August 3, 2021 Minutes
Members present: Dennis Barber, Donna Gwin, Ray Hand, Anna Wolf
There was a moment of silence for Bill Donato, KHS member/trustee who died in July 2021. Bill will be greatly missed. Not only was Bill active in KHS, he was involved with the Schoharie Gas-Up, The Altamont Fair, cleaned up small cemeteries and documented the gravestones, and was active in other neighboring historical societies.
The minutes of the March 2020 meeting were accepted as emailed.
Treasurer’s Report: Anna, Treasurer, reported that KHS has $1,134.26 in the Checking account; $796.44 in the Preferred Savings account: $3,046.19 in the CD. Total as of 8/3/21 is $4,978.06.
It was decided that the CD would be renewed as a 12-month CD, since slightly higher interest would accrue. The current CD is a 9-month CD. KHS had thought money would be needed for the Town’s Bicentennial celebration, but Dennis has received assurances from the Town that they will cover the expenses.
Correspondence: Anna received a letter from Helen Frink Strine, which is appended to these minutes. Helen had visited Knox in June and several KHS members accompanied her to her family’s small cemetery plot on Knox Cave Road. The family book, Frink Family in America, was donated by the Frink Family. Helen thanks KHS for support and hospitality during their short visit to Knox.
We received a letter from Helderberg Family and Community Organization regarding the Helderberg Heroes Project. This project collects and sends snack items to deployed military personnel. Dennis will contact Mary Ellen Gillis, Co-Chair of the project, to see if volunteers are needed to help with the project.
A letter from the Museum Association of New York was received asking if we wanted to renew our membership in the Association. After discussion Dennis made a motion that KHS not rejoin and Ray seconded the motion. The motion passed.
KHS member Paul Axel-Lute researched laws pertaining to Knox. Entitled Notes on Some Laws, Court Decisions, and Other Legal Materials concerning the Town of Knox, New York, or its Inhabitants, the research covers the time period 1822 through 2017.
Paul also researched the Old Cemetery on Ketcham Farm and listed the cemeteries on the property.
Old Business: Dennis reported that the Town is looking into rebuilding the porch of the Saddlemire Homestead. Ray mentioned that the back stairway also needs to be repaired.
With the death of Bill Donato, a trustee for KHS is needed. Dennis made a motion, and Anna seconded, nominating Ray Hand as a trustee. The motion passed.
At the September KHS meeting the nominating committee of Dennis, Donna, Ray, and Anna will nominate officers since this was not done in May due to the pandemic.
Lena Quay’s estate donated many items pertaining to the pillbox industry. Ray made a motion to accept and accession the items, Dennis seconded the motion and the motion passed.
Ray made a motion to accept and accession the Frink Family in America book. Dennis seconded the motion, and the motion passed.
The most recent records from the Helderberg Kiwanis Club have been donated. Dennis made the motion to accept and accession the Kiwanis Records. Ray seconded the motion and the motion passed.
Dennis made the motion to accept and accession the research on Town laws and Cemetery records, compiled by Paul Axel-Lute. Ray seconded the motion and the motion passed.
We need to add the most recent pages of our accession records to the large accession record book in the Saddlemire Homestead. Originally printed by John Elberfeld, Ray will check with Corner Gateway store to see if they can print our recent records, matching the format on the current pages. At the September KHS meeting Donna will give Ray a thumb drive with the Excel records from 2014.3 to the present.
Dennis will meet with Lou Saddlemire and discuss plans to clean gravestones at the Frink cemetery on Knox Cave Road. The late Bill Donato had suggested that KHS clean the gravestones, photograph the stones, and upload the photos to Graves.com.
New Business: Dennis has received assurances from the Town that money for the Bicentennial of Knox celebration will be provided by the Town. Dennis has formed a Bicentennial Committee consisting of Dennis, Lou Saddlemire, Bob Stevens, and Mary Ellen Gillis. Proposed plans thus far include a Proclamation on February 28, 2022 announcing the Bicentennial of the Town of Knox, a slide presentation from the Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1972, various outdoor events such as a car show, bands, food wagons, essay contest, photo contest, parade, and Puckerstreet Fair. Nancy Frueh suggested collecting recollections of long-time residents of the Town. Tom Payne is designing a Bicentennial logo based on the Knox Town logo. At the September KHS meeting we will discuss if the Sesquicentennial booklet needs additional updating.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Gwin, Secretary
There was a moment of silence for Bill Donato, KHS member/trustee who died in July 2021. Bill will be greatly missed. Not only was Bill active in KHS, he was involved with the Schoharie Gas-Up, The Altamont Fair, cleaned up small cemeteries and documented the gravestones, and was active in other neighboring historical societies.
The minutes of the March 2020 meeting were accepted as emailed.
Treasurer’s Report: Anna, Treasurer, reported that KHS has $1,134.26 in the Checking account; $796.44 in the Preferred Savings account: $3,046.19 in the CD. Total as of 8/3/21 is $4,978.06.
It was decided that the CD would be renewed as a 12-month CD, since slightly higher interest would accrue. The current CD is a 9-month CD. KHS had thought money would be needed for the Town’s Bicentennial celebration, but Dennis has received assurances from the Town that they will cover the expenses.
Correspondence: Anna received a letter from Helen Frink Strine, which is appended to these minutes. Helen had visited Knox in June and several KHS members accompanied her to her family’s small cemetery plot on Knox Cave Road. The family book, Frink Family in America, was donated by the Frink Family. Helen thanks KHS for support and hospitality during their short visit to Knox.
We received a letter from Helderberg Family and Community Organization regarding the Helderberg Heroes Project. This project collects and sends snack items to deployed military personnel. Dennis will contact Mary Ellen Gillis, Co-Chair of the project, to see if volunteers are needed to help with the project.
A letter from the Museum Association of New York was received asking if we wanted to renew our membership in the Association. After discussion Dennis made a motion that KHS not rejoin and Ray seconded the motion. The motion passed.
KHS member Paul Axel-Lute researched laws pertaining to Knox. Entitled Notes on Some Laws, Court Decisions, and Other Legal Materials concerning the Town of Knox, New York, or its Inhabitants, the research covers the time period 1822 through 2017.
Paul also researched the Old Cemetery on Ketcham Farm and listed the cemeteries on the property.
Old Business: Dennis reported that the Town is looking into rebuilding the porch of the Saddlemire Homestead. Ray mentioned that the back stairway also needs to be repaired.
With the death of Bill Donato, a trustee for KHS is needed. Dennis made a motion, and Anna seconded, nominating Ray Hand as a trustee. The motion passed.
At the September KHS meeting the nominating committee of Dennis, Donna, Ray, and Anna will nominate officers since this was not done in May due to the pandemic.
Lena Quay’s estate donated many items pertaining to the pillbox industry. Ray made a motion to accept and accession the items, Dennis seconded the motion and the motion passed.
Ray made a motion to accept and accession the Frink Family in America book. Dennis seconded the motion, and the motion passed.
The most recent records from the Helderberg Kiwanis Club have been donated. Dennis made the motion to accept and accession the Kiwanis Records. Ray seconded the motion and the motion passed.
Dennis made the motion to accept and accession the research on Town laws and Cemetery records, compiled by Paul Axel-Lute. Ray seconded the motion and the motion passed.
We need to add the most recent pages of our accession records to the large accession record book in the Saddlemire Homestead. Originally printed by John Elberfeld, Ray will check with Corner Gateway store to see if they can print our recent records, matching the format on the current pages. At the September KHS meeting Donna will give Ray a thumb drive with the Excel records from 2014.3 to the present.
Dennis will meet with Lou Saddlemire and discuss plans to clean gravestones at the Frink cemetery on Knox Cave Road. The late Bill Donato had suggested that KHS clean the gravestones, photograph the stones, and upload the photos to Graves.com.
New Business: Dennis has received assurances from the Town that money for the Bicentennial of Knox celebration will be provided by the Town. Dennis has formed a Bicentennial Committee consisting of Dennis, Lou Saddlemire, Bob Stevens, and Mary Ellen Gillis. Proposed plans thus far include a Proclamation on February 28, 2022 announcing the Bicentennial of the Town of Knox, a slide presentation from the Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1972, various outdoor events such as a car show, bands, food wagons, essay contest, photo contest, parade, and Puckerstreet Fair. Nancy Frueh suggested collecting recollections of long-time residents of the Town. Tom Payne is designing a Bicentennial logo based on the Knox Town logo. At the September KHS meeting we will discuss if the Sesquicentennial booklet needs additional updating.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Gwin, Secretary
Sept. 7, 2021 minutes
Members present: Dennis Barber, Donna Gwin, Ray Hand, Anna Wolf
The minutes of the March 2020 meeting were accepted as emailed.
Treasurer’s Report: Anna, Treasurer, paid the following bills: Go Daddy $21.17; Eastern Mutual Insurance Co. $157.81; USPS box $92. KHS now has $883.28 in the Checking account; $796.47 in the Preferred Savings account: $3,046.85 in the CD. Total as of 9/7/21 is $4,727.77. The CD has been renewed for 12 months and will be due August 19, 2022. The interest rate is .40.
Correspondence: Anna received from Eileen Mulderry, the original copy of an Albany County Surrogate Court notice dated 9/4/1833 regarding the estate of Jacob Engle of Knox, NY. This item had been in the possession of Mary Kinney who passed away. Donna received a thank you note from Bill Donato’s family, thanking KHS for flowers that had been sent to Linda Devinpeck, in Bill’s memory.
Old Business: Due to the pandemic, officers were not elected in May. The following slate of officers were nominated: Dennis Barber, President; Linda Devinpeck, Vice-President; Anna Wolfe, Treasurer; Donna Gwin, Secretary; Trustees – Elly Czebiniak, Ray Hand, Nancy Frueh. The slate of officers was accepted and approved.
In order to update our large accession book in the Homestead, Ray will bring a thumb drive with the newest accessions from the Excel file to Corner Gateway. Pages will then be printed out and added to our binder.
Dennis spoke to Dennis Cyr, town councilman, about contacting contractors to repair the front porch and back stairs at the Homestead.
A clean-up day is needed to arrange items at the Homestead. We will meet Wed., Sept. 15 from 10 am-noon.
Dennis spoke to some cemetery headstone-restorers about cleaning up the headstones at the Frink cemetery on Gibbs Road. Dennis will order a product that has been recommended for cleaning headstones. Dennis will confer with Lou Saddlemire for his advice on the cleaning the stones. After the stones are cleaned, photos will be taken and posted to Graves.com
New Business: Margaret Torok donated a copy of the 1830 census that had been copied by Retha Stapleton, Berne Historian and by Mildred Nicholson. Dennis made a motion to accession the census, Ray seconded the motion, and the motion passed.
Dennis made a motion to accession the Surrogate Court notice regarding Jacob Engle. Ray seconded the motion and the motion passed. Anna will get a UV protected frame for the notice so that the document can be displayed in the Homestead.
Donna will submit the chartering annual report to the NYS Museum.
The Bicentennial Committee will meet downstairs in the town hall on Thursday, Sept. 16 at 7 pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Gwin, Secretary
The minutes of the March 2020 meeting were accepted as emailed.
Treasurer’s Report: Anna, Treasurer, paid the following bills: Go Daddy $21.17; Eastern Mutual Insurance Co. $157.81; USPS box $92. KHS now has $883.28 in the Checking account; $796.47 in the Preferred Savings account: $3,046.85 in the CD. Total as of 9/7/21 is $4,727.77. The CD has been renewed for 12 months and will be due August 19, 2022. The interest rate is .40.
Correspondence: Anna received from Eileen Mulderry, the original copy of an Albany County Surrogate Court notice dated 9/4/1833 regarding the estate of Jacob Engle of Knox, NY. This item had been in the possession of Mary Kinney who passed away. Donna received a thank you note from Bill Donato’s family, thanking KHS for flowers that had been sent to Linda Devinpeck, in Bill’s memory.
Old Business: Due to the pandemic, officers were not elected in May. The following slate of officers were nominated: Dennis Barber, President; Linda Devinpeck, Vice-President; Anna Wolfe, Treasurer; Donna Gwin, Secretary; Trustees – Elly Czebiniak, Ray Hand, Nancy Frueh. The slate of officers was accepted and approved.
In order to update our large accession book in the Homestead, Ray will bring a thumb drive with the newest accessions from the Excel file to Corner Gateway. Pages will then be printed out and added to our binder.
Dennis spoke to Dennis Cyr, town councilman, about contacting contractors to repair the front porch and back stairs at the Homestead.
A clean-up day is needed to arrange items at the Homestead. We will meet Wed., Sept. 15 from 10 am-noon.
Dennis spoke to some cemetery headstone-restorers about cleaning up the headstones at the Frink cemetery on Gibbs Road. Dennis will order a product that has been recommended for cleaning headstones. Dennis will confer with Lou Saddlemire for his advice on the cleaning the stones. After the stones are cleaned, photos will be taken and posted to Graves.com
New Business: Margaret Torok donated a copy of the 1830 census that had been copied by Retha Stapleton, Berne Historian and by Mildred Nicholson. Dennis made a motion to accession the census, Ray seconded the motion, and the motion passed.
Dennis made a motion to accession the Surrogate Court notice regarding Jacob Engle. Ray seconded the motion and the motion passed. Anna will get a UV protected frame for the notice so that the document can be displayed in the Homestead.
Donna will submit the chartering annual report to the NYS Museum.
The Bicentennial Committee will meet downstairs in the town hall on Thursday, Sept. 16 at 7 pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Gwin, Secretary
Oct. 5, 2021 minutes
Members present: Dennis Barber, Donna Gwin, Ray Hand, Anna Wolfe. The meeting took place in the Saddlemire Homestead.
The minutes of the Sept. 7, 2021 meeting were accepted as emailed.
Treasurer’s Report: We received $1.03 in interest. The balance of our accounts is $4,728.80. Donna submitted a bill from Corner Gateway for $20.79 for printing the newest pages of the accession book housed in the Homestead. She also submitted a bill for $21.37 for 11x17 plastic page protectors, and a bill for $5.93 for 8.5x11 page protectors.
Correspondence: Anna received information about the Helderberg Family and Community Organization’s 3rd annual tree festival in the Knox Town Park. Dennis made a motion to pay $50 to participate in the tree festival and Donna seconded the motion. The motion passed. KHS will decorate a tree and will include decorations commemorating the Town’s Bicentennial.
Old Business: Corner Gateway printed pages for items accessioned since 2013. These pages have been added to our accession book in the Homestead.
Anna photocopied the Surrogate Court notice dated 9/4/1833 regarding the estate of Jacob Engle of Knox, NY. This photocopy will be placed in a binder. The original will be stored in the Town Hall.
New Business: Dennis received a notice from Tom Capuano and Thom Breitenbach, compilers and editors of True Ghost Stories from Altamont & Surrounds. Capuano and Breitenbach would like to come to a KHS meeting to talk about their book. Dennis will invite them to a future meeting.
New KHS members are needed! Dennis will reach out to people who used to be active in KHS and encourage them to come to our meetings.
Dennis reported on the activities of the Town Bicentennial Committee. A Proclamation will be read on Feb. 28, 2022, commemorating the creation of the Town of Knox, formerly known as North Berne. The Memorial Day parade will include a Mr. and Mrs. Knox on a float. The Puckerstreet Fair will take place in June. Quilts from the Knox Reformed Church will be displayed. A Chicken BBQ will be held in August.
The KHS meeting was held in the Saddlemire Homestead so that members could check through items in the Reading Room.
We have a binder titled: Deeds and Legal Documents. The deeds in the binder are not entered into the accession book separately and thus they cannot be searched in the accession database. Donna will list the deeds separately and enter the names into the accession book. We have a box of loose deeds. Dennis will check these deeds to see if any of the deeds are already in the Deeds and Legal Documents binder. If not, Donna will enter the names into the accession book and the deeds will be placed into the binder.
Anna brought books that belonged to the late Dan Driscoll. Books and items pertaining to Knox’s history will be accessioned.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Gwin, Secretary
The minutes of the Sept. 7, 2021 meeting were accepted as emailed.
Treasurer’s Report: We received $1.03 in interest. The balance of our accounts is $4,728.80. Donna submitted a bill from Corner Gateway for $20.79 for printing the newest pages of the accession book housed in the Homestead. She also submitted a bill for $21.37 for 11x17 plastic page protectors, and a bill for $5.93 for 8.5x11 page protectors.
Correspondence: Anna received information about the Helderberg Family and Community Organization’s 3rd annual tree festival in the Knox Town Park. Dennis made a motion to pay $50 to participate in the tree festival and Donna seconded the motion. The motion passed. KHS will decorate a tree and will include decorations commemorating the Town’s Bicentennial.
Old Business: Corner Gateway printed pages for items accessioned since 2013. These pages have been added to our accession book in the Homestead.
Anna photocopied the Surrogate Court notice dated 9/4/1833 regarding the estate of Jacob Engle of Knox, NY. This photocopy will be placed in a binder. The original will be stored in the Town Hall.
New Business: Dennis received a notice from Tom Capuano and Thom Breitenbach, compilers and editors of True Ghost Stories from Altamont & Surrounds. Capuano and Breitenbach would like to come to a KHS meeting to talk about their book. Dennis will invite them to a future meeting.
New KHS members are needed! Dennis will reach out to people who used to be active in KHS and encourage them to come to our meetings.
Dennis reported on the activities of the Town Bicentennial Committee. A Proclamation will be read on Feb. 28, 2022, commemorating the creation of the Town of Knox, formerly known as North Berne. The Memorial Day parade will include a Mr. and Mrs. Knox on a float. The Puckerstreet Fair will take place in June. Quilts from the Knox Reformed Church will be displayed. A Chicken BBQ will be held in August.
The KHS meeting was held in the Saddlemire Homestead so that members could check through items in the Reading Room.
We have a binder titled: Deeds and Legal Documents. The deeds in the binder are not entered into the accession book separately and thus they cannot be searched in the accession database. Donna will list the deeds separately and enter the names into the accession book. We have a box of loose deeds. Dennis will check these deeds to see if any of the deeds are already in the Deeds and Legal Documents binder. If not, Donna will enter the names into the accession book and the deeds will be placed into the binder.
Anna brought books that belonged to the late Dan Driscoll. Books and items pertaining to Knox’s history will be accessioned.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Gwin, Secretary