and to save time and money,
membership cards will be included which
will reflect the same membership level as
2011. The Society encourages members to
upgrade their membership level, in which
case, a new card will be sent. Member support is very important to allow the Society to
continue the preservation and dissemination
of Greene County history. Additional
membership and support is always welcome.
New Board
Members
2011 Inductees
Karen Deeter is retired after over 30
years of teaching music in Patchogue,
Long Island, New York. She has a
Bachelor of Music Education Degree
and Masters in the Study of
The Greene County Historical Society
Humanities. Although her educational
is pleased to welcome the following new
background was not in history she
trustees to the Board of Trustees.
developed an interest upon her
retirement. Currently, she serves as
2010 Inductees
the Lexington Town Historian.
Rick Hanse retired in July 2007
W. Bradford Ellis runs his own
having served as Assistant Deputy
design firm based out of New York City
Commissioner of the Suffolk County
that specializes in high-end residential
Department of Labor with oversight of
designs. He is involved in number of
the county’s three one-stop employment
organizations including God’s Love We
centers. He has a deep interest in the
Deliver, National Counsel of Eagle
preservation of historical landmarks. He
Scouts, The Mayflower Society, Sons
participated on the Save Huntington’s
and Daughters of the American
Lighthouse Committee for several years.
Revolution, Saint Anselm College
In addition, he helped to preserve the
Alumni Board of Directors and Starlight
only surviving service station on the
Ball of Northern Dutchess Hospital.
Northern State Parkway.
Robert Hoven has had his own
Regina McGrath recently retired
interior design company since 1968
from State Telephone Co., after 30 plus
starting in New York City and later
years. She has served on the Doane
moving to Catskill with a prior
Stuart School Alumni Board, Coxsackie
residence in Westchester for 11 years.
Hose Co. #3 and Coxsackie Rescue
In 2005 he and many Catskill residents
Squad. She is currently on the Board of
reorganized the leadership of the
Beattie-Powers Place,
regrouping and offering a
varied series of concerts
and lectures which sustain
and preserve this
significant property.
He has served as President
of the Friends of BeattiePowers Place for six years.
Barbara Spartaro has
lived in Greene County for
25 years. She initially
became interested in local
history as branch manager
for the Palenville Library
beginning in 1995. She
completed her Masters of
Library Science degree in
Pictured (back row) Rick Hanse, John Quinn, Karen Deeter,
W. Bradford Ellis (front row) Stefania Jozic, Regina McGrath,
2002 and was employed
Barbara Spartaro (Not pictured Robert Hoven)
until last year as an elementary school librarian.
Heermance Library and Community
With her background in library science
Action of Greene County and is a very
she has agreed to chair the Vedder
active member of St. Mary’s Church.
Research Library Committee.
Stefania Jozic is the proprietor/
John Quinn is a former teacher and
innkeeper of the historic Washington
school administrator. He currently
Irving Inn in Hunter, NY. She is a
serves as Vice Chairman for the
founding member of the Town of
Community of Windham Foundation
Hunter’s Scenic By-ways Committee,
Board and is on the Board of Trustees
on the Board of Directors of the
of the Historic Zadock Pratt Museum.
Zadock Pratt Museum and a member
In 2011 he began working with County
of the committee to save the historic
Historian David Dorpfeld as co-chairSt. Mary of the Mountain Church in
man of the Greene County Civil War
Hunter village.
Sesquicentennial Committee.
FA L L 2 0 11
MESSENGER
P AG E 3
Beecher Award
Recipient
At the Volunteer Recognition Event
earlier this year the Beecher Award was
presented to long-time Vedder Research
Library volunteer Shirley McGrath. The
Beecher Award, named for former
Greene County Historian Raymond
Beecher, is periodically given to a GCHS
Shirley McGrath with Bob Hallock
volunteer who has dedicated many
hours to the Society and its successful
operation. President Bob Hallock
presented the award to Shirley and said,
“she’s an invaluable resource at the
library and I don’t know what we’d do
without her.”
Shirley has been a volunteer at the
library since February 1995. You’ll
always find Shirley behind the desk on
Tuesday and Wednesday every week.
“She’s a dedicated volunteer”, said Steve
Pec, Librarian at the library.
Over the course of sixteen years at
the Vedder Research Library, Shirley has
handled genealogy requests from people
all over the world including requests
from England, Holland and Germany.
“I really enjoy the work and am always
grateful when people follow-up with me
and let me know what came of their
research,” said Shirley. “That’s why I’m
still volunteering after 16 years.”
The Volunteer Recognition Reception
The Bronck Museum
Heritage Craft Fair
Ask Shelby
Early each autumn when the first of the falling
leaves on the lawn crunch underfoot and the fat
round acorns of the swamp oaks rattle down the
gray shake roofs of the old Bronck houses, it is
time once again for the Bronck Museum Heritage
Craft Fair. This year’s Heritage Craft Fair will take
place on Sunday, October 2 from 12 to 5pm, rain
or shine, on the Museum grounds.
Spread throughout the houses, nestled beside
the barns and across the lawns, crafters will be
offering for sale all manner of traditional
American crafts. Stop and sit awhile on the lawn
to enjoy warm mulled cider and soft doughnuts.
Place a bid on an item in the Silent Auction. Tap
your toe to American bluegrass and country music.
Take time for a horse drawn wagon ride over
Pressing apples at
Coxsackie Creek to the Kalkberg ridge. Watch fat
The Heritage Craft Fair
sheep graze in the shade of the Museum’s oak
trees. Or take a little stroll along the old King’s Road to visit the farm’s unusual
13-sided hay barn. Begin the beautiful fall season in the Hudson Valley with a trip
back in time to experience the simple pleasures of the American past.
Q. Did the Bronck family drink
As each mourner departs for the welcoming warmth of their home and a
return to the modern world each will
carry a funeral cake in remembrance of
the lives lived by earlier Americans.
As was often the case in times past
sorrow would be set aside to make
The wicked west wind of October
room for celebration. The harvest now
now mingles freely with the chill north
stowed safely away in every available
wind. Dry leathery oak leaves driven by
space in garret and cellar. The summer
the wind scuttle along the bluestone
labor was mostly over. The Bronck
walks scraping and scratching as they
family and their
go. Afternoon sun sends
neighbors could
long shadows over the
savor the simple
warm brown floors.
abundance of late
Darkness comes earlier
fall and prepare to
each day. The frost will
enjoy the coming
soon be on the pumpcelebrations of
kins. Late fall has
Martinmas, St.
arrived at the Bronck
Nicholas Day and
Museum and just two
A Great Sorrow; An early American Funeral
St. Lucia Day. On
special events remain.
the weekend of November 12th and
Settled quietly on an upturned log a
13th please plan to join the festivities of
skull awaits those who will come for
Chilly Willy Winters Eve. Visitors will
the funeral. The venerable Bronck stone
accompany a costumed guide on a tour
house, shutters respectfully closed, will
of the ancient Bronck houses. They will
bear witness, as it must have done
experience the increasing chill and
many times before, to the death rituals
decreasing daylight that foretell the
of early America. On Saturday October
approach of deep winter and share in
29th at 4pm and again at 5:15pm visitors
the customs and lore of these now
will join in silent witness the services
largely forgotten celebrations. Chilly
owed to the recently departed dead. The
Willy Winter’s Eve Tours leave the
mournful toll of a single bell accompaBronck Museum Visitor Center at 11am,
nies the mourners in solemn procession
1pm and 3pm on Nov. 12th & 13th.
to the nearby Bronck burying ground.
FA L L 2 0 11
MESSENGER
P AG E 4
A. European immigrants like Pieter
Bronck and his wife Hilletje Jans mistrusted open water sources and seldom,
if ever, used the water for drinking. In
Europe during the 1600s streams and
rivers were heavily polluted with human
and animal waste, chemicals from
various early manufactories, and the
occasional human or animal carcass.
Open water smelled bad, tasted worse,
and everyone knew it made you sick so
sensible people relied instead on beverages with some level of alcohol content.
Wine, ale and of course the famous
Dutch “small beer” were the common
table drinks consumed by both adults
and children. By the mid-1600s the new
and safe boiled water drinks; tea,
chocolate and coffee were increasingly
available but too expensive to be widely
consumed. Ordinary people continued
to drink alcoholic beverages with every
meal well into the 1800s.
Clean water was of course also
necessary for food preparation and
processing. For a very long time the
Bronck family followed the common
practice of capturing rainwater in
gutters and channeling the water into
cisterns and rain barrels. The Bronck
dwellings still retain their early wrought
iron gutter supports and at least one
cistern remains a few feet west of
the houses.
The Vedder Research Library
Late Fall Events
at the Museum
the water from the stream behind
their house?
1920’s view of the stream & houses
What was Old
Is New Again
In June, Drs. Shelley Olson and Dilip Kundepudi from the Bronx visited the
Vedder Research Library and Bronck Museum to research the Bronck family coat of
arms or crest. Olson, who has a doctorate in Music Education and Kundepudi a
doctorate in Business Administration are both members of the Bronx Historical
Society. They were interested in determining the earliest documented family use of
the Bronck coat of arms. Because of
distinct similarities between the Bronck
coat of arms, the Bronx seal/flag
(adopted 1912) and the New York State
seal/flag (adopted 1782) Drs. Olson and
Kundepudi wondered if perhaps the
Bronck family had simply adopted the
crest at some point after it had been
created for the borough or the state.
Bronck Museum Curator Shelby Mattice (far
The use of the crest on a Bronck sleigh
right) and GCHS President Bob Hallock (far left)
c. 1800 indicates that the crest was in use
conduct tour of Bronck Museum for Drs. Shelley
in the family from at least that date.
Olson and Dilip Kundepudi.
Jonas Bronck the first family member to
arrive in the Dutch colonie of New Netherland is believed to have sailed under a
personal flag with some version of a commercial crest. At the time of his death in
1643 Jonas appears to have been in possession of both a signet ring and a silver cup
that may have been engraved with a crest or coat of arms. Finally there is also a
somewhat vague and unsubstantiated reference to an armorial window bearing the
Bronck coat of arms created for use in the First Reformed Dutch Church at
Beverwyck (Albany) in the 1650s. While is seems that the signet ring and flag may
have been lost or destroyed, there is a report from around 1917 that the silver cup
was in the possession of R. Bronck Fish then residing at Fultonville, N.Y. That
Bronck may have been a descendent of Robert Bronk, one of the sons of Judge
Leonard Bronck the fifth generation owner of the family’s Coxsackie farmstead.
After the visitors
reviewed some materials in
the VRL, Drs. Olson and
Kundepudi
toured the
Bronck houses
and Dutch Barn
with Museum
Curator Shelby
Mattice and
GCHS President
Bob Hallock.
They photographed the
family crest on
the Bronck sleigh
as well as the fireback in the
fireplace of the north room
of the 1738 house. The
fireback was cast and
Bronck coat of arms plaque, Collection of GCHS, no date
installed during restoration
work undertaken in the 1930s by the last family owner of the farmstead.
The Bronck descendents will be contacted to help us further research the origin
of the Bronck coat of arms. Specifically, we are looking for any information relating
to the silver cup, signet ring, flag or even the church window. If you have any
information, please contact Shelby Mattice at [email protected] or write to her
attention at Bronck Museum, 90 County Route 42, Coxsackie, N.Y. 12051
If you drop by the Bronck Museum
this fall you may be surprised to see that
slowly but surely the trim on the Bronck
dwellings is being newly painted in its
old and bold color. There was nothing
subtle about the color of the paint
applied to early American buildings. For
example in the 1760s it was decided by
vote in Killingly, Connecticut that the
meeting house was to be “cullered” in
FA L L 2 0 11
MESSENGER
P AG E 5
The Bronck Museum
Top;
Windows
on the
1690
addition
with
fresh
paint
Right;
a photo
taken for a survey by
Thos. Waterman in 1936, shows the shutters
the following manner “the outside of an
orange culler the doors and bottom
boards of chocolate culler and the roof
should be cullered red.” Hardly the
iconic white church we have come to
associate with colonial New England.
In fact it was rare to find white used as
an exterior paint color until well into
the 1800s.
As a general matter the exteriors of
rural homes were seldom painted before
the 1830s. If any exterior wood was
painted it was only the trim even on
wooden sided houses. The favorite early
color choice for house trim seems to
have been iron oxide red. The wooden
trim on both the stone and brick Bronck
dwellings is being painted a deep rich
brown red replicating as closely as
possible this early iron oxide red paint.
Eventually the shutters and the doors
too will regain their early color. Window
by window as the painting progresses
the houses are, in a most flattering way,
beginning to look their age.
Th e Ve dd er
Re sea rch Lib
rar y
Notes from Home
Bronck Family Crest
Summer Intern
Jenna Melewski describes
the kitchen dependency to
students on a field trip to
the Bronck Museum
This summer GCHS had its first
student intern, Jenna Melewski, from
New Baltimore. Jenna was also the
Society’s first Beecher Scholarship
winner in 2008. She is an undergraduate student at Duquesne University in
Pittsburgh, PA with a dual major in
Secondary Education and History and
will graduate in May 2012.
At Duquesne Jenna works as an
Athletic Tutor and has also started her
own organization there: BETA – Better
Education Through Action. The organization has completed two service projects in two months, and has much more
planned for the next school year. Jenna
says she enjoys planning lessons that
are accessible to students of multicultural backgrounds and those who have
special needs. After graduation, she
plans to work with underperforming
schools through Teach for America, or
start her Master’s degree (she will be
applying to Harvard and the University
of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia).
As an intern for the Society Jenna
has completed a unit of seven
individual lessons on “Children in the
Civil War” which are tailored to 5th
graders. The lessons are: Cartoons in
the Past and Present, Music of the Civil
War, Advantages of the North and
South, Military Technology, Life on the
Farm, Virtual Trip to a Battlefield, and
Games Then and Now. She presented
the lesson on Music to a fifth grade
class in Catskill Elementary. Jenna also
helped with two school fieldtrips at the
museum. We are very pleased to have
Jenna as a part of our GCHS family.
Progress On
The Bronck Barrack &
Hunter Education Center
After a long hard winter, a rainy spring and a hot early summer, the septic tank
for the Hunter Education Center has been installed. The installation means we can
proceed with restoring water to the Center, installing the bathroom facilities and
restoring the heating system. The immediate benefit will be to have a working
kitchen on the Museum/Library site for the first time. The kitchen area is ready to
go with a little effort to clean the kitchen. The bathroom will have a handicap accessible toilet and sink installed and a new door, then some painting will be done. The
section in the front of the house needs to be painted, the floor repaired where a wall
was taken out, some shades on the windows and it too will be ready for use.
After the septic tank was installed, walkways in front of the exhibit spaces at the
rear of the Bronck Barrack were completed. Some further fill is needed and
walkways from the parking area to the walkways need to be laid out. Grading and
seeding will follow. The rear of the Barrack area also contains an area to remain
wild, which will be used as a teaching tool and will have signage explaining the area
and its uses by the Native Americans and
early colonists.
Over the past five years since we
acquired the former kennel property, the
front area of the Barrack has been
renovated to provide barn style doors
entering into a storage area. The dog runs,
cages, etc. were removed, the walls pressure washed, doors installed, the Barrack
was re-sided and painted red with white
trim to match the other buildings. The
northern section has been completed and
New walkways at the rear of the Bronck Barrack
is filled with Museum items in storage.
The southern section has been completed but has only some Museum items in
storage and will soon be filled with other items. On the rear, the kennel runs were
removed; a roof was constructed: and Dutch style barn doors installed to provide
about 8 exhibit spaces. Plans have been made to fill at least two of the spaces with
exhibits on the ice industry and ice harvesting. A decision will soon be made on how
to proceed with the construction of the exhibits.
The Education Center had new windows installed where the old bay window
once was; a wall between the living room and one former bedroom was removed to
provide one large room; the bathroom was stripped of the tub, toilet and sink and a
handicap accessible doorway was created. New gutters were installed on the eaves
and water runoff from the roof is taken away from the house basement walls. A new
sump pump was installed in the basement as well.
Slowly but surely we are creating new spaces for storage, exhibits, educational
programs and kitchen use.
The Immediate Benefit will be to have a
Working Kitchen on the Museum/Library
Site for the First Time.
FA L L 2 0 11
MESSENGER
P AG E 6
Vedder Research Library
From the Collections
The Vedder Research Library
Digitalization
at VRL
The Greene County Historical Society
has embarked on a three-phase project
spread over five years to (1) install a
network for the Vedder Research
Library and Bronck Museum; (2) set up
digital inventory and control of library
holdings; and (3) start digitalization of
the documents with our own hardware.
A Sketch drawn by Horace Wilbur Palmer in 1892
In the collections of the Vedder Research Library there are many items of
interest – books, dairies, prints, scrapbooks, cookbooks, maps, newspapers, etc. This
year the cover of the GCHS Annual Report was from the collections of the VRL.
The sketch drawn by Horace Wilbur Palmer in 1892 when he was 14 years old is
considered folk art that is over 100 years old. It is a fine example of the historic
treasures found in the Society’s collections and demonstrates the use of digitization
that is being utilized in the library by Librarian Steve Pec and volunteer Steve
Schwebler.
The sketch was drawn in a notebook and covered two pages entitled by Palmer
as “Camel’s Hump”, a term the Greene County Historical Society was not aware of
in reference to the area. It is clearly a sketch of the Bronck property from the high
rocks on the west, before the power lines, State Route 9W, and the Correctional
Institution. You can see the barn that is now Mr. Lincoln’s Auction Barn, the extension on the 13-sided barn, (torn down in the mid 1960’s) and the long gone barn
between the 13-sided barn and the Dutch barn.
Palmer did a series of three lined sketch books, each in pencil, titled, numbered
and indexed alphabetically, with page number location, in the end of the third book.
The books contain sketches of the Coxsackie area, Greene County and other
locations in New York State.
Horace Wilbur Palmer was born in Coxsackie on August 16, 1878, the son of
Horace R. and Margaretta (Brown) Palmer. Margaretta was the daughter of Isaac
and Juliet (Adams) Brown. The Browns and Adams families were early settlers of
Connecticut. Palmer graduated from Cornell in 1900, and worked for the New York
Central Railroad until 1909. He attended New York Law School and graduated in
1911. He practiced law until his death in 1953. Palmer also served in the New York
State Assembly from a New York City district.
Horace Wilbur Palmer worked on the Palmer family genealogical records most of
his adult life. After his death his widow published his records. A copy of “The
Palmer Families in America” was given to the Heermance Library and the sketch
book was donated to the Bronck Museum. The Vedder Research Library has two
copies of the “The Palmer Families in America” book.
New Acquisitions Cataloged at
The Vedder Research Library
Borthwick, William Sidney, Funerals in the
Vicinity of Cornwallville, August 31, 1895January 19, 1900 (From Carol Borthwick for
William S. Borthwick)
� Cornell Hook and Ladder Ladies Auxiliary,
50th Anniversary CH & L Auxiliary, 9-25-10
(From Ann Hallock)
�
Davis, Roy, Crest Park, A Catskill Mountain
Memoir (From the author)
� DuBois, Philip H., A Catskill Boyhood, My
Life along the Hudson: 1908-1921 (From Clark
E. Fegraus)
� Earlton Fish and Game Club, Prize Recipes of
Earlton (From Bob and Ann Hallock)
� Flint, Orin Q.,Legal Papers (From Shirley W. Guy)
� Hendrick Hudson Chapter, National Society,
Daughters of the American Revolution, One
Nation, A Commemorative Exhibition on the
�
FA L L 2 0 11
MESSENGER
P AG E 7
Librarian Steve Pec scans collection materials
using new scanner at VRL.
Benefits of the project will include the
ability to browse all the holdings
rapidly; reduction in wear and tear of
manuscripts, letters, books and photos;
and the ability to enhance legibility and
remove visible flaws such as stains and
discoloration from photographs.
Eventually, the network will allow
selected contextual materials to be
viewed together even when the original
holdings are in physically separate
archives at the Museum or Library.
We welcome your involvement by
volunteering time and talents, or
offering monetary support to purchase
hardware, network software and secure
IT staff.
150th Anniversary of the Civil War (From Bob
and Ann Hallock)
� Miller, Greg, in association with Scenic
Hudson, The Hudson River, A Great American
Treasure (From the author)
� Pavlak, Joseph, Down Memory Lane
(From Catherine Azzone for her mother Anne
Mucich Rettger)
� Van Brink, Alice B., Memoirs of the Leeds
School (From Edith Curschmann
Ledee-Finnerty)
Around the Society
Events & Activities
Bus Tours
School Field Trips
Top: GCHS Trustee Dick
Muggeo, left, gives a
tour to a group of
visitors from Polaces,
a local resort in Greene
County.
Top left: 4th grade school
children bike to the Bronck
Museum.
Above: Bob Hallock talks
about the Coxsackie
Declaration.
Left: Visitors to the
Bronck Museum try to
do laundry the old fashioned way.
Association Day
Photo: Hilary Hawke
Left: Shelby Mattice shows
students items used by the
Bronck family.
Living History
Tours
“Walk & Talk” Hike
Top: Rev. Johannes
Schuneman (played by
Joe Capobianco) along
with other visitors
recreate the signing
of the “Coxsackie
Declaration” in the
Bronck House.
Education
Programs
Above: Judee Synakowski
portrays Mary Todd Lincoln
for an education program at
the Vedder Research Library.
Left: Rev. Schuneman
reads the “Coxsackie
Declaration”.
Above Left: Chuck Friday
leads “walk & talk” to
historic paper mill site in
New Baltimore.
Below left:
Village Volunteers
Fife and Drum
Corps perform
rousing
Revoluntionary
War era music.
Visitors
Left: Local Dutch Food
Historian and Author
Peter Rose, right, visits
the Bronck Museum
for a tour with Curator
Shelby Mattice.
FA L L 2 0 11
MESSENGER
P AG E 8
2011 Beecher
Scholarship
Winner
In this issue we are spotlighting GCHS
member Tobe Carey. Tobe is a producer
and director of documentaries about
items of social interest. His films have
covered a range of topics including
childbirth, cancer, environmental and
energy issues, poetry and memoir,
schools and regional history. Recently
he wrote, produced and directed the
film The Catskill Mountain House and
The World Around. While researching
for this film he contacted the Bronck
Museum because he wanted to include
The Greene County Historical Society
is pleased to announce the winner of
the 2011 Beecher Scholarship, Kristin
Wallace. “Kristin’s essay on the Cornell
Hook and Ladder Company is an interesting oral history on 50 years of firefighting in New Baltimore,” said Chris
Photo: Tobe Carey
Spotlight on Membership
Tobe Carey
Tobe Carey
some pictures of the Museum’s Catskill
Mountain House model.
The Catskill Mountain House and
The World Around is the fascinating
story of America's first great mountain
top hotel, romantic tourism, and
cut-throat competition in New York’s
Northern Catskills. For 140 years,
from 1823 to 1963, The Catskill
Mountain House stood atop the
Catskill High Peaks as a symbol of
the Gilded Age.
Beginning in the 1850’s, The Laurel
House, The Hotel Kaaterskill, The
Overlook Mountain House and The
Grand Hotel also became world famous
vacation spots that attracted business
tycoons, artists and Presidents. The
story of the rise and fall of the Catskill
Mountain House is a compelling tale of
steamboat and railroad empires, bitter
rivalries, exclusive private preserves,
fabulous art and picturesque landmarks
that celebrated the Catskills as part of
the American “Grand Tour” and as
America’s “First Wilderness.”
“The film provides a fascinating
view of the places and personalities
behind the development of the 19th
century hotels in and near the
Kaaterskill Clove, and includes
interviews with local history
buffs such as Justine Hommel,
John Ham, Ted Hilscher and
Betsy Jacks,” said Greene
County Historian David
Dorpfeld. “I highly recommend
Tobe Carey’s film. It is an
excellent primer on this period
in Greene County history.”
Speaking of his reason for
choosing the topic for his film,
Tobe says, “Interest seems
especially strong in a topic that
includes a glamorous mountain
top hotel in the wilderness,
intense competition among business
tycoons, and the surrounding history of
great Hudson River School artists,
authors, and poets during a time when
the American industrial revolution
unfolds.”
On September 18th at 2pm
Columbia-Greene Community College
will show the film. Contact the college
for details. Those interested in seeing a
preview of the movie or to get details
on purchasing a DVD can go to
www.documentaryworld.com.
In addition, the Vedder Research
Library and Bronck Museum have
copies of the film for sale.
Byas, chair of the scholarship committee. Kristin is a graduate of RavenaCoeymans-Selkirk High School and is
attending the University of New Haven
in Connecticut studying forensic science.
The Beecher Scholarship, established
in 2007, honors the late Dr. Raymond
Beecher who was Trustee Emeritus of
the Greene County Historical Society
This Scholarship is a
Great Opportunity for
Students in Greene County
The Bronck Museum
Right: the Catskill
Mountain House model
used in the film, The
Catskill Mountain House
and The World Around.
The model currently
occupies the entire
center of the Victorian
Horse Barn located on
the grounds of the
Bronck Museum. The
model made by Egbert
Saxe of Palenville was a
gift of his wife and was
built circa 1960.
GCHS Board Member, Chris Byas, 2011 Beecher
Scholarship winner Kristin Wallace and Bob
Hallock, GCHS President
FA L L 2 0 11
MESSENGER
P AG E 9
and Greene County Historian from
1993-2008. Dr. Beecher authored
several books on local history including
Letters from a Revolution, Under Three
Flags, Out to Greenville and Kaaterskill
Clove Where Nature Met Art. The
scholarship is available to any high
school senior who resides in Greene
County and writes an essay on Greene
County history.
“This scholarship is a great opportunity for students in Greene County to
learn more about the county in which
they live while earning a scholarship for
college,” said GCHS President Robert
Hallock. “It is also a wonderful way
for the Greene County Historical
Society to honor the rich legacy
Dr. Raymond Beecher left behind and
encourage and reward that love of
history in our community.”
Greene History Notes
Mabel Parker Smith
Photo courtesy of Barbara Smith Rivette
resorts through my father, Lester R. Smith, who worked as a
teenager at the Laurel House and traveled with the owners all
over the United States.”
As well as being credited with locating and authenticating
dozens of portraits by the 18th Century primitive painter
Ammi Phillips, Mrs. Smith is credited with recognizing and
saving the Van Bergen Overmantel, now exhibited at the New
By David Dorpfeld, Greene County Historian
York State Historical Association in Cooperstown. This
In this issue of The Messenger I would like to remember
primitive scene is perhaps the oldest visual record of early
Mabel Parker Smith, the second Greene County Historian,
Dutch life in the Hudson Valley. It is in continual use today
who died in 1996. A couple years ago, her daughter
as an educational and teaching tool.
Barbara S. Rivette delivered another six boxes of reference
As Greene County Historian, in addition to several other
material representing more than 14,000 individual items
publications, Mrs. Smith produced the popular “A Short
belonging to her mother to the Vedder Research Library.
History of Greene County” which was
These items were added to the extensive
published by the Board of Supervisors
Mabel Parker Smith collection already
and has had nine reprints. In my mind she
residing at the library. Mrs. Smith was
was also an early feminist, extolling the
County Historian from 1961 until 1992.
virtues of many Greene County women of
But, that is only part of the story. She had
the past such as Nellie Bly, Sybil
so many accomplishments to her credit;
Luddington, Maggie Van Cott and Jessie
it is hard to know where to begin.
Van Vechten Vedder in her columns in the
Mrs. Smith and her twin sister
Daily Mail. She was a charter member of
Mildred were born in Maryland and grew
the Greene County Historical Society and
up in Syracuse where their father, George
also started the society’s annual lecture
E.D. Parker, was general manager of the
series which continues to this day.
Continental Can plant. She and her sister
In her cover letter with the material
were the first registrants in the four year
turned over to the library, Mrs. Rivette
journalism course at Syracuse University
says the following: “This entire collection
and together made up half the graduating
was made before the arrival of easilyclass in that major in 1923. Upon graduaavailable copy machines, so collecting
tion she initially took a job as City Editor
newspaper articles were the way to make
for the Catskill Daily Mail and then
sure you always had something to send in
moved on to become the feature writer
answer to an inquiry or to another
and first professionally-trained society
researcher.” This of course all makes me
editor for the Syracuse Post-Standard.
wonder how much will be saved in the
In 1925 she moved back to Catskill
future with our increasing use of the
when she married attorney Lester R.
electronic media and the decline in newsSmith. In the 1930s and 1940s, she was
Mabel Parker Smith
paper circulation.
the legislative correspondent for the
In the eulogy from her funeral written
Middletown Times Herald, covering
by her daughter and granddaughter, the
special issues from the state capitol.
closing reads as follows: “Mrs. Smith
For many years she was the only woman
was, in all aspects of her life, a teacher.
in the press room at the Capitol who had
Mrs. Smith is credited
She delighted in helping researchers.
her own desk and typewriter. In later
with recognizing and
Authors, art historians, graduate students
years she was able to regale listeners with
and genealogists discovered more about
stories of the trial of New York City
saving the Van Bergen
the past than they had known before.
Mayor James J. Walker and the trials of
Overmantel, now exhibit- She kept an extensive library relating to
Greene County gangster Jack “Legs”
her favorite subjects but was, in times
Diamond as well as other Albany
ed at the New York State all
past, always ready to leave books and
news events.
As Mrs. Smith spent more time in her
Historical Association in archives to go exploring the mountains
which she loved. Her grandchildren were
new home, she became increasingly interCooperstown.
privileged to hear her and Alf Evers conested in the history of Greene County.
sider the meaning of some early record by
Her documentation of the Catskill
leaning on the remains of a stone chimney
Mountain House led author Roland Van
and extrapolating the settlement which had once existed there.”
Zandt to say “A special debt of gratitude is gladly tendered
We are very grateful to Mrs. Rivette for putting her
Mrs. Mabel Parker Smith… whose pioneer researches first
mother’s collection in the care of the Vedder Research Library.
illuminated the historical depth and richness of the Catskill
These historical archives will provide a treasure trove for
Mountain House and who gave unstintingly of her time and
present-day and future researchers. It also reminds us that
energy during a crucial stage of writing.” Van Zandt’s book
Mabel Parker Smith was a remarkable woman.
on the Mountain House, first published in 1966, still stands as
the seminal authority on the subject. Mrs. Rivette says of her
mother’s research, “She interviewed stage coach drivers, hiked
David Dorpfeld’s column, Greene History Notes, appears
the trails and of course had a direct link to all the mountain
weekly in the “Daily Mail” and “Greene County News”.
FA L L 2 0 11
MESSENGER
P AG E 10
Volunteers
Speak Out
What do you like about volunteering for the
Greene County Historical Society?
Donna Nelson has
been a volunteer at
the Bronck Museum
since May of 2000.
She gives tours and
assists wherever needed at Museum events
such as the Heritage
Craft Fair, By the
Light of the Silvery Moon and Chilly Willy.
“I believe volunteering is a worthy, meaningful and needed community service. The
Bronck Museum is a treasured gem as well
as a blessing right in our own back yard.
One of my favorite things about volunteering is the gratitude of the visitors at the end
of each tour. I've enjoyed learning about
the eight generations of Pieter & Hilletje
Bronck and imparting my knowledge to
others. I hope to continue volunteering for
many years.”
Stephen Schwebler
has been a volunteer
at the Vedder
Research Library for
8 years. He catalogues
the library’s newspaper and photo collections.
“I really enjoy
volunteering at the library. I’m retired and
this allows me to keep busy with a variety
of projects. Recently, I’ve been cataloguing
the photo collection which is quite large. I
enjoy working with computers so this has
been a great experience.”
Ken Mabey has been
a volunteer on the
historic register committee since 1996. In
2007 he took over as
committee chair and
co-authored the book
“Historic Places in
Greene County, NY”.
“I enjoy the research and study of Greene
County’s history. I especially enjoy working
with so many others that have similar
interests. So many of the historic register
committee members have volunteered for
years with such distinction. They are great
role models for the rest of us. It is amazing
that the Greene County Historical Society
continues to grow and provides services to
the public as a research facility, museum,
and force for historic preservation.”
Tom Satterlee joined
the historical society
after retiring from
teaching in 1997.
Shortly after that he
became a Trustee and
today he is the
Financial Secretary
for GCHS, as well as
a member of the Buildings and Grounds
Committee.
“My parents had both been volunteers in
the trading post at the Bronck Museum
working with Olga Santora many years ago.
They thought that GCHS was a worthwhile
local organization and I would enjoy
volunteering. I’m a native of Greene County
but knew very little of its history as I was a
math-science teacher. Being involved with
GCHS has increased my appreciation of
history, architecture, and historical
preservation. I enjoy the personal contacts
and knowledge base I have been able to
interact with.”
Terez Limer has been
a volunteer since
2001 when she first
worked as a docent
for the Tour of
Homes. She was a
trustee from 2002
thru 2009 and took
over as chair of the
Home Tour in 2004 which she still continues
to Chair.
“I love working on the tour because I meet
so many interesting people –volunteers, site
owners and attendees – and learn about the
different towns, villages and geographic
areas that make up Greene County. When I
was a trustee I also worked on the educational programs – another great way to meet
people and keep learning. Volunteering
makes my life richer, sometimes crazier, but
definitely richer. I enjoy being part of a
countywide community interested in promoting and preserving Greene County history.”
Snow Birds
Snow birds and other travelers are asked to notify
Tom Satterlee with their temporary address and
effective dates when they will be away for an
extended period (more than 30 days). Thanks to
those who have done so in the past. This helps us
keep costs down, paper work to a minimum, and
help insure timely delivery.
You may notify Tom Satterlee via e-mail at;
[email protected]; or regular mail at GCHS
Financial Secretary, 164 High Hill Rd, Catskill NY
12414.
FA L L 2 0 11
MESSENGER
P AG E 11
Business Friends & Supporters
The Bank of Greene County
PO Box 470
Catskill, NY 12414
Bavarian Manor Country Inn &
Restaurant
866 Mountain Ave.
Purling, NY 12470
C.A. Albright & Sons LLC
13640 Rt 9W
Hannacroix, NY 12087
Chalet Services, Inc.
3206 Route 81
Surprise NY 12176
Christman’s Windham House Inc.
5742 Route 23
Windham, NY 12496
Coxsackie Antique Center
12400 Rt 9W
West Coxsackie, NY 12192
Coxsackie Transport, Inc.
250 Mansion Street
Coxsackie, NY 12051
Deer Watch Inn Bed & Breakfast
76 Route 27
East Durham, NY 12423
Dimensions North Ltd
112 William St.
Catskill, NY 12414
Greene Business Alliance
270 Mansion St.
Coxsackie, NY 12051
Greene County Septic Cleaners, Inc.
PO Box 29
Climax NY 12042
Hilscher & Hilscher, Attorneys at Law
2 Franklin St.
Catskill NY 12414
Hinterland Design
1 Mansion St.
Coxsackie, NY 12051
Kingsley W. Greene Furniture
Restoration
19 Dean’s Mills Road
Hannacroix, NY 12087
Kosco
PO Box 1269
Saugerties, NY 12477
Marshall & Sterling
300 Route 23B
Leeds, NY 12451
Max S. Wood Equipment, LLC
11945 Route 9W
West Coxsackie, NY 12192
National Bank of Coxsackie
3-7 Reed Street
Coxsackie, NY 12051
North River Research
www.northriverresearch.com
PO Box 1133
Cairo, NY 12413
State Telephone Co.
46 Reed Street
Coxsackie, NY 12051
Washington Irving Inn
6629 Rt 23A Box 275
Hunter, NY 12442
Willow Mixed Media
PO Box 194
Glenford, NY 12433
Fundraising at
Greene County Historical Society
2012 Calendar
The 2012 calendar is on sale now at the
Bronck Museum and Vedder Research
Library. This year’s calendar titled
Foundation in Stone features selected
sites from our Historical Register.
Travel across our county and through
time as we
reveal how our bedrock has been crafted both by nature and man. Visit two
sculpted stone churches with towers
reaching into the sky; in Catskill stop at
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and in
Coxsackie, the First United Methodist
Church. The color calendar is
$19.95. If you’d like to place an
order contact Jennifer Barnhart
at 518-731-1033 or
Coxsackie Methodist Church,
One of the Stone buildings
[email protected].
featured in the 2012 Calendar
s Sa tter lee
Ph oto : Tho ma
Silent Auction
Our second annual silent auction will be held again this year
at the Heritage Craft Fair on
October 2nd. Bid on a variety
of items including restaurant
gift certificates, subscriptions
to local newspapers, a round
of golf, an overnight stay or a
painting by local artist
Marian Schwebler. There’s a
wide selection of items that
will suit a variety of tastes.
2011
GCHS
Messenger via E-mail in Full Color!
Fall Schedule of Events
Sept 11 Bronck Family Keeping House:
Cooking, The preparation, preservation
and presentation of food for the family
1790-1850, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm,
Adults $6, GCHS Members &
Children $3
Sept 17 & 18 18th Century Green,
Special content tours at the Bronck
Museum discussing the environmental
impact of the early American lifestyle.
Saturday 10-4, Sunday 1-4, Adults $5,
GCHS Members & Children $2.50
Oct 2 Heritage Craft Fair, exhibit & sale
of traditional American crafts, live music,
wagon rides, 12–5pm, Admission Free
Oct 29 A Great Sorrow, An early
American funeral, 4pm, 5:15pm, Adults $6,
GCHS Members & Children $3
Nov 12 & 13 Chilly Willy Winter’s Eve
Tours, cold season tour with costumed
guide, 11am, 1pm & 3pm each day,
Adults $7, GCHS Members &
Children $3.50
13-Sided Barn Adirondack Chair Raffle
This Adirondack chair was painted by
local artist Ellen DeLucia. She painted
the Bronck Museum’s unique 13-sided
barn on the back but also included a list
of all 14 towns on the seat. “I saw this at
another Museum and thought it would
be a great fundraiser for us,” said Bob
Hallock, GCHS President. “We plan on
doing this every year with a different
scene from Greene County.” The chair
will be on display this Fall at the Bronck
Museum and Vedder Research Library.
Tickets are $1 each or six tickets for $5.
The final raffle will be held at Christmas
by the River in early December.
The Heritage Craft Fair, October 2nd, 12-5pm
Fall 2011
Greene County Historical Society, Inc.
c/o T. Satterlee
164 High Hill Road
Catskill, NY 12414-6411
Members are reminded that the Messenger
and/or Journal are available via email. This
method allows for earlier receipt of the publications, saves the Society time and money, is
better for the environment, and is accessible
wherever you are, whether at home or “snowbirding”. It is important that we are notified
of any email address changes to insure
delivery. If you use filters to screen your email,
please check to make sure that the filters allow
receipt of the Society’s email. Any changes in
address should be sent to: [email protected].
Non-Profit
Organization
US Postage Paid
Newburgh, NY 12552
Permit No. 1491
R e t u r n S e rv i c e R e q u e s t e d