February 4, 2020 minutes
Feb. 4, 2020 KHS meeting minutes
President Dennis Barber called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Members present included Terry Baldwin, Elly Czebiniak, Linda Devenpeck, Bill Donato, Donna Gwin, Ray Hand, Kathleen Putzig, and Anna Wolfe.
The October 1, 2019 KHS minutes were accepted as emailed.
Treasurer’s Report: Anna presented the Treasurer’s Report. KHS has $88.25 in the SEFCU checking account and $4,093.14 in the SEFCU preferred saving account. Anna made a motion, seconded by Elly that $3,000 be placed in a 9 month CD which will yield 1.9% interest. The motion passed. Anna has done the taxes.
Correspondence:
Anna received a 1st National Bank of Altamont savings passbook for Cornell Ostrander dated 1928-1931. The passbook was sent to Anna in the US mail from William Vincent of Knox. Anna researched Cornell Ostrander and found out that he was the secretary for the Knox Mutual Insurance Company. Anna will write to Mr. Vincent to see if she can find out more about the savings passbook. Donna will search the accession records to see if we have any items pertaining to Cornell Ostrander.
Anna received the newsletter from the New Scotland Historical Society. They will be hosting a program on Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m. on Genealogy Research at the NY State Archives. This program will be presented by John Diefenderfer, of the New York State Archives, and will provide an overview of the records at the State Archives that are rich genealogical sources including real property records, military service records, census records, naturalization records and wills and probate records. He will also demonstrate the online access tools available to researchers to locate information at the Archives.
The group discussed renewing membership in the Museum Association of New York. The membership cost is $40. Elly made a motion to renew our membership, Linda seconded the motion, and the motion passed.
Correspondence was also received from the Rensselaerville Historical Society, Cohoes Spindle City Historic Society, and Williams College.
Donna received a letter from Nicole Fragnito, a Cultural Resources Specialist at Environmental Design & Research, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, & Environmental Services, D.P.C. (EDR) in Syracuse, NY. The New York Archaeological Council (NYAC) is seeking to document collections of pre-contact archaeological interest. Donna checked with Mike Nardacci and Chuck Porter to see if they had any information on items from the Knox Caves. They said they do not have any such items.
Essay Contest: For the 3rd year, KHS is sponsoring an essay contest for students in grades 7-12. Students will be encouraged to write an essay on the topic Local and Family Military Heroes. Essays will be judged and the top three essay writers will be asked to read their essay at the Knox Memorial Day parade. Winners will receive prize money: 1st prize - $50; 2nd prize $25; 3rd prize $10. Donna will email Linda the forms that were used in 2019. Linda will revise the forms and will then email the revised copies to KHS members for any additional input. Contest information will be given to school officials at BKW and the Helderberg Christian School by Dennis.
Members decided on the following deadline dates for the 2020 essay contest:
Friday, April 3 Dennis will deliver the information about the essay contest to BKW and Helderberg Christian School officials.
Friday, May 1 Dennis will pick up essay contest entries from BKW and Helderberg Christian School.
Tuesday, May 5 Essay contest entries will be judged at the KHS meeting.
Dennis will put information about the essay contest in the School News Notifier so that parents are informed of the opportunity for students to participate in the contest.
Dennis asked Bill if he had an estimate to replace the front porch on the Saddlemire Homestead. Bill said he needs to know exactly what parts of the porch need to be replaced. When Bill has the exact information he can supply an estimate.
Anna has framed the Absolute Charter that KHS has received. The framed document will be hung in the Saddlemire Homestead.
We thank Paul Axel-Lute for his work on transcribing the Merrymens’ Guest Register and adding it to our KHS website http://www.knoxhistoricalsociety.org/merrymens-tea-house-guest-book-1927.html
New Business: Donna applied for the Stewarts grant. If received, the grant money must be used for programming for students. Winners of the grant will be notified in March.
Donna reported that she asked Jan Van Etten if she would be interested in being interviewed about her family’s history in Knox. Jan said that at this time she would not be able to participate in the interview. Donna phoned Louis Saddlemire and left a message asking if he would be interested in being interviewed about his family’s history. Donna has not had a reply from Louis.
Donna suggested interviewing Henry Whipple about his solar farm project. This current history should be documented. Dennis suggested asking Henry if he would like to present a program on his family’s history as well as the current solar farm project. Donna will contact Henry.
We would like to document Pauline Williman’s life. Pauline died on July 31 at the age of 93. Anna will check with Gary Salisbury, Pauline’s nephew, to see if Gary has any photos and information that can be copied and added to our KHS collection.
Mr. Torrisi, who presented a Metal Detecting Program in 2014, might be interested in presenting a new metal detecting program in 2020. Members Terry Baldwin and Jayson Romanczuk also do metal detecting. Dennis will contact these individuals to see if they would be interested in presenting a program this summer.
Roger Chapman has expressed interest in presenting a program on old farm machinery.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Gwin, KHS Secretary
President Dennis Barber called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Members present included Terry Baldwin, Elly Czebiniak, Linda Devenpeck, Bill Donato, Donna Gwin, Ray Hand, Kathleen Putzig, and Anna Wolfe.
The October 1, 2019 KHS minutes were accepted as emailed.
Treasurer’s Report: Anna presented the Treasurer’s Report. KHS has $88.25 in the SEFCU checking account and $4,093.14 in the SEFCU preferred saving account. Anna made a motion, seconded by Elly that $3,000 be placed in a 9 month CD which will yield 1.9% interest. The motion passed. Anna has done the taxes.
Correspondence:
Anna received a 1st National Bank of Altamont savings passbook for Cornell Ostrander dated 1928-1931. The passbook was sent to Anna in the US mail from William Vincent of Knox. Anna researched Cornell Ostrander and found out that he was the secretary for the Knox Mutual Insurance Company. Anna will write to Mr. Vincent to see if she can find out more about the savings passbook. Donna will search the accession records to see if we have any items pertaining to Cornell Ostrander.
Anna received the newsletter from the New Scotland Historical Society. They will be hosting a program on Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m. on Genealogy Research at the NY State Archives. This program will be presented by John Diefenderfer, of the New York State Archives, and will provide an overview of the records at the State Archives that are rich genealogical sources including real property records, military service records, census records, naturalization records and wills and probate records. He will also demonstrate the online access tools available to researchers to locate information at the Archives.
The group discussed renewing membership in the Museum Association of New York. The membership cost is $40. Elly made a motion to renew our membership, Linda seconded the motion, and the motion passed.
Correspondence was also received from the Rensselaerville Historical Society, Cohoes Spindle City Historic Society, and Williams College.
Donna received a letter from Nicole Fragnito, a Cultural Resources Specialist at Environmental Design & Research, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, & Environmental Services, D.P.C. (EDR) in Syracuse, NY. The New York Archaeological Council (NYAC) is seeking to document collections of pre-contact archaeological interest. Donna checked with Mike Nardacci and Chuck Porter to see if they had any information on items from the Knox Caves. They said they do not have any such items.
Essay Contest: For the 3rd year, KHS is sponsoring an essay contest for students in grades 7-12. Students will be encouraged to write an essay on the topic Local and Family Military Heroes. Essays will be judged and the top three essay writers will be asked to read their essay at the Knox Memorial Day parade. Winners will receive prize money: 1st prize - $50; 2nd prize $25; 3rd prize $10. Donna will email Linda the forms that were used in 2019. Linda will revise the forms and will then email the revised copies to KHS members for any additional input. Contest information will be given to school officials at BKW and the Helderberg Christian School by Dennis.
Members decided on the following deadline dates for the 2020 essay contest:
Friday, April 3 Dennis will deliver the information about the essay contest to BKW and Helderberg Christian School officials.
Friday, May 1 Dennis will pick up essay contest entries from BKW and Helderberg Christian School.
Tuesday, May 5 Essay contest entries will be judged at the KHS meeting.
Dennis will put information about the essay contest in the School News Notifier so that parents are informed of the opportunity for students to participate in the contest.
Dennis asked Bill if he had an estimate to replace the front porch on the Saddlemire Homestead. Bill said he needs to know exactly what parts of the porch need to be replaced. When Bill has the exact information he can supply an estimate.
Anna has framed the Absolute Charter that KHS has received. The framed document will be hung in the Saddlemire Homestead.
We thank Paul Axel-Lute for his work on transcribing the Merrymens’ Guest Register and adding it to our KHS website http://www.knoxhistoricalsociety.org/merrymens-tea-house-guest-book-1927.html
New Business: Donna applied for the Stewarts grant. If received, the grant money must be used for programming for students. Winners of the grant will be notified in March.
Donna reported that she asked Jan Van Etten if she would be interested in being interviewed about her family’s history in Knox. Jan said that at this time she would not be able to participate in the interview. Donna phoned Louis Saddlemire and left a message asking if he would be interested in being interviewed about his family’s history. Donna has not had a reply from Louis.
Donna suggested interviewing Henry Whipple about his solar farm project. This current history should be documented. Dennis suggested asking Henry if he would like to present a program on his family’s history as well as the current solar farm project. Donna will contact Henry.
We would like to document Pauline Williman’s life. Pauline died on July 31 at the age of 93. Anna will check with Gary Salisbury, Pauline’s nephew, to see if Gary has any photos and information that can be copied and added to our KHS collection.
Mr. Torrisi, who presented a Metal Detecting Program in 2014, might be interested in presenting a new metal detecting program in 2020. Members Terry Baldwin and Jayson Romanczuk also do metal detecting. Dennis will contact these individuals to see if they would be interested in presenting a program this summer.
Roger Chapman has expressed interest in presenting a program on old farm machinery.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Gwin, KHS Secretary
March 2, 2020 minutes
The March 3, 2020 KHS meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by President Dennis Barber. Members present included Terry Baldwin, Elly Czebiniak, Linda Devenpeck, Bill Donato, Donna Gwin, Ray Hand, and Anna Wolfe.
The minutes were accepted as emailed.
Ann presented the Treasurer’s Report. Anna moved $3000 from the savings account into a 9-month CD. She moved $300 from the savings account into the business checking account. KHS has $4,186.66 in total.
Correspondence included a newsletter from the Rensselaerville Historical Society. Donna received a phone call from Sandra Blake who grew up in Voorheesville and now lives in Virginia. Sandra was trying to identify a farm she visited as a young girl and thought that the Shultes Malcolm barn that is featured on our website as part of the Dutch Barn tour, might be the farm that she remembered. Donna connected Sandra with Margaret Torok, a native of Knox. Margaret was able to help Sandra correctly identify the location of the farm she visited as a young girl.
Anna received information from the Capital District Genealogical Society. They are presenting a conference on “Improving Your Skill: What Do You Need?” Donna will scan the information about the conference and email it to members present.
Dennis read parts of a letter, dating from the Civil War, that was among the possessions of the late Dan Driscoll. Dan had received the letter from Virginia Quay many years ago. The letter is of historical interest but it was decided that Dennis should check with a historical society in the Civil War’s soldier’s hometown area to see if they would like to have the letter for their collection. Dennis will reproduce the letter for our collection because of its historical interest. The letter contains the verses from the song THE BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK, OCTOBER 19th, 1864.
Old Business: Linda updated the paperwork for the 3rd annual Memorial Day essay contest. Dennis will make copies and distribute the guidelines, letters to teachers, and letters to students to the BKW middle and high school and to the Helderberg Christian School.
Anna found out that the savings passbook presented at the February 2020 meeting came from the former Ronald Stevens house. The present owners of the property, the Vincents, said more historical items are in their barn. Members of the KHS will contact the owners at a future date to see what additional items may be found there. Elly made a motion to accession the passbook that belonged to Cornell Ostrander, Knox Mutual Insurance Company official. Linda seconded the motion and the motion passed. Anna gave the paperwork for accessioning the passbook to Donna.
New Business: Anna attended the New Scotland Historical Society’s program on using the NYS Archives for genealogy. The program was presented by State Archivist John Diefenderfer. Anna will contact John Diefenderfer to see if he would be interested in presenting a program to the Knox Historical Society. Elly will also speak with a friend who was a former librarian at the State Library and at Guilderland Public Library. This librarian was involved in digitizing records and may have information to share with us.
Bill spoke about the NYS Museum’s warehouse in Rotterdam. This huge collection of historical artifacts contains items that pertain to Knox, such as the Crary Pillbox Collection. Bill showed a photo of the Crary Collection crate he took while visiting the warehouse. Bill will check with a friend who works there and possibly KHS could take a field trip to view the items that are a part of Knox’ history.
No information has been received from Stewarts Shops regarding the Holiday Matching Grant.
Dennis suggested we put up a new display in the Town Hall. Anna asked about the Hometown Banners that were displayed on Rt. 156 last year. KHS has the Daniel Nye banner in the Homestead. Anna will check with Ed Ackroyd and Town Clerk Traci Schanz to see if any photos or other materials from last year’s HomeTown Heroes banners could be used for a Town Hall display.
The Farming Display, currently at the Homestead, could be displayed in the Town Hall.
Programs for the summer include a presentation by Henry Whipple on his family history and by his son on the Solar Farm on the Whipple property. This program will be presented in July or August.
Roger Chapman may be interested in displaying his farming equipment. Perhaps this display could coincide with the Puckerstreet Fair.
Anna suggested a program on the Beebe Farm. Joshua Rockwood owns the former Sandy Gordon farm and raises grass-fed cattle. Anna will contact Josh to see if he is interested in presenting a program this summer.
Anna also suggested a program on the Patroon Land Farm. The late Pauline Williman donated her land to the group which raises food for the Regional Food Bank. This program would, in addition to presenting information about the current Patroon Land Farm, also honor the late Pauline Williman.
The Homestead will be open in July and August on Sundays from 2-4 p.m.
We will set a date for clean-up at the Homestead. The basement should also be cleaned up.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Gwin
The minutes were accepted as emailed.
Ann presented the Treasurer’s Report. Anna moved $3000 from the savings account into a 9-month CD. She moved $300 from the savings account into the business checking account. KHS has $4,186.66 in total.
Correspondence included a newsletter from the Rensselaerville Historical Society. Donna received a phone call from Sandra Blake who grew up in Voorheesville and now lives in Virginia. Sandra was trying to identify a farm she visited as a young girl and thought that the Shultes Malcolm barn that is featured on our website as part of the Dutch Barn tour, might be the farm that she remembered. Donna connected Sandra with Margaret Torok, a native of Knox. Margaret was able to help Sandra correctly identify the location of the farm she visited as a young girl.
Anna received information from the Capital District Genealogical Society. They are presenting a conference on “Improving Your Skill: What Do You Need?” Donna will scan the information about the conference and email it to members present.
Dennis read parts of a letter, dating from the Civil War, that was among the possessions of the late Dan Driscoll. Dan had received the letter from Virginia Quay many years ago. The letter is of historical interest but it was decided that Dennis should check with a historical society in the Civil War’s soldier’s hometown area to see if they would like to have the letter for their collection. Dennis will reproduce the letter for our collection because of its historical interest. The letter contains the verses from the song THE BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK, OCTOBER 19th, 1864.
Old Business: Linda updated the paperwork for the 3rd annual Memorial Day essay contest. Dennis will make copies and distribute the guidelines, letters to teachers, and letters to students to the BKW middle and high school and to the Helderberg Christian School.
Anna found out that the savings passbook presented at the February 2020 meeting came from the former Ronald Stevens house. The present owners of the property, the Vincents, said more historical items are in their barn. Members of the KHS will contact the owners at a future date to see what additional items may be found there. Elly made a motion to accession the passbook that belonged to Cornell Ostrander, Knox Mutual Insurance Company official. Linda seconded the motion and the motion passed. Anna gave the paperwork for accessioning the passbook to Donna.
New Business: Anna attended the New Scotland Historical Society’s program on using the NYS Archives for genealogy. The program was presented by State Archivist John Diefenderfer. Anna will contact John Diefenderfer to see if he would be interested in presenting a program to the Knox Historical Society. Elly will also speak with a friend who was a former librarian at the State Library and at Guilderland Public Library. This librarian was involved in digitizing records and may have information to share with us.
Bill spoke about the NYS Museum’s warehouse in Rotterdam. This huge collection of historical artifacts contains items that pertain to Knox, such as the Crary Pillbox Collection. Bill showed a photo of the Crary Collection crate he took while visiting the warehouse. Bill will check with a friend who works there and possibly KHS could take a field trip to view the items that are a part of Knox’ history.
No information has been received from Stewarts Shops regarding the Holiday Matching Grant.
Dennis suggested we put up a new display in the Town Hall. Anna asked about the Hometown Banners that were displayed on Rt. 156 last year. KHS has the Daniel Nye banner in the Homestead. Anna will check with Ed Ackroyd and Town Clerk Traci Schanz to see if any photos or other materials from last year’s HomeTown Heroes banners could be used for a Town Hall display.
The Farming Display, currently at the Homestead, could be displayed in the Town Hall.
Programs for the summer include a presentation by Henry Whipple on his family history and by his son on the Solar Farm on the Whipple property. This program will be presented in July or August.
Roger Chapman may be interested in displaying his farming equipment. Perhaps this display could coincide with the Puckerstreet Fair.
Anna suggested a program on the Beebe Farm. Joshua Rockwood owns the former Sandy Gordon farm and raises grass-fed cattle. Anna will contact Josh to see if he is interested in presenting a program this summer.
Anna also suggested a program on the Patroon Land Farm. The late Pauline Williman donated her land to the group which raises food for the Regional Food Bank. This program would, in addition to presenting information about the current Patroon Land Farm, also honor the late Pauline Williman.
The Homestead will be open in July and August on Sundays from 2-4 p.m.
We will set a date for clean-up at the Homestead. The basement should also be cleaned up.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Gwin
