Old Stone
Fort News
Carle Kopecky
This has been a challenging year at the Old Stone Fort Museum, with many changes. First, it was with great regret that we had to say goodbye to our senior museum interpreters, Carol Platt and Gar Weber. Both left due to health reasons at the beginning of the season after six and five years of service, respectively. Carol and Gar each had their own ways of greeting and teaching our history to visitors. Carol has a knack for charming everyone and Gar brought much historical insight and information to the job. We received numerous favorable comments about them over the years, and wish them both well. Our new interpreters, Kristen Spickerman, Pam Pratt and Robin Morris, came on the job even as we were opening, so they hit the ground running – learning the history, the cash register and making costumes as they went. The professional staff devoted many hours to training and writing procedural manuals so that by the end of June they were handling school groups and weekend visitors with ease. By that time the Strawberry Festival-open house was upon us, and a very successful event it was. Volunteers on the Planning and Development Committee, especially Toni Bray, Betty DeVaughn, Jeff O’Connor and Ralph and Irmgard Buess, led the way with lots of help from other volunteers, serving the desserts, parking cars and performing other tasks. Donations included strawberries from Schoharie Valley Farms, ice cream from Grampa George’s Dugout, and bottled water from E.T. Neals. The Esperance Band and Rick Hill provided music for the 244 people in attendance. While all this was going on, we were in the midst of preparations for the big event of 2002, August’s 225th anniversary of the Battle of the Flockey. Re-creating the U.S. Army’s first cavalry charge as an admission-free event was a bigger job than most of us anticipated. A temporary exhibit was installed in the fort featuring George Mann’s royal commission as a captain of militia, the stump into which Col. John Harper reputedly thrust his sword while facing his Indian pursuers, and a newly acquired reproduction of the distinctive brass helmet worn by the cavalry which fought at the Flockey – the only such reproduction exhibited in any American museum. In addition to the complexities of presenting a half-dozen specially trained and equipped horses and riders, we had to devise other sources of income to substitute for ticket sales. Fortunately, assistance was obtained through a grant of $5,000 from the Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation, and $2,000 for advertising appropriated by the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors. Donations of cash and in-kind goods and services from our sponsors included the New York Power Authority, the George Mann Tory Tavern, Stewart’s Shops, Howe Caverns, Cobleskill Stone Products, Ginny Kintz, and the Sheriff’s Tactical and Rescue Force. Advertisers and patrons in the program booklet helped as always; thank you! The event was a success in spite of very hot weather, with publicity reaching out farther than ever, attracting many new visitors to the Old Stone Fort. They were among the more than 2,100 people who witnessed re-enactments of the defection of Captain George Mann (at the tavern that bears his name), the Battle of the Normanskill and the Battle of the Flockey. The organizing committee was headed by Carle Kopecky and Laura Spickerman and included John Osinski, Paul Supley, Ralph and Irmgard Buess, Toni Bray, Betty DeVaughn, George Benson, Gene Vroman and Bill Dyer. Many volunteers helped out before, during and after the event.Remember that Stone Fort Days will not be held in October this year. All the Revolutionary War re-enactors will be at the 225th anniversary of the Battle of Saratoga on Columbus Day weekend. We will, however, have a small Civil War encampment here, in recognition of the 140th anniversary of the mustering-in of the 134th N.Y. Volunteer Infantry Regiment at the Schoharie fairgrounds in 1862.
The Museum, the Economy, an Anniversary . . . and You! It is a tough year for the American economy and for the Historical Society. Museum attendance was up slightly in June, but down significantly in July and August. This was true at many tourist attractions in the region. Installation of the new handicap-accessible rest rooms in the Badgley Museum encountered some unexpected costs, mostly associated with the fire sprinkler system. These facts, combined with a decline in the earnings of our investments threaten to cause our first budget deficit in the past six years. Although the Strawberry Festival made more than $600, the Battle of the Flockey has not yet brought in quite what it cost to produce.
As a fund-raising device for the battle, we produced a very nice line of 225th anniversary commemorative items. Although more than 2,100 people attended the free event, these did not sell as well as we had hoped. An anniversary like this happens only once. Here is an opportunity for you to obtain these commemorative gifts while the supply lasts. We have enameled pins, coffee mugs, children’s cut-out-and-color paper dragoon helmets, a four-color logo canvas tote bag and a magnificent color logo stein. In addition, we published a new 50 page large-format book, Thunder in the Valley, a history of the tory uprising and Battle of the Flockey by Jeff O’Connor. You may purchase these while the supply lasts with the order form included in the REVIEW, by visiting our web site www.SchoharieHistory.net, or by stopping at the museum store. However you do it, the purchase of these items will help our financial situation in this difficult year. I know we can count on your continued support! Thank you.
Archaeological and Document Collection Acquired
This summer the Society was the recipient of a major collection of local archaeological artifacts and documents. While the donor wishes to remain anonymous, the collection is well known to local historians and consists of hundreds of objects from most of the native American, colonial and Revolutionary War sites in Schoharie County. It includes projectile points, stone tools, rifle balls, buttons, coins and other items. The documents include letters, contracts and financial transactions from the Revolution to the early 1800s. A small sample will be on exhibit through the end of October, and we will be developing a permanent exhibit next year.
New Herb Garden
Once again, we have a kitchen herb garden outside the Hartman’s Dorf house. The raised bed was provided courtesy of Guernsey’s Nursery and the herbs were donated and planted by Wellington’s Herbs and Spices. Signs were produced by George Benson. Thank you!
Around the County
The Historical Society had a major presence at the celebration of Cobleskill’s 250th Anniversary over the 4th of July weekend. We exhibited a Rufus Grider circa 1880s copy of a 1752 land deed. Jeff O’Connor and the Stone Fort Volunteer Militia participated in the parade and the reenactment of the founding of Cobus’ Kill. We also lent the Niagara No. 6 fire engine to the Cobleskill Fire Department for the dedication of its new fire house. We are currently exploring the feasibility of restoring and exhibiting this magnificent 1860s vintage equipment with the Schoharie Fire Department.
The Stone Fort Volunteer Militia also participated in the grand re-opening of Lansing Manor on June 10, after major renovations by the New York Power Authority. Stone Fort curator Dan Beams arranged for historical entertainment by Professor Hillman’s Band and exhibits by tinsmith Art Thorman and Allan Cross. Society President Michael Breen represented us at the dedication, with Carle Kopecky and Dan Beams also in attendance. In July, we provided weekly historical programs for the Power Authority’s “Stars of Summer” family series. The militia, Allan Cross, Chris and Ben Wilkins, Katie Boardman and Dave Raphelson, and Laura Spickerman participated. Jeff O’Connor spoke on the Battle of the Flockey in Cobleskill and Schoharie. The Stone Fort Volunteer Militia, which meets the second and fourth Saturday of each month, also performed an Independence Day flag ceremony at the fort and helped at the Battle of the Flockey event. New members, age 12 and above, are always welcome.
Restroom Donors
The following people donated towards the installation of the new handicapped-accessible bathrooms: Donnell A. Ballard, George Bartlett Jr., Jeanne C. Bartlo, Mr. & Mrs. Edwin Beller, Frank Benning, George Berner, Patricia Booth, Toni Bray, Linda Buckland, Frances Burton, Joyce Cary, Richard Christman, Kathleen A. Cline, Doris Crapser, Ted Doscher, Betty DeVaughn, Virginia Earles.
Also, Kenneth J. Frederick, Raymond France, Dianne Gade, George G. Gaetz, Diane Graziano, Nancy Green, John & Charlotte Grossbeck, Edward Hagan, Leslie Hooper, Mr. & Mrs. Wilbur Ivins, Fred Klee, Russell S. Luce Jr., Inez Molloy, Walter Miers, Pamela A. Molle, Georgia Moseman, Joseph O'Connor.
Also, James Pangman, Carl Rhinehart, Pat Ritrovato, Theodore Scholl, Marvin Schwartz, Joan Sondergaard, Floyd Tillapaugh, Mr. & Mrs. Floyd Tillapaugh, Ruth Truax, Wilson J. Worman, Nancy Vroman Witmer, Arthur Young, Audrey Jean Zeh, Elaine Zimmer, Mr. & Mrs. William Zimmer.