Schenectady County Historical Society

The Underground Railroad Revisited
2023-02-08 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Trinity Community Center, 705 Curry Road, Rotterdam, NY
The Underground Railroad, often remembered as being characterized by tunnels, dark of night escapes, coded language, and hidey-holes, was far more extensive and complex than these ideas have led us to believe. In the midst of significant pro-slavery sentiment, New York State was home to many abolitionists working to abolish the institution of enslavement in our state and nation and it was visited by many who had escaped enslavement and sought a life of freedom. Join with Paul and Mary Liz Stewart, independent researchers and co-founders of Underground Railroad Education Center as they share a new interpretation of a very old story and explain the various initiatives in which Underground Railroad Education Center is engaged as it works to connect the public with this empowering local history and its relevance for us today.
Cosponsors of this important event include Messiah Lutheran Church, Trinity Community Center, Schenectady County Human Rights Commission, and the Schenectady County Historical Society.

John Bradstreet's Raid with Ian Macpherson McCulloch
2023-02-09 19:00 - 20:30
This is a virtual program, presented on Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to SCHS members before the presentation.
Join us for a virtual presentation by Ian Macpherson McCullock, discussing his new book, “John Bradstreet’s Raid, 1758: A Riverine Operation of the French and Indian War.” In this first comprehensive analysis of Bradstreet’s raid, Ian Macpherson McCulloch uses never-before-seen materials and a new interpretive approach to dispel many of the myths that have grown up around the operation. The result is a closely observed, deeply researched revisionist microhistory—the first unvarnished, balanced account of a critical moment in early American military history. McCulloch will provide the most detailed, thoroughgoing view of Bradstreet’s raid ever produced.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ian Macpherson McCulloch is a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Educated in Scotland and Switzerland, he holds an honors degree in Journalism (1977) from Carleton University and Masters degrees in War Studies (1996) and Defence Studies (2010), both from the Royal Military College of Canada. A former Canadian Army officer, he served in a variety of regimental and staff appointments in Canada, Germany and the USA which included command of Canada’ famous Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada (1993-96) and first Deputy Director of History & Heritage for the Canadian Forces. He retired as Director of the Centre for National Security Studies at the Canadian Forces Staff College in Fall 2014 and moved to Kingston, Ontario to write this book. A military historian and author specializing in the Seven Years War in North America, McCulloch has published numerous books and articles on that subject in various international journals and magazines. He has authored two books for Osprey Publishing (UK) in their WARRIOR series: British Light Infantryman of the Seven Years War, 1756-1763, North America, (Oxford, 2004) and Highlander in the French & Indian War (Oxford, 2008) and has authored four books for Robin Brass studios (Toronto/Montreal), Canada’s foremost military history press and Purple Mountain Press (NY, USA).

A Schenectady Valentine
2023-02-10 18:00 - 19:30
With Valentine’s day around the corner, this program will explore the ways in which Schanactadians past courted their sweethearts. Over a glass of wine (or hot chocolate), we’ll delve into our archives of historic love letters to tease out the passion penned on the pages. So inspired, guests will be invited to hand craft a valentine of their own. Bring a date — we’ll have plenty of hot chocolate and wine on hand to celebrate the season in proper fashion!

Workshop: Spring Wreath
2023-02-11 10:30 - 13:00
Welcome the first signs of spring with a beautiful, custom deco mesh wreath! Tavia Hoover, proprietor of Tavia’s Wreath Boutique, will lead us in creating a wreath perfect for celebrating the arrival of spring’s earliest flowers! The class will teach from start to finish how to create a deco mesh wreath, including completing the wreath frame, cutting and attaching mesh, and installing your custom signs and embellishments, including your bow.
Price includes materials fee.

The Chiefs Now in This City: Indians and the Urban Frontier in Early America with Colin Calloway
2023-02-16 19:00 - 20:30
This is a virtual program, presented on Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to SCHS members before the presentation.
Join us for a virtual presentation by Dartmouth Professor Colin Calloway discussing his new book, “The Chiefs Now in This City: Indians and the Urban Frontier in Early America.” Indian people spent a lot of time in early American cities, primarily on diplomatic or trade business, but also from curiosity and adventurousness. Colin Calloway, National Book Award finalist and one of the foremost chroniclers of Native American history, has gathered together the accounts of these visits and from them created a new narrative of the country’s formative years, redefining what has been understood as the “frontier.”Calloway’s will discuss what Native peoples observed as they walked the streets, sat in pews, attended plays, drank in taverns, and slept in hotels and lodging houses. In the Eastern cities they experienced an urban frontier, one in which the Indigenous world met the Atlantic world. Calloway will reveal not just what Indians saw but how they were seen. Crowds gathered to see them, sometimes to gawk; people attended the theatre to watch “the Chiefs now in this city” watch a play.
Their experience enriches and redefines standard narratives of contact between the First Americans and inhabitants of the American Republic, reminding us that Indian people dealt with non-Indians in multiple ways and in multiple places. The story of the country’s beginnings was not only one of violent confrontation and betrayal, but one in which the nation’s identity was being forged by interaction between and among cultures and traditions.
Colin G. Calloway is John Kimball Jr. 1943 Professor of History and Native American Studies at Dartmouth College. He is the author of several books, most recently The Indian World of George Washington (OUP 2018), which was a National Book Award Finalist, and which won the Excellence in American History Book Award from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the George Washington Book Prize.

Lost Voices Tour of Mabee Farm
2023-02-18 11:00 - 12:30
Not everyone at the Mabee Farm was free to live and pass down their stories for posterity. The Farm was also home to generations of enslaved people like Sam, Bate, and Cato, whose voices have been lost to history. In this tour, we try to see the Mabee Farm as they would have known it, and to understand the painful, dehumanizing experiences of hundreds of other enslaved people in Schenectady’s history. This program is offered as part of Black History Month.
Members are free. Just let us know you’re coming below. Not a member? Admission is $10.

AAHRP Family History Workshop and Community Scanning Day
2023-02-18 13:30 - 16:00 | SCPL Bornt Branch, 948 State Street, Schenectady, NY, 12307, United States
Black history matters! Join members of the Schenectady African American Historical Records Project team to learn about preserving your family’s history and passing historic materials on to future generations. Archivists will be available to digitize photographs, letters, pamphlets, postcards, and other materials that speak to African American heritage in the area. Attendees will also have the opportunity to complete a survey about their items and their personal or familial experiences as members of the Black community in Schenectady. This program is free to all. For more event details, visit https://schenectadyhistorical.org/aahrp/
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Schenectady County Legislature.

Book Club: The Serious Side of Food
2023-02-22 18:00 - 20:00
Join the SCHS Book Club to take a deep look at a topic we often take for granted: food! Food provides both nourishment and pleasure, of course, but under the surface of each meal lies a series of complex interactions and entanglements. Led by Chris Leonard, Schenectady City Historian, we’ll read and discuss nonfiction, novels, and archival materials focused on the issues that lie on our plates. Limited to 12 people. Please contact Marietta Carr, SCHS Librarian, at librarian@schenectadyhistorical.org or 518-374-0263 x3 to sign up.

All book club discussion meetings will be at 32 Washington Ave, at 6pm.

-Wed, 2/22, 6pm – Third Plate by Dan Barber
-Tues, 3/14, 6pm – Food Politics by Marion Nestle
-Wed, 4/12, 6pm – Road to Wellville by T. Coraghessan Boyle
-Tues, 5/16, 6pm – Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappé
-Wed, 6/14, 6pm – In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

A History Erased: Free Black Schenectadians of the 19th Century
2023-02-25 14:00 - 15:30
At the turn of the 19th century, hundreds of enslaved people in Schenectady became free. In the following decades they built a community separate and unequal from their white neighbors. In this program we’ll screen SCHS’ 2022 documentary, “A History Erased,” which is based on extensive research utilizing 19th century censuses and records. The filmmaker (and our Historian and Educator), Mike Diana will then lead a discussion about how this community, and how/why it ultimately disappeared from our city. This program is offered as part of SCHS’ Black History Month celebration.

This is an in-person program hosted at 32 Washington Ave. Admission is free for members, otherwise $8 the day of the program. No advanced tickets.

Celebrating Black Educators in Schenectady: A Virtual Black History Discussion
2023-02-27 19:00 - 20:30 | Online on Facebook
Education is crucial to preserving and sharing the history and heritage of communities. Recognizing the significant contributions of Black educators in developing our community’s youth, we invite you to join us for a conversation with several local educators about their lives, experiences, and memories as Black Schenectadians. This event is free to all and will be livestreamed on the SCHS Facebook page. This event is part of the Schenectady African American Historical Records Project, a public history project focused on preserving the heritage and historical records of African Americans in Schenectady. For more event details, visit https://schenectadyhistorical.org/aahrp/
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Schenectady County Legislature.

Full Moon Snow Walk
2023-03-02 18:00 - 19:30
The Full Snow Moon of March is a moment when the light begins to shift towards spring, even as we are deep in bitter winter’s deep snows and scarce game.
Celebrate the Snow Moon with a short illuminated walk in the woods of the Woestyne. Afterwards, we’ll make a fire in the Inn’s historic fireplace, and docents will share colorful stories and tall tales from our local area. Warm drinks will be served to fight off the night’s chill.
Admission is $10 for people 12+, and free for members of SCHS and ADK-Schenectady.

Schenectady Wine Society
2023-03-02 18:00 - 20:00
It’s the second meeting of the “Schenectady Wine Society” a collection of curated wine tastings by and for local wine lovers at our historic sites. This time, we’ll be sampling wines that are perfect for the warming days and cool nights of spring. Join your hosts, Buffy Leonard and city historian Chris Leonard on a tasting and history tour of their favorite wines for the season.
$30; pre-registration required. Must be 21+ with valid ID.
All ticket sales are final.

"That she shall be forever banished from this country": Alcohol, Sovereignty, and Social Segregation in New Netherland with Erin Kramer
2023-03-09 17:30 - 19:00
This is a virtual program, presented on Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to SCHS members before the presentation.
Join us for a virtual presentation by Trinity College Professor Erin Kramer discussing her new publication, “That She Shall Be Forever Banished From This Country”: Alcohol, Sovereignty, and Social Segregation in New Netherland.
Alcohol was a subject of deep concern for Indigenous nations and settler governments in early America, but, though all agreed that the alcohol trade was dangerous, they did not assess the problem or its remedies in the same ways. Kramer will discuss seventeenth-century alcohol ordinances and their enforcement, uncovering the differences between Indigenous and Dutch interpretations of alcohol’s destructive effects to community and sovereignty.
Erin Kramer is an Assistant Professor of History who teaches courses in early American and Native American history. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2018. Her current book project looks at Dutch and Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) influences on the seventeenth-century development of Albany, New York, as an important center of trade and diplomacy in the northeast borderlands.

Mabee Maple Day
2023-03-11 10:00 - 12:00
This is an in-person program at Mabee Farm.
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. And of course, we’ll be able to taste the results! This is an outdoor event in so be prepared for winter temperatures!
Tickets are $10 for everyone 5+

Workshop: Watercolor Collage
2023-03-11 10:30 - 13:00
This class is for never-ever painters, those with experience looking to try a new style, or anyone in between. After learning different watercolor painting techniques, we will create a free-flowing, abstract 9×12 painting. After tearing your painting into strips/shapes and attaching them to fresh base, you’ll have created a unique art piece ready for framing, or multiple smaller pieces used for greeting cards — your choice! Our instructor will be Rebecca Cigal of Cigal Studio.
$45 fee includes materials.

Christ Church Duanesburg Restoration Project
2023-03-11 14:00 - 15:30
Christ Church Episcopal in Duanesburg, founded in 1793, is the oldest active and unaltered Episcopal Church in NYS, if not also in the United States. The church has a rich history, including housing the final resting places of James Duane, Mary Livingston, William North, and Mary Duane North. The congregation is committed to preserving the historic nature of the building and the records that tell the story of this vital landmark. Rev. Alistair Morrison, current rector, and Steve Schrade, church historian, will share details of the church’s history and the historic preservation work currently underway.

This is an in-person program hosted at 32 Washington Ave. Admission is free for members, otherwise $8 the day of the program. No advanced tickets.

Drink the Seasons: Spring Equinox
2023-03-16 17:30 - 19:00
Drink the Seasons is ready for spring; are you? In celebration of the equinox, join for an evening of seasonal cocktails and more at Schenectady Historical. Led by historian John Gearing, we’ll make — and sample — a variety of historic libations, made with vernal flare.
$30; pre-registration required. Must be 21+ with valid ID.
All ticket sales are final.

Workshop: Felting with Mabee Farm Wool
2023-03-18 10:00 - 12:00
What do we do with the wool we shear from our resident sheep, Annie and Finn? Learn to felt! In this beginner workshop, we’ll make an adorable felted sheep with wool from our own Mabee Farm critters. This hand-made craft is the perfect gift or home ornament. We’ll provide all materials and equipment.

Where did all the Slaves Go? with Michael Douma
2023-03-23 18:00 - 19:00
This is a virtual program, presented on Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to SCHS members before the presentation.
Join us for a virtual presentation by Georgetown Professor Michael Douma discussing a chapter from his forthcoming book, “The Slow Death of Slavery in Dutch New York.”
In Dutch New York, slavery died an agonizingly slow death. Douma’s book will be the first cultural, demographic, and economic history of slavery in Dutch New York. Douma points to the important influence of the Dutch in developing and maintaining slavery in NYS, arguing that to understand the history of slavery in New York, we need to recognize it as more distinctly Dutch, more profitable, more rural, and more enduring than has been previously recognized. Douma argues that Dutch attitudes about the utility and morality of slavery presented a major roadblock in attempts to end slavery in the state via gradual abolition. There continued a distinct Dutch type of slavery in eighteenth and early nineteenth century New York that is demonstrable culturally, economically, and
demographically. This was the largest non-English speaking form of slavery in American history, and it was much larger in extent, much more deeply rooted culturally, and much longer-
lasting than historians have previously recognized. Slavery was engrained in the culture of Dutch New York. This culture resisted the political and legal changes that ultimately brought about the
end of slavery in the state in 1827. In Dutch New York, slaveholders kept their enslaved persons longer and condemned the practice of slavery less than did English New Yorkers and most others
in the North.
Michael Douma is Associate Research Professor at Georgetown University. He has published 7 books and 19 scholarly articles. As an interdisciplinary historian, Douma’s work is influenced by scholars in fields as diverse as economics, folklore, and ethics. His historical research generally focuses on nineteenth century U.S. history including slavery and emancipation, the Dutch World, and
Philosophy and Methods of History.

Workshop: Basket Weaving
2023-03-25 09:00 - 15:00
Learn the historic craft of basket weaving with Doreen Smith, proprietor of WOVEN. In this full day workshop, we’ll weave a beautiful, highly functional tote with a leather strap. Please be sure to bring a lunch!
**All ticket sales are final.**

Spring Flowers Paint pARTy
2023-03-25 13:00 - 15:00
Instructor Karen Anthony of Karen’s Paint pARTies will teach us to paint Spring flowers. No artistic experience necessary — you will be lead step by step to produce your very own masterpiece! Price includes 11×14 stretched canvas, all painting materials, and a selection of munchies — plus wine, of course! Feel free to BYOB, as well.

Ages 10+ only, please. All ticket sales final.

Edison, Westinghouse, Schenectady with George Wise
2023-04-01 14:00 - 15:30
It’s 1886 and the competition to electrify the US is on! Genius inventors George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison each believe their electric current is superior and are battling to convince the world that their work is the future. But, what does Schenectady have to do with it? Join George Wise, historian and author, to take a closer look at this important moment in technology and American history.

This is an in-person program hosted at 32 Washington Ave. Admission is free for members, otherwise $8 the day of the program. No advanced tickets.

"A New Nation: Schenectady in the Early Republic" Exhibit Opening and Talk with Chris Leonard
2023-04-08 14:00 - 15:30
Please join us for the opening of a new exhibit! As part of the opening reception, city historian Chris Leonard will present his recent research, “When the Frontier Moved West: Schenectady at the Turn of the 19th Century.”
Schenectadians of the early American Republic (1798-1830) lived through defining years of the nation’s history. They were part of a growing city in a new nation, which would have to shape diverse peoples, religions, and geographical spaces into a free and prosperous republic. At the same time, Schenectady is chartered as a city, and seeks to define its own local identity. How do you set up a new city government? Is Schenectady a quiet country town or a bustling riverfront hub? What is the proper role of women in this new society? And how do Schenectadians respond to the growing shift from village farmers and craftsmen to urban factory workers?
Through a carefully curated collection of historical artifacts and accounts, you’ll discover daily life in Schenectady, and how ordinary Schenectadians — a motley collection of folk — responded to and shaped the social and cultural shifts of America’s Early Republic period.
Refreshments served, of course!

Malt ‘n Moonshine at the Mabee Inn
2023-04-08 14:00 - 16:00
The Mabees knew how to brew and you can too! In this program we’ll warm up the Mabee Inn and show you how throughout American history, people crafted the beers and spirits that sustained their society. A simple malt beer and some classic Mohawk valley moonshine are on the menu!

Walking Tour: Stockade Sacred Spaces
2023-04-15 10:00 - 12:00
Schenectady has long been home to peoples of many faiths. The various churches of the Schenectady Stockade stand out for their beauty and storied history. In this tour, we’ll explore these spaces and hear their stories from the people who keep them sacred today.
Members are free, but please RSVP below. Admission otherwise is $13.

Investigations at the Yates Farmhouse, Glenville with Daniel Mazeau and Aaron Gore, archaeologists
2023-04-15 14:00 - 15:30
Daniel Mazeau and Aaron Gore, archaeologists with Beverwyck Archaeology, recently completed field investigations and research for the Yates house and property in Glenville, once home to the family of Joseph Yates, NY governor from 1823-1824. The excavations, conducted in 2019 and 2020, provided information on when the house was built, activities occurring on-site, and a variety of other topics. They will discuss their findings.

This is an in-person program hosted at 32 Washington Ave. Admission is free for members, otherwise $8 the day of the program. No advanced tickets.

Earth Night 2023
2023-04-21 16:00 - 20:00
Earth Night is an evening celebration of sustainability and living in harmony with the planet. Gather together with friends and neighbors as we present down-to-earth music, art, and workshops that honor Mother Earth and our natural surroundings. The fun starts at 4pm, and we’ll be on site until 8, finishing the evening with a campfire and stories from the Earth.
These times are subject to change.
Raptors of the Northeast (5-7pm): Meet the birds of prey! Three to four live hawks, owls and falcons will be here for a face-to-face exploration of what it takes to be a raptor. Presented by the Vermont Museum of Natural History.
Forest Bathing (6-7pm): Walk our trails with Diane Kavanagh-Black and experience the healing and wellness-promoting effects of forest bathing! Awaken your senses and reconnect with nature during this mindful walk. Together, we’ll experience a series of guided, gentle invitations to open the senses, cultivate presence, and invite healing interactions between people and the natural world.
Music by Earth’s Children (5-8pm): Refined toned plucked from raw land, Earth’s Children is an experimental rock collective with members in Greene and Schenectady counties. Their new album, “Get Right” comes out this spring.
Composting Workshop (5pm): Have you ever wanted to dive into the word of compost? Join Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Composting Educator to learn the ins and outs of home composting and how you can get started yourself!
Aquatic Life (4-7pm): Come explore the mysterious organisms living in a pond near you! Educator George Steele has brought various aquatic samples for young biologists to study.
The Secret Lives of Herbs with Cornell Cooperative Extension (4pm-7pm): Mabee’s herb garden sprang back to life in the last few years, thanks to the help of Cornell Master Gardeners, who welcomed the idea of sprucing up the long-neglected area. Over the course of a year, they cleared the area of weeds, exposing a lovely stone border and path through the garden. There, they found inspiration for their herb garden design, and planted herbs and flowers common to the 1700s. Master Gardeners will be on site to discuss herbs in the garden, including betony, borage, calendula, chamomile, dill, mountain mint, penstemon, sage, sweet woodruff, tansy and wild quinine, answer gardening questions, and do free soil testing.
Farm Management (4-7pm): Meet Farmer John, who will introduce the farm animals, talk about compost, and then tour the fields and orchards, pointing out his sustainability tips.
Kids Crafts (4-7pm): Explore our educational raised bed garden and help us get it ready for this season. Search around for signs of spring, and meet the new additions to our goat and sheep family while saying hello to old friends like our chickens and cats. Help us harvest rocks from the field, and then get creative with painting a rock craft to take home!
Campfire (7-8pm): Savor the pinks and purples of Mabee’s twilight while enjoying a beverage around the campfire. Our educator will spin stories of the Earth, and participants are encouraged to bring their own tall tales.

Barn Raising Workshop
2023-04-22 11:00 - 12:30
Building a barn is one of the biggest jobs on a colonial farm. In this workshop, kids will have to roll up their sleeves and work together to build a giant model of our Dutch Barn. We’ll learn period woodworking techniques, basic timber framing, and timeless teamwork skills.
Family-level members are free. Just let us know you’re coming below. Not a member? Admission is $10 for kids 5+.

SCHS Annual Meeting featuring Dr. Lucianne Lavin: "Dutch-Native American Relationships in Eastern New Netherland"
2023-04-29 14:00 - 15:30
After a brief business meeting, Dr. Lucianne Lavin will present on Dutch-Native American Relationships in Eastern New Netherland. Refreshments will be served.
Lucianne Lavin, Ph.D. is an anthropologist & archaeologist who has over 50 years of research and field experience in Northeastern archaeology and anthropology. She has written over 200 professional publications and technical reports on the archaeology and ethnohistory of the Northeast. Dr. Lavin is a founding member of the state’s Native American Heritage Advisory Council (a government agency whose appointed members advise the Office of State Archaeology and the State Historic Preservation Office on Native American graves/burials and sacred sites), and retired editor of the journal of the Archaeological Society of Connecticut, a position she held for 30 years. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. in anthropology from New York University.
Her award-winning book, Connecticut’s Indigenous Peoples: What Archaeology, History, and Oral Traditions Teach Us about their Communities and Cultures (Yale University Press, 2013) won Second Place in the books category in the 2014 New England Museum Association Publication Award Competition, an Award of Merit from the Connecticut League of History Organizations, and was selected as a Choice Magazine (American Library Association) “Outstanding Academic Title for 2013 in the North America Category”.
Her latest book, Dutch and Indigenous Communities in Seventeenth-Century Northeastern North America (SUNY Press, 2021), is an edited volume rated by BookAuthority as one of the “16 Best New Archaeology eBooks to Read in 2021.” Dr. Lavin recently received a Certificate of Award for Women in American History from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She is a Connecticut-born resident and has lived much of her life in the lower Housatonic River Valley.

This is an in-person program hosted at Mabee Farm Historic Site. Light refreshments and coffee will be served. Admission is free for members, otherwise $15 for non-members.

Secret Stockade
2023-05-03 10:00 - 13:00
The Stockade and its secrets come to life on this behind-the-scenes journey through the neighborhood. Though a national historic district, the Stockade is alive with the sights and sounds of a vibrant, ever-changing neighborhood. Walk its storied streets, meet local characters, and learn its legends and lore as we journey across history.
Tickets are $35, include museum admission, a guided neighborhood tour, exclusive access to two Stockade homes and gardens, and lunch at Arthur’s Market, for great coffee and house-made sandwiches and salads. This tour lasts approximately three hours, and is offered — by reservation– on the first Wednesday of the month in warm months. The tour involves about 1 mile of walking on sometimes uneven sidewalks. It meets at the Schenectady Historical Museum at 32 Washington Ave, Schenectady NY 12305. Parking is available in the YWCA lot next door, or on the street.
