minutes 2025
Members of the Knox Historical Society met at the Saddlemire Homestead on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 7pm. There was no formal meeting. Members present were Dennis Barber, Jay Francis, Jeff Fusco-Jones, Donna Gwin, Jack McEneny, Charlene Scoons, Henry Whipple, Anna Wolfe.
Group met on the porch which is being rebuilt. Reconstruction work is being done by Tyler Sigond. Group decided on a medium gray for the flooring and white for the ceiling. Shutters will be reinstalled on the porch only. Other shutters are in poor shape and the cost of replacing wooden shutters is high. House will be repainted. Three ceiling lights will be installed on the porch and will be the same style as the original one ceiling porch light.
Dennis will man the Saddlemire Homestead during the Puckerstreet Fair on Sat., June 14 from 2-5 pm.
At the July 1 meeting we will schedule Open Houses at the Homestead for the month of July.
Jack McEneny is the Albany County historian and is on the Albany County Commission for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. founding. This Commission is planning events to commemorate events not just in 1776 but through the Revolutionary War years 1776-1783. Such events include Battle of Oriskany, Dietz Family Massacre, Battle of the Normanskill. County legislator Jeff Perlee is also on the Commission. Grants are available to scholars and associations who are doing research on appropriate topics for the 250th anniversary.
The group looked at the west side of the shed of the Homestead. The boards are in very poor condition. Replacement boards would cost at least $500 and the money is presently not available. Dennis will talk to Ken Saddlemire to see if funds can be secured for replacement boards.
Grants have provided funds for the porch, painting, and gutters.
Henry repainted 8 of the historic markers in town:
There are many Knox Hat boxes in the attic. KHS needs to decide what to do with the boxes. The hat company has no relationship to Knox.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Gwin
Group met on the porch which is being rebuilt. Reconstruction work is being done by Tyler Sigond. Group decided on a medium gray for the flooring and white for the ceiling. Shutters will be reinstalled on the porch only. Other shutters are in poor shape and the cost of replacing wooden shutters is high. House will be repainted. Three ceiling lights will be installed on the porch and will be the same style as the original one ceiling porch light.
Dennis will man the Saddlemire Homestead during the Puckerstreet Fair on Sat., June 14 from 2-5 pm.
At the July 1 meeting we will schedule Open Houses at the Homestead for the month of July.
Jack McEneny is the Albany County historian and is on the Albany County Commission for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. founding. This Commission is planning events to commemorate events not just in 1776 but through the Revolutionary War years 1776-1783. Such events include Battle of Oriskany, Dietz Family Massacre, Battle of the Normanskill. County legislator Jeff Perlee is also on the Commission. Grants are available to scholars and associations who are doing research on appropriate topics for the 250th anniversary.
The group looked at the west side of the shed of the Homestead. The boards are in very poor condition. Replacement boards would cost at least $500 and the money is presently not available. Dennis will talk to Ken Saddlemire to see if funds can be secured for replacement boards.
Grants have provided funds for the porch, painting, and gutters.
Henry repainted 8 of the historic markers in town:
- Whipple Farm on Rt. 156
- Town of Knox Rt 156 in front of Homestead
- Pillbox Capital Rt 156
- Sand Farm Rt 156
- Dutch Barn Rock Rd.
- Knieskem Farm Cross Lane
- Palatine Trail Knox Gallupville Rd.
- Tollgate Rt 146 by County Highway building
There are many Knox Hat boxes in the attic. KHS needs to decide what to do with the boxes. The hat company has no relationship to Knox.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Gwin
The May 6, 2025 Knox Historical Society meeting was called to order at 7:10 pm by Pres. Dennis Barber. Members present included Gary Crewell, Donna Gwin, Charlene Scoons, and Anna Wolfe. Guest Eric Marczak attended.
The slate of officers for 2025-26 was presented:
Pres. – Dennis Barber
Vice Pres. – Gary Crewell
Secretary – Donna Gwin
Treasurer – Anna Wolfe
Trustees – Jay Francis, Nancy Frueh, Jeff Fusco-Jones
Gary made a motion to nominate the slate of officers and trustees, Charlene seconded it. The motion passed unanimously.
Minutes: Minutes had been emailed. Gary made a motion to accept the minutes, Charlene seconded it. The motion passed.
Treasurer’s report: Dues for 2025-26 are due. KHS total assets are $5,535.59. We paid $60 for the Helderberg Family and Community Christmas tree in November. We have $737.13 in the checking account. We have $411.27 in the preferred savings account. We have $4,387.02 in the CD. Donna made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s report. Charlene seconded it. Motion passed. The key to the Post Office box has been lost. A replacement will be sent soon. Mail is now being picked up at the Altamont Post Office.
Old Business: Reconstruction of the front porch of the Saddlemire Homestead will be starting within days. Work should be completed by Memorial Day. The foundation work is completed and gutters installed. At the moment there is not money for painting the building. The Homestead will be open 11-1 during the parade. Options on the style of columns for the porch will be shared with members and favorite style will be chosen.
The play Anti Rent Voices was presented on Sun., Oct. 13 at 2 pm in the town hall as part of Path Through History. About 20 people attended. We have copies of the play recorded on thumbdrives.
Gary printed out the graphic for lanyards that KHS members can wear during KHS events. Lanyards will be stored in the Homestead.
The application for the Pomeroy Foundation grant for the Knox Cave marker was not approved last fall. We will resubmit the application with more primary source material. Hopefully a program about Knox Caves can be presented. There are YouTube videos showing exploration of the cave. Perhaps we can show one of the videos and perhaps Mike Nardacci could speak about the cave.
New Business:
Eric Marczak, a member of the Northeastern Woodworkers Association, has been working on resurrecting the dying art of Pillbox making. Using basswood, Eric has made shavings and has stamped out the tops and bottoms of the boxes. He has used crazy glue gel to hold the shavings and tops and bottoms together. Eric has a supply of basswood he is willing to donate to KHS. We hope to present a program on this dying art. Gary and Eric will get additional items from the Homestead so that Eric can continue work on making pillboxes. Possibly, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Knox Historical Society, we could demonstrate the making of pillboxes in 2026, perhaps at the Puckerstreet Fair.
There is a program tonight at the New Scotland Historical Association on the topic of Native Americans in the Helderbergs. Eric is quite knowledgeable on Native American artifacts. Donna will contact the New Scotland Historical Association to find the contact information for the speaker.
We will have a clean-up day at the Homestead on Sat., May 17 from 11-1 in preparation for the Memorial Day Open House.
Donna will give a talk to the Duanesburg Historical Society on June 16 on the topic of the Henry Knox Trail. Perhaps this program can be presented to KHS in the summer.
Eric is a member of the Knox Conservation Council. A joint program with the Agricultural Committee is being planned for the fall. Perhaps KHS could join the program. The date of Pathways Through History Weekend, Oct. 11-13, is a possible choice.
Eric said the Conservation Council is also working on a Story Map of Knox highlighting places of interest. Donna will email to Eric the trails that we presently have: Driving Tour of Knox, Dutch Barns, Helderberg Quilt Barn Trail, Winn Preserve, and Historic Markers.
Meeting adjourned at 8:20pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Gwin, Secretary
The slate of officers for 2025-26 was presented:
Pres. – Dennis Barber
Vice Pres. – Gary Crewell
Secretary – Donna Gwin
Treasurer – Anna Wolfe
Trustees – Jay Francis, Nancy Frueh, Jeff Fusco-Jones
Gary made a motion to nominate the slate of officers and trustees, Charlene seconded it. The motion passed unanimously.
Minutes: Minutes had been emailed. Gary made a motion to accept the minutes, Charlene seconded it. The motion passed.
Treasurer’s report: Dues for 2025-26 are due. KHS total assets are $5,535.59. We paid $60 for the Helderberg Family and Community Christmas tree in November. We have $737.13 in the checking account. We have $411.27 in the preferred savings account. We have $4,387.02 in the CD. Donna made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s report. Charlene seconded it. Motion passed. The key to the Post Office box has been lost. A replacement will be sent soon. Mail is now being picked up at the Altamont Post Office.
Old Business: Reconstruction of the front porch of the Saddlemire Homestead will be starting within days. Work should be completed by Memorial Day. The foundation work is completed and gutters installed. At the moment there is not money for painting the building. The Homestead will be open 11-1 during the parade. Options on the style of columns for the porch will be shared with members and favorite style will be chosen.
The play Anti Rent Voices was presented on Sun., Oct. 13 at 2 pm in the town hall as part of Path Through History. About 20 people attended. We have copies of the play recorded on thumbdrives.
Gary printed out the graphic for lanyards that KHS members can wear during KHS events. Lanyards will be stored in the Homestead.
The application for the Pomeroy Foundation grant for the Knox Cave marker was not approved last fall. We will resubmit the application with more primary source material. Hopefully a program about Knox Caves can be presented. There are YouTube videos showing exploration of the cave. Perhaps we can show one of the videos and perhaps Mike Nardacci could speak about the cave.
New Business:
Eric Marczak, a member of the Northeastern Woodworkers Association, has been working on resurrecting the dying art of Pillbox making. Using basswood, Eric has made shavings and has stamped out the tops and bottoms of the boxes. He has used crazy glue gel to hold the shavings and tops and bottoms together. Eric has a supply of basswood he is willing to donate to KHS. We hope to present a program on this dying art. Gary and Eric will get additional items from the Homestead so that Eric can continue work on making pillboxes. Possibly, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Knox Historical Society, we could demonstrate the making of pillboxes in 2026, perhaps at the Puckerstreet Fair.
There is a program tonight at the New Scotland Historical Association on the topic of Native Americans in the Helderbergs. Eric is quite knowledgeable on Native American artifacts. Donna will contact the New Scotland Historical Association to find the contact information for the speaker.
We will have a clean-up day at the Homestead on Sat., May 17 from 11-1 in preparation for the Memorial Day Open House.
Donna will give a talk to the Duanesburg Historical Society on June 16 on the topic of the Henry Knox Trail. Perhaps this program can be presented to KHS in the summer.
Eric is a member of the Knox Conservation Council. A joint program with the Agricultural Committee is being planned for the fall. Perhaps KHS could join the program. The date of Pathways Through History Weekend, Oct. 11-13, is a possible choice.
Eric said the Conservation Council is also working on a Story Map of Knox highlighting places of interest. Donna will email to Eric the trails that we presently have: Driving Tour of Knox, Dutch Barns, Helderberg Quilt Barn Trail, Winn Preserve, and Historic Markers.
Meeting adjourned at 8:20pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Gwin, Secretary