Schenectady County Historical Society

Family Program: Mabee Young Farmers Day
2021-05-01 10:00 - 13:00, 2021-04-24 10:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
April 24 & May 1 at 10am @ Mabee Farm | $8/child
It’s time for the first planting of the year and we need all the help we can get! In this program we’ll learn how generations of kids would help their parents grow the food they needed to survive. We’ll start with seeds in our own garden and end with a baked treat to enjoy. A real farm to table experience!
Preregistration required: www.schenectadyhistorical.org/programs

Virtual Talk and Annual Meeting: Enslavement and the Dual Nature of Early New York's Homes"
2021-04-22 19:00 - 20:00
Across New York State eighteenth-century houses like the Mabee Farm remind us of the state’s Dutch American history. These homes are often considered symbols of family, domesticity, and security. Yet, for the men, women, and children who were enslaved in these homes, these were spaces of forced labor, violence, and enslavement. This talk will explore this dual nature of the home.
Dr. Andrea Mosterman is Associate Professor of history at The University of New Orleans, specializing in Atlantic and Early American History. She is currently working on a manuscript that examines exchanges and interactions between African and Dutch descendants in Early New York. Her broader research explores the multi-faceted dimensions of slavery, the slave trade, and cross-cultural contact in the Early Modern Dutch Atlantic. She has published in, among others, The Journal of African History.

This is a virtual program, which is free for SCHS members, otherwise $5. Registration is at www.schenectadyhistorical.org/programs. A Zoom link will be emailed to all registrants prior to the virtual program

Virtual Talk: "America's First Freedom Rider: Elizabeth Jennings, Chester A. Arthur, and the Early Fight for Civil Rights"
2021-04-07 19:00 - 20:00
When Elizabeth Jennings refused to step off a bus for “whites”, she was assaulted by the bus’ conductor and a NY police officer. In 1855, the Elizabeth Jennings v. Third Avenue Rail Road case was settled. Seeking $500 in damages, the jury stunned the courtroom with a $250 verdict in Lizzie’s favor. Future US president Chester A. Arthur (and Union College graduate) was Jennings’ attorney and their lives would be forever onward intertwined. This is the story of Jennings, Arthur, the struggle for equality, and race relations. It’s the history of America at its most despicable and most exhilarating. Yet few historians know of Elizabeth Jennings or how her momentous victory over the Third Avenue Railroad gave birth to the freedoms that are the underpinning of the civil and gender rights movements that are still a battlefront today.
Jerry Mikorenda’s work has appeared in The New York Times, Newsday, The Boston Herald, and The Gotham Center History Blog. His debut biography America’s First Freedom Rider: Elizabeth Jennings, Chester A. Arthur, and the Early Fight for Civil Rights was published in 2020. Jerry has appeared on Live with Pat Kiernan on NY1 discussing Freedom Rider and various podcasts such as NPR’s Cityscape, BYU’s Constant Wonder, and The Author’s Show. His historical novel, The Whaler’s Daughter will be published by Regal House Publishing this summer. He is a graduate of the University at Albany and Syracuse University’s Newhouse School.

Virtual Talk: The Wider World of Early Schenectady
2021-03-24 19:00 - 20:00
Dr. L.H. Roper is a Professor in the SUNY New Paltz department of history, whose research focuses on early America. He’ll discuss the wider world of early Schenectady, touching on the culture and politics that influenced the colonial town.

Dr. Roper’s many publications include seven books on early America, including “The Seventeenth-Century Worlds of the Hudson Valley” and “Constructing Early Modern Empires: Proprietary Colonies in the Atlantic World, 1500-1750,” as well as myriad scholarly articles, the most recent of which are “Fear and the Genesis of the English Empire in America” in Fear and the Shaping of Early American Societies (2016) and “The Fall of New Netherland and Seventeenth-Century Anglo-American Imperial Formation” in The New England Quarterly (2014). Dr. Roper is also the Chair of the Scholarly Advisory Board at Historic Huguenot Street, and serves on the boards of several institutes studying early American history.

This is a virtual program, which is free for SCHS members, otherwise $5. Registration is at www.schenectadyhistorical.org/programs. A Zoom link will be emailed to all registrants prior to the virtual program

The Seneca Nation and the Kinzua Dam
2021-03-18 19:00 - 20:00
Dr. Jason Corwin will give a talk on the Kinzua Dam and its effects on the Seneca Nation. Jason will provide a timeline of the Seneca, from their creation in the Finger Lakes to their eventual settlement along the Ohi:yo’ (Allegheny River) to the creation of the Kinzua Dam and its after-effects. Questions are encouraged.
Dr. Jason Corwin (Seneca Nation, Deer Clan) is the Executive Director of the Seneca Media & Communications Center, as well as a member of the Seneca Nation’s Watershed Resources Working Group, COVID Response Task Force, and Climate Change Task Force. He has worked extensively as a both a community and university-based media and environmental educator. Jason earned a PhD in Natural Resources from Cornell University, is the co-founder of the community organizations Defend Ohi:yo’ and Sustainable Indigenous Futures, and has produced many documentaries on Seneca, Indigenous, and social justice topics. He enjoys spending his time outdoors hunting for edible and medicinal mushrooms, deer, and photos of the night sky.

Virtual Talk: An Upright Stockade and a Small Breastwork: Fortifications in New Netherland
2021-02-27 14:00 - 15:00
Dr. Jaap Jacobs is a Professor in the University of St Andrews History Department with a specialization in the history of the Dutch Republic and its colonies. Dr. Jacobs has written several books, his most recent is “The Colony of New Netherland: A Dutch Settlement in Seventeenth-Century America.” Dr. Jacobs is currently working on a biography on Petrus Stuyvesant. He’ll discuss colonial fortifications from Kingston, NY northwards, ending with Schenectady.

This is a virtual program, which is free for SCHS members, otherwise $5. Registration is at www.schenectadyhistorical.org/programs. A Zoom link will be emailed to all registrants prior to the virtual program

SOLD OUT Mabee Maple Day
2021-02-27 10:00 - 12:00
As winter cold begins to recede, the ground unfreezes and the sap starts to run. On a New York farm, the first harvest of the year was always maple syrup. In this family-friendly program, you’ll learn the process for yourself from colonial techniques to later innovations. Each ticket holder will receive a syrup sample to take home
COVID safety will be observed and face masks will be required at all times. This is an outdoor event so be prepared for winter temperatures.
Pre-Registration Required. Tickets are $10/person, for adults and kids 4+. Members are free.
This event is sold out.

Virtual Talk: "Fearing too great a Correspondency”: The 1690 Schenectady Massacre and Jacob Leisler
2021-02-17 19:00 - 20:00
What is the relationship between Leisler’s Rebellion and the 1690 Schenectady Massacre? In the 17th century rebellion, merchant and militia captain Jacob Leisler seized control of southern New York. As his power expanded north to Albany, Leisler called for elections at Schenectady in January 1690. However, the next month, invaders burned Schenectady and massacred its people. How is this all connected?

Dr. David William Voorhees is the Director of the Jacob Leisler Institute for the Study of Early New York History, and managing Editor of de Halve Maen. His published works include The Concise Dictionary of American History (1983), The Holland Society: A Centennial History 1885-1985 (1985) as well as numerous articles on late seventeenth-century New York. He is currently a consultant to Historic Hudson and Historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz, NY. In 2010 Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands presented Dr. Voorhees with knighthood in the Order of Orange Nassau.

This event will be held via Zoom. Admission is $5 or free for SCHS members. All participants should register at www.schenectadyhistorical.org/programs

Virtual Talk: Becoming a “Nation of Statesmen: The Mohicans' Incorporation into the Iroquois League
2021-02-10 18:00 - 20:00
Join Dr. Evan Haefeli for an expert look at Mohican and Iroquois relations in the 1670s. Using oral traditions alongside the documentary record, Dr. Haefeli uncovered a little known peace forged between the Mohicans and the Iroquois League on the eve of King Philip’s War. The resulting alliance altered the regional balance of power and provided the foundation for Mohican diplomacy for the next century and a half.

Dr. Evan Haefeli is Associate Professor of History at Texas A&M University, whose work has ranged from the frontier between New France and New England, to early Native American history, obscure revolts in colonial New York, book publishing in colonial America, and religious toleration New Netherland. He is currently finishing a book for the University of Chicago Press on the politics of religious toleration and English overseas expansion from 1497-1688, and editing a volume of essays entitled Anti-Catholicism: The Anglo-American Experience c. 1600-1850.

This event will be held via Zoom. Admission is $5 or free for SCHS members. All participants should register at www.schenectadyhistorical.org/programs

Virtual Talk: Scots-Irish Revolutionaries of Corry’s Brook (Currybush)
2021-02-06 14:00 - 15:00
Local Scots-Irish settlers were highly rebellious toward British rule, and, almost to a person, fought for the Rebel American side during the American Revolution. Terry McMaster is an independent historian whose research focuses on the American Revolution in the Mohawk Valley and on the settlement patterns, family connections, and border warfare along colonial New York’s western frontier in the 18th century.

This event will be held via Zoom. Admission is $5 or free for SCHS members. All participants should register at www.schenectadyhistorical.org/programs

Resilient Schenectady
2021-02-06 - 2021-02-07
Resilient Schenectady
February 6-7, the Stockade and online
The weekend we’ll commemorate 1690’s fiery massacre, while lighting our way, one candle at a time, to an even better future in a very special place: The Stockade of Schenectady.
In 1690, Schenectady’s first church was destroyed as the village burned. Attackers killed Domine Petrus Tessemacher, along with neighbors attending his engagement party. Each year in February, First Reformed Church observes this Heritage and, alongside the Stockade Association and SCHS, invites all neighbors to join in this shared experience.
Saturday, February 6:
In the evening (5-8pm), luminaries will glow throughout Schenectady’s Stockade, and we invite participants to build snowmen and stroll this historic neighborhood. Self-guided walking tours of the neighborhood are available through the izi.travel app.
Sunday, February 7:
You can worship virtually with the First Reformed Church as they dedicate new framed prints of the four Native American Sachems (and church members). Later, historians John Gearing and Chris Leonard will discuss the recent release of “Schenectady Genesis, Volume II.” We’ll end the weekend with 5pm Heritage Jazz Vespers: jazz with stories and poems that reflect on Schenectady’s heritage of resilience, including the tale of Domine Petrus Tessemacher’s engagement party. All at www.1streformed.com

Virtual Talk: Dr. William Griswold - Archaeology at Saratoga Battlefield
2021-01-21 19:00 - 20:30
The Battles of Saratoga in 1777 gave a decisive victory to the Americans in the Revolutionary War. Nearly 250 years later, we’re still learning about the details of this turning point in the fight for independence. In 2019 the National Park Service and its partners undertook a study at the Barber Wheatfield, Saratoga National Historical Park, where the second battle of Saratoga started. Team Lead Dr. William Griswold will share results of the project.
This program is free for members, or $5. Pre-registration is required, and a link to the Google Meet will be emailed out in advance of the program. Please register or purchase tickets by visiting www.schenectadyhistorical.org/programs

A Mabee Christmas Carol CANCELLED
2021-01-02 15:00 - 17:00, 2020-12-30 15:00 - 17:00
Humans have long celebrated the winter solstice, greeting the year’s longest night with songs, drinks, and merriment. From the pagan rituals of Yuletide to the trimmings of modern Christmas, we’ll explore the history of the holidays from the perspective of Mabee Farm. The house, properly decked in festive decor by the Hugh Platt Garden Club will be open for tours from 3-5pm, and at 4pm, we’ll feature a special performance of historic carols sung by our very own Schenectady Historical Wassailers. Each ticket includes a warm drink of wassail (for adults) or hot chocolate (for kids), best enjoyed around the campfire.
This is an outdoor performance and will be properly socially distanced- be sure to dress warm! Masks are required. Cost, $6 per person, tickets at schenectadyhistorical.org/programs

All SCHS Sites Closed
2020-12-31 - 2021-01-01, 2020-12-24 - 2020-12-25, 2020-11-26 - 2020-11-29
Closed for the Holidays!

Wintertide Tours
2020-12-23 16:00 - 17:30, 2020-12-23 14:00 - 15:30, 2020-12-18 14:00 - 15:30, 2020-12-17 14:00 - 15:30, 2020-12-11 14:00 - 15:30, 2020-12-10 14:00 - 15:30
December 10, 11, 17, 18, & 23 at 2pm or 4pm @ Mabee Farm Historic Site
Enjoy the spectacularly decorated Mabee House this season. It’s, warm, cozy, and will be filled with good cheer. During Wintertide Tours of the farm, our expert guide will show you around Schenectady’s oldest home, and discuss what life was like for 18th century farmers during the year’s very darkest month.
Masks are required. Cost, $10 per person (free for members, but registration still required), tickets at schenectadyhistorical.org/programs.

Festival of Trees
2020-12-05 10:00 - 2020-12-23 17:00
Celebrate the season as we fill our galleries with lighted fir trees! Decorated from classic to kooky Christmas styles, the Festival of Trees glows with the enchantment of the holidays. Join us throughout December for a shimmering, festive season.
The Festival of Trees is a fundraiser for, and a partnership between, the Schenectady County Historical Society and the YWCA NorthEastern NY. Admission is $6 for adults 12+.
Consider supporting these two community organizations by sponsoring a tree! Please visit our Festivals page to register!

Jan Mabee's Twilight Tours
2020-12-04 16:00 - 17:00, 2020-11-21 16:00 - 17:00, 2020-11-20 16:00 - 17:00
Each twilight at Mabee Farm brings a different array of lights and colors, as the warmth of the sunset transforms into deep blue, moon-lit skies. We imagine the Mabee family found this time of day as inspiring and ethereal as we do. So, join us as we explore Mabee Farm as it’s meant to be explored; awash in changing colors, the wind gusting outside, and the flickering lights of the Mabee house keeping us cozy and warm. A costumed guide from the 1600s will lead us through the house, which is decorated for the season. He’ll delve into the histories and mysteries of the Mabee Farm, and give us a taste of what life for was like for settlers living on the edge of the wilderness.
Admission is $10 (free for members), and tickets can be purchased at www.schenectadyhistorical.org/programs. Advance registration is required.
Available Dates:
Friday, November 13 at 4pm
Saturday, November 14 at 4pm
Friday, November 20 at 4pm
Saturday, November 21 at 4pm
Friday, December 4 at 4pm

Livestream: The Frost Papers
2020-12-02 16:00 - 17:00
Land surveying was a crucial component in the development of our area, and James Frost was one of the primary surveyors in Schenectady, Albany, and Montgomery counties in the early 1800s, particularly in the Duanesburg area.
The James Frost Papers, a collection in the SCHS library, comprises copies of survey sketches, maps, leases, receipts, legal documents, and other materials related to Frost’s surveyor work. On this livestream, Librarian Marietta Carr will share examples from the Frost collection, discuss Frost’s work as a surveyor, and give insight into the collection’s potential value to genealogists and local historians. No Facebook account is needed, simply join us at https://www.facebook.com/schenectadyhistorical/live

Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow with the New-York Historical Society (Virtual)
2020-11-17 19:00 - 20:00
Join us for a live, interactive journey through history, as New-York Historical Society curators answer your questions and walk you through a slideshow of objects and imagery via Zoom.
Based on the NYHS’ Based 2018-19 exhibition, this virtual presentation will explore Black Americans’ struggle for equality under the law from 1865 through World War I. Learn about both Southern and Northern roles in this dark chapter of our history as well as Black New Yorkers’ organizing and community-building in the face of discrimination.
This program is free for SCHS members, or $5 for non-members. Pre-registration is required for everyone; a link will be emailed to you shortly before the presentation. Register at www.schenectadyhistorical.org/programs.
