The Society for the Preservation of Hudson Valley Vernacular Architecture April-May 2007 Newsletter Vol. 9, No. 4-5 The Society for the Preservation of Hudson Valley Vernacular Architecture is a not-for-profit corporation formed to study and preserve vernacular architecture and material culture. Peter Sinclair - Founder West Hurley, Ulster County, NY (845) 338-0257 [email protected] Jim Decker - President Wallkill, Ulster County, NY (845) 895-3272 [email protected] Dennis Tierney - Vice President Wappingers Falls, Dutchess County, NY Welcome our newest HVVA Member - Willa Louise Spencer-Shimkin, born March 6th, (914) 489-5262 2007 at 3:08PM (6 Ibs 15oz), the newly born daughter of our Past President and trustee, Maggie MacDowell - Secretary Paul Spencer. Congratulations to both Paul and Mary! Gardiner, Ulster County, NY (845) 255-2282 mmacdowell @ hvc.rr.com Robert Sweeney - Treasurer From the Editor Kingston, Ulster County, NY This past month the HVVA office has the problem of what it should be used for, (845) 336-0232 seen a great deal of activty. With spring office and archive, meeting house, muse- [email protected] weather approaching our little outbuilding um? Perhaps it should just be preserved Paul Spencer - Past President and Trustee of an office is close to becoming a reality. as a wonderful relic of the past. In order to Ancramdale, Columbia County, NY It is hoped that we will plan a bit of a cele- debate these issues your elected trustees (518)329-2616 [email protected] bration including the customary bowl of need to hear from you. Please use the punch, when it is complete. The tentative email addresses in the side bar to offer John Stevens - Sr. Architectural Historian Huntington, Suffolk County, NY date will be July 21, 2007 and we'll com- your opinions to the board. As resolutions (631)239-5044 bine the dedication with our annual picnic are made this newsletter will help keep our dutchjam ©optonline.net and a small house study tour. So mark that membership informed. Joyce Berry - HWA.org Webmaster date on the calendar! I would also like to extend a thank you to St. Johnsville, Montgomery County, NY In an effort to document several "new" those who have been renewing their dues [email protected] structures in Ulster County our meetings on the honor system and thank the many Todd Scheff - Trustee for the next couple of months will be split folks who have contributed beyond the Germantown, Columbia County, NY over the Shawangunk Range. In April we stated amounts. We do rely on these con- (518) 537-6993 will continue to meet at the Bevier House tributions to keep us running. Thank you! ctschetf @ valstar. net in Marbletown. In May, we cross over the Also I would like to inform everyone that Bob Hedges - Trustee ridge to meet at the Bevier/ Elting House, Peter Sinclair is making progress in his Pine Plains, Dutchess County, NY in New Paltz. Each of these days will begin recovery and enjoys the mail he receives (518) 398-7773 at 10:00 am with a business meeting and from his many friends. Work is being done [email protected] will include a Study Tour which will end by Bob Hedges and Alvin Sheffer to Conrad Fingado - Trustee up at a local lunch spot. All members are prepare Peter's home for his arrival in the Pleasant Valley, Dutchess County, NY encouraged to attend these meetings. near future. HVVA's great friend Roberta (845) 635-2714 Membership input is greatly needed for Jeracka, gladly prints and delivers email [email protected] our newest project, the brick Van Housen messages to Peter a couple times a week. William McMillen - Trustee House, near Hudson, New York (see article If you wish you may send your greetings Glenmont, Albany County, NY by David Voorhees). This superb example using her address: [email protected] (518) 462-1264 [email protected] of 18th Dutch Architecture is in need of an I look forward to visiting with everyone owner that is able to protect and preserve during the spring season. Walter Wheeler - Trustee Troy, Rensselaer County, NY it. HVVA has been asked to help out in this Happy house repairs to all! (518) 270-9430 effort. It is obvious to everyone that has [email protected] seen this house that it is very special and Karen Markisenis - Trustee a rare example that must be saved. Lake Katrine, Ulster County, NY But the question is where will the money (845)382-1788 come from; our pockets, the slate and fed- kmarkisenis @ hvc.rr.com eral treasury, local businessmen? And then Rob Sweeney - HVVA'S sheepdog April-May 2007 Upcoming Events Early Days with Peter Sinclair by Greg Huber Fort Edward It was thrilling for me to visit the Old Introduction to Stone Fort in Schoharie in Schoharie Historical Records County, New York in early October 1988 and learn that an upstate New Friday, April 13,2007 York based organization was formed 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM that was dedicated to the preservation Washington County Municipal Center of Dutch-American barns. They called 383 Broadway, Bldg. B themselves The Dutch Barn 2nd Fl. Classroom Fort Edward, NY Preservation Society (DBFS). I thought - "other people share the same inter- FREE. Registration required. est as I do. It is about time." I could not wait to join and learn of their specific Historical or archival records have interests and the kinds of activities long-term value not only for the they were pursuing. I then learned the organization that created them, name of Shirley Dunn who headed the but also for use in research. Peter Sinclair This workshop will discuss methods group at that time. My dad was very to ensure that these records are sick at that point and as things turned large he really was in more ways identified, organized, properly stored, out I did not send in my ten dollars for than one. He was a prominent meteor- available for use, and preserved. dues until about the middle of January ologist and somewhat a friend of my It will also suggest ways to develop 1989. In about a week I received a silent mentor - Eric Sloane. I also support for these activities. packet of information including the first recall Shirley Dunn and Chris Albright Attendees will be encouraged issue of the Newsletter and I found out and I believe Mark Hesler being there. to discuss issues related to their that the group was having a tour of All of these people proved to be major historical records with the instructors barns in the general Guilderland area figures in the Barn Society. But the and with other attendees. Although this workshop is presented by local of Albany County on Saturday, person whom I most remember - by government records staff, most of February 10. Goodness. I believe far - was Peter Sinclair. Here was a the information will be useful to I called Shirley and asked her a few man approaching sixty years of age. anyone responsible for the care questions of the group. Bald or mostly so I saw but still of permanent records. possessive of some very definite I got up very early on that Saturday youth. There was also a certain For more information or to register, morning at a friend's house in quietude about him and yet a very contact Denis Meadows Mahwah, New Jersey and at about definite enthusiasm shone through his at 518-798-5717 or 6:15 AM headed the radiator of my car reserved demeanor. This part of him [email protected] north to the hinterlands of New York was plainly obvious. It is quite curious State with a destination not far from - in view of the fact that Peter Albany - the state capital. I thought became far and away my closest friend to myself - "whom would I meet. Who in the society - that his name was the was actually interested in looking at very first one that I recorded in my these barns with hopefully discerning (ever present) notebook. His name and wondering eyes?" I basically appeared on the second page of my waited for this to happen for more than notes along with his phone number. a dozen years. I would soon find out His name came right after the entry of who these people were. the SHBO (a Netherlands historic organization) that was mentioned at There were perhaps twenty people or the trustee meeting. The only very so that I met in the adjacent parking lot distinct memory that I have of Peter to the historic Frederick house on during the barn tour were comments Route 146 in Guilderland Center. But I that he made at the so-called Altamont do know one very definite thing - it Orchards barn. He was pointing out was darned cold. As in C-O-L-D. I very certain traits of the H-frames. I was distinctly remember the hulking pres- seeing things that were new to me that ence of Vincent Schaefer. There was a I had not seen in other Dutch barns large man. I was soon to find how that I had visited in the more southern www.hvva.org reaches of New York. Somehow from many sources adorned the walls Upcoming Events I sensed that a friendship would ensue and corners and what-not (and a few with this man who was close to twenty cob-webs). And he had hundreds of years my senior. books on Indian lore and country life. In very short order I realized that Peter was in love with Indian life.