FALL 2004
Late September and early October offer an amazing number of events, not least the STOCKADE WALKABOUT and WATERFRONT FAIR on Saturday of this weekend. In addition to having access to many historic homes, visitors can see the progress being made at the excavations behind the Yates House, where early colonial levels have been tapped; there are a number of other activities with or without historic connections. This is followed promptly by the Mabee Farm’s annual SUNDAE ON THE FARM , which is a grand event with many activities and attractions, the latter including free ice cream sundaes. Another major fair comes two weekends later when Scotia holds its OKTOBERFEST; at the same time the Iroquois Indian Museum will hold its October conference, and special events will take place at the Mabee Farm, Fort Johnson, Fort Edward, and the Schenectady County Historical Society. Excavations continue at the MABEE FARM in Rotterdam and recommence on the ERIE CANAL. As always, note that the following projects are usually subject to weather and other unpredictables (and their schedules are subject to change), so please use the contact information before showing up. Note also that there are probably events and projects that I haven’t picked up!
• September 18, Saturday — Stockade Walkabout, Schenectady Stockade (11 am - 5 pm – advance tickets for adults $15, children $7) — During the Walkabout, numerous historic Stockade homes and businesses are open to the public, most through the purchase of a day pass. Free events include the Waterfront Faire [sic] on the river at the end of Washington Avenue, with music, pony rides, a children’s fun zone, a historic boat display, and food sale from local restaurants and vendors. There are tours of old Stockade cemeteries and canal sites, an antique car show, an open archaeological dig at the Yates House, trolley, boat, and horse-drawn carriage rides, and complimentary tea and cookies at the Schenectady County Historical Society, which helps oversee the event. — 377-9430, www.sayschenectady.org.(public events, many of them free)
The Stockade was the fortified settlement that marked the origins of Schenectady. It contains an incomparable collection of historic buildings.
• September 19, Sunday — Sundae on the Farm, Mabee Farm (12 - 5 pm) — Free ice cream sundaes from Stewart’s, live animal and dairy displays, farmers’ market, crafts demonstrations, historic house tours, children’s games. This was a big hit last year, with several thousand visitors! — Pat Barrot, 887-5073, mabee@nycap.rr.com, www.mabeefarm.com (free public event)
The Mabee Farm is outside of Lower Rotterdam Junction, Route 5S next to Schenectady International. It was possibly a trading post from the late 1600s, and a farm was here from early 1700s if not before.
• October 1, Friday — “Furniture in the Glen Sanders Collection,” Schenectady County Historical Society (10:30 am – $36 for society members, $40 nonmembers, includes lecture, tour, and lunch) — Ona Curran and Kathryn Weller give tours of the Society’s museum, highlighting different aspects each Friday during the month of October; the buffet lunch is at the historic Stockade Inn. — Kathryn Weller, 374-0263, curator@schist.org, www.schist.org (public event)
The society is located in the former home of the Jones Mumford Jackson family, with three floors of historic furniture, paintings, toys, household and military items, as well as a library with thousands of books, newspapers, maps, photos, and documents. It is located at 32 Washington Avenue (just a few buildings north of the intersection with Union Street).
• October 1 - 3, Friday - Sunday — Iroquois Conference, Iroquois Indian Museum — The schedule has not been finalized, but this three-day conference will include a talk by Denis Foley and Andrew Wolfe on “Canal Fever and the Iroquois,” discussing the conflicts of interest that arose during the building of the “Empire State.” — 296-8949, info@iroquoismuseum.org, www.iroquoismuseum.org (public event)
The Iroquois Indian Museum is an anthropological institution that introduces the public to the Iroquois through their art, past and present. It is located on Howes Cave Road, Cobleskill, NY.
• October 2, Saturday — Flintknapping Lecture/Demonstration, Rogers Island Visitors Center, Fort Edward (10 am - 12 noon) — Conducted by Charles Pacquin. In addition to the morning presentation, Mr. Pacquin will hold an afternoon session for anyone intereted in identifying and classifying stone tools. — Maureen Kennedy, 792-6476, mkennedy@capital.net. (free public event)
• October 2, Saturday — Fall Dutch Barn Conference, Mabee Farm (10 am - 4 pm – $5 suggested donation in advance, $8 at the door) — Hosted by the Dutch Barn Preservation Society with Hudson Valley Vernacular Architecture, this conference features J. Van Zuijlen of the Arnham Open Air Farm Museum in the Netherlands, a world famous center with over 80 histoic farm buildings dating from 1700-1990. The program also featuers J. Stevens, Neil Larson, and Ed Cook; the latter will speak on dating historic buildings by using dendrochronology. — Keith Cramer, 438-8352,
cramerkeith@msn.com (please put DBPS in subject line). (public event)
The Mabee Farm is outside of Lower Rotterdam Junction, Route 5S next to Schenectady International. It was possibly a trading post from the late 1600s, and a farm was here from early 1700s if not before.
• October 3, Sunday — Oktoberfest, Flint House (12 noon - 5 pm – donations appreciated) — Tours of the historic Flint House as well as a fair and crafts festival. — Michele Norris, 374-2371 (public event)
The Flint House is at the end of South Reynolds Street in Scotia. It was the home of David Reese, a major broomcorn manufacturer and landholder who gave his name to “Reeseville” (western Scotia); it is suspected to be the one remaining building of a farm or farms established in the 1600s.
• October 3, Sunday — Privy Party, Old Fort Johnson (1 - 4 pm) — Inaugurating the “reopening” of the restored 18th-century privy, called (I’m not sure by whom) “probably one of the top five outhouses in America”. — Alessa Wylie, 843-0300, museum@oldfortjohnson.org, www.oldfortjohnson.org (free public event)
Located on Route 5 near Amsterdam, the building called Fort Johnson was constructed in 1749 and has remained virtually untouched since the 18th century. It was the home of Sir William Johnson, hero of the battle of Lake George.
• October 8, Friday — “Portraits and Portrait Painters,” Schenectady County Historical Society (10:30 am – $36 for society members, $40 nonmembers, includes lecture, tour, and lunch) — See description under the first event in this series above, October 1. — Kathryn Weller, 374-0263, curator@schist.org, www.schist.org. (public event)
• October 9, Saturday — Fall Arts and Crafts Festival, Mabee Farm (10 am - 5 pm) — Local artisans demonstrate their crafts, including soap making, weaving, wood carving, metalworking, and pottery and glass manufacture. There is traditional music and, as usual, there are activities for children. — Pat Barrot, 887-5073, mabee@nycap.rr.com, www.mabeefarm.com. (free public event)
The Mabee Farm is outside of Lower Rotterdam Junction, Route 5S next to Schenectady International. It was possibly a trading post from the late 1600s, and a farm was here from early 1700s if not before.
• October 9, Saturday — “Early Modern Albany: Colonial Intersections in the Dutch New World,” Siena College (registration at 9:30 am – cost $35 in advance or $40 at the door) — The New Netherland Institute presents the Rennselaerswyck Seminar, XXVII in conjunction with Siena;s College's Cionvivium. Speakers include Paul Huey, Adam Luscier, James Bradley, L.F. Tantillo, Henry Miller, and Jenny Venema. For more information contact www.nnp.org/project/seminarsxxvii.html or the Institute. — Hennie Newhouse, 486-4815,hnewhous@mail.nysed.gov .
Sienna College is located in Loudonville on the east side of Route 9, north of Albany.
• October 10, Sunday — “A Sunday Drive to Hyde Hall,” Old Fort Johnson (12 noon – $15 includes admission and box lunch) — Assembling at Old Fort Johnson, a car pool leads to the 1800s grand country mansion of Hyde Hall, overlooking Otsego Lake not far from Cooperstown.— Alessa Wylie, 843-0300, museum@oldfortjohnson.org, www.oldfortjohnson.org (public event)
Located on Route 5 near Amsterdam, the building called Fort Johnson was constructed in 1749 and has remained virtually untouched since the 18th century. It was the home of Sir William Johnson, hero of the battle of Lake George.
• October 15, Friday — “Delft, Chinese Export, and Staffordshire Ceramics,” Schenectady County Historical Society (10:30 am – $36 for society members, $40 nonmembers, includes lecture, tour, and lunch) — See description under the first event in this series above, October 1. — Kathryn Weller, 374-0263, curator@schist.org, www.schist.org (public event)
• October 16, Saturday — Excavations behind the Inn, Mabee Farm (9 am – 3:30 pm) — Students from the Community Archaeology Program at Schenectady County Community College will conduct shovel tests and perhaps continue a test unit in the northwest section of the farm, behind the Inn and main house. In case of rain, the work will be conducted on the day after, on Sunday. — Ron Kingsley, 370-5711, kingslrf@gw.sunysccc.edu. (volunteers and visitors welcome)
The Mabee Farm is outside of Lower Rotterdam Junction, Route 5S next to Schenectady International. It was possibly a trading post from the late 1600s, and a farm was here from early 1700s if not before.
• Starting October 16 (weekends through November 21) — Excavations at Lock 53 of the Erie Canal — For information and confirmation of digging dates contact — Andrew Wolfe, 315-792-7240, wolfea@sunyit.edu (volunteers and visitors welcome)
• October 20, Wednesday — Organizational Meeting for Friends of Schenectady Archaeology (5:15 -6:30 pm) — Kick-off organizational meeting. All residents of Schenectady County and the greater Capital District are invited to join us in forming a Friends Group to help promote and facilitate archaeological activitiies. This first meeting will consist of a brief presentation about current programs and new initiatives in Schenectady, but will focus on audience participation. — Andrea Della Vecchio, 381-3553, tdellave@nycap.rr.com (please put Oct. 20 meeting in subject).
• October 22, Friday — “Folk Art and Landscape Painters,” Schenectady County Historical Society (10:30 am – $36 for society members, $40 nonmembers, includes lecture, tour, and lunch) — See description under the first event in this series above, October 1. — Kathryn Weller, 374-0263, curator@schist.org, www.schist.org (public event)
• October 23, Saturday — Yates House, Schenectady Stockade (9 am - 3:30 pm) — Excavation by hand in the back yard as part of ongoing archaeological research into this early Stockade home. The digging has already reached early colonial levels. In case of rain, the excavations will be the following day (Sunday). This is another of the fieldwork activities of the Community Archaeology Program at Schenectady County Community College. — Ronald Kingsley, 370-5711, kingslrf@gw.sunysccc.edu (volunteers and visitors welcome)
The Stockade was the fortified settlement that marked the origins of Schenectady. It contains an incomparable collection of historic buildings including the Yates House, which dates from around 1730 and is one of the oldest houses in Schenectady.
• October 29, Friday — “The Child’s World: Schoolgirl Samplers, Toys, and the Yates Dollhouse,” Schenectady County Historical Society (10:30 am – $36 for society members, $40 nonmembers, includes lecture, tour, and lunch) — See description under the first event in this series above, October 1. — Kathryn Weller, 374-0263, curator@schist.org, www.schist.org (public event)
• October 29, Saturday — Yates House, Schenectady Stockade (9 am - 3:30 pm) — Excavation by hand in the back yard as part of ongoing archaeological research into this early Stockade home. The digging has already reached early colonial levels. In case of rain, the excavations will be the following day (Sunday). This is another of the fieldwork activities of the Community Archaeology Program at Schenectady County Community College. — Ronald Kingsley, 370-5711, kingslrf@gw.sunysccc.edu (volunteers and visitors welcome)
The Stockade was the fortified settlement that marked the origins of Schenectady. It contains an incomparable collection of historic buildings including the Yates House, which dates from around 1730 and is one of the oldest houses in Schenectady
Local archaeologists in Schenectady County have formed an alliance (SchenArch) to promote public awareness of the county's extraordinary heritage — and to recruit the public for projects that dig it up or that otherwise give us a chance to learn more about it. Two of our members are from Schenectady County Community College (Louise Basa and Ronald Kingsley), two from Union College (Denis Foley and Jim Schaefer), one from SUNY Utica (Andrew Wolfe), one a professor at large (Steve Jones), and two from Hartgen Associates, a local contract archaeology firm (Matthew Lesniak and Scott Stull). The immediate aim is to pool our knowledge, and often our efforts — so if anyone who would like to be a member, please give us a call. Contact Steve Jones at doniphin@earthlink.net or 518-381-1826.
(* Schenectady Archaeology and History Institute)
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