Meeting minutes 2024
The May 7, 2024 Knox Historical Society meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Pres. Dennis Barber. Members present included Gary Crewell, Jay Francis, Donna Gwin, Charlene Scoons, Henry Whipple, and Anna Wolfe. Town Supervisor Russ Pokorny also attended.
Treasurer’s report: KHS total assets are $5,738.37. We have $1110.67 in the checking account. We have $410.71 in the preferred savings account. We have $4,216.82 in the CD. Anna personally purchased the Town of Knox ledgers, 1831-1887 from Dennis Holzman, antiques dealer in Cohoes and donated the ledger to KHS. Membership dues were collected. Donna submitted a bill from Altamont Enterprise Printing for $19.44 for the printing of 50 copies of the Helderberg Quilt Barn Trail.
Old Business: Russ Pokorny said the Town Board has agreed to spend $30,000 this year for repairs and painting of the Saddlemire Homestead. Anna has received quotes from a few local contractors: Tyler Sigond, Ryan Coates, and an Amish group. Additional contractors will be contacted for quotes. Repairs include porch, shutters, foundation repairs, gutters and eventually painting. Gary is knowledgeable about repairs on historic buildings and will discuss with Ken Saddlemire. Dan Sherman, Town Building Inspector, will also be contacted.
Nick Viscio edited the Anti-Rent War play and gave a thumb drive with files of the play to Russ Pokorny. Russ will make additional copies and KHS will receive a copy of the thumb drive. KHS can present a viewing of the play sometime in the future.
New Business: Dennis suggested that KHS apply to the Pomeroy Foundation for funding for additional NYS Historic Markers. Dennis suggested markers for the Henry Barkley House on the corner of Rt. 156 and Knox Cave Road. This building was the site of the Knox Town Board meetings in the early years of our Town. Dennis also suggested a marker for the Knox Caves, the Barent Lewis Stone House on Bozenkill Road, and Jay Francis’ house on Rt. 156. We will check the Pomeroy website for the application forms for historic markers.
Henry re-painted several of the marker signs last fall. He said the marker on Knox-Gallupville Road needs more concrete at the base because the marker is wobbly.
Anna cleaned the Saddlemire Homestead in preparation for a Senior Citizens group that will visit on May 9. The group will tour the Homestead, eat lunch in the Town Park pavilion, and then travel on their bus to view Quilt Barns. The Helderberg Quilt Barn Trail has been updated. Copies of the Trail are available online at https://d.docs.live.net/70a54e98ab53b7ff/Documents/khs/KHS%20minutes/may24.docx
The dimmer light switch in the Reading Room gets warm after it has been on for a while. Russ will ask Ray Weiler to change the light switch to a regular light switch.
Jay submitted a slate of names for officers and trustees in the KHS:
Dennis, Pres.; Gary Crewell, VP; Donna, Sec.; Anna, Treas.; Trustees, Jay, Ray Hand, Nancy Frueh. Dennis seconded the slate of names. Since Ray is not at our meeting we will contact him to see if he is able to be a trustee. The slate of name passed unanimously, pending the agreement of Nancy and Ray to be trustees.
Charlene Scoons agreed to take-over management of the Facebook page for the Helderberg Quilt Barn Trail. It was previously managed by Vicki Vatimo. Donna will arrange the contact between Vicki and Charlene.
We are considering displaying The History of Ice Harvesting at the Altamont Fair. Donna and Anna presented this history at Winterfest in Knox and at the Berne Historical Society in April.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Gwin, Secretary
Treasurer’s report: KHS total assets are $5,738.37. We have $1110.67 in the checking account. We have $410.71 in the preferred savings account. We have $4,216.82 in the CD. Anna personally purchased the Town of Knox ledgers, 1831-1887 from Dennis Holzman, antiques dealer in Cohoes and donated the ledger to KHS. Membership dues were collected. Donna submitted a bill from Altamont Enterprise Printing for $19.44 for the printing of 50 copies of the Helderberg Quilt Barn Trail.
Old Business: Russ Pokorny said the Town Board has agreed to spend $30,000 this year for repairs and painting of the Saddlemire Homestead. Anna has received quotes from a few local contractors: Tyler Sigond, Ryan Coates, and an Amish group. Additional contractors will be contacted for quotes. Repairs include porch, shutters, foundation repairs, gutters and eventually painting. Gary is knowledgeable about repairs on historic buildings and will discuss with Ken Saddlemire. Dan Sherman, Town Building Inspector, will also be contacted.
Nick Viscio edited the Anti-Rent War play and gave a thumb drive with files of the play to Russ Pokorny. Russ will make additional copies and KHS will receive a copy of the thumb drive. KHS can present a viewing of the play sometime in the future.
New Business: Dennis suggested that KHS apply to the Pomeroy Foundation for funding for additional NYS Historic Markers. Dennis suggested markers for the Henry Barkley House on the corner of Rt. 156 and Knox Cave Road. This building was the site of the Knox Town Board meetings in the early years of our Town. Dennis also suggested a marker for the Knox Caves, the Barent Lewis Stone House on Bozenkill Road, and Jay Francis’ house on Rt. 156. We will check the Pomeroy website for the application forms for historic markers.
Henry re-painted several of the marker signs last fall. He said the marker on Knox-Gallupville Road needs more concrete at the base because the marker is wobbly.
Anna cleaned the Saddlemire Homestead in preparation for a Senior Citizens group that will visit on May 9. The group will tour the Homestead, eat lunch in the Town Park pavilion, and then travel on their bus to view Quilt Barns. The Helderberg Quilt Barn Trail has been updated. Copies of the Trail are available online at https://d.docs.live.net/70a54e98ab53b7ff/Documents/khs/KHS%20minutes/may24.docx
The dimmer light switch in the Reading Room gets warm after it has been on for a while. Russ will ask Ray Weiler to change the light switch to a regular light switch.
Jay submitted a slate of names for officers and trustees in the KHS:
Dennis, Pres.; Gary Crewell, VP; Donna, Sec.; Anna, Treas.; Trustees, Jay, Ray Hand, Nancy Frueh. Dennis seconded the slate of names. Since Ray is not at our meeting we will contact him to see if he is able to be a trustee. The slate of name passed unanimously, pending the agreement of Nancy and Ray to be trustees.
Charlene Scoons agreed to take-over management of the Facebook page for the Helderberg Quilt Barn Trail. It was previously managed by Vicki Vatimo. Donna will arrange the contact between Vicki and Charlene.
We are considering displaying The History of Ice Harvesting at the Altamont Fair. Donna and Anna presented this history at Winterfest in Knox and at the Berne Historical Society in April.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Gwin, Secretary