The Gill Room & Battenkill Inspired

Sandy McReynolds, Gill Room Historian, is not one to appear on camera, but Hannah DeGarmo can put even the most behind-the-scenes type of person at ease. Learn about all of the treasures in the Gill Room at Greenwich Free Library.

I hope you enjoy the video. Currently, all of the Battenkill Inspired videos can be seen at kiosks at Crandall Public Library, & Greenwich Free Library. Or you can view the videos on the Folklife Center's YouTube channel. There are currently 28 shorts, including films on Cliff Oliver, Susan B. Anthony, Eddy Plow Works, & Bob Warren.


"Battenkill Inspired: The Flow of Creativity, Ingenuity, and the River" celebrates art and culture throughout the Battenkill watershed. Videos are released weekly as part of the celebration of the Folklife Center's 25th anniversary and Crandall Library's 125th year. . Filmed, Directed, and Edited by Kevin Rogan, Sara LaPell, Hannah DeGarmo & Todd DeGarmo Opening & closing music composed by Benjamin Phelps Closing image: "River Reflections" by George Van Hook www.georgevanhookartist.com Produced by Todd DeGarmo 2017 based on the exhibit, Battenkill Inspired Folklife Gallery January to June 2015 Funding for this project came from a 2017 Corridor of Commerce Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Additional support was provided by: New York State Council on the Arts - Folk Arts Program Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust Helen & Michael Casper Fellowship for Internship Support

The following was originally published on the New York History Blog. Click the title below to go to that most fabulous blog on all things NY history! To contribute to the blog visit their Rally page. I am hoping to be at the conference!

New York Women’s Suffrage Centennial Conference Planned

By Editorial Staff on August 30, 2016
Night of Terror ProtesterOn Friday, October 7, the New York Cultural Heritage Tourism Network will hold a Women’s Suffrage Centennial Conference at the Holiday Inn in Seneca Falls/Waterloo. 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of women voting legally in New York.

The Conference will take place from 9 am to 4:30 pm. The Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul, who is also serving as Chair of the New York State Women’s Suffrage 100th Anniversary Commemoration Commission, has been invited to make the Keynote presentation.

Several special breakout sessions including:
– Promoting opportunities and locating funding sources
– How your local TPA can help drive business to your site
– How to advocate for women’s suffrage events and programs
Panel discussions about the suffrage movement from 1848 to present

Conference Outline

8 am – Registration, coffee and networking opportunities
9 – Welcome and introductions
9:10 – Welcoming Comments
Menzo Case, CEO, Generations Bank, Seneca Falls, NY
United States Senator Kirstin Gillibrand (invited)
9:30 – Keynote Address – Lt Gov & 2017 New York State Women’s Suffrage Centennial Chair Kathy Hochul (invited)
10:00 – Devin Lander, New York State Historian
Jennifer Lemak, Chief Curator of History, NYS Museum
10:30 – Sally Roesch Wagner, Executive Director Matilda Joslyn Gage Center – Reviewing the past & planning the future
11: – Are you utilizing your Tourism Promotion Agent? Panel discussion
11:50 – Margaret Fuller Update from Beacon, NY – Michael Barnett
Noon – Luncheon (included)
1 pm – Old Songs Concert Series Presentation – “The American Women’s Suffrage Movement in New York State in Song and Story”
1:45 – Breakout sessions – “Beginning Work on a Regional Suffrage Trail”
Katie Macintyre – Generations Bank
3 – Panel Discussion – “Bringing History to the Classroom and Public Programs”
Kim Harvish, Chapman Historical Museum, moderator
Susan Lewis, Women’s and Gender Studies, SUNY New Paltz
Susan Goodier, Women’s and Gender Studies, SUNY Oneonta
Ganondagan State Historic Site representative
Laurel Ullyette, Harriet Tubman Boosters
4 – Review the day for 2017 Women’s Suffrage Centennial planning
4:30 – Conference concludes

Prices are $55 for Network Members and $65 for Non-Members. Click here to sign up.

Special Pre-Conference Tour

On October 6, Auburn and Seneca Falls Historic sites, including the Tubman Home, Seward House Museum, Seneca Falls Historical Society Museum, National Women’s Hall of Fame and Women’s Rights National Historical Park will hold visits and tours. Additional information coming soon.

For questions and more information, email info@nychtn.com or call (315) 521-3985. This conference is produced by the New York Cultural Heritage Tourism Network.

Accessible History: Let the Visitors Linger

There are some interesting things going on in the history/ museum communities at present. They all seemed to be centered around one idea; "How do we engage more people in history & museums?"

One way, is the allow more access to historic sites. On his blog Twisted Preservation, Frank Vagnone writes about what he calls "fingerprinting." Read more here: Fingerprinting: A Defense of Leaving Your Mark. When it's all said & done, the self professed "Museum Anarchist" is saying let people take selfies & post them to instagram, pinterest, & tumblr. It can only increase the visitor experience, plus give your site some added exposure (pardon the pun) & free advertising.

But the other point he makes is even more provocative; let people have time in the space. Let them truly feel what it was like to live in a house museum, for example. Let them feel the history, the magic if you will, that we as site interpreters, tour guides, museum educators, guardians of the past, feel when we open up the site for the day. My favorite thing to do in all the house museums I worked at (the Schuyler House & Neilson House in Saratoga National Historical Park, the Marston House, & Villa Montezuma in San Diego, CA, and Schuyler Mansion in Albany, NY) was to walk in before the first tour of the day. Opening the curtains, or shutters to let the light in was almost poetic. I reveled in lingering on the staircase, glancing out an upstairs window, perusing the books on the historically accurate bookshelves. This is why I love house museums. As a visitor, I linger behind the group, so I can snatch a few fleeting moments without the constant chatter of the guide. This is the kind of thing we need to allow, & encourage. Our history NEEDS to be accessible. It belongs to all of us, not just a chosen few.

Keeping a diary- 2014 & 1936

Remember when I blogged about diaries & journals last year? (If you don't, I understand. Just click that link I put in 2 sentences ago & it will take you to the post.) Well, I have decided to get back to my diary with the help of my great-grandmother Irene Smith Dolton. I never knew her because she was born around 1880 & died a few years before I came into the world. Reading her diary is like a little glimpse into her life in Ludlowville (Town of Lansing), plus it has sparked conversations with my dad about his family.

But, you may be wondering how Irene is helping me get back on track with my diary. A few years ago, I thought it a great idea to post her diary entries in a blog. I had read another blog (which I can't seem to find now because there are many more out there) about a soldier in WWI. The ancestor was posting daily as if the soldier were writing them now. I thought I could do the same because I have one entire year, 1936, & no more. This would only be a year long commitment. So, now as I post one of Irene's entries every day, I then write in my diary. Hopefully, this will keep me on track for all of 2014 while I visit my great-grandmother in 1936.

Irene Smith Dolton's diary from 1936

If you are interested in reading the 1936 Dairy of Irene Smith Dolton, here is the link for the 1st entry. They are rather short, so have a glance.

Washington County History Fair 2013

October 26, 2013 marked the third history fair put on by the Washington County Historical Society. I participated in all 3 history fairs.

The 1st was in 2009 at the Historic Salem Courthouse in Salem, NY. I had an idea for a display that was kind of quirky & it didn't really work. I decided to play off the movie Office Space & create a version of local history "fair." I don't think a single person understood the reference, but they liked the buttons. Lesson #1: Know your audience.

The 2nd was held at Greenwich High School in the village of Greenwich, NY in 2011. This time I basically grabbed anything I thought was cool in my office & brought it along. I was able to have a conversation with some local history buffs relating to the glass plate negatives that a random resident donated. Lesson #2: Bring cool stuff.

For the 3rd year, the history fair was at the Granville Elementary School in Granville, NY. I decided on a poster presentation to talk up the ways in which public historians can use social media to reach out to their communities both near & far. Some of you may know that I use Facebook & twitter (@greenwichhist) to keep everyone abreast of what I am up to, as well as interesting things about history in general. Plus, this blog has allowed me to write about local history in an informal way.

Working on my poster presentation

One of the Gill Room displays

Another display about John Brown, his wife Mary Ann & Lucretia Mott

Many of the exhibitors, public historians, re-enactors, & other local history groups had poster presentations. I did chat with quite a few people, including the newly appointed historian for Jackson, NY. It seemed like many of the visitors were families with school age children, or retirees.

Part of my display- poster presentation, brochures, mugs

The rest of my display- artifacts from the Bicentennial of the USA in 1976

I guess I am hoping that someone out there, reading this will have a suggestion or 2 for how we can make this event better & attract more visitors. There are so many events to compete with, how do we stand out? & the larger question, how do we, as historians, get people interested in history?

I tried this year, by using my grandmother's Bicentennial collection. I chose items that related locally, like calendars from local businesses (Muzicar's in Schuylerville, Agway in Greenwich), & programs from local events. The quirky things like the Campbell Soup Kid dolls, the Uncle Sam bank, & the Bicentennial box of tissues were draws, but most people looked at the book of 1st day covers. After all these years, people still love stamps.

Let me know in the comments below, on my Facebook page, or tweet me if you have any suggestions (& if you attended the history fair). Thanks for reading.

Teaching US History in Unusual Ways

Long before companies like Honest Tea started putting quotes on their bottle caps, milk bottles came with history lessons.

I found these milk bottle tops in my grandmother's collection of stamps, first day covers, post cards & bicentennial memorabilia. I think they are neat & thought I would share for those people like my mom who actually remember these. But also for people like me & my daughter who have never seen them.

Milk bottle tabs- 1700s

Milk bottle tabs- 1800s

Of course, my favorite one is the 1920 Women's Suffrage Amendment tab below.  I have no idea what local dairies might have issued these. Any one out there remember?

Milk bottle tabs- 1900s

More on the history of milk in glass bottles.

1976: Celebrating the Bicentennial (Part 1)

My grandmother, Jaqueline Martin (nee Drew) was a avid collector of stuff. She also, had a love of history & participated in the Bicentennial celebrations in Schuylerville, NY in 1976-77. With the death of my grandfather last year, my mother & I found a bunch of Bicentennial memorabilia which I will share with you over the next few moths. I will be featuring some things at the Washington County History Fair in Granville, NY this Saturday, October 26, 2013 also. (For more information on this- see my Facebook page.)

I hope that through my grandmother's collection & a binder full of clippings I have in the office, I can piece together a localized, personal view of the Bicentennial...

My grandmother loved to color. She would sit & color with us, or by herself, while she listened to "her programs" (game shows, soap operas) on the television. So, I thought I would start this series off with the Bicentennial coloring books in her collection.

Over sized coloring book put out by Colgate Toothpaste

My personal favorite by the Samuel Lowe Co of WI

 This coloring book by the Samuel Lowe Company in Kenosha, WI is thick & well drawn. It covers more events than the others in this collection. I love the suffrage page below. There is also a page on Chester Arthur, as the presidents are represented. Some omissions are the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, & specific suffragists, like Susan B. Anthony. Oh, well.

Radio and 19th Amendment pages in the Lowe coloring book

Slim coloring book covering 200 years of US history

Coloring book specifically on the Revolution

5 Things I Didn't Learn as a History Major

A friend from high school & I were chatting on Facebook the other night about our respective careers & our blogs. He mentioned a "fluff" piece he should be writing instead of chatting with me & suggesting articles to read. His idea of fluff is different from mine. I think of something like celebrity gossip, he thinks of something you already know quite a bit about so no additional research is required. So, I guess what I am getting at is... Here is my fluff piece.


5 Things I Didn't Learn as a History Major

5.) Basic Office Skills

I didn't realize how much office work was involved in being an Historian. Call me naive, but I think this is one of the biggest issues with choosing a career. You have an idea that you like a certain field, but you have no idea the day-in-the-life-of that profession. Luckily, this is where all of those other jobs came in handy. I learned how to answer a phone, take messages, file, reply to letters & e-mail.

Subject files in historian's office

4.) Creating a Filing System

This is daunting. I had no subject files. You might think that growing up in the area meant I might have a clue about Greenwich History. I did not (& there are still many people who know more than me), but I do know how to look things up. The problem was I couldn't find the information. I had to create a filing system. I had a vague idea, but I went to a conference with APHNYS & one of the historians passed out her filing guidelines. I was so excited that I didn't have to start from scratch!

Family Name files in historian's office

3.) Dealing with someone else's  Filing System or Two!

I am still dealing with this. Since the filing system (family names) is functional, if a bit redundant, I have yet to change it, though I did weed out some duplicate files while moving my office.

2.) Assembling office furniture

I have assembled 2 bookcases, one swivel chair with casters, & more than a few of... I don't know what they are called. Those metal things that go inside a filing cabinet drawer to hold the hanging files. (see image below) These things I learned from my parents & sisters after trips to the Joy Store &, more recently, IKEA & Target. (Tip, never throw out the Allen wrench. Put it in a plastic, re-sealable bag with the instructions & any leftover hardware. Tape it to the underside or back of the furniture or keep them all together in one drawer.)

The most difficult bit of office furniture to assemble

 & finally...

1.) Customer Service

I have worked in a number of retail & service oriented jobs. Customer Service is the most important skill you can learn. There are a myriad of books, training videos, seminars, etc on this topic. But, the only way to learn is to practice. I think everyone should have to work retail or in a restaurant before they are allowed out into the "real world," but my main philosophy on customer service is this: if you can help, help; if you can't help, find someone who can.

Fluff piece out. We will return to our regularly scheduled blog posts next week. Same bat-time, same bat-channel.

A little find...

I have mentioned a few times over the 3 years I have been writing this blog that I, occasionally, get little surprises when I walk into my office. Today was one such day. Town Clerk, Elaine Kelly found a nugget of history while going through some papers, & placed it in my office. (The old one, because I am still working on moving upstairs.)

At first I wasn't going to write about it, because I didn't see anything about it in my quick reference guide, Tim Tefft's Our Century: An Account of Local Twentieth Century History gleaned from the pages of The Greenwich Journal and Salem Press. However, while doing some research to answer a few e-mail queries, I happened to open right up to the marriage record of one LeRoy Grant Towns. Mr. Towns is the very man, this nugget of history concerns. He married Esther Vivian Varney on December 13, 1920 in the town of Greenwich. He was listed as a 23 year old chauffeur, born in Bristol, NH. His bride, a housekeeper, was from Glens Falls.

Resignation of Constable Towns

There is no indication why Mr. Towns decided to resign his post on November 11, 1947, but he also included his badge in the envelope. Off to search the Gaylord catalog for a box to store it in.

Constable of Greenwich NY badge circa 1947

Calling all Revolutionary War fans...

To commemorate their 75th Anniversary (2013), Saratoga Battlefield (AKA Saratoga National Historical Park) has put out a call for photographs of people working at &/or enjoying a visit to the park. You may have noticed this in the last couple of issues of the Greenwich Journal & Salem Press, but if not I'm here to let you know about it.

If you bring your photographs to the battlefield they will scan them & give you a copy of the CD. It is unclear in the article if the battlefield wants to keep the originals or they are simply keeping the scanned images. I have sent an e-mail to the battlefield about this & hope to hear back soon.



Park Ranger Tisha 1998



Many of you may not know that I worked at the battlefield. It was my 1st history related job right out of college in the summer of 1998. I was a seasonal Interpretive Park Ranger. I had the uniform & everything!

Tisha in colonial garb at the Schuyler House 1998

My mom made both of my colonial outfits. This is the fancy one.



Charles Martin painting the Schuyler House 1978



 After some analysis, it was discovered that the Schuyler House was yellow & green. Philip Schuyler rebuilt on the site of the brick house burnt by Burgoyne's retreating army in 1777. But in 1978 it was being painted white. Here my gramp, local painter & roofer Charles L. "Pepper" Martin, paints the house with some assistance from a four-year-old me & my three-year-old "little sistar" Heather.



Old Saratoga Historical Association 1969



 I love this shot. My grandma, Jacqueline A. Martin (nee Drew), is seated center. My mom, Tamaris A. Dolton (nee Martin), is standing 2nd from the right. My "big sistar", Emily Catherine Dolton, is the little girl on the left.

I highly encourage any of you to share images & stories of your visits to the battlefield. They will accept up to 20 images per family/individual.

Happy 75th Anniversary Saratoga National Historical Park!