2018 Palatines to America National Conference

The Palatines to America German Genealogical Society 2018 National Conference will be held in Buffalo from 13-16 June, 2018. The theme is Willkommen to Buffalo– Gateway to a New Heimat (home).

"It has been said that during the height of the Erie Canal era (1830-1865) more immigrants passed through Buffalo's Erie Canal district than ever passed through Ellis Island. How fitting that we will have our 2018 conference in that canal district."

The conference will be held at
Adams Mark Hotel & Conference Center
120 Church Street
Buffalo, NY 142202

Speakers include:
John Colletta, Ph.D.; Baerbel K. Johnson, AG; Garry Finkell, Carolyn Heald; Joseph Lieby; Bruce Romanchak; Donald Schwert; and Christopher White.

Please visit the Palatines to America website for more info.
The complete conference program may be found here.

American Legion to Hold Flag Retirement

This article comes to me from today's Rensselaer County Advertiser newspaper.

American Legion to Hold Flag Retirement
The Melvin Roads Post # 1231 American Legion will hold its annual Flag Retirement Ceremony on Thursday, June 7th, at 6pm. It will take place behind the East Greenbush Town Hall Offices, at the corner of Southern Ave. and Hudson Ave. in Hampton Manor.

Commander Hugh J. Blake has extended an invitation to the public to attend and encourages everyone to bring any American, POW/MIA, or NYS flags that are worn or in disrepair to be included in those to be retired.

The ceremonies will be assisted by the Clinton Heights Fire Department under the direction of Chief Steve Bestler, and the Dept. of Public Works of the Town of East Greenbush; the Post is grateful for their presence and participation.

Following the retirement ceremonies all are invited to the Post for light refreshments. The Post is located at 200 Columbia Tpk., East Greenbush (across from the Hampton Ave. entrance to the Manor).

American Revolution Mohawk Valley Conference, 2018

The fourth annal American Revolution Mohawk Valley Conference will take place on 7-10 June 2018 at the Fulton-Montgomery Community College and various locations throughout the Mohawk Valley.

Please view the website of Fort Plain Museum & Historical Park for further details. A brief synopsis of the conference is below.

Thursday, June 7, 2018 - Author Presentation:
Michael E. Newton - Alexander Hamilton’s Revolutionary War Service
Also, Rand Scholet - President of the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society and Kayla Empey - President of the newly formed Central New York Chapter of the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society will discuss the organization and their endeavors.

Friday, June 8, 2018 - Author Presentation:
Russell Shorto - Revolution Song: America’s Founding Era in Six Remarkable Lives

Saturday/Sunday, June 9-10, 2018 - Author Presentations:
Edward G. Lengel – George Washington and the Burning of New York City, 1776
Eric H. Schnitzer – “Hessians” at the Battle of Bennington, 1777
James L. Nelson – Benedict Arnold's Navy: The Story of the Rag Tag Fleet that Lost the Battle of Valcour Island and Won the American Revolution
Don N. Hagist – Redcoats Along the Mohawk: British Soldiers in Western New York, 1777-1783
Bruce M. Venter – Benedict Arnold's Nemesis: Colonel John Brown's Fateful Journey to the Mohawk Valley
Jennifer DeBruin – Traitors, Spies & Heroes: Loyalist Espionage in the American Revolution
Glenn F. Williams – Sir William Johnson, the Iroquois Confederacy and Lord Dunmore’s War
John Buchanan – Two Warriors: George Washington and Sir William Howe
Wayne Lenig – The Tryon County Committee of Safety
Panel Discussion - Patriot or Loyalist

Albany's Hidden City House & Garden Tour

Coming up in June is an interesting program, Albany's Hidden City House & Garden Tour. I have never attend this event but I hope to in the future. The event is sponsored by the Center Square Association, Hudson/Park Neighborhood Association and Historic Albany Foundation and will be held on Thursday, June 21 from 5-8 p.m.

Attendees are able to enter the homes and gardens of select homes for viewing on that night. Many of these gardens are "hidden" within the city; being located at private homes. This year's featured home is the 8,500 square foot Queen Anne style mansion known as the "The Castle." Located at 10 Thurlow Terrace above Washington Park.

Non-refundable tickets are available for $20 per person through June 15 and for $25 per person from June 16-21. 

Tickets can be purchased at 

Historic Albany Foundation

89 Lexington Avenue, Albany

or at Capital Wine 

348 State Street, Albany

The tour is rain or shine.

Upcoming NSDAR Grave Marking Ceremony

This article came to me via this week's Rensselaer County Advertiser newspaper.

NSDAR GRAVE MARKING  CEREMONY
The Fort Crailo Chapter NSDAR will be holding a Grave marking Ceremony to celebrate the Life and Revolutionary War service of Pvt. Absalom Townsend, who served in the 5th Regiment New York in the Revolutionary War, on Saturday, June 2, at 11am, in the Beverwyck Cemetery, Washington Ave., Rensselaer. A light reception will be held afterwards at the Rensselaer Public Library. Brunswick Boy Scout Troop 537 and musicians from Rensselaer High School will be participating in the Ceremony. Descendants of Absalom Townsend, representatives from the Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution will be in attendance. A musket salute will be held to honor Pvt. Townsend at the end of the Ceremony.
All are welcome to attend.

Upcoming Cemetery Ventures through HVCC and St. Agnes

There are two upcoming cemetery programs presented by St. Agnes Cemetery in June. The following information comes from the Summer catalog of Hudson Valley Community College's Community and Professional Education.


A Walk Through Time: Cool Facts about Grand Old Cemeteries
If you love old cemeteries and find them very interesting places to visit, this talk is for you. Cemetery historian and author of "These Sacred Grounds," Kelly Grimaldi, offers a presentation discussing the Rural Cemetery Movement featuring Historic St. Agnes Cemetery founded in 1867 and neighboring Albany Rural Cemetery incorporated in 1841. We will learn why rural cemeteries were founded, what early gravestones looked like and how funerary art and symbolism changed through the Victorian Era into the 20th century. Loaded with interesting photographs of gravestones and mausoleums, this PowerPoint presentation offers a lot of insight into why rural cemeteries look the way they do! Course fee includes $5 materials fee.
Center for Creative Retirement Trips, Tours and Off-Campus Classes: Directions and Additional Information
71180
$15
1 Session, St. Agnes Cemetery
Fri., 6/1, 11 a.m. - Noon

Kelly Grimaldi, Instructor

Art Appreciation Tour of a Victorian Era Cemetery and Lunch
Have you ever wondered why old cemeteries look the way they do? Perhaps you have pondered the meaning of gravestone carvings and styles. Do you know why we see monuments that look like ancient buildings or ruins? What can we learn from touring an old cemetery? We can learn plenty!

Join cemetery historian Kelly Grimaldi for a combination walking/driving tour of St. Agnes Cemetery and parts of Albany Rural Cemetery for a fun way to learn about monuments and symbolism as they relate to the study of art history. We will drive up to chosen areas and walk short distances to view magnificent works of funerary art in a peaceful, beautiful setting. Together we will explore sacred grounds in a leisurely manner. After the tour and a short break to refresh ourselves in the visitors center, we will gather high upon Founders Hill, overlooking the Hudson River valley, and enjoy a delicious catered lunch while comfortably seated at tables.

Meet your tour guide in the visitors center located in Historic St. Agnes Cemetery, 48 Cemetery Avenue, Menands at 10 a.m. for a fun and informational morning. Feel free to call (518) 350-7679 for more information. Course fee includes $15 materials fee.
Center for Creative Retirement Trips, Tours and Off-Campus Classes: Directions and Additional Information
71133
$25
1 Session, St. Agnes Cemetery
Tues., 6/12, 10 a.m. - noon
Lunch at 12:15
Kelly Grimaldi, Instructor

Lecture at the Hudson River Maritime Museum

The following information about an upcoming history program hosted by the New Netherland Institute came to me earlier in the week via an email.

Hudson River Maritime Museum  Hosts Sloop Design Author, Paul Fontenoy for Special Lecture

With Dutch Yacht Onrust As Part of Dutch Heritage Weekends

KINGSTON, N.Y. – The Hudson River Maritime Museum is pleased to announce a special lecture on Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 2:00 PM featuring Paul Fontenoy, author of Sloops of the Hudson River: A Historical and Design Survey.

In “The Evolution of Dutch Sloop Design,” Fontenoy will discuss how the unique Hudson River sloop evolved from the earliest Dutch sloeps and how the sloop changed lives in the Hudson River Valley. Lecture will conclude with discussion of the replica Dutch yacht Onrust in comparison to Hudson River sloops. The Onrust will be at the museum docks and will available for public deck tours.

Paul Fontenoy earned his B.A. and Ph.D. in History from the University of London (Kings College and Queen Mary College respectively) and an M.A. in Nautical Archaeology from East Carolina University. He has taught at New York University, Sophia University in Tokyo, and East Carolina University, and became Curator of Maritime Research and Technology for the North Carolina Maritime Museums in 1996, where he primarily is responsible for exhibit development. His principal research concentrations are on national and international naval and maritime technological developments between 1650 and 1950 and their societal impacts. He has written and presented extensively on these topics and is the author of five books (including Sloops of the Hudson River: A Historical and Design Study), several book translations, 100+ articles, chapters, and 20+ conference presentations.

Tickets are $10 for HRMM members (all levels) and $15 for non-members. Registration is available online at www.hrmm.org/store/c17/Special_Lectures.html.

This program is part of Dutch Heritage Weekends, a collaboration between the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area of the National Park Service, the Dutch Consulate, and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

About the Hudson River Maritime Museum. Located along the historic Rondout Creek in downtown Kingston, N.Y., the Hudson River Maritime Museum is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries, and related industries. HRMM opened the Riverport Wooden Boat School in 2016 and the Riverport Sailing School in 2017.

Contact:  

Ellie Burhans

Development & Communications Manager

eburhans@hrmm.org

845-338-0071 x 14

Pinkster Celebration at Fort Crailo

The following information about an upcoming ethnic event hosted by the Crailo State Historic Site came to me earlier today via an email.

On May 26, 2018, Crailo State Historic Site will host a Pinkster celebration featuring musical performances and educational experiences. Once a Dutch holiday commemorating Pentecost, Pinkster became a distinctly African American holiday in the Hudson River Valley during the colonial era. During the 17th and 18th centuries, enslaved and free African Americans transformed Pinkster from a Dutch religious observance into a spring festival and a celebration of African cultural traditions. All along the Hudson River and on Albany’s “Pinkster Hill” (the current site of the NYS Capitol), enslaved African Americans reunited with family and friends and celebrated Pinkster with storytelling, food, music, and dance. Other Pinkster traditions, like the selection of the Pinkster King, created opportunities for enslaved African Americans to honor respected members of the community and to subtly mock their white enslavers.

Please join us at Crailo State Historic Site in celebrating and commemorating the historic Pinkster holiday from 11 AM to 4 PM on May 26th. Festivities include presentations and demonstrations by The Children of Dahomey, an educational and performance group specializing in the historical experiences of enslaved Africans and African-Americans in colonial New York. Visitors can participate in The Children of Dahomey’s traditional Pinkster dances and theatrical demonstrations, and listen in on a storytelling session. The group TMI – Black Stories Matter will share stories that connect the past to the present. Melody Africa, a traditional dance and drum troupe will perform. Ensemble Congeros will share musical traditions from the African Diaspora, combining Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian music and tying new world rhythms to their African roots. In Crailo’s kitchen cellar, culinary historian and hearth cooking specialist Lavada Nahon will be preparing food over the open hearth and interpreting historic African and African-American foodways. Other family-friendly activities will include crafts, games, music, and refreshments. The museum will be open for self-guided tours of the historic rooms and exhibits, including the featured exhibit A Dishonorable Trade: Human Trafficking in the Dutch Atlantic World, currently on display in the upstairs galleries.

For more information please contact:

Crailo State Historic Site
9 ½ Riverside Avenue
Rensselaer, NY 12144

518.463.8738
https://www.facebook.com/CrailoStateHistoricSite/

Slingerland Vault Update

Much has happen since my last post about the Slingerland Vault in Slingerlands off New Scotland Road behind the former Mangia restaurant. In January the Town of Bethlehem has pledged to restore old Slingerland Family Burial Vault.

Last month a GoFundMe page was set up to defray the costs of restoring the vault. The page can be found here. Below are preliminary estimates for stabilizing and protecting the vault while retaining the vault’s historic character. These estimates do not include labor and materials provided by the Town.

$50,000 Rebuild stonework at front of vault
$10,000 Replacement of vault door (current door is beyond restoration)
$3,000 Replacement of vault identifying entablature
$10,000 Restoration of entrance (re-set pillars, replace chain, address drainage concerns)
$13,000 Installation of perimeter fence
$1,200 Historical marker
$25,000 Analyze and repair depression on top of vault
$112,200 Total

Another web site was recently created, The Slingerland Family Burial Vault was created and it details the progress of the vault restoration. The web site is very informative with a tab that holds numerous photos showing past and present work of the work in progress. Another tab offers a history of the Slingerland family. A donate tab is present that links directly to the GoFundMe page for this worthy project.

Please check out The Slingerland Family Burial Vault web page and consider donating to this long overdue project!

Stephentown Historical Society Ceremony

The following articles came to me today via the Rensselaer County newspaper, The Advertiser.

STEPHENTOWN HISTORICAL SOCIETY CEREMONY
The Stephentown Historical Society is holding a ceremony for the unveiling of a new historical marker on Saturday, May 19, at 2:00 p.m. The marker commemorates the original Methodist Episcopal Church building which been restored, beginning in 1988, by the Stephentown Historical Society as the Stephentown Heritage Center. The building is at 4 Staples Road at the corner of Garfield Road in Stephentown. The rain date is Sunday, May 20. All are invited to the ceremony and a reception afterward. The historic marker was given through the generosity of the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

NORTH GREENBUSH TOWN HISTORIAN DISCUSSION
Why are Wynantskill and Defreestville considered hamlets? What are hamlets? Jim Greenfield, the North Greenbush Town Historian, will discuss the naming and growth of these two areas from the 1600s to the 21st century at the next Greenbush Historical Society meeting. Join us Sunday, May 20th, 2PM, at the East Greenbush Library for a most informative and lively presentation by Jim. Learn about some interesting local characters; the West Point grad with adeep, dark secret, the man who was a friend of George Washington, the owner of what was Wynantskills' version of "Walmart." Country life could also be quite surprising - hear about the night that Wynantskil was "bombed," learn about "a murder most foul" and much more. All meetings are free and open to the public, but please register with the East Greenbush Library since seating is limited. For more information, call 518.477.7476. You might also enjoy our new website: www.greenbushhistoricalsociety.org