TTFall 2018hhe Messenger M eMbership Newsletter oF the GreeNe CouNty h istoriCal s oCiet y,iNC . The Heritage Barn as it stood in the summer of 2017 on Route 81. Heritage Barn Project Ted Hilscher to present a special barn program on Sunday, October 14 Article on Page 3 Letter from the President Greene County historical society board of trustees Joseph warren, Chairman Dear Members &Friends: robert hallock, President Jim planck, Vice President David Dorpfeld, Treasurer how are the Faroe islands in Denmark; shanghai, China; Montana; the thomas satterle e, Financial Secretary Metropolitan Museum of art; poestenkill historical society; the Dutch ann hallock, Recording Secretary Consulate in the u.s.; and a Dutch scripture painting from the 1700s connect - Christine byas robert D’agostino ed with the Greene County historical society? a Danish member of william Deluca parliament from the Faroe islands visited the Museum recently; a visitor from wanda Dorpfeld shanghai, China, came to the Museum and library; the Met borrowed the rick hanse society’s thomas Cole items for use in its exhibit on thomas Cole; postenkill stefania Jozic perry lasher historical society had two programs from the society in postenkill and will Matthew luvera visit the Museum in september. the Dutch Consulate printed a brochure of steven Mann Dutch sites in New york state and created an app to describe the sites and how richard Muggeo anna oleson-wheeler to reach them for Dutch tourists. Museum Curator shelby Mattice has made Donna poulin arrangements to have the Dutch scripture painting restored by an expert Justin snow restorer over the fall-winter of 2018-19. one of about 40 such paintings in the Judee synakowski u.s., this gift from former society president reuben Garcia will be ready for staff viewing by the opening of the Museum in 2019. this gives you an idea of some shelby Mattice, Bronck Museum Curator of the things the society has been involved in recently. Jennifer barnhart, Operations Manager the Vedder research library has made great progress in converting Jonathan palmer, VRL Archivist library collection items into digital form for easier access and less wear and David & lisa brock, Caretakers tear on the item itself. archivist/librarian Jonathan palmer has led the way with his background in archival science and knowledge of technology. a prime the Messenger published semi-annually by example is the conversion of glass plate negatives to digital images. Glass plate the Greene County historical society, inc. negatives are difficult for staff and researchers to handle without damage, and po box 44 , Coxsackie, Ny 12051 in digital form are easier to use, including being able to zoom in on sections of the bronck Museum : 518.731.6490 the image. Vedder research library: 518.731.1033 our Caretakers Dave and lisa brock have the Museum/library Complex in http://www.gchistory.org/ great shape. the education Center is almost renovated and will soon be in use, Jennifer barnhart, Editor thanks to the efforts of Dave and lisa. Dave bova, of Db historic David Dorpfeld and restorations, has been at work on the 1738 house porch and gutter since late anna oleson-wheeler, Copy Editors last fall. the restored porch was ready for use at tavern Night in august (see Contributors article on page 11). Jean bush, Christine byas, David Dorpfeld, there are lots of things going on here at GChs. researchers and tourists robert hallock, shelby Mattice, fill the parking lot almost every day. staff and volunteers are constantly busy Jonathan palmer, thomas satterlee on the site. New items are donated to the collections almost every month. repair and restoration projects are ongoing and the heritage barn project is beginning to take shape on the barn’s new site. staff, trustees, officers and volunteers all work together well and create a nice place to visit, learn about some his - tory, walk around grounds occupied for over 265 years by one family and almost 90 years by the society. Mahican native americans also used the site until 1662 as well. you can almost feel the history when you visit here. the trustees, officers, staff and committee members of the Greene County historical society thank you for your support. we continue to try to bring you quality tours of the bronck Museum, top notch research at the Vedder research library, educational programs, community organization programs delivered by staff and trustees in Greene County and surrounding areas, and adding historic sites to the historic register of Greene County. GChs has a reputation as one of the best small county historical societies in the state of New york. with your support, we can continue to achieve this reputation. sincerely, Bob Hallock , president, Greene County historical society, inc. Fall 20 18 MesseNGer paGe 2 Pictured here are volunteers Tim The Heritage Barn Meier, Joe Woelfersheim and Project Tom Satterlee. aFter oVer of utilities. excavation and rough a year of daily grading were done by halsted diligent work by excavation with concrete work volunteers and done by Daggett’s poured local businesses, the Foundations and brick work by M. heritage barn will be reassembled warner Masonry. assembling the with a new roof. after disassembly frame with a new roof by local con - by wolfe builders, all useable parts tractors will take place this fall. of the old barn were moved to the the reuse and repurposing of society’s property or a building the barn on the society’s property owned and loaned by Greenville will allow the society to exhibit North hill lumber Company for our authentic hay press while leav - replication or repair. GNh also ing extra room within for special assisted with men and moving events, lectures, and activities equipment. tim Meier, tom highlighting Greene County's her - satterlee, Joe woelfersheim and itage. other volunteers have completed the society continues to look repairing and replicating needed to the future by integrating cur - parts, including beams, rafters, rent holdings with new acquisi - and knee braces. a 28-foot beam tions that preserve and tell the needed two tenons, three mortises, County’s history and the impor - and 14 knee brace holes. tance of agriculture in the local replacement parts were milled by economy. tru-Cut lumber. the historical society is now the cupola was refurbished raising funds for the final reassem - with new siding, shutters and bly of this barn with a new roof paint. it was moved by Martinez and siding. we cannot do it with - towing to the new site to increase out your support. your contribu - interest in the project until place - tion, no matter the amount, will ment atop the barn. the former help us successfully raise the barn site has been cleared. heritage barn and kick off a new a concrete foundation with a chapter in the work of the Greene brick ledge has been completed at County historical society. the new site. a crawl space was to make a contribution visit included to accommodate the our website at gchistory.org - select below grade portion of the heritage barn project or mail a society’s hay press and to allow check payable to the GChs, po easy access for future installation box 44, Coxsackie, Ny 12051. oN suNDay october 14, ted hilscher will present a special program discussing the relocation and restoration of the 19th century heritage barn, give an overview on english and Dutch barns including those located on the bronck Farmstead and discuss the hay press which will be installed in the new barn. Visitors can then tour the unusual 13- sided barn and also view the location of where the heritage barn will be located and see the progress that has been made to date. the pro - gram will be held in the bronck Museum’s Dutch barn. ted will give the program at 1pm and then again at 2:30pm. adult admission to this event is $10 and $5 for GChs Members/Children. all proceeds will ben - efit the heritage barn project. Fall 20 18 MesseNGer paGe 3 bulges on the bottom and pieces of the user. Klompen used by Ask Shelby of leather to attach the trippen fishermen had very pointed Ask Shelby to the foot may have been the upturned toes designed to assist precursor of the classic klompen. in pulling nets. Farmers on the the use of klompen seems to other hand chose broad and boxy have become more common in klompen with lower profiles and holland by the 1600s, when they gentle curves. the use of klom - were the common everyday shoes pen in the Dutch colony of New of rural people, but were espe - Netherland is likely but it is cially favored by farmers and unclear whether they ever gained fishermen. in holland, klompen any widespread use in america. were made of light weight woods the soils and agricultural prac - like willow or alder but ash, tices in america differed from Q. Did the Dutch really wear poplar, and sycamore were also those in holland reducing the wooden shoes? used. Klompen were favored over need for the water resistant klom - leather boots or shoes because pen. the collection of the Greene a. that may depend on when they are less expensive, provided County historical society con - and where they lived and how protection from heavy or sharp tains examples of klompen both they made their living. objects, and were resistant to old and new. Most are souvenirs the oldest surviving klom - water and caustic liquids. today, acquired in holland in the twen - pen, as wooden shoes are called in klompen still meet the criteria set tieth century, but there are also holland, appear to have first by the european union for safety three klompen that are well worn been used in the mid 1200s.