Spring Day Trip to Catskill and Coxsackie, NY

Spring Day Trip to Catskill and Coxsackie, NY

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

The Waterford Historical Museum’s Day Trip will be Wednesday, May 6, 2015 to the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill, NY and to the Bronck Museum in Coxsackie, NY.

In the morning, there will be a guided tour of the 1815 home and studio of Thomas and Marie Cole where Thomas Cole created many landscape paintings. The tour includes a film that tells of his rise to prominence and time to visit the museum shop.

Lunch will be a hot and cold buffet at the First United Methodist Church in Coxsackie. The lunch includes dessert and beverages.

After lunch, we will visit the Bronck Museum, a national historic landmark in Coxsackie. It was once part of the Pieter Bronck family farm. The first dwelling was built in 1663, and later, another house and Dutch barn were erected in 1738. The family maintained ownership for 276 years. In 1939, the last family owner gave the property to the Green County Historical Society.

Departure: We will depart from the Wesleyan Methodist Church located at 75 Grace Street, Northside, Waterford at 8:30 AM. Please park in the rear of the lot. The approximate return time is 4:30 PM.

Cost: Current members $80, Non-members $85. The cost of the trip includes free parking, motor coach transportation, admission fees, guided tours and the noon meal.

Paid reservations by April 22nd
Make reservations with Emily Wilson, 518-237-7122. Please make checks payable to the Waterford Historical Museum and make payable to:
Emily Wilson
26 Columbus Ave.
Waterford, NY 12188

All day trips sponsored by the Waterford Museum and Cultural Center are educational and benefit the Museum’s operational costs. Thank you for your support!

Thomas Cole National Historic site.

Call for Photos: Be part of the Waterford Historical Museum's 2015 Exhibit!

If you have been following our blog, then you know that the Waterford Historical Museum is working with a committee to help publish Waterford’s first Images of America book. The book will contain a selection of 180-240 pre-1930 images with captions, an introduction, acknowledgements, and six chapters, which will cover the following topics: 1. Business, Industry and Prominent People; 2. Neighborhoods and Residents; 3. Schools and Churches; 4. Disasters (Floods, Fire, Town Hall, and Union Bridge); 5. Transportation (Roads, Canals, Railroads, Trolleys & Bridges); 6. Civil Service (Police, Firemen and Military).

To make this book and our new 2015 exhibit a success, the Waterford Historical Museum needs you to help out! We will be collecting and scanning photographs that cover the topics mentioned in the paragraph above. All photos will be considered for either the book or the exhibit depending on the date and relevancy to the topics and themes.

You are welcome to stop by the Waterford Historical Museum on March 27th anytime after 2 PM until 9:30 PM. In the evening, beginning at 6 PM, we will have our photo reception party and present the book and exhibit project details. So stop by and bring up to 5 of your most nostalgic Waterford photographs. Share your memories and stories of Waterford with us and be part of this exciting project!

For more information about this event and to download photo exhibit admission form, please visit the Waterford Historical Museum’s website.

Michael Barrett to speak at Waterford Historical Museum’s March Lecture

The Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center will hold its final 2014-2015 winter lecture series event with Michael Barrett, Executive Director of the Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway. Barrett will present an illustrated lecture about Troy, New York’s role and impact in the Civil War. The lecture will begin at 7 PM on March 10th at CHROME FOOD AND SPIRITS, located at 405 Hudson River Road in Waterford, New York.

Although all the Civil War battles took place well south of Troy, New York, the city was involved in all aspects of the war. Strong pre-war abolition fervor and the riotous escaped slave incident of 1860 helped to shape the national consciousness. Her bustling industries and prominent military and political personalities did much to further the Federal war effort. Her soldiers bore the burden of participating in the every major battle, and avenged both the first and the last great casualties of the war.

Michael Barrett’s lecture is the result of over thirty years of research as he presents a true story about the people and events that made a city great during this tumultuous period in American history.

Attendees of the lecture are encouraged to enjoy a delicious meal or a cocktail during the lecture and are welcome to arrive early for a good seat. Admission for the lecture will be $6 for non-members and $5 for members. All proceeds help support the Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center and its mission.

For additional information, please contact the Waterford Historical Museum by telephone at 518-238-0809 or by email at info@waterfordmuseum.com. You may also visit the website at www.waterfordmuseum.com or our Facebook page.

Waterford Historical Museum Job Posting

Job Title: Director of the Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center

Location: Waterford, New York

Hours: Part-time (25 hours/wk); Monday-Friday 10 am – 3 pm

Salary: TBD (Will be based on qualifications and experience)

Description: To oversee the general operation of the Waterford Historical Museum, develop programming, maintain the collections database, and prepare exhibits. The Director will also be responsible for preparing an annual budget and developing and implementing fundraising strategies including but not limited to grant applications and private sector donations.

Qualifications:
• Education – Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Museum Studies, History, Education, or related field; Master’s Degree preferred

• Experience – Prefer at least two years of experience working with museums or similar organizations

Send cover letter and resume to:
Patricia Burke, President
Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center
2 Museum Lane
Waterford, NY 12188

Or email: info@waterfordmuseum.com

Deadline for submission of application: February 27, 2015, 5 PM EDT

Arcadia Book for Waterford is Progressing

I think we are all familiar with the iconic Images of America books published by Arcadia. We may see them at Barnes & Noble, museums, or local bookstores. We get a glimpse of yesteryear from towns and cities all over the United States. Often, we get this nostalgic feeling viewing black and white photos of the historic built environment and prominent people associated with a town/city from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It provides us with a sense of place and why that particular place developed in Anywhere, USA.

It seems like every town or city has at least one Arcadia book published about its history. So, the historic Town and Village of Waterford, spanning a history of two hundred years certainly has one. Right? Well, the answer is no. Recent efforts, led by former Waterfordian, Dick Herzog, plan to change that and get Waterford's first Images of America
book published.

A committee of local historians and Town and Village representatives began meeting at the Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center in October to discuss the possibilities of the book. Things quickly progressed and a application was submitted to the Arcadia Publishing Company in December. A few weeks ago, the contract for the book was submitted.

The Waterford Arcadia Book Committee recently submitted a sampling of twenty historic photographs and captions to Arcadia for approval. The book will contain a selection of 180-240 images with captions, an introduction, acknowledgements, and six chapters, which will cover the following topics: 1. Business, Industry and Prominent People; 2. Neighborhoods and Residents; 3. Schools and Churches; 4. Disasters (Floods, Fire, Town Hall, and Union Bridge); 5. Transportation (Roads, Canals, Railroads, Trolleys & Bridges); 6. Civil Service (Police, Firemen and Military).

The committee is currently in the process of gathering historic photos of Waterford and preparing text for each photo's caption. Future announcements about the book will continue to be made to the public through press releases, newsletters, blog posts, etc. In addition, opportunities will made to the public in the coming months for anyone wising to contribute historic photographs that they may have of Waterford. Stay tuned!

February and March Lectures

Please join us for our final two lectures in February and March at Chrome Food and Spirits!

Thank you members and sponsors!

The Waterford Historical Museum Board of Trustees and Director would like to thank all of you who made donations for our annual appeal. This financial support greatly helps the museum with it general operations and maintenance throughout the year. Without you we could not be here to tell the great history and culture of Waterford through our exhibits, programs, and events. Much appreciated!

Sincerely,
Paul Archambault