Schenectady County Schenectady County Historical Society Non-Profit Org. Schenectady County 32 Washington Avenue US POSTAGE Historical Schenectady, New York 12305 PAID Historical Permit No. 862 Society Albany, NY Society Return Service Requested Newsletter Volume32 Washington 58 NumberNewsletter Avenue, 7- 8 Schenectady, NY 12305 (518)374 - 0263 July FAX – August (518) 6882015-2825 Volume 58 Number 7-8 July-August 2015 Mabee Farm Historic Site, Rotterdam Junction, NY (518)887-5073 FAX (518) 887-5746 32Web Washington site: www.schenectadyhistorical.org Avenue, Schenectady, NY 12305 Museum: (518)[email protected] 374-0263 FAX: (518) 688-2825 MabeeLibrary: Farm [email protected] Historic Site, Rotterdam Junction, NY Office:(518) [email protected] 887-5073 FAX: (518) 887-5746 Web site: www.schenectadyhistorical.org Museum: [email protected] Library: [email protected] Office: [email protected] DeWitt Disses Dorp, Dorp Disses da Ditch James M Strosberg The Erie Canal officially opened at 9:00 AM October 26, 1825 when Governor DeWitt Clinton embarked from Buffalo on the Seneca Chief pulled by four matching and decorated grey horses. Along the route, each city, town and village paid tribute to the individual who was most responsible Schenectady County Historical Society for this great engineering feat which was about to geographically unite the young nation. The voyage eastwards was a well-deserved and continuous celebration with fireworks, parades, ox roasts, bands, illuminated balloons, cannon shots and musketry. But not in Schenectady. When the flotilla arrived here on November 1 at 3:00PM the weather was gloomy and the guests were met with complete silence from the local spectators. Clinton and his Lt. Governor along with General LaFayette were escorted to a local hotel for dinner and returned to the Seneca Chief within the hour. They promptly continued their journey east to Albany where they were met by Chief Justice John Marshall and Secretary of State Henry Clay. This historic first passage thru Schenectady was not even noted in the local newspapers, Schenectady Cabinet and Mohawk Sentinel. So why the hard feelings? Portrait of DeWitt Clinton - John Wesley Jarvis - (ca. 1816) Continued on pages 8-9 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Summer is in full swing at the Society with a new exhibit, “A Around the Society. MARIANNE BLANCHARD Night on the Town in Schenectady 1850-1950: One Hundred PRESIDENT Years of Fashion and Frivolity”, sure to put you in the summer party frame of mind! Also putting a skip in our step, the JAMES EIGNOR Grems-Doolittle Library is once again open full days, 9 to 5, VICE PRESIDENT Monday through Friday, thanks to the arrival of our new librarian, Mike Maloney. Summer means family fun outdoors, JOHN HALSTEAD and for that we have the Canal Fest on July 25th. TREASURER Summertime tradition demands a stroll on the lawn under the trees at the Arts and Crafts Show, August 15, and would also not be complete ROBERT SULLIVAN without music in the barn or on the lawn at the Howlin series, July 2, July 31, and SECRETARY August 27. Ah, summertime! ANN ARONSON The Education Program at the Mabee Farm Historic Site has hosted over 2200 Howlin' at the Moon - 13 Feet of Bluegrass perform at the Mabee Farm barn. RUTH BERGERON students this spring, offering them a chance to explore what it was like to live and work on a farm in the eighteenth century. Our dedicated educators continue to make this KAREN BRADLEY Michael Keene presents: Mad House:The Hidden ROBERT CARNEY possible each year, and we are very grateful to them. Assisting them are our summer History of Insane Asylums in 19th Century New York ELLEN FLADGER interns, Lauren Souther and Josh Hoh, who seem to find ways to present the at the Franchere Center. information so that it is fresh and exciting. Welcome Lauren and Josh! JOHN GEARING Celtic Heritage Day – Mabee Farm MICHAEL KARL Have a wonderful summer, make time for some fun and relax CAROLINA LAZZARI -Marianne CAROL LEWIS RICHARD LEWIS LAURA LEE KIM MABEE ROBERT PETITO Festivals, fireflies, and fourth graders. Yes, summer has arrived at SCHS, and with it, two new summer EDWIN D. REILLY, JR. interns! Joining us this year at both the Schenectady KEVIN RICHARD-MORROW History Museum and Mabee Farm Historic Site are CYNTHIA SEACORD collections interns Joshua Hoh and Lauren Souther. Josh Triskele performs in the Pavilion. Beverly Cornelius weaving a basket. Multimedia artwork of Brennan JAMES STROSBERG and Lauren are both recent history graduates. Josh Goodwin and Jackie Zyska at the MARTIN STROSBERG completed his BA in history at Gettysburg College in Franchere Center. DALE WADE-KESZEY 2014, and Lauren graduated from the Appalachian State STAFF history MA program just a few weeks before arriving in Schenectady. The two interns bring to SCHS a love for MICHAEL MALONEY learning, enthusiasm for the job, and fresh perspectives on LIBRARIAN local history. MARY ZAWACKI Josh, a native of Albany, NY, is particularly interested in “the behind-the-scenes CURATOR aspects of museum work, particularly special events and collections management.” He Local Eats KAITLIN MORTON-BENTLEY adds, “the exhibit sounds cool, so I’m excited for that too!” ASSISTANT-CURATOR Lauren comes to SCHS from Louisiana by way of North Carolina, and is adjusting to life in New York. “I wanted hands-on experience, and I JENNA PETERSON RILEY YaYah getting shorn. EDUCATOR was looking for a place outside of Appalachia,” she says of the SCHS internship opportunity. Artifacts and education MARY TREANOR are Lauren’s main interests, and she particularly enjoys OFFICE MANAGER working with Mabee Farm’s fourth graders: “I think that’s HOURS a perfect age—not too young, not too old. I learn from MUSEUM & OFFICE them and they learn from me, so it’s a reciprocal MONDAY-FRIDAY 9-5 relationship.” Going forward Lauren hopes to boost her LIBRARY M-F 9-5 skills in PastPerfect and gain more confidence as an All - SATURDAY 9-2 emerging museum professional. MABEE FARM Next time you’re out at the Farm, or touring the History TUESDAY-SATURDAY Museum, be sure to say hello to Lauren and Josh! 10-4 Mary Zawacki Paige and Nathalie Eckard Irish Step Dance. 2 The Braemar Highland Dancers. Photos: Ann Aronson 11 Donations to the Historical Society & Mabee Farm: Volunteer Spotlight: Donna Santora William Bronk John & Lucy Halstead Elizabeth Pieper If you've been to 32 Washington Avenue lately on a Joan Wemple Burns Randall Karl Kathleen Secker Tuesday afternoon, you may have been greeted by Sandra Mabie Caldeira Kevin Kesby Ken Simpson Donna Santora, a volunteer with the Historical Robert Carney & Janine Kava Michael Kokernak Patricia Somerscales Society since May 2014. Donna grew up in Schenectady and after adventuring around the Charles Currey Livio & Carolina Lazzari St. Gabriel's Women's Club country for several decades, returned to the area in Gail Denisoff Dominick & Christine Macherone Fred & Virginia Thompson 2006. Donna brings a positive energy to the Ellen Fladger & Arden Rauch Brian Maybee Lois Troup museum every time she arrives and has an Christina Friskey-Davies Barbara Palmer Victorian Social Club unequaled enthusiasm for Schenectady. She has Elaine Guidice served as a docent for the downtown museum, volunteered at special events, and helped organize In Memory of Merritt Glennon: the Festival of Trees. Most recently, Donna has Ruth Bergeron Jennifer Halcomb Edwin & Jean Reilly, Jr. been doing research for the newest exhibit, “A Night on the Town 1850-1950: One Hundred Years Florence Bigelow Paul & Mary Lou Harris Cynthia Reiss of Fashion & Frivolity.” David & Marianne Blanchard Katherine Hummelt John & Cynthia Seacord Richard & Marian Clowe Livio & Carolina Lazzari James & Margo Strosberg What Donna loves most about Schenectady is the Beverly & David Cornelius Carol V. Lewis Frank Taormina history. As a former 7th grade history teacher, she Robert & Marcia Drake Alexandra Lombardi Stephen & Yvette Terplak, Jr. was especially interested in the role Schenectady Donna thoroughly enjoys working as a volunteer James & Ann Eignor Bernice Lukas Stephen & Lisa Terplak played in the founding of America. Donna’s Don & Ann Flaws Gerald & Lynda Lukas Nancy Wasmund favorite part about growing up in Schenectady was and describes the SCHS as “a wonderful Dianne J. Gade Everett & Margaret Rau The Willett Family her school experience, which inspired her to teach. organization that does a lot for Schenectady.” She She has wonderful memories of Pleasant Valley says, “I wish more people knew about it! Schenectady is not just a sleepy town but a place Grammar School, McKinley Middle School, and Please consider the value of using your credit card for one-time or monthly contributions; less paper and with a history to be proud of.” Donna says she likes Mont Pleasant High School. Donna says, “the bookkeeping for you, neatly itemized transactions on the year-end summary reduce your tax preparation time giving back to her community and doing something teachers were wonderful and dedicated, and they and fewer trees are felled! productive and meaningful. inspired me to become a better person. They were To donate please complete and mail the authorization below or for inquiries and assistance, call 518-374-0263, not only teachers, but mentors, and provided a Not only is Donna a hard working volunteer, she option 5, or email [email protected]. mental compass to live by.” has also become famous. She