Oct. 3, 2017 Minutes
The regular meeting of the Knox Historical Society was called to order at 7:08 p.m. by President Dennis Barber. Members present were Nancy Frueh, Kathleen Putzig, Anna Wolfe, Anna Lefkaditis, Elly Czebiniak, Ray Hand, Jayson Romanczuk and Zenie Gladieux.
Kathleen read the minutes from the September meeting. Hearing no additions or corrections, the minutes were accepted as read. Dennis would like to dispense with reading the minutes, and will be drafting a letter to recommend this be amended in our bylaws.
Anna Wolfe read the Treasurer’s report. KHS has $1000.07 in checking and $3548.34 in savings, for a grand total of $4548.41.
Correspondence was received: New Scotland Historical Society Newsletter, Guilderland Historical Society Newsletter, and Spindle City Historical Society Newsletter (Cohoes).
Old Business: The painting of the manor house was given by Mr. Williams to the Rensselaer County Historical Society. He suggested that they let us borrow it some time, since we were also interested.
The Ben Franklin program at the school was a success. Mr. Lemire, the social studies teacher from Berne who attended, wants to have the students do a presentation on historical figures in the spring, with the help of KHS. Nancy suggested we consider June 1st, a Friday on which there is nothing scheduled on the Berne-Knox-Westerlo calendar. This would be after sports finish for the spring, and before final exams and Regents begin. She will follow up.
We have confirmation that we can use the new town sign and move our sign for the Saddlemire Homestead so it doesn’t block the new sign.
Anna Wolfe and Anna Lefkaditis will close up the Homestead for the winter.
Zenie is offering KHS some antiques for a bathroom display, including a wash stand, towels, bath set, basin, pitcher, and a covered toilet. She also has a couple of monogrammed napkins from the Wolfords, and a couple of candlestick holders.
Dennis has pictures, documents and files from Fred Oettinger, donated after his recent passing, by his family. He had the pictures enlarged. Everything is in the museum, and ready to be accessioned.
There is no meeting in November because it is election night.
There was a newspaper article about a video game invented in the 1970s on eBay that may be connected to Knox, but we don’t have confirmation. It is a digital game called DinoBlast, and may have been invented by a Knox resident. Nancy will write to the family and ask for more information.
The next meeting of the Regional Historical Summit will be held November 4, 2017 at the Rensselaerville Library at 10 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Putzig, Secretary
Kathleen read the minutes from the September meeting. Hearing no additions or corrections, the minutes were accepted as read. Dennis would like to dispense with reading the minutes, and will be drafting a letter to recommend this be amended in our bylaws.
Anna Wolfe read the Treasurer’s report. KHS has $1000.07 in checking and $3548.34 in savings, for a grand total of $4548.41.
Correspondence was received: New Scotland Historical Society Newsletter, Guilderland Historical Society Newsletter, and Spindle City Historical Society Newsletter (Cohoes).
Old Business: The painting of the manor house was given by Mr. Williams to the Rensselaer County Historical Society. He suggested that they let us borrow it some time, since we were also interested.
The Ben Franklin program at the school was a success. Mr. Lemire, the social studies teacher from Berne who attended, wants to have the students do a presentation on historical figures in the spring, with the help of KHS. Nancy suggested we consider June 1st, a Friday on which there is nothing scheduled on the Berne-Knox-Westerlo calendar. This would be after sports finish for the spring, and before final exams and Regents begin. She will follow up.
We have confirmation that we can use the new town sign and move our sign for the Saddlemire Homestead so it doesn’t block the new sign.
Anna Wolfe and Anna Lefkaditis will close up the Homestead for the winter.
Zenie is offering KHS some antiques for a bathroom display, including a wash stand, towels, bath set, basin, pitcher, and a covered toilet. She also has a couple of monogrammed napkins from the Wolfords, and a couple of candlestick holders.
Dennis has pictures, documents and files from Fred Oettinger, donated after his recent passing, by his family. He had the pictures enlarged. Everything is in the museum, and ready to be accessioned.
There is no meeting in November because it is election night.
There was a newspaper article about a video game invented in the 1970s on eBay that may be connected to Knox, but we don’t have confirmation. It is a digital game called DinoBlast, and may have been invented by a Knox resident. Nancy will write to the family and ask for more information.
The next meeting of the Regional Historical Summit will be held November 4, 2017 at the Rensselaerville Library at 10 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Putzig, Secretary
Sept. 5, 2017 minutes
The Regular meeting of the Knox Historical Society was called to order at 7:06 p.m. by President Dennis Barber. Members present were Donna Gwin, Sue Miner, Bill Donato, Dennis Barber, Elly Czabiniak, Anna Wolfe, Anna Lefkaditis, Nancy Frueh, Kathleen Putzig, Ray Hand. Nancy Frueh read the meeting minutes from the August meeting. Hearing no additions or corrections, the minutes were accepted as read.
Anna Wolfe gave the Treasurer’s report showing $937.50 in the checking account and $3548.05 in the savings account, for a total of $4485.55.
Correspondence was received as following:
1) Eastern Mutual Insurance Company Bill for $147.81 and Policy attached.
2) Postcard from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation regarding obtaining grants for historic markers. Apply online now at WGPfoundation.org. Deadlines for our region:
a. Letter of intent – Sept 15, 2017
b. Final Application – October 2, 2017
c. Questions? Call Christy @315-913-4060 or [email protected]
d. Friday, October 6, 2017 at 7 p.m. at 978 County Route 1, Westerlo, NY
e. Please RSVP by Sept. 22nd to: 518-797-3511 Leave a message.
3) Sent in HHA registration for Farm and Artisan Tour 9/17/17.
Old Business:
Elly has created official KHS letterhead. She will send us information on how to add to the letterhead to create correspondence. Nancy suggested we add the tax id # to the bottom right of letters we send out, and that we put parentheses around the “3” in 501(c)(3). Nancy made a motion that we accept the letterhead with corrections. Dennis seconded, and the motion carried.
Donna asked whether we wanted to put old display photos (Stevens and Driscoll) into a scrap book, or keep them in the frames. We can put more than one group into the same scrap book, with dividers between them. Donna put two of the chevrons on the sleeves of Dan’s military jacket. There is one extra chevron, which she will pin inside the jacket until we find out where the extra should go.
Donna had the Grange records from Kathy Ouimet. She gave them back to the Chamberlains. They may make copies and donate the originals to us in the future.
Donna has the cassette tape of the interview with Paula and Ray Shafer about the limekilns. She will contact Paula to ask if a transcript was made of the interview. If not, she will try to work on that over this coming winter.
Anna asked about the painting we were offered of the Van Rensselaer manor. Further research found that the manor was on the correct side of the river, on the west side, in what is now Watervliet, and was most likely where rents were paid before the Anti Rent War. In the 1870s the manor was abandoned because it was no longer in the country and there was a railroad nearby. In 1895 the manor was dismantled and partly reassembled on the grounds of Williams College. The two octagon shaped additions that were there in the late 1800s were not included when it was reassembled. In the 1950s, the painting was done. The painting includes the octagon shaped additions that were there originally. The building was important to all the Hilltowns, but was offered to Knox. Most of the rents were in Berne and Knox. Mr. Williams, who owns the painting, had a professional appraisal done, which said it was valued at $3600. The painting may no longer be available, but we want to reply to the owner saying that we are still interested in accepting the painting. We haven’t decided what we want to do with the painting, but we may put it in Town Hall as a display first.
Nancy has written a letter saying we would like to accept the painting as an unrestricted gift. Our members had voted to accept the painting at the August meeting.
HHA is having their historical summit on Saturday, September 9 from 9-12. Dennis will get the food items and deliver them. He will contact Zenie Gladieux for more information, and to confirm that the meeting is still planned.
The Great Aunt Nellie program was extremely well received, and photos are on the website.
New Business: The Ben Franklin reenactment is coming up Sept 22. We need lots of help, and please invite friends and family. Last year we served over 100 people. Think of small and neat finger foods. Dennis will bring items from the Saddlemire Homestead to sell, and Anna Wolfe will bring a cash box. Arrive at 6:30, and the reenactment starts at 7.
HHA Tour is the weekend of Sept. 15 – 17. We will have the Homestead open on Sunday from 12-2. Bill can be there from 10 – 12 on Saturday and also Sunday 12 – 2. Dennis will help on Sunday from 12 – 2. Donna can be available from 2-4, if we want to extend the opening. The artists will be on the porch to sell items, but we don’t have to have the Homestead open on Saturday. The artists will hand out our programs about the Ben Franklin program.
Ray has a photograph that John Elberfeld noticed on eBay. It is a 1975 photo of Dr. Shirley Gage on Gage Farm with most of the 39 Vietnamese refugees whom she invited to live on her farm after the war. Ray bid and won the photo. He had it scanned at Corner Gateway, and put them on a CD. He is presenting the original photo and the scans on CD to KHS as a gift to be accessioned. Bill made a motion and Elly seconded it, that we accept the gift. The motion passed.
Dennis found some un-accessioned items at the museum in August. Four are scrapbooks and one is a photo album of tintypes. One is a ledger, possibly from a doctor. Kathleen had taken photos to digitalize the clippings in two of the scrap books. She took the tintype album to get them digitalized. There were papers inside with names of who was in the photos. They were photos of the Clow, Dennison and Gibbs families of Knox. Dennis also found old deeds, and calendars from the 1970s and 80s from the Reformed church and Sy Stevens in Knox. Sandy Quay gave Dennis items from Elmer Becker. No action was taken to accession these items, since nothing is known about them at this time. Perhaps there is some reference to them in old meeting minutes, should anyone have the time and interest to peruse them.
Elly noticed that Jack McEneny is on our member list. She thought he might be a good resource to speak about some aspect of the Anti Rent Wars. Nancy suggested Bruce Kennedy might be willing to come back to do a program. We might find a reenactor for Women’s Suffrage. Penny Shaw wrote a play about the Dietz Massacre, part of the Anti-Rent Wars, that perhaps we could sponsor. We need to coordinate with the Fire Dept to do a historical program for their 70th anniversary.
We need to take down our sign this fall. Dennis will double check that we are included in using the new Knox sign, or else we might need to put our sign back up.
Hearing no other new business, President Barber adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Putzig
Anna Wolfe gave the Treasurer’s report showing $937.50 in the checking account and $3548.05 in the savings account, for a total of $4485.55.
Correspondence was received as following:
1) Eastern Mutual Insurance Company Bill for $147.81 and Policy attached.
2) Postcard from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation regarding obtaining grants for historic markers. Apply online now at WGPfoundation.org. Deadlines for our region:
a. Letter of intent – Sept 15, 2017
b. Final Application – October 2, 2017
c. Questions? Call Christy @315-913-4060 or [email protected]
d. Friday, October 6, 2017 at 7 p.m. at 978 County Route 1, Westerlo, NY
e. Please RSVP by Sept. 22nd to: 518-797-3511 Leave a message.
3) Sent in HHA registration for Farm and Artisan Tour 9/17/17.
Old Business:
Elly has created official KHS letterhead. She will send us information on how to add to the letterhead to create correspondence. Nancy suggested we add the tax id # to the bottom right of letters we send out, and that we put parentheses around the “3” in 501(c)(3). Nancy made a motion that we accept the letterhead with corrections. Dennis seconded, and the motion carried.
Donna asked whether we wanted to put old display photos (Stevens and Driscoll) into a scrap book, or keep them in the frames. We can put more than one group into the same scrap book, with dividers between them. Donna put two of the chevrons on the sleeves of Dan’s military jacket. There is one extra chevron, which she will pin inside the jacket until we find out where the extra should go.
Donna had the Grange records from Kathy Ouimet. She gave them back to the Chamberlains. They may make copies and donate the originals to us in the future.
Donna has the cassette tape of the interview with Paula and Ray Shafer about the limekilns. She will contact Paula to ask if a transcript was made of the interview. If not, she will try to work on that over this coming winter.
Anna asked about the painting we were offered of the Van Rensselaer manor. Further research found that the manor was on the correct side of the river, on the west side, in what is now Watervliet, and was most likely where rents were paid before the Anti Rent War. In the 1870s the manor was abandoned because it was no longer in the country and there was a railroad nearby. In 1895 the manor was dismantled and partly reassembled on the grounds of Williams College. The two octagon shaped additions that were there in the late 1800s were not included when it was reassembled. In the 1950s, the painting was done. The painting includes the octagon shaped additions that were there originally. The building was important to all the Hilltowns, but was offered to Knox. Most of the rents were in Berne and Knox. Mr. Williams, who owns the painting, had a professional appraisal done, which said it was valued at $3600. The painting may no longer be available, but we want to reply to the owner saying that we are still interested in accepting the painting. We haven’t decided what we want to do with the painting, but we may put it in Town Hall as a display first.
Nancy has written a letter saying we would like to accept the painting as an unrestricted gift. Our members had voted to accept the painting at the August meeting.
HHA is having their historical summit on Saturday, September 9 from 9-12. Dennis will get the food items and deliver them. He will contact Zenie Gladieux for more information, and to confirm that the meeting is still planned.
The Great Aunt Nellie program was extremely well received, and photos are on the website.
New Business: The Ben Franklin reenactment is coming up Sept 22. We need lots of help, and please invite friends and family. Last year we served over 100 people. Think of small and neat finger foods. Dennis will bring items from the Saddlemire Homestead to sell, and Anna Wolfe will bring a cash box. Arrive at 6:30, and the reenactment starts at 7.
HHA Tour is the weekend of Sept. 15 – 17. We will have the Homestead open on Sunday from 12-2. Bill can be there from 10 – 12 on Saturday and also Sunday 12 – 2. Dennis will help on Sunday from 12 – 2. Donna can be available from 2-4, if we want to extend the opening. The artists will be on the porch to sell items, but we don’t have to have the Homestead open on Saturday. The artists will hand out our programs about the Ben Franklin program.
Ray has a photograph that John Elberfeld noticed on eBay. It is a 1975 photo of Dr. Shirley Gage on Gage Farm with most of the 39 Vietnamese refugees whom she invited to live on her farm after the war. Ray bid and won the photo. He had it scanned at Corner Gateway, and put them on a CD. He is presenting the original photo and the scans on CD to KHS as a gift to be accessioned. Bill made a motion and Elly seconded it, that we accept the gift. The motion passed.
Dennis found some un-accessioned items at the museum in August. Four are scrapbooks and one is a photo album of tintypes. One is a ledger, possibly from a doctor. Kathleen had taken photos to digitalize the clippings in two of the scrap books. She took the tintype album to get them digitalized. There were papers inside with names of who was in the photos. They were photos of the Clow, Dennison and Gibbs families of Knox. Dennis also found old deeds, and calendars from the 1970s and 80s from the Reformed church and Sy Stevens in Knox. Sandy Quay gave Dennis items from Elmer Becker. No action was taken to accession these items, since nothing is known about them at this time. Perhaps there is some reference to them in old meeting minutes, should anyone have the time and interest to peruse them.
Elly noticed that Jack McEneny is on our member list. She thought he might be a good resource to speak about some aspect of the Anti Rent Wars. Nancy suggested Bruce Kennedy might be willing to come back to do a program. We might find a reenactor for Women’s Suffrage. Penny Shaw wrote a play about the Dietz Massacre, part of the Anti-Rent Wars, that perhaps we could sponsor. We need to coordinate with the Fire Dept to do a historical program for their 70th anniversary.
We need to take down our sign this fall. Dennis will double check that we are included in using the new Knox sign, or else we might need to put our sign back up.
Hearing no other new business, President Barber adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Putzig
Aug. 1, 2017 minutes
The regular meeting of the Knox Historical Society was called to order on Tuesday, August 1 at 7:05 pm by President, Dennis Barber. Members present were Nancy Frueh, Anna Lefkaditis, Anna Wolfe, Elly Czebiniak, Bill Donato, Donna Gwin, and Ray Hand.
In the absence of the secretary, President Dennis read the minutes of the last meeting. Several corrections were requested:
Add Donna Gwin with Anna Wolfe for helping with the farming photos display
Correct the locations mentioned for the Civil War letters from the Peck Family: they were from Moravia in Cayuga County, NY.
The information in the HHA meeting reports is still unclear
The minutes will stand approved as corrected, once the corrections are made.
Anna Wolfe gave the treasurer’s report, showing $997.31 in the checking account and $3547.75 in the savings account for total assets of $4545.06.
Correspondence was received from the following:
1)-Westerlo Historical Society postcard, Save the date Friday, October 6, 2017, 7pm Grand Opening of Town of Westerlo Heritage Museum
2) Letter from David A Williams, 83 Emery Hill Road, Johnson, Vermont 05656 regarding a painting of the Van Rensselaer Manor House, a 40” x 60” oil on panel painting by David Cunningham Lithgow depicts the Van Rensselaer Manor House as it appeared at Albany, New York in the early to mid-18th century.
His phone number is 802-635-7044. Enclosed with the letter is an appraisal of the painting done by Barbara J. Sussman Appraisals, Fine Arts, done 2/6/2014. (One main street, Hoosick Falls, NY 12090, 518-205-5204 )
3) Letter from the Department of the Treasury informing us that we may be required to file a Form 990-N
4) Art Conservator magazine Summer 2017 edition
5) SEFCU magazine Money clips
6) BKW Central School District newsletter
Nancy moved that we accept the offer of the painting as an unrestricted gift, not to be accessioned. Seconded by Anna Lefkaditis. Carried. Anna Wolfe will attempt to draft an acceptance letter.
Elly Czebiniak offered to create a thank you letter for donations to KHS now that we are a 501(c)(3).
Elly will also work on creating letter head for us.
Old Business: Donna contacted Mrs. Driscoll and learned that we have all of the information she had concerning the lime kilns. Anything she had was in the box of stuff that Anna Wolfe is now inventorying. There is a possibility that Paula Shafer has a map of the known lime kilns.
Maureen Driscoll made good on her promise to send the patches for Dan’s uniform that she had previously donated. Donna will attach them to the uniform.
The kitchen items that Dennis donated have now been accessioned and can be displayed in the Homestead.
Anna Lefkaditis donated the color printing of the driving tours for the Homestead.
Vas has the plexiglass that he will cut to prevent our driving tours from drooping in our display in Town Hall.
Dennis received a copy of a general liability insurance policy in the mail. Nancy reminded us that John Elberfeld had done a great deal of research on our policy and determined that our current policy was a good one.
Dennis reported that he sent a letter to the editor of the Altamont Enterprise advertising that the Homestead will be open from noon to 2 pm during the month of August. We had no visitors in July, probably due to the fact that there was no publicity.
Dennis reported that the June program, Farming in Knox: Past, Present, and Future, was a great success, and we are grateful to Ken Saddlmire for his excellent presentation.
Dennis reminded us all to be watching for grants that we might be able to use.
Kathy Ouimet returned the grange records to Donna. Donna will try to contact Eric, the owner of the records, to see if he will give them to the historical society. Nancy would still like to see us present some sort of program on the Grange, but so far has not been able to craft a program from them.
Donna will get a scrapbook to store the pictures from our photo displays so we can reuse the frames. We should be thinking about the next exhibit to display in Town Hall.
New Business:
Elly Czebiniak, a Town of Knox resident and new member of KHS, sang at Carnegie Hall and Troy Savings Bank Music Hall recently as part of the Jubilate Singers celebrating the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s Reformation. She offered copies of the programs, her ticket, and an explanation of the choir and its music to KHS. She marked her name in the programs. Anna Lefkaditis moved that we accession the items and Donna seconded it. The motion carried. The items will be displayed in a notebook in the Reading Room. Elly will try to get us a copy of the recording of the Troy performance.
Anna Lefkaditis will look for a small CD player with built-in speakers for the museum.
Anna Wolfe reserved Town Hall from 9 to noon on September 9 for the HHA Historical Summit meeting. Dennis will make arrangements for the refreshments.
Dennis will send a sympathy card to the family of Fred Oettinger on behalf of KHS. Fred was a founding member of the Knox Historical Society.
Nancy reported that our blacksmith, Bethlehem Forge, had a wonderful time at the Pucker Street Fair and is willing to come back any time we want him. He arrived earlier than anticipated and set up in the park near the sheriff’s booth, rather than at the Homestead, as planned.
Nancy announced that program topics for 2018 are the Anti-rent Wars, in cooperation with the HHA historical summit; the 75th anniversary of the Knox Fire Department; and Woman’s Suffrage. Hopefully, the suffrage program will provide an opportunity to display the voting machine we have stored in Town Hall. Dan Driscoll had reinforced the floor in the main room of the Homestead to support the voting machine.
Final details for our August 12th program, “A Week in the Life of Great Aunt Nellie” were discussed. Anna L will make homemade bread and butter for refreshments. Zenie Gladieux will provide homemade jams and jellies. Elly will hide a bread machine baking bread in the back room to provide sensory ambiance. Nancy will narrate the program and Anna L will play Great Aunt Nellie. Dennis and Bill offered the use of their flat irons, since the one in the museum has no handle.
An idea was presented to consider hosting some sort of heritage program during our bicentennial year, trying to involve the whole town.
Hearing no other new business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Frueh, Vice-president
In the absence of the secretary, President Dennis read the minutes of the last meeting. Several corrections were requested:
Add Donna Gwin with Anna Wolfe for helping with the farming photos display
Correct the locations mentioned for the Civil War letters from the Peck Family: they were from Moravia in Cayuga County, NY.
The information in the HHA meeting reports is still unclear
The minutes will stand approved as corrected, once the corrections are made.
Anna Wolfe gave the treasurer’s report, showing $997.31 in the checking account and $3547.75 in the savings account for total assets of $4545.06.
Correspondence was received from the following:
1)-Westerlo Historical Society postcard, Save the date Friday, October 6, 2017, 7pm Grand Opening of Town of Westerlo Heritage Museum
2) Letter from David A Williams, 83 Emery Hill Road, Johnson, Vermont 05656 regarding a painting of the Van Rensselaer Manor House, a 40” x 60” oil on panel painting by David Cunningham Lithgow depicts the Van Rensselaer Manor House as it appeared at Albany, New York in the early to mid-18th century.
His phone number is 802-635-7044. Enclosed with the letter is an appraisal of the painting done by Barbara J. Sussman Appraisals, Fine Arts, done 2/6/2014. (One main street, Hoosick Falls, NY 12090, 518-205-5204 )
3) Letter from the Department of the Treasury informing us that we may be required to file a Form 990-N
4) Art Conservator magazine Summer 2017 edition
5) SEFCU magazine Money clips
6) BKW Central School District newsletter
Nancy moved that we accept the offer of the painting as an unrestricted gift, not to be accessioned. Seconded by Anna Lefkaditis. Carried. Anna Wolfe will attempt to draft an acceptance letter.
Elly Czebiniak offered to create a thank you letter for donations to KHS now that we are a 501(c)(3).
Elly will also work on creating letter head for us.
Old Business: Donna contacted Mrs. Driscoll and learned that we have all of the information she had concerning the lime kilns. Anything she had was in the box of stuff that Anna Wolfe is now inventorying. There is a possibility that Paula Shafer has a map of the known lime kilns.
Maureen Driscoll made good on her promise to send the patches for Dan’s uniform that she had previously donated. Donna will attach them to the uniform.
The kitchen items that Dennis donated have now been accessioned and can be displayed in the Homestead.
Anna Lefkaditis donated the color printing of the driving tours for the Homestead.
Vas has the plexiglass that he will cut to prevent our driving tours from drooping in our display in Town Hall.
Dennis received a copy of a general liability insurance policy in the mail. Nancy reminded us that John Elberfeld had done a great deal of research on our policy and determined that our current policy was a good one.
Dennis reported that he sent a letter to the editor of the Altamont Enterprise advertising that the Homestead will be open from noon to 2 pm during the month of August. We had no visitors in July, probably due to the fact that there was no publicity.
Dennis reported that the June program, Farming in Knox: Past, Present, and Future, was a great success, and we are grateful to Ken Saddlmire for his excellent presentation.
Dennis reminded us all to be watching for grants that we might be able to use.
Kathy Ouimet returned the grange records to Donna. Donna will try to contact Eric, the owner of the records, to see if he will give them to the historical society. Nancy would still like to see us present some sort of program on the Grange, but so far has not been able to craft a program from them.
Donna will get a scrapbook to store the pictures from our photo displays so we can reuse the frames. We should be thinking about the next exhibit to display in Town Hall.
New Business:
Elly Czebiniak, a Town of Knox resident and new member of KHS, sang at Carnegie Hall and Troy Savings Bank Music Hall recently as part of the Jubilate Singers celebrating the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s Reformation. She offered copies of the programs, her ticket, and an explanation of the choir and its music to KHS. She marked her name in the programs. Anna Lefkaditis moved that we accession the items and Donna seconded it. The motion carried. The items will be displayed in a notebook in the Reading Room. Elly will try to get us a copy of the recording of the Troy performance.
Anna Lefkaditis will look for a small CD player with built-in speakers for the museum.
Anna Wolfe reserved Town Hall from 9 to noon on September 9 for the HHA Historical Summit meeting. Dennis will make arrangements for the refreshments.
Dennis will send a sympathy card to the family of Fred Oettinger on behalf of KHS. Fred was a founding member of the Knox Historical Society.
Nancy reported that our blacksmith, Bethlehem Forge, had a wonderful time at the Pucker Street Fair and is willing to come back any time we want him. He arrived earlier than anticipated and set up in the park near the sheriff’s booth, rather than at the Homestead, as planned.
Nancy announced that program topics for 2018 are the Anti-rent Wars, in cooperation with the HHA historical summit; the 75th anniversary of the Knox Fire Department; and Woman’s Suffrage. Hopefully, the suffrage program will provide an opportunity to display the voting machine we have stored in Town Hall. Dan Driscoll had reinforced the floor in the main room of the Homestead to support the voting machine.
Final details for our August 12th program, “A Week in the Life of Great Aunt Nellie” were discussed. Anna L will make homemade bread and butter for refreshments. Zenie Gladieux will provide homemade jams and jellies. Elly will hide a bread machine baking bread in the back room to provide sensory ambiance. Nancy will narrate the program and Anna L will play Great Aunt Nellie. Dennis and Bill offered the use of their flat irons, since the one in the museum has no handle.
An idea was presented to consider hosting some sort of heritage program during our bicentennial year, trying to involve the whole town.
Hearing no other new business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Frueh, Vice-president
June 6, 2017 minutes
Dennis Barber called the meeting to order on June 6, 2017 at 7:07 p.m. Members present were Donna Gwin, Ray Hand, Nancy Frueh, Anna Lefkiditis, Anna Wolfe, Kathleen Putzig and Bill Donato. Dennis introduced new member Elly Czebiniak, who came to the Homestead Museum on Memorial Day and was excited to join. She brought a Knox Hat box, from NYC, and we told her about the confusion with Knox in Albany and Knox in NYC. She is very interested in history, and we are happy she wants to join KHS.
Secretary Kathleen Putzig read the meeting minutes from May 2017. Hearing no connections, the minutes stand as read.
Ann W. gave the treasurer’s report. Our total bank assets are $4542.03. Nancy submitted a bill for the schedules for 2017. A motion to accept the report was made by Donna and seconded by Bill. The motion passed.
Correspondence. KHS got a cassette tape of a Lime Kiln-related interview by Dan Driscoll with Ray Shafer. Deb Driscoll gave it to us. She lives in Oregon. Donna suggested we have it accessioned. Donna will follow up with Maureen to ask if it has been transcribed, and whether she has more information about it before we proceed. Dennis will hang on to it for now. Someone needs to sign the accession form also. Nancy suggested Maureen or Paula Shafer might be willing to sign. We got a letter from the IRS that we are a 501 (c) (3), effective May 10, 2017. We need to submit a form annually in April to keep it active. If no form is sent in for 3 years, the status will be revoked. This means we can accept donations and look for grants. Now we can submit for an absolute charter. We also got a Guilderland Historical Society newsletter.
There is no KHS meeting in July.
We had visitors on Memorial Day. Anna W. and Donna spoke with Henry Whipple and Marty Herzog about their family backgrounds in Knox. Donna also spoke with Dick Dexter about his childhood memories. Bill made the 2017 guest book for the Homestead Museum.
We had two days of clean up in preparation for spring opening of the Homestead.
Donna says the website is all set, with no money due. When we paid before it was for the domain name.
Kathy Oimet will contact Dennis next time she is in town with the Grange information.
Dennis is working on donating the picture to Thacher Park and will get back to us.
Helderberg Hilltowns Association is doing advertising that will include our upcoming programs. Nancy suggested the KHS members could also distribute copies of the flyer, which she will send us all by email. On June 17th, we need as many members as possible to attend the Farming program from 2-4 p.m., and bring refreshments.
For the Farming presentation, Kathleen made a motion to give thank you gifts to the high school students for about $10 each. Anna L. seconded, and the motion passed. Nancy volunteered to emcee the presentation. Ray got 14 photos from the thumb drive of farming in Knox, and will have them printed for a display in the Homestead when this presentation happens. Anna L. will scan her historical photo of hops growing in front of her house and give a copy to us. Anna W. has also been working on this project, and is looking for other photos to add to our collection. She is adding captions to the photos, and framing them for the display.
The Pucker Street Fair is July 7-9. Nancy and Bill are working on finding a blacksmith to do a presentation for us during the fair. We need information from the town about the times and exact dates, which they will decide at their next board meeting.
Kathleen got scrap books from a friend of Charlene Stevens for us to look at. We can accession them, or return them if we don’t want them. She will bring them to the next meeting.
The Great Aunt Nellie Program will be presented by Nancy and Anna L. August 12th. It is based on the song “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” and will demonstrate womens’ daily household chores in the 1800s.
Anna and Bill went to the HHA meeting on June 3rd. One person present was Alicia Malanga, who teaches at Farnsworth, does a class on local history, and might be an interesting speaker. They discussed the 2018 Anti-Rent Wars. They may have Penny Shaw write a play on this subject. They were also discussing a program on Alexander Hamilton.
Nancy and Anna L. will volunteer at the Homestead on the Wednesdays of August 2 and 9.
The next meeting will be in September (9th) in Knox from 10 – 12. So far everyone has supplied lunch. There is a social time from 9:30-10, with coffee, juice, and breakfast type snacks.
Anna W. and Bill went to the HHA meeting on June 3rd. The next meeting is Sept. 9 in Knox from 10 – 12. It has been customary for the hosting organization to supply lunch. They have had about 20 people at recent meetings. There was a social hour from 9-10 with breakfast foods, juice and coffee. Dennis will have it put on the calendar with Tara Murphy.
At the next Pathway Through History October 7-9, HHA is going to focus on breweries, and Westerlo is doing a presentation on Prohibition. We will have the museum open that weekend in October. Alicia Malanga, who teaches at Farnsworth, does a class on local history and would be an interesting speaker for a meeting night. In 2018 HHA plans to do a play on the Anti-Rent War and a play on the Dietz Massacre.
Dennis had donated a bag of items for the kitchen from his parents, and they could be accessioned. They were from Dennis’ parents, and probably from the 1950s, or that general era. Ray made a motion that they be accessioned and Elly seconded. The motion carried.
Nancy investigated the cost of using heavier stock paper for the driving tour and voices of the past brochures. We could use the files on the website if we update them, to make new copies using a laser printer and buying our own heavy stock. Anna L. and Dennis were willing to work on this. Dennis will ask the town if we can use their copier if we reimburse them paper and give donations to cover ink costs. Nancy thinks there should be extra copies of the Quilt Barn brochure somewhere at the Homestead in a gray box. We should keep the extra supplies and brochures in the closet, or “stock room” at the top of the stairs in the Homestead. We asked Anna to print 30 copies: 10 for the Homestead, 10 for the Town Hall and 10 extra for backups.
Anna W. had letters from the Civil War from a family named Peck. The names didn’t match anyone in our town. They are from Cayuga and Owasco in Moravia, NY. Mary, Warren and George Peck are mentioned. George was in the war, writing to his parents, Mary and Warren. She got the letters from Dan. Virginia Quay had given them to Dan, and it is believed she found them at a yard sale. We discussed the possibility of sending the letters to the historical society in Owasco or Cayuga. But first we will contact Sandra Quay, Virginia’s daughter to make sure the Pecks aren’t related to her.
Dennis suggested we look for grants, now that we are eligible to receive them.
Dennis adjourned the meeting at 8:34 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Putzig
Secretary
Secretary Kathleen Putzig read the meeting minutes from May 2017. Hearing no connections, the minutes stand as read.
Ann W. gave the treasurer’s report. Our total bank assets are $4542.03. Nancy submitted a bill for the schedules for 2017. A motion to accept the report was made by Donna and seconded by Bill. The motion passed.
Correspondence. KHS got a cassette tape of a Lime Kiln-related interview by Dan Driscoll with Ray Shafer. Deb Driscoll gave it to us. She lives in Oregon. Donna suggested we have it accessioned. Donna will follow up with Maureen to ask if it has been transcribed, and whether she has more information about it before we proceed. Dennis will hang on to it for now. Someone needs to sign the accession form also. Nancy suggested Maureen or Paula Shafer might be willing to sign. We got a letter from the IRS that we are a 501 (c) (3), effective May 10, 2017. We need to submit a form annually in April to keep it active. If no form is sent in for 3 years, the status will be revoked. This means we can accept donations and look for grants. Now we can submit for an absolute charter. We also got a Guilderland Historical Society newsletter.
There is no KHS meeting in July.
We had visitors on Memorial Day. Anna W. and Donna spoke with Henry Whipple and Marty Herzog about their family backgrounds in Knox. Donna also spoke with Dick Dexter about his childhood memories. Bill made the 2017 guest book for the Homestead Museum.
We had two days of clean up in preparation for spring opening of the Homestead.
Donna says the website is all set, with no money due. When we paid before it was for the domain name.
Kathy Oimet will contact Dennis next time she is in town with the Grange information.
Dennis is working on donating the picture to Thacher Park and will get back to us.
Helderberg Hilltowns Association is doing advertising that will include our upcoming programs. Nancy suggested the KHS members could also distribute copies of the flyer, which she will send us all by email. On June 17th, we need as many members as possible to attend the Farming program from 2-4 p.m., and bring refreshments.
For the Farming presentation, Kathleen made a motion to give thank you gifts to the high school students for about $10 each. Anna L. seconded, and the motion passed. Nancy volunteered to emcee the presentation. Ray got 14 photos from the thumb drive of farming in Knox, and will have them printed for a display in the Homestead when this presentation happens. Anna L. will scan her historical photo of hops growing in front of her house and give a copy to us. Anna W. has also been working on this project, and is looking for other photos to add to our collection. She is adding captions to the photos, and framing them for the display.
The Pucker Street Fair is July 7-9. Nancy and Bill are working on finding a blacksmith to do a presentation for us during the fair. We need information from the town about the times and exact dates, which they will decide at their next board meeting.
Kathleen got scrap books from a friend of Charlene Stevens for us to look at. We can accession them, or return them if we don’t want them. She will bring them to the next meeting.
The Great Aunt Nellie Program will be presented by Nancy and Anna L. August 12th. It is based on the song “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” and will demonstrate womens’ daily household chores in the 1800s.
Anna and Bill went to the HHA meeting on June 3rd. One person present was Alicia Malanga, who teaches at Farnsworth, does a class on local history, and might be an interesting speaker. They discussed the 2018 Anti-Rent Wars. They may have Penny Shaw write a play on this subject. They were also discussing a program on Alexander Hamilton.
Nancy and Anna L. will volunteer at the Homestead on the Wednesdays of August 2 and 9.
The next meeting will be in September (9th) in Knox from 10 – 12. So far everyone has supplied lunch. There is a social time from 9:30-10, with coffee, juice, and breakfast type snacks.
Anna W. and Bill went to the HHA meeting on June 3rd. The next meeting is Sept. 9 in Knox from 10 – 12. It has been customary for the hosting organization to supply lunch. They have had about 20 people at recent meetings. There was a social hour from 9-10 with breakfast foods, juice and coffee. Dennis will have it put on the calendar with Tara Murphy.
At the next Pathway Through History October 7-9, HHA is going to focus on breweries, and Westerlo is doing a presentation on Prohibition. We will have the museum open that weekend in October. Alicia Malanga, who teaches at Farnsworth, does a class on local history and would be an interesting speaker for a meeting night. In 2018 HHA plans to do a play on the Anti-Rent War and a play on the Dietz Massacre.
Dennis had donated a bag of items for the kitchen from his parents, and they could be accessioned. They were from Dennis’ parents, and probably from the 1950s, or that general era. Ray made a motion that they be accessioned and Elly seconded. The motion carried.
Nancy investigated the cost of using heavier stock paper for the driving tour and voices of the past brochures. We could use the files on the website if we update them, to make new copies using a laser printer and buying our own heavy stock. Anna L. and Dennis were willing to work on this. Dennis will ask the town if we can use their copier if we reimburse them paper and give donations to cover ink costs. Nancy thinks there should be extra copies of the Quilt Barn brochure somewhere at the Homestead in a gray box. We should keep the extra supplies and brochures in the closet, or “stock room” at the top of the stairs in the Homestead. We asked Anna to print 30 copies: 10 for the Homestead, 10 for the Town Hall and 10 extra for backups.
Anna W. had letters from the Civil War from a family named Peck. The names didn’t match anyone in our town. They are from Cayuga and Owasco in Moravia, NY. Mary, Warren and George Peck are mentioned. George was in the war, writing to his parents, Mary and Warren. She got the letters from Dan. Virginia Quay had given them to Dan, and it is believed she found them at a yard sale. We discussed the possibility of sending the letters to the historical society in Owasco or Cayuga. But first we will contact Sandra Quay, Virginia’s daughter to make sure the Pecks aren’t related to her.
Dennis suggested we look for grants, now that we are eligible to receive them.
Dennis adjourned the meeting at 8:34 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Putzig
Secretary
May 2, 2017 minutes
The regular meeting was called to order by President Dennis Barber at 7:04 . Members attending were Nancy Frueh, Kathleen Putzig, Donna Gwin, Jayson Romanchuck, Bill Donato, Anna Wolfe, Anna Lefkaditis, Zenie Gladieux and Ray Hand.
Kathleen Putzig read the meeting minutes. One correction was made (1722 vs 1822) and the minutes were approved as corrected.
Treasurer’s Report by Anna Wolfe was that our bank assets total 4615.54.
We received our first Duanesburg Historical Society newsletter and also the Guilderland HS newsletter.
Annual Dues are being collected.
Old Business:
4-H Tour of Saddlemire Homestead Museum– no date chosen yet, per Anna L. Anna also said the Auxiliary uniform is not intact, or in good enough shape to be donated. There is just a cape and an apron. The cap is missing also.
IRS report from Donna: For data purposes, it doesn’t matter that she filled out the form with “social organization” as opposed to “educational organization.” That is only for census or data reporting. We now have our EIN number, and it is fine. It is saved atpay.gov. The last page has to be signed by an officer. The cost will be approx. $275.00 payable to the IRS for the privilege of being a 501 (c)(3). If we want to pursue a permanent charter, we have to become a 501 (c)(3). Annual paperwork has to be filled out by the treasurer when we are a 501 (c)(3). When we looked into grants in the past, they all required the organization to be a 501 (c)(3). Dennis made a motion that Anna Wolfe be authorized to sign the paperwork. Anna L. seconded. The motion passed.
We need to email a sign up sheet for 2 volunteers every Wednesday from 12-2 at the Homestead during July and August.
We have a date for the reenactor – Sep. 22. We will need to request a grant from the PTA to cover expenses. The reenactor will be acting as Benjamin Franklin. The social studies dept. will be offering students extra credit for attending. Nancy doesn’t have a quote for his charge yet.
A Week in the Life of Great Aunt Nellie program for August 12 is proposed by Nancy Frueh. The Homestead should have tools for the chores mentioned in the song “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” with different chores each day. She will check with the Town of Berne to make sure there are no scheduling conflicts with their events.
Nancy suggested a possible July program would be a blacksmithing demonstration during the Pucker Street Fair. Dennis made a motion that we authorize Bill to make an offer of up to $150 (including expenses) if we can get Noah Khoury to agree to this. Nancy seconded the motion, which then passed.
The Altamont Fair has a blacksmith demonstration. Noah Khoury is a local with a shop that does blacksmithing. There may have been an article in the Altamont Enterprise about him. Dennis will ask Lou Saddlemire for information from the research he has been doing on blacksmiths in Knox.
June 17 we will do a presentation on Farming in Knox: Past, Present and Future, either here or at the Homestead.
Bill stopped to speak to Mr. Dean, but he was on vacation. Nothing has changed with the Cemetery so we should still be able to work there.
Donna spoke to Ms. Torok about the washing machine, but she didn’t have any specific information.
Dennis didn’t hear from Kathy Ouimet yet about the Grange materials.
Dennis suggested we decide a work date to clean up the Homestead. He suggested the week of May 15th. KHS members preferred weekdays, and so they decided on May 15th, to vacuum and take the sheeting off protected items.
Donna talked to someone who owns the domain for the KHS website. We have paid an annual fee before. The person at Weebly Donna spoke to said it was a free website. Then Donna asked John Elberfeld about it, since he set it up. He hasn’t gotten back to her yet. She did get a bill last May (2016), but when she tried to log in to pay the bill this year, she couldn’t log in. Since Weebly said it was free, she will wait to hear from John for confirmation before trying to talk to Weebly again to be sure it is free.
Dennis has spoken to reps. from the Thacher Park Visitor Center about putting up a painting from KHS. He will bring the painting on Thursday at the opening ceremony. Half of the park is in Knox. He will get pictures of it then and we will be able to send them to the Cherry Valley Historical Society, since the lady who actually painted it (Leila Moore Waldron) is from Cherry Valley.
Zenie asked if we were going to have a float in the Memorial Day Parade. We are not planning on it.
Nancy asked Kathleen if she had done the NYS Ed annual report yet. She has not.
Bill said in 1941 equipment from a pill box factory in Knox was donated to New York State Museum and they still have it. They have pictures, molds, a bench, etc. It is a 20 – 30 piece collection. He is asking them to let us see it, if they would get it from their warehouse and consolidate it.
Dennis read the annual President’s Report.
Elections: The nominating committee has recommended a slate of officers. The line officers are all returning in their current positions, and two trustees are returning (Bill Donato and Ray Hand). There is one new trustee (Donna Gwin). Nancy made a motion that the secretary cast one ballot for the slate as presented, and Dennis seconded it. The motion passed unanimously.
Ray will create a guestbook for the Homestead for 2017. Nancy will get more 1/3 cut brochures printed and give us a bill.
The meeting was adjourned at 8 p.m. by President Dennis Barber.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Putzig
Secretary
Kathleen Putzig read the meeting minutes. One correction was made (1722 vs 1822) and the minutes were approved as corrected.
Treasurer’s Report by Anna Wolfe was that our bank assets total 4615.54.
We received our first Duanesburg Historical Society newsletter and also the Guilderland HS newsletter.
Annual Dues are being collected.
Old Business:
4-H Tour of Saddlemire Homestead Museum– no date chosen yet, per Anna L. Anna also said the Auxiliary uniform is not intact, or in good enough shape to be donated. There is just a cape and an apron. The cap is missing also.
IRS report from Donna: For data purposes, it doesn’t matter that she filled out the form with “social organization” as opposed to “educational organization.” That is only for census or data reporting. We now have our EIN number, and it is fine. It is saved atpay.gov. The last page has to be signed by an officer. The cost will be approx. $275.00 payable to the IRS for the privilege of being a 501 (c)(3). If we want to pursue a permanent charter, we have to become a 501 (c)(3). Annual paperwork has to be filled out by the treasurer when we are a 501 (c)(3). When we looked into grants in the past, they all required the organization to be a 501 (c)(3). Dennis made a motion that Anna Wolfe be authorized to sign the paperwork. Anna L. seconded. The motion passed.
We need to email a sign up sheet for 2 volunteers every Wednesday from 12-2 at the Homestead during July and August.
We have a date for the reenactor – Sep. 22. We will need to request a grant from the PTA to cover expenses. The reenactor will be acting as Benjamin Franklin. The social studies dept. will be offering students extra credit for attending. Nancy doesn’t have a quote for his charge yet.
A Week in the Life of Great Aunt Nellie program for August 12 is proposed by Nancy Frueh. The Homestead should have tools for the chores mentioned in the song “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” with different chores each day. She will check with the Town of Berne to make sure there are no scheduling conflicts with their events.
Nancy suggested a possible July program would be a blacksmithing demonstration during the Pucker Street Fair. Dennis made a motion that we authorize Bill to make an offer of up to $150 (including expenses) if we can get Noah Khoury to agree to this. Nancy seconded the motion, which then passed.
The Altamont Fair has a blacksmith demonstration. Noah Khoury is a local with a shop that does blacksmithing. There may have been an article in the Altamont Enterprise about him. Dennis will ask Lou Saddlemire for information from the research he has been doing on blacksmiths in Knox.
June 17 we will do a presentation on Farming in Knox: Past, Present and Future, either here or at the Homestead.
Bill stopped to speak to Mr. Dean, but he was on vacation. Nothing has changed with the Cemetery so we should still be able to work there.
Donna spoke to Ms. Torok about the washing machine, but she didn’t have any specific information.
Dennis didn’t hear from Kathy Ouimet yet about the Grange materials.
Dennis suggested we decide a work date to clean up the Homestead. He suggested the week of May 15th. KHS members preferred weekdays, and so they decided on May 15th, to vacuum and take the sheeting off protected items.
Donna talked to someone who owns the domain for the KHS website. We have paid an annual fee before. The person at Weebly Donna spoke to said it was a free website. Then Donna asked John Elberfeld about it, since he set it up. He hasn’t gotten back to her yet. She did get a bill last May (2016), but when she tried to log in to pay the bill this year, she couldn’t log in. Since Weebly said it was free, she will wait to hear from John for confirmation before trying to talk to Weebly again to be sure it is free.
Dennis has spoken to reps. from the Thacher Park Visitor Center about putting up a painting from KHS. He will bring the painting on Thursday at the opening ceremony. Half of the park is in Knox. He will get pictures of it then and we will be able to send them to the Cherry Valley Historical Society, since the lady who actually painted it (Leila Moore Waldron) is from Cherry Valley.
Zenie asked if we were going to have a float in the Memorial Day Parade. We are not planning on it.
Nancy asked Kathleen if she had done the NYS Ed annual report yet. She has not.
Bill said in 1941 equipment from a pill box factory in Knox was donated to New York State Museum and they still have it. They have pictures, molds, a bench, etc. It is a 20 – 30 piece collection. He is asking them to let us see it, if they would get it from their warehouse and consolidate it.
Dennis read the annual President’s Report.
Elections: The nominating committee has recommended a slate of officers. The line officers are all returning in their current positions, and two trustees are returning (Bill Donato and Ray Hand). There is one new trustee (Donna Gwin). Nancy made a motion that the secretary cast one ballot for the slate as presented, and Dennis seconded it. The motion passed unanimously.
Ray will create a guestbook for the Homestead for 2017. Nancy will get more 1/3 cut brochures printed and give us a bill.
The meeting was adjourned at 8 p.m. by President Dennis Barber.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Putzig
Secretary
April 4, 2017 minutes
The meeting was called to order by President Dennis Barber at 7:10. Regular members attending were Nancy Frueh, Kathleen Putzig, Donna Gwin, Ray Hand, Bill Donato, Anna Wolfe, Anna Lefkaditis, and Rev. Jay Francis.
Kathleen read the meeting minutes from March and they were approved.
Treasurer Anna Wolfe reported on the finances. She also reported that KHS has received the usual monthly correspondences from neighboring historical societies such as Spindle City. She noticed a recent article in the Altamont Enterprise on how to research archives online.
Nancy Frueh reported on the display at the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast. Several people gave donations. Popular items given as thank you gifts included bumper stickers, note cards, books and pill boxes. She handed out many membership forms.
Dennis has been working on a comprehensive list of town supervisors since 1722, after a request from
Chandra Reis (518-421-0115) from the Altamont Fair Farmhouse Museum contacted Nancy, requesting display items to share during the fair this summer. The theme this year is farmhouse animals, but any items are welcome. Dennis suggested putting information about this on the website.
The nominating committee (Ray Hand and Nancy Frueh)reported that all line officers have agreed to retain their current positions. Board of Trustees up for election are Donna Gwin, Bill Donato, and Ray Hand. Nominations can still be made from the floor at the next meeting. Voting will take place at the May meeting.
Dennis called Maureen from Thacher Park about a display at the Visitor Center, but she didn’t return his call as of the time of this meeting.
Kathleen donated two Sesquicentennial Booklets to the Schoharie Central School libraries, and got a picture of the high school librarian holding her copy.
Kathy Ouimet will be returning the Grange materials to Dennis.
Donna is still working with the state to get guidance regarding the EIN number for KHS as an organization with the IRS. The collections management policy was emailed by Nancy and everyone had a chance to look through it. Nancy moved that we adopt it as presented with the changes included in the last email. Bill seconded the motion and it passed.
At the Pucker Street Fair in July, KHS will open the Homestead to the public.
The Homestead’s sign fell. When the Town of Knox and Fire Dept. put up their new sign, we will reinstall the Homestead sign at a better location. If the Knox sign isn’t installed by Memorial Day, we may put it back up temporarily in its old location.
Dennis reported that Supervisor Lefkaditis is looking into an alarm system to be installed in the Homestead.
Kathleen received copies of oral histories from the Knox Reformed Church and will add them to the current binder in the Homestead. We should get an index for the front of the binder. There is also a CD with oral histories on it. The histories don’t have dates on them, but we may be able to research the publication dates for the church newsletters to get a year for them at least.
Dennis made a motion, and Nancy seconded it for the Homestead to be open 12-2 on Wednesdays during July and August. The motion passed.
Memorial Day Weekend the Homestead will be open 10-1. Dennis and Bill will host. We will need to clean the Homestead to open it for spring.
Dennis got a call from Jason Anderson about donating an old washing machine. He got it from his father, who got it from (possibly) his aunt. It was used in Knox around the turn of the century. Dennis has it in his garage, and has pictures on it. It was made between 1898 and 1902 according to online sources. Dennis will research it. Jason claimed it was made in Knox, but may just have been used here. Dennis wanted to know if we wanted to accept it, and Nancy suggested since it is so large, we should get more information about it before we decide. We might put it on the porch during the summer. It needs to be cleaned up. Kathleen made a motion that we accept the washing machine. Donna seconded the motion, and it passed. Donna will email Margaret Turak to ask if she knows anything about it, as she is somehow related to the Andersons.
Anna Lefkaditis said someone approached her with an offer to donate a uniform from the Knox Fire Auxiliary. Dennis said we have no display about the Fire Dept and should consider creating one. Anna said it is a long dress uniform. Don Champion found an old air pack the Fire Dept used, and if we find more items we could create a display for the Homestead. Dennis suggested we find an area to dedicate to the Fire Dept. and have a program next year for their 70th Anniversary. The Patriot’s Room might be appropriate.
Anna L. also asked if we could do a Homestead tour for the 4H club during one of their regular meetings. There are about 14 children, between 1st and 9th grades. The children would sign up, so we would know whom to expect.
Dennis ended the meeting at 8:24 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Putzig Secretary, KHS, Knox Town Historian, Berne Town Historian
Kathleen read the meeting minutes from March and they were approved.
Treasurer Anna Wolfe reported on the finances. She also reported that KHS has received the usual monthly correspondences from neighboring historical societies such as Spindle City. She noticed a recent article in the Altamont Enterprise on how to research archives online.
Nancy Frueh reported on the display at the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast. Several people gave donations. Popular items given as thank you gifts included bumper stickers, note cards, books and pill boxes. She handed out many membership forms.
Dennis has been working on a comprehensive list of town supervisors since 1722, after a request from
Chandra Reis (518-421-0115) from the Altamont Fair Farmhouse Museum contacted Nancy, requesting display items to share during the fair this summer. The theme this year is farmhouse animals, but any items are welcome. Dennis suggested putting information about this on the website.
The nominating committee (Ray Hand and Nancy Frueh)reported that all line officers have agreed to retain their current positions. Board of Trustees up for election are Donna Gwin, Bill Donato, and Ray Hand. Nominations can still be made from the floor at the next meeting. Voting will take place at the May meeting.
Dennis called Maureen from Thacher Park about a display at the Visitor Center, but she didn’t return his call as of the time of this meeting.
Kathleen donated two Sesquicentennial Booklets to the Schoharie Central School libraries, and got a picture of the high school librarian holding her copy.
Kathy Ouimet will be returning the Grange materials to Dennis.
Donna is still working with the state to get guidance regarding the EIN number for KHS as an organization with the IRS. The collections management policy was emailed by Nancy and everyone had a chance to look through it. Nancy moved that we adopt it as presented with the changes included in the last email. Bill seconded the motion and it passed.
At the Pucker Street Fair in July, KHS will open the Homestead to the public.
The Homestead’s sign fell. When the Town of Knox and Fire Dept. put up their new sign, we will reinstall the Homestead sign at a better location. If the Knox sign isn’t installed by Memorial Day, we may put it back up temporarily in its old location.
Dennis reported that Supervisor Lefkaditis is looking into an alarm system to be installed in the Homestead.
Kathleen received copies of oral histories from the Knox Reformed Church and will add them to the current binder in the Homestead. We should get an index for the front of the binder. There is also a CD with oral histories on it. The histories don’t have dates on them, but we may be able to research the publication dates for the church newsletters to get a year for them at least.
Dennis made a motion, and Nancy seconded it for the Homestead to be open 12-2 on Wednesdays during July and August. The motion passed.
Memorial Day Weekend the Homestead will be open 10-1. Dennis and Bill will host. We will need to clean the Homestead to open it for spring.
Dennis got a call from Jason Anderson about donating an old washing machine. He got it from his father, who got it from (possibly) his aunt. It was used in Knox around the turn of the century. Dennis has it in his garage, and has pictures on it. It was made between 1898 and 1902 according to online sources. Dennis will research it. Jason claimed it was made in Knox, but may just have been used here. Dennis wanted to know if we wanted to accept it, and Nancy suggested since it is so large, we should get more information about it before we decide. We might put it on the porch during the summer. It needs to be cleaned up. Kathleen made a motion that we accept the washing machine. Donna seconded the motion, and it passed. Donna will email Margaret Turak to ask if she knows anything about it, as she is somehow related to the Andersons.
Anna Lefkaditis said someone approached her with an offer to donate a uniform from the Knox Fire Auxiliary. Dennis said we have no display about the Fire Dept and should consider creating one. Anna said it is a long dress uniform. Don Champion found an old air pack the Fire Dept used, and if we find more items we could create a display for the Homestead. Dennis suggested we find an area to dedicate to the Fire Dept. and have a program next year for their 70th Anniversary. The Patriot’s Room might be appropriate.
Anna L. also asked if we could do a Homestead tour for the 4H club during one of their regular meetings. There are about 14 children, between 1st and 9th grades. The children would sign up, so we would know whom to expect.
Dennis ended the meeting at 8:24 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Putzig Secretary, KHS, Knox Town Historian, Berne Town Historian
march 7, 2017 minutes
President Dennis Barber called the regular meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.
Members present were Donna Gwin, Bill Donato, Anna Lefkiditis, Ray Hand, Kathleen Putzig, and Nancy Frueh. Anna is a new member, along with her husband Vasilios. They have supported KHS in the past, and are welcome additions.
Treasurer’s report: Total assets in January were $4534.65, in February $4488.94, and in March $4551.94.
We received correspondence from the IRS concerning our status as a corporation and assignment of an EIN. We also received mail from Friends of Pruyn newsletter, Guilderland Historical Society newsletter, and Art Conservator Magazine.
Ray got the computer and scanner from the Homestead working. He will lend them to Susan Miner, and teach her how to use them. She will borrow the Merrymen’s Teahouse guest books, one at a time, and scan them. She will also type a list of names so it is searchable. Although not sure how much time she can devote to the project until she gets started with it, we are grateful for her help. This is an excellent idea for other friends or members of KHS to make meaningful contributions from their own home, scanning, transcribing, and documenting the historical documents of the Town of Knox.
Donna Gwin has a final draft of the Collections Accession Policy, which she will email to all members so we can vote on it next meeting.
Regarding the IRS letter, Donna will contact the number given to get advice on cancelling our EIN as a corporation, and reapplying as a nonprofit organization. She will also ask if we have a valid EIN as a nonprofit, or if we need to fix it. She has been in touch with Sarah Jastremski at the State Education Department’s Charter section. Nancy read information from the Town of Knox Sesquicentennial (Not for Profit) Corporation. We need to find out if we can keep that name and EIN, or if we need to start over with a new name and status. Otherwise we may be responsible for filing tax forms starting in 1993.
Dennis has discussed the fire alarm system with the town board, and it is being worked on.
We need a nominating committee for the 2017 elections. The bylaws state the committee should consist of 3 people. Nancy, Ray and Kathleen agreed to be on the committee. Dennis, Nancy and Kathleen have agreed to hold their current positions for the upcoming year. Kathleen stipulated that she not be required to listen to the recording of the meeting to type up the notes. She will continue to record the meetings in case there are questions about the minutes later. They will be deleted after the final minutes are approved for that month. Ray will contact Anna Wolfe to ask if she will continue to be the Treasurer.
We discussed the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, and whether we should set up a display for people waiting to be seated. We had a display last year, and it was a success. Kathleen will ask if we can set up a display. Nancy will take care of the display and presenting it.
June 17 we will have the Homestead open from 2-4 p.m. and have a presentation on farming, past, present and future. Kathleen is in contact with the Agriculture teacher (Mr. McConnelly) at Berne-Knox-Westerlo school, and with students who took the half year class last fall, asking them to prepare a presentation on the present and future of farming in Knox. Dennis will volunteer and help demonstrate the farm implements.
The July (4th) and November (Election Day) 2017 KHS meetings will be cancelled due to conflicts.
October Path Thru History Weekend will be held on the weekend of the 7th and 8th. On the 7th, from 2-4 the Homestead Museum will be open.
July 7/8 is the Pucker Street Fair. We would like to have a presence, and should think about what we want to do. We might have the Homestead open, and perhaps do a fund raiser. We might put some of our farm equipment out on the side lawn. We will invite the Kiwanis to sell their bird houses, bee traps and trellises in that same area of the lawn.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:24.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Putzig, Secretary
Members present were Donna Gwin, Bill Donato, Anna Lefkiditis, Ray Hand, Kathleen Putzig, and Nancy Frueh. Anna is a new member, along with her husband Vasilios. They have supported KHS in the past, and are welcome additions.
Treasurer’s report: Total assets in January were $4534.65, in February $4488.94, and in March $4551.94.
We received correspondence from the IRS concerning our status as a corporation and assignment of an EIN. We also received mail from Friends of Pruyn newsletter, Guilderland Historical Society newsletter, and Art Conservator Magazine.
Ray got the computer and scanner from the Homestead working. He will lend them to Susan Miner, and teach her how to use them. She will borrow the Merrymen’s Teahouse guest books, one at a time, and scan them. She will also type a list of names so it is searchable. Although not sure how much time she can devote to the project until she gets started with it, we are grateful for her help. This is an excellent idea for other friends or members of KHS to make meaningful contributions from their own home, scanning, transcribing, and documenting the historical documents of the Town of Knox.
Donna Gwin has a final draft of the Collections Accession Policy, which she will email to all members so we can vote on it next meeting.
Regarding the IRS letter, Donna will contact the number given to get advice on cancelling our EIN as a corporation, and reapplying as a nonprofit organization. She will also ask if we have a valid EIN as a nonprofit, or if we need to fix it. She has been in touch with Sarah Jastremski at the State Education Department’s Charter section. Nancy read information from the Town of Knox Sesquicentennial (Not for Profit) Corporation. We need to find out if we can keep that name and EIN, or if we need to start over with a new name and status. Otherwise we may be responsible for filing tax forms starting in 1993.
Dennis has discussed the fire alarm system with the town board, and it is being worked on.
We need a nominating committee for the 2017 elections. The bylaws state the committee should consist of 3 people. Nancy, Ray and Kathleen agreed to be on the committee. Dennis, Nancy and Kathleen have agreed to hold their current positions for the upcoming year. Kathleen stipulated that she not be required to listen to the recording of the meeting to type up the notes. She will continue to record the meetings in case there are questions about the minutes later. They will be deleted after the final minutes are approved for that month. Ray will contact Anna Wolfe to ask if she will continue to be the Treasurer.
We discussed the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, and whether we should set up a display for people waiting to be seated. We had a display last year, and it was a success. Kathleen will ask if we can set up a display. Nancy will take care of the display and presenting it.
June 17 we will have the Homestead open from 2-4 p.m. and have a presentation on farming, past, present and future. Kathleen is in contact with the Agriculture teacher (Mr. McConnelly) at Berne-Knox-Westerlo school, and with students who took the half year class last fall, asking them to prepare a presentation on the present and future of farming in Knox. Dennis will volunteer and help demonstrate the farm implements.
The July (4th) and November (Election Day) 2017 KHS meetings will be cancelled due to conflicts.
October Path Thru History Weekend will be held on the weekend of the 7th and 8th. On the 7th, from 2-4 the Homestead Museum will be open.
July 7/8 is the Pucker Street Fair. We would like to have a presence, and should think about what we want to do. We might have the Homestead open, and perhaps do a fund raiser. We might put some of our farm equipment out on the side lawn. We will invite the Kiwanis to sell their bird houses, bee traps and trellises in that same area of the lawn.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:24.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Putzig, Secretary
Jan. 3, 2017 minutes
The regular meeting of the Knox Historical Society was called to order at 7:05 by President Dennis Barber. Members attending were Kathleen Putzig, Nancy Frueh, Anna Wolfe, Duanesburg Town Historian Howard Ohlhaus, Pastor Jay Francis, Javid and Mara Afzali, Bill Donato, Ray Hand, and Donna Gwin.
Kathleen read the October minutes. They were approved with the following corrections: Dennis took care of getting the cave crawl put back away when it was returned. Sandra Kisselback had invited KHS members to participate in the Berne Historical Society’s Spooky Rooms of History Halloween activity.
Nancy read the November minutes. They were approved.
Anna Wolfe made a treasurer’s report. We have $4490.40 in the bank, between checking and savings.
The Bicentennial quilt is now in storage in its new acid free box. A motion to pay the bill for the box was made by Bill Donato, and seconded by Ray Hand. The motion was approved.
Anna reported on correspondence. We received some newsletters, and one membership check.
Dennis reported on the historical markers, that there are none at the Voorheesville DOT highway department location.
Donna has been working on the collections management policy. She will send a final draft so everyone can review it, and we can vote on it at the next meeting. She is also considering the charter. Nancy suggested we also review the constitution and bylaws.
Ray is examining the computer from the Homestead.
New Business: Bulbs were purchased for the garden. The Ostrander Cemetery owner passed away. Bill will talk to the caretaker to see what future plans are for the property.
Dennis will talk with the Knox Town Board about a fire alarm system, and whether a phone line could be installed in the Saddlemire Homestead. He will see if they would be willing to add the Homestead on to their alarm system, perhaps as a rider.
Nancy reported that in 1917 Women’s Suffrage was approved, but women didn’t first vote until 1918. Jay Francis related that his great grandparents voted in Knox, and one voted Republican, the other Democrat. When they got home, his grandfather said, “Well, Ella, I think we wasted our time.”
There was general discussion of future programs and re-enactors.
Howard talked about their new museum being built in Duanesburg on Quaker Lane. Their funding came from paintings that were donated by the Gaige family of Knox but never accessioned. The museum will look like a Greek Revival mansion, similar to two homes in Duanesburg on the historical register. Ann Marie Collins will be giving a Women’s Suffrage program in March. The Duanesburg Historical Society newsletter will be coming out soon with a list of the upcoming programs.
The meeting ended at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Putzig, SecretaryKnox Historical Society Meeting Minutes
Kathleen read the October minutes. They were approved with the following corrections: Dennis took care of getting the cave crawl put back away when it was returned. Sandra Kisselback had invited KHS members to participate in the Berne Historical Society’s Spooky Rooms of History Halloween activity.
Nancy read the November minutes. They were approved.
Anna Wolfe made a treasurer’s report. We have $4490.40 in the bank, between checking and savings.
The Bicentennial quilt is now in storage in its new acid free box. A motion to pay the bill for the box was made by Bill Donato, and seconded by Ray Hand. The motion was approved.
Anna reported on correspondence. We received some newsletters, and one membership check.
Dennis reported on the historical markers, that there are none at the Voorheesville DOT highway department location.
Donna has been working on the collections management policy. She will send a final draft so everyone can review it, and we can vote on it at the next meeting. She is also considering the charter. Nancy suggested we also review the constitution and bylaws.
Ray is examining the computer from the Homestead.
New Business: Bulbs were purchased for the garden. The Ostrander Cemetery owner passed away. Bill will talk to the caretaker to see what future plans are for the property.
Dennis will talk with the Knox Town Board about a fire alarm system, and whether a phone line could be installed in the Saddlemire Homestead. He will see if they would be willing to add the Homestead on to their alarm system, perhaps as a rider.
Nancy reported that in 1917 Women’s Suffrage was approved, but women didn’t first vote until 1918. Jay Francis related that his great grandparents voted in Knox, and one voted Republican, the other Democrat. When they got home, his grandfather said, “Well, Ella, I think we wasted our time.”
There was general discussion of future programs and re-enactors.
Howard talked about their new museum being built in Duanesburg on Quaker Lane. Their funding came from paintings that were donated by the Gaige family of Knox but never accessioned. The museum will look like a Greek Revival mansion, similar to two homes in Duanesburg on the historical register. Ann Marie Collins will be giving a Women’s Suffrage program in March. The Duanesburg Historical Society newsletter will be coming out soon with a list of the upcoming programs.
The meeting ended at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Putzig, SecretaryKnox Historical Society Meeting Minutes