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See What's Going On At The Herkimer County Historical Society!

SUMMER HOURS: We will be opening on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. starting July 11 until the end of August. This is in addition to our regular open hours of Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.


UPCOMING PROGRAMS:


Our monthly programs are held on a weeknight at 7:00 p.m. in our Eckler Building, 406 N. Main Street, Herkimer, NY (unless otherwise noted), and are free to the public.

Thursday, October 22 @ 7:00 p.m. - The Haunting of Gelston Castle by Carl Lane - To Be held at the Old Herkimer County Courthouse on North Main Street in Herkimer. Come early at 6:30 p.m. to view the WUTR television program "The Haunting of Henderson House" before the program.


FUNDRAISERS:

For more information on any of these events, you can call the Historical Society at (315) 866-6413.

Thank you to everyone who supported our House Tour fundraiser in Van Hornesville on August 30 and our Wine Tasting fundraiser at the Octagon House in Newport on September 13. Between both fundraisers, we were able to raise $3,000 for the Historical Society.

Pictured standing in front of the Octagon House (left to right) are Tim Daly and Scott Vaughan, Society board members and owners of Ilion Wine & Spirits, sponsors of the event, Susan Perkins, Society director, Stephen and Roberta Walsh, Octagon House home owners, and Caryl Hopson, Society administrative assistant.

We have a Membership Drive coming up in October and a Bus Trip to New York City on December 5. Please continue to lend your support!

HOLIDAY BUS TRIP - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5
We will have 2 buses this year, both leaving from Herkimer at 7:00 a.m. One bus will drop people off at Macy's Department Store and the other bus will drop people off at Bryant Park, close to the Theatre District. We will be in the city until 6:00 p.m.

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL - We have a special price for the Bus Trip before October 31st for $55.00. After that date, the price will be $60.00. So, sign up early by calling us at (315) 866-6413 today!

 

 

SUITER MUSEUM BUILDING

Our Suiter Building museum is open to the public throughout the year, Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.-4;00 p.m. and during July and August (starting the second Saturday in July) on Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.


NEW EXHIBIT - ANDRUSTOWN MASSACRE

Our newest exhibit opened on May 20 on the Andrustown Massacre that took place on July 18, 1778. On that day, the families of Andrustown in the town of Warren were busy harvesting their crops when the calm was suddenly shattered by Indian war cries. Those families who were surprised first were killed and taken captive. Other residents fled to the nearby swamps and woods, eventually making their way to nearby Fort Herkimer. Those survivors of nearly all of these families returned and rebuilt their homes, and for many years the territory was owned by descendants of these pioneers. Come and read about their stories in our new exhibit.

The exhibit features family pictures and genealogy charts of the McCready and Swift families done by Lura Swift Provost, pictured on the far left, with Carol Bennett on the evening of the opening. These families descend from the Jacob Crim family, one of the original Andrustown settlers.

THE JOYCE KELLER DOLL HOUSE AND MINIATURE COLLECTION
is now on the second floor of our museum. It was previously housed in the old 1834 Jail when it was donated to the Historical Society in 1985. The collection features 7 houses and 20 room settings, created by Herkimer resident Joyce Keller. It is a popular attraction that can be enjoyed by everyone of all ages!

 


NEW ITEMS IN THE GIFT SHOP


THE BOOK IS HERE!!!!!

The pictorial book "Herkimer Village" is finally here! The book, authored by Susan Perkins and Caryl Hopson from the Herkimer County Historical Society, is published by Arcadia Books as part of their "Image of America" series.

The categories for our book are as follows: Historic Homes, Churches, Schools, Industry and Businesses, Transportation, Main Street Shots, Notable People, and Notable Events.

The book is $21.99. To place an order by mail, send a check to the Herkimer County Historical Society, 400 N. Main St., Herkimer, NY 13350 - and add 8.25% sales tax, plus shipping ($4.00 for 1-3 books, $6.00 for 5-8). Or, you can stop in at our Gift Shop, open Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
The picture featured is a 1948 snapshot of employees at the Munger's Department Store, one of seven that are featured in the book.

NEW BOOKS -

"Mohawk - Discovering the Valley of the Crystals" by M. Paul Keesler
Following years of personal exploration, research and interviews, Paul amassed and processed it all into this amazing book. It both entertains and enlightens the reader, taking them on a fascinating journey about the Mohawk Valley from the era of glaciers and prehistoric times, to Native Americans, to the arrival of explorers, settlers and trading, to the modern era. Paul passed away in 2005 just before the completion of his book. His family worked with North Country Books for its final publication. The cost of the book is $39.95.

"Oppenheim Chronicles - A Narrative History" by Hector J. Allen
The history of Oppenheim is much more than a simple local history volume. It is a well written and documented American history story based on the residents of a typical rural township, from wilderness frontier beginnings through the pains of the Civil War, the radical changes brought about by transportation innovations right up to the modern era. Hector Allen brings a lifetime of studying and teaching history, and interviewing many of the people who make the history, into these pages. The cost of the book is $38.00.

The Society's Gift Shop is open Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and is located in our Eckler Building, 406 N. Main St., Herkimer. To order by mail, please add 8.25% New York State sales tax and $4.00 for postage and handling and mail to: Herkimer County Historical Society, 400 N. Main St., Herkimer, NY 13350.

Annual Dinner Meeting - May 28 at Villa Isidoro

The Herkimer County Historical Society held our Annual Dinner meeting on May 28 at the Villa Isidoro Restuarant in the town of Warren with 32 people attending. An election of Board members was held with three new members being welcomed: John Brennan, of Little Falls, Debbie Crandall, of Herkimer, and Harry Enea III, of Little Falls. A special Thank You to our members who rotated off the Board this year: Kathy Crowe, Carol Dippolito, and Frank Spatto. Pictured are the Board members who attended the Annual Dinner meeting: seated (left to right) Jan McGraw, executive director Susan Perkins, Carolyn Canary, Donna Rubin; back (left to right) Harry Enea III, Garry Outtrim, Carol Dippolito, Tim Daly, Steve Knight, Scott Vaughan, and Jeff Steele.