Schenectady County Historical Society

Book Talk & Signing: "George Lunn: The 1912 Socialist Victory in Schenectady"
2019-11-16 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
Journalist and County Historian Bill Buell will discuss his
new book that details the life of George Lunn, the popular
Socialist mayor of Schenectady. Buell won numerous
awards for his work at the Daily Gazette, including a New
York Press Association Award.

Howlin' at the Moon with the Red Haired Strangers
2019-11-12 19:00 - 21:00
For our final Howlin’ at the Moon of the year, the Red Haired Strangers will take the stage for great Americana!
Admission is $6, and refreshments – including Wolf Hollow beer and wine – are available for purchase.
Sponsored by Wolf Hollow Brewing Company

Book Talk & Signing: "Tributaries: A Lazy Academic's Look at some Streams, Creeks, and Kills around Schenectady Way"
2019-11-09 14:00 - 15:30
Author Dale Wade-Keszey will discuss his recently published book that looks at the history, legends, and lore of our region’s waterways. Tributaries is a historic overview of some of the streams, creeks and kills which cascade down our hillsides, border our communities, and travel under the streets in and around Schenectady. Murder, dance halls, spiritual messaging, and eels are just a few of the waterway-related topics covered in this writing.

Mabee Farm Closed
2019-11-06 - 2019-11-08
Mabee Farm will be closed on November 6, 7, and 8.

A Stockade Seance
2019-10-31 19:00 - 23:00, 2019-10-27 19:00 - 21:00, 2019-10-26 19:00 - 23:00, 2019-10-20 19:00 - 23:00, 2019-10-19 19:00 - 23:00
Gather with the spirits of the season as we partner once again with NorthEast Theatre Ensemble to bring you their special brand of site-specific theater to life! Join our hostesses for a Victorian Halloween séance, as mediums guide us through gruesome tales and ghost stories from the region.
The séance will take place at the Brouwer House, an intimate home whose walls have seen hundreds of years of local history. Our hostesses will chill and tantalize you with haunting accounts of lost love, longing, and murder. Just in time for Halloween, with a special performance on All Hallow’s Eve. Come in costume if you desire, and immerse yourself in our turn-of-the-century communal with the spirits bygone eras. Light refreshments served
The Brouwer House is located at 14 N Church St, Schenectady
Tickets $20. Due to limited space, tickets will not be available at the door. Please purchase in advance at https://astockadeseance.simpletix.com/e/47130
Performance Schedule:
October 19: 7 pm & 9pm
October 20: 7pm
October 26: 7pm & 9pm
October 27: 7pm
October 31: 7pm & 9pm

An Introduction to the Tarot
2019-10-29 19:00 - 21:00
Instructor Jeannie Thomma will be here for An Introduction to the Tarot as we delve into the history of Tarot, try a few introductory Tarot exercises and discover how the ancient cards can inspire self-reflection. At the Brouwer House, Schenectady’s oldest home, complete with light refreshments and Halloween ambiance.

Candlelight Walking Tours
2019-10-25 19:00 - 21:00, 2019-10-18 19:00 - 21:00
We’re back with new spooky tales for 2019! Join us as we explore the historic Stockade after dark and discover the neighborhood’s haunting past! Tickets are $12 and include entry to museum and refreshments and live music after the tour. Your choice of the “Colonial Hauntings” or “Ghostly Victorian” tours, both offered at 7pm and 7:30pm. Co-sponsored by the Schenectady Heritage Foundation.

Museum Association of NY Workshop & Meetup
2019-10-24 09:30 - 18:30
MANY will present a workshop that enables museum
professionals to learn from leaders in the field.
Presentations include “Exclusive and Inclusive: Behind
the Scenes Collections Tours for the 21st Century” and
“Expanding Visitor Experiences: Engaging Tour Ideas
for Historic Sites.” Join us for the free meetup after the
workshop to meet and connect with museum professionals from around the region. Light refreshments served. $35; visit https://nysmuseums.org/ to register

Genealogy Day
2019-10-19 09:00 - 16:00
A day with experts, dedicated to all things genealogy. $8.
9-10:15am: “Complex Evidence: Untangling Multiple, Same-Name Individuals” presented by Judith Herbert, Certified Genealogist®
You’ve found a John Smith in your ancestry and the question becomes, “Which of the possible John Smiths is my John Smith?” The lecture will provide tools and techniques for separating persons of the same name in an area, to ensure that researchers are locking on to the correct individual. Strategies for planning and conducting a surname study will be covered, as well tips for making sure all possible sources have been consulted, which could help to identify the right John Smith.
10:15-11:30am: “Patching Families Together Through Land Records” presented by Tina Post
When genealogists hit brick walls it’s not fun. Land records can provide the clues necessary to put stymied research on track again. This presentation will provide examples of how relationships can be gleaned using deeds, bounty lands and land grants. In addition, platting will be discussed as a means of creating more leads to investigate.
11:30-12:45am: “Gravestone Conservation for the Genealogist” presented by Christopher White
Have you ever seen that unreadable gravestone or that toppled monument and wondered what can I do to address its condition? There is a correct way and a wrong way to remedy that gravestone.
Christopher White, a genealogist, historian, and gravestone conservator, will present a program on gravestone conservation including cleaning, repair, what to do, what not to do, when to do nothing, and when to seek a professional conservator.
12:45-2pm: Research in the Library

Howlin' at the Moon with Hot Tuesday
2019-10-17 19:00 - 21:00
Nestled on the Mohawk River, Mabee Farm is the perfect place for toe-tapping bluegrass, folk, and great beer! Join us for music by Hot Tuesday and beer from Wolf Hollow Brewing Company.

Fall Foliage Festival
2019-10-13 11:00 - 15:00
A celebration of all things fall! Join us for a FREE community festival featuring live music, hay rides, boat rides, pony rides & petting zoo, hot cider, dog-herding demonstrations, live birds of prey, fall activities, craft fair, historic exhibitions, craft beer, and much more!

A Trifecta of Exhibition Openings
2019-10-12 14:30 - 16:00
We’re opening THREE new exhibitions at Mabee Farm, including the unveiling a brand new gallery!
Join us for a trifecta of exhibition openings at Mabee Farm, each one focused on different aspects of rural life in the Mohawk Valley. Refreshments served!
“Rural Modern:” Rural life and farming — and with it, the hard work, the understanding of the land, and the stories of those who farm it — are at the heart of Schenectady County. Today, after centuries of fields and flocks, we’ve created a rural landscape that is fruitful, beautiful, and largely misunderstood by those who live in our County’s cities and suburbs. “Rural Modern” explores the stories of Schenectady’s contemporary rural farmers through photographs and stories.
“Farming the Valley:” The Mabees aren’t a famous family. Yet their story is our story. It is the story of the people who made our region what it is today. The transformation of Mabee Farm from a colonial homestead into a prosperous farm, and now a dynamic historic site is the culmination of generations of hard work, daring, and change. This exhibition delves into the history and legacy of Mabee Farm, and showcases some of the Farm’s most significant antiques!
“Farm to Canvas: Presented by the Schenectady Art Society:” A collection of works by local artists, inspired by our rural landscape.
This event will feature gallery talks with the exhibits’ curators and contributing artists, and is free to the general public.

The Great Schenectady Farm Tour
2019-10-12 08:00 - 14:00
Ride with us for this exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of some of Schenectady’s most remarkable farms! This promises to be a fun and eye-opening look at Schenectady’s rich agricultural past, present and future. Our charter bus will leave from the Mabee Farm Historic Site at 8am sharp stopping at six awesome destinations including:

-The Hungry Chicken Apple Orchard
-Lansing’s Farm Market
-The Saratoga Therapeutic Equestrian Program
-BioSoil
-The Schenectady Distillery
-Riverside Maple Farms

Returning to the Mabee Farm at 2pm, guests will be invited to stay for the opening of the Rural Modern exhibit in the Franchere Education Center. Tickets are $30.

Sponsored by a Humanities New York Action Grant

Candlelight Walking Tours
2019-10-11 19:00 - 21:00
We’re back with new spooky tales for 2019! Join us Fridays in October as we explore the historic Stockade after dark and discover the neighborhood’s haunting past! Tickets are $12 and include entry to museum and refreshments and live music after the tour. Your choice of the “Colonial Hauntings” or “Ghostly Victorian” tour, both offered at 7pm and 7:30pm. Co-sponsored by the Schenectady Heritage Foundation.

Campfire at Mabee Farm
2019-10-10 18:00 - 20:00
Join us for a fine fall evening around the campfire! Come
share share ghost stories and other local tall tales with us.
We’ll have s’mores and warm apple cider readily available.

Mabee Farm to Fork
2019-10-05 17:00 - 21:00
The Schenectady County Historical Society and the Electric City Food Co-op are teaming up once again to present Mabee Farm to Fork, a celebration of local foods!
Join us for a pastoral evening in the Barn at Mabee Farm, as we celebrate the farm-to-table tradition. Our four-course meal features locally-grown foods served alongside craft beverages, live music by the Arch Stanton Quartet, silent auction and raffle with great prizes, and farm demonstrations. We’re even sourcing ingredients from Mabee Farm’s own fields, and baking our special Mabee rye bread!

Secret Stockade Saturdays
2019-10-05 10:00 - 13:00
The Stockade and its secrets come to life on this behind-the-scenes journey through the neighborhood. Join us for a morning of mysteries as our guides lead us from the
museum, through the Stockade, and inside two Stockade homes, each with their own legends and lore. Refreshments will be served inside the Stockade’s oldest home, the
historic Brouwer House. This tour lasts three hours.

Drink the Seasons: Autumn
2019-10-03 18:00 - 20:00
Led by historian John Gearing, we’ll sample a variety of seasonal libations, made with locally grown ingredients. Get cozy in Schenectady’s oldest home as we welcome fall!
