February 2016 Published by The Stockade Association historicstockade.com Vol. 57 No. 6 The Schenectady Massacre Celebrate the Snowman! The eighth of this February marks the 326th anniversary of A Winter Commemoration of the 1690 Massacre the Schenectady Massacre, a dark day in Schenectady’s February 6th, from 4pm to 6pm, Riverside Park History to be remembered for the total destruction of the area’s first settlement carried out by a troop of over 100 Start building your Snowperson Frenchmen accompanied by 96 Algonquin Indians. Two (with or without snow) now! French military officers, De Montet and Monsieur de Saint Gather to celebrate the snowmen on Helene led the skirmish in retaliation against Dutch and Saturday, February 6th from 4 to 6pm English settlers for the Lachine Massacre in Quebec, Can- in Riverside Park. Take time to stroll ada, occurring earlier that year. the Stockade to see all the Snow- Sixty residents were killed in Schenectady that wintry night, men and Sentinels standing guard. including 11 African slaves, Adam Vrooman’s wife and new- Local lore had two snowmen sentinels born (a wealthy landowner), as well as the execution of the guarding the Stockade one difficult February night in 1690 area’s Dutch Minister, Dominie Petrus Tessemacher. Sixty which we’ll commemorate in this fun way, 326 years later. residents were spared and captured, including 20 Mohawk ENJOY THE PARK! Indians. Hundreds of other survivors succumbed to the i Come and play in Riverside Park on Saturday, Feb. 6. cold, however, and died shortly thereafter. i Gather with neighbors and friends 4-6pm in Riverside The massacre comprises one of many battles and skir- Park or host your own house party. mishes that took place within the first colonies and Canada, i known by historians as the Beaver Wars, a kindling precur- Help select the Best Stockade Snowman sentinel during sor to the French and Indian War. Many legends and wives the week of February 1. tales surround the massacre, as can be expected in the Mike’s Hot Dogs food truck will be at the entrance to the wake of such devastation and loss. Some, such as the ride Park, with hotdogs, hot chocolate and more! For the young of Simon Schermerhorn, possess more historical validity at heart the fun starts at Lawrence with a conga Snow while others, like the tale of the Old Squaw or the Snowmen Dance line at 4pm, joining up with festivities in the park. Sentinels that failed to protect the village, remain subject to Begin building your snowman creation now! We’ll conduct skepticism and speculation. (continued on page 3) a snowperson census and will report on how many are guarding us in 2016. Lots of websites show a huge variety of snowmen, built with or without snow. For inspiration check out the links to “Stockade Snowmen of the Past” on the next page. :·······························································~ . A Week of Events to Commemorate Stockade History . and celebrate with neighbors! . February 2, 7-9pm, Arthur’s. First Tuesdays’ Tales & Stuff- Open mic stories of Schenectady’s Colonial days. Join Cap- ital Region Story Circle featuring Joe Doolittle, for 326th anniversary of Schenectady’s Massacre. Listen or share stories of our City’s early days. All welcome to tell, or share a poem, story or song. Free; dessert, coffee & tea provided. February 5, 7pm - “The Usual Suspects” dance/classic rock. Illustration by Holly VanVoast 1st Reformed Church, Schenectady (Poling Chapel) 8 N. Church St. Free; reception to follow A historically appropriate rendering of the possible appearance of the Schenectady stockade on February 9, 1690 with the snowman “senti- February 6, 4-6pm. Celebrate the Snowman-Riverside Park. nels” at the open stockade gate, looking up Union Street. The “first” . Join neighbors, host gatherings, eat at Mike’s food truck. First Reformed Church is seen in the background. ································································· Celebrate the Snowman! President’s Message - Carol DeLaMarter Check out these links to “Stockade Snowmen of the Past “ I don’t like the snow, especially on the road and sidewalk. to inspire your Snow creation: This month however I’m looking forward to the snow to i see what our 2016 snowmen will look like. The message Gnowman: http://giacalonephotos.com/2010/01/18/a- of Celebrate the Snowman is more about having fun with cool-snow-gnome-visits-lawrence/ (Hoping to see another neighbors and that neighbors working together can improve gnowman in the Stockade) neighborhood safety. It will take more than two snowmen i Stockade Snow family: http://giacalonephotos. guarding the streets and park. Come out on Saturday Feb- com/2010/01/06/snowmommy-rules-on-cucumber-alley/ ruary 6th and build some fun with your Stockade neighbors. The 2016 snowmen will have a better outcome than the I am not a member of Electric City Food Cooperative, but two who guarded Schenectady’s Stockade in 1690. Snow- I recently attended Meet and Greet with the Co-op Board men will be guarding our houses, our gates, our park and to learn about their progress in opening a downtown com- creating a sense of community. There’s lots of ways to munity-owned grocery store. The Co-op Board continues to bring our snow community together including: look for downtown space to lease but needs 300 committed members to take that next step. Members get a say in the i Build a traditional snowman or fort location and range of grocery options to serve this urban i Turn snowbanks into snow art community. The Co-op Board has plans for space and have i Dress like a snowman local suppliers ready to provide produce and other healthy i options for those who want to buy food that is local. The Get crafty with “no-snow” designs next fund raiser is March 1 at Wolf Hollow Brewing. i Light it up I was pleased to see ten neighbors attending the Infrastruc- i Invite a sculptor to create a snow masterpiece ture Workshop in early January. Attendees identified areas of concern related to sidewalks and pedestrian safety and i Warm it up. Festive attire to keep you warm and any options for making improvements in the neighborhood. other efforts to warm up the night appreciated. Sorry Thank you to all who spent a Saturday morning investigat- no bonfire this year. ing plans to improve these important quality of life concerns. Glow sticks and light-up balloons are now available. Other donations and volunteers for this event are still needed! If Like us on Facebook @ you have donations for decorating snowmen or would like “Stockade Snowmen Pictures” to volunteer to help please contact Susan Brink (s.brink@ and post photos of your own d snowman creation! mac.com), Susan DuFour ([email protected]) or Carol DeLaMarter ([email protected]). d d d The ‘Celebrate the Snowman’ winter event grew out of a d d conversation among neighbors reminiscing about fireworks d and summer gatherings in Riverside Park. By now let’s d d hope we have snow, have built your enthusiasm for the in- d vasion of snowmen sentinels, and inspired your creativity! d d March Spy deadline: February 15, 2016 + Email submissions to: [email protected] $ CUT HERE STOCKADE ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP FORM: September 1, 2015 - September 31, 2016 Founded in 1957, the purpose of The Association is the Preservation, Protection,and Improvement of the Stockade Historic District. Regular Membership Upon the payment of dues, voting membership is available to: q Please check Adult residents - renters AND owners I___JIone box q Non-resident Stockade property owners q One designated representative of a business entity Affiliate Upon the payment of dues, any individual or organization not eligible for regular membership Membership is eligible to become a non-voting affiliate designated as “Friends of The Stockade.” Dues: $15 / person; $20 / household. Check one: Regular Membership____ Affiliate Membership____ Amount $_______ Name(s): _____________________________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________________________________________ Email:______________________________________________Date: _____________________ The Stockade Spy is hand delivered to residents and mailed to non-resident members and “Friends.” Checks payable to: The Stockade Association l Join on line at: www.historic stockade.com Mail to: Stockade Association Treasurer, 32 Washington Ave., Suite 100, Schenectady, NY 12305 2 LENTEN DINNERS at First Presbyterian Church The public is invited to attend Lenten dinners for the seven weeks FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PCA of Lent, hosted by First Presbyterian Church in their fellowship 209 Union Street hall located at 209 Union St. Enjoy a tasty dinner and listen to a Schenectady, NY 12305 guest speaker deliver a short message about Lent as you prepare in the historic Stockade District for Easter. Dinners are every Wednesday, Feb. 10 - March 23 at 5:45pm. Meals cost $5.00 per person (maximum of $12.00 per Sunday Worship Phone: (518) 374-4546 AM family). Reservations preferred by the Monday prior to the dinner. ADVERTISERS OUR ORT 10:30 Fax: (518) 374-2505 Please call 518-374-4546 or E-mail: [email protected]. PP 6:00PM informal Email: [email protected] Wednesday Evening Website: www.1stpreschurch.org 5:45 Family Dinner You are always welcome! (Sept. - May) “The Schenectady Massacre” (continued from page 1) As the tall tale dictates, Fort Orange, a predominantly English settlement at the time, warned their Dutch neigh- SU PLEASE ADVERTISERS OUR ORT bors, Schenectady, of the impending threat of French at- PP tack and offered their settlement troops to keep guard while the residents slept. The prideful Dutchmen of Schenectady thumbed their noses at their English counterparts and built snowmen sentinels at their gates in a mocking demonstra- tion of their attitudes toward the English and their officious Brigitta Strelka, CBR ways.