The Cairo Historical Society will hold their monthly meeting on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00pm at the Cairo Public Library in the SOHO Room, unless otherwise posted

The monthly meeting dates for 2013 are as follows:

 

January 17
February 21
March 21
April 18
May 16
June 20
July 18
August 15
September 19
October 17
November 21
December 19
 

Everyone is welcome! Meetings are used to discuss new projects, updates on existing projects and present new items of interest. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the Town of Cairo and its rich history.

 

Minutes of Meetings:

Do you want to know what we discuss and the status of projects underway? Check back here on a monthly basis. Meeting minutes will be posted for everyone to review.

   

• 2009 Meeting Minutes

• 2010 Meeting Minutes

• 2011 Meeting Minutes

• 2012 Meeting Minutes

 

2013 Projects:

• Cairo Cemetery project - Phase 4 - Digitize Cairo Cemetery - Project Leader Sylvia Hasenkopf

• Cairo Schoolhouse Project - Phase 3  - Project Team Sylvia Hasenkopf and Robert Uzzilia

• Cairo Mountain RR Section - Project Leader Robert Uzzilia

• Susquehannah Turnpike Marker Enclosure - Project Leader Robert Uzzilia

• Publish the book - The Civil War Letters of Eseck G. Wilbur - Project Leader - Sylvia Hasenkopf

• Erect One Historical Marker - Project Leader - Sylvia Hasenkopf

• Complete remediation of the  one abandoned cemetery in the Town of Cairo - Project Leader - Sylvia Hasenkopf

• Launch Cairo Hometown Heroes Banner Program - Project Leader - Sylvia Hasenkopf

• Launch the Cairo Family Tree Program - Project Leader - Sylvia Hasenkopf

• Complete Phase 1 (Design and permitting) of the Cairo HQ Project and begin Phase 2 (Construction) - Project Lead - Sylvia Hasenkopf

• Begin work on new book on the Boarding Houses of the Town of Cairo - Project Leader - Sylvia Hasenkopf

2013 Calendar of Events:

State of the Union Dinner

February 23, 2013
Masonic Hall, Main St. Cairo
4:30pm to 7:30pm
Tickets are $18pp and $10 for children 10 and under
Choice roast beef or ham, with homemade mashed potatoes, gravy, silvered almond green beans, honey glazed carrots, salad, roll, slice of pie, coffee, tea or soda

 

Cairo Historical Society Annual Meeting 
April 18, 2013
7:00pm, Cairo Public Library, Railroad Ave, Cairo, NY

 

Coxsackie-Athens Community Band
May 5, 2013
3:00pm, Gallagher's Banquet Hall, 513 Main St., Cairo, NY

Under the direction of Ann Clapper, the Coxsackie-Athens Band will play "A Tribute to the American March"

This event is sponsored by the Cairo Historical Society.

 

Temperance & TommyGuns, a 1920's Street Festival
June 15, 2013

11am to 6pm, Main St. Cairo, NY

Join us and celebrate the simplicity of the 1920's. This down home street festival is all about having a good time. Vendors will sell their home made or homegrown products. There will be live entertainment reflecting the multicultural community of Cairo.  Plenty of things to do for the kids as well - petting zoo, face painting, baby wild animals. Demonstrations and many surprises! Free admission.

 

Movie Night - Presidents in our Backyard

July 20, 2013

7:00pm, Cairo Public Library, Railroad Ave, Cairo, NY

 

Archival Day

July 20, 2013
11:00 am - 3:00 pm Cairo Public Library, Railroad Ave, Cairo, NY

 

Case's Speakeasy, a 1920's Nightclub

September 28, 2013
7:00 pm - Midnight, Gallagher's Banquet Hall, 513 Main St., Cairo, NY
Join us for a roaring good time at Cairo's own 1920's nightclub. Listen to swinging sounds of a live band and dance the night away. Enjoy a full course buffet dinner with delicious appetizers! For ticket info call Hillary Higgins 518-622-0756.
 

The Civil War Letters of Eseck G. Wilber

October 19, 2013
2:00pm Cairo Public Library, Railroad Ave, Cairo, NY
Eseck G. Wilber was a farmer's son from Gayhead, when he signed up for a three year term during the Civil War. His letters, 70 of them, which he wrote to his parents back on the farm, detail the War, the camp conditions he had to endure, the losses he suffered. Eseck would eventually be captured and be imprisoned in the notorious Andersonville Prison in Georgia, where he died. Join Sylvia Hasenkopf as we talk about his journey and his life.

 

Charles L. Beach - the Man of the Catskill Mountain House

November 16, 2013
Time to be determined, Gallagher's Banquet Hall, 513 Main St., Cairo, NY
Join Joe Capobianco, as he transforms himself into Charles L. Beach, the man behind the success of the Catskill Mountain House, America's first resort hotel, which catered to famed actors and actresses, business tycoons, Presidents and Royalty.
$5 Admission charge
 

 

Items for Sale

 

Mail your cheque to:
Cairo Historical Society

PO Box 803
Cairo, NY

12413

 

Local pick up can be arranged at the Cairo Town Hall on Main St. Cairo.

 

For more information call Sylvia Hasenkopf 518/821-3752 or email her at esi@francomm.com

 

All proceeds go to supporting the Cairo Historical Society's projects.

 

Our Books on Local History:

 

1.           2.          3.  

1. Portrait of the Past - A photographic journey into Cairo's Past. $15.00 plus $2.00 shipping and handling

2. Legs Diamond, Gangster by Patrick E. Downey - Brand New in 2012 - This extremely well researched book on the legendary "Legs Diamond" is a must read. Hard to put down with many new, previously unpublished facts about his life and times. $19.95 plus $3.50 shipping and handling       

3. Historic Places in Greene County by the Greene County Historical Society - This truly amazing hardcover book has 276 pages of breathtaking historic images and contemporary photos of historic places and homes in Greene County. Each designated site has detailed histories. Published by Flint Mine Press. The book is 9 inches by 12 inches. Price $49.95 plus shipping.

 

Our DVD's on Local History:

1.          2.         3.        4.     

5.         6.          

1. William Kennedy's Prohibition Story - New in 2011 - Master storyteller and Pulitzer Prize winning author William Kennedy recounts the fascinating and violent exploits of gangster-bootlegger Jack "Legs" Diamond during the Prohibition Era. $19.95 plus $2.00 shipping and handling.

2. The New York Capitol Fire - New in 2011 - On the morning of March 29th 1911 a massive fire ripped through the New York State Capitol - a building that had taken 30 years to complete. This documentary incorporates stunning photographic images, dramatic reenactments and interviews to unravel the mysteries of the fire's origin, spread and aftermath. Cost is $19.95 and $2.00 shipping and handling.

3. Sweet Violets - New in 2012 - The surprising story of the Violet Capital of the World - Rhinebeck, New York. Sweet Violets tells the forgotten story of the violet industry in the Hudson Valley region of New York State. The documentary includes interviews with historians and violet growers, along with rare film footage, vintage photographs, 19th century music, postcards, poetry and art. Cost is $19.95 and $2.00 shipping and handling.

4. Catskill Mountain House and the World Around  - New in 2010. Tobe Carey's masterful documentary of the Catskill Mountain House and its impact on local and national history. A must see for local history enthusiasts! Cost is $19.95 and $2.00 for shipping and handling.

5. Deep Water: Building the Catskill Water System - Deep Water chronicles the true story of the building of the Catskill Water System that feeds New York City's insatiable thirst for clean water. It is the tale of heroism and heartbreak, political maneuvering, lost villages, brilliant engineering and the power struggle between New York City and the Catskills. Cost is $19.95 and $2.00 shipping and handling.

6. Greene County, USA - Greene County, USA chronicles the growth of this unique county and the great number of "historic firsts" made by its inhabitants. From early flint mines of prehistoric times to the tensions of the Revolutionary War that resulted in kidnappings and murder, to Greene County inventions of national importance, this documentary will educate, entertain and delight audiences of all ages. Cost is $19.95  and $2.00 shipping and handling.

Other items on Local History:

The Cairo Historical Society's first Cairo Herald 2011, a four page re-creation of Cairo's own newspaper. Articles, pictures and advertisements are from the Prohibition Era. Cost is $2.00 for local pickup and $3.00 to mail. A collector's item.

The 8 page second edition of the Cairo Herald 2012 is now available for sale. Chock full of entertaining tidbits, newspaper articles, advertising and pictures from Cairo's Prohibition Era. Cost is $2.00 for local pickup and $3.00 to mail. A collector's item.

 

Get your own Temperance and TommyGuns T-Shirt. Black with white lettering and white with black lettering. Sizes M, L, XL, XXL. $15.00 each tshirt plus shipping. Above is the logo which appears on the back of the Tshirt. The front has a Cairo, NY on the left breast area.

 

Town of Cairo Blanket Throw - A beautiful 50 inch by 70 inch blanket throw. Ideal for covering up while watching TV or reading. Manufactured in the USA. Depicted on the throw are iconic scenes from the Town of Cairo - the WW 1 Memorial fountain in Town, the Almshouse, the Greene County Fairgrounds, Shingle Kill Falls and Grist mill and many others. A must have! Cost is $55 plus $12.00 shipping.

 

   

Town of Cairo Baseball Cap - In six different colors - blue, green, brown, black, white and wheat. Only $15 per hat plus $4.00 shipping. Pick up available at the Cairo Town Hall.

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