http://sandlakehistory.org

Sand Lake Historical Society

About us | Meetings and Events | Past Programs
Historical Highlights (newsletter features)
Bylaws | Links | Join/Renew | Contact us

More information on this and other publications....

Click on the image above to read more about these historical markers!

The Sand Lake Historical Society's course of action is to be involved in the community, thereby promoting the appreciation of the area's unique place in Rensselaer County and New York State history. Educational community projects that the Society has sponsored include:

• Memorial Awards given annually to two outstanding graduates of Averill Park High School excelling in history
• Historic house plaques
• Historical markers
• Local historic house tours
• Assistance in house dating and genealogical studies
• Promotion of publications relative to the Town of Sand Lake and surrounding areas
• Reference library (housed at the Sand Lake Town Library).

In order to continue these informative and historically relevant projects, the Sand Lake Historical Society holds fundraising events. They include:

• Sale of our publications
• Community functions such as raffles and appraisal days.

Meetings are usually held the second Tuesday of each month, beginning at 7:30 p.m., at the Sand Lake Baptist Church, 2960 State Route 43 opposite the Averill Park Post Office. Schedule of upcoming meetings | list of past programs

You can become a member by filling out the membership application. Membership fee is $10.00 per year for individuals, $3.00 for students ages 13-22, $15.00 for family membership, running from June 1-May 31. Lifetime Individual ($100) or Lifetime Family ( two persons – $150) memberships are also available.

Benefits of membership include:

• Historically informative monthly meetings
• Copies of Historical Highlights, newsletter of the Society
• Field trips
• Annual dinner

There is an extensive addition to the Town Historian’s and Sand Lake Historical Society’s exhibits of the Rensselaer Glass Works. Donald Carpentier of Eastfield Village has brought many items from his collection, currently on display in the Town Hall. A door from the Packing House has various stenciled company names and a brand made with the Rensselaer Glass branding iron.

Other memorabilia include a box marked “Rensselaer Glass” to hold 10x14 lites or panes of cylinder glass, an early wrought iron blow pipe, an original crate of Dr. William Evans medicine bottles, a letter from the Glass Factory to Dr. Townsend with a piece of his sarsaparilla bottle, an 1846 assessment roll of the Town of Sand Lake and several of the many other items produced by the Glass Works. Additional books and items from Carpentier’s collection are in the Town Library display case.

Persons are welcome to view these exhibits in recognition of our Town’s Bicentennial year during Town Hall and Town Library office hours.