WCHS Benefit Night at Cooper's Cave Ale Company
2024-09-12 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | Cooper’s Cave Ale Company, 2 Sagamore Street, Glens Falls, NY, 12801, United States
We welcome our members and the public to come support the Washington Historical Society Thursday, September 12th at Cooper’s Cave Ale Company! From 4pm to close (8pm), 15% of food and drink sales will be donated to the society to continue on our mission. PLEASE ANNOUNCE TO YOUR HOST AND SERVER THAT YOU ARE ATTENDING THE BENEFIT FOR THE WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

The Washington County Historical Society is an educational organization dedicated to engaging diverse audiences in the study and appreciation of the collective heritage of Washington County, New York and its environs.

WCHS Local History Book Club
2024-09-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Skenesborough Museum, Skenesborough Drive, Whitehall, 12887, United States
Sept. 13, 2024 Meeting of WCHS Local History Book Club
Washington County Historical Society’s Local History Book Club will meet from 12 noon until 1 PM on Friday, Sept. 13, at Skenesborough Museum, Skenesborough Drive, Whitehall. Historical society membership is not required for the book club. Any biography of Benedict Arnold can be read but discussion will focus on Arnold’s part in the building of the First Navy at what is now Whitehall. Five dollar admission fee includes a tour of the museum which can be done before or after the book discussion.
The October 11 meeting will be at noon at the historical society building, 167 Broadway, Fort Edward and will discuss Thaddeus Kosciusko’s role in the Revolution, particularly at Ticonderoga and Saratoga.
The book club meets on the second Friday of the month at twelve o’clock. Future sessions of the club will include books about the larger Adirondack area as well as works by local authors. Upcoming topics include the temperance movement in our area, Benjamin Franklin’s failed mission to Canada, and William Miller and the Millerites in Hampton. For additional information, email Connie Harris Farrington at connieandlee@roadrunner.com.

Patriots of Washington County Series- Lecture 1
2024-10-08 17:30 - 19:00 | South Granville Congregational Church, 7179 State Route 149, Granville, NY, 12832, United States
Patriots of Washington County (Series Lecture #1)
Presented by Sarah Hall
Location: South Granville Congregational Church, 7179 State Route 149, Granville, NY 12832
Time: 5:30 pm

WCHS and the Washington County 250th Committe will co-host a program about the lives of several famous patriots in Washington County.
There are many Revolutionary War Soldiers buried in our towns and this talk will include not only where they are from and their service record, but also snippets we’ve learned about their lives. Some are funny, some are strange, and you can be sure, all are interesting. A bit of the timeline of the Revolutionary War will be included, but you don’t need to be a history buff to enjoy the talk.

You will hear new stories of the 18th century people who lived in our towns after the Revolutionary War. Some of the soldiers in the first lecture include Lemuel Haynes, Israel Harris, Joseph McCracken, and Tobias Van Veghten.

March Local History Book Club
2025-03-12 12:30 - 13:30 | Wing- Northup House, 167 Boadway, Fort Edward, NY, 12828, United States
March 12, 2025 Meeting of WCHS Local History Book Club

Washington County Historical Society’s Local History Book Club will meet from 12:30 to 1:30 PM on Wednesday, March 12, at the historical society headquarters, the Wing-Northup House, 167 Broadway, Fort Edward. Historical society membership is not required for the book club. Attendees will discuss Prohibition in Washington and Warren Counties. Reading choices include Bullets, Booze, Bootleggers, and Beer, the Story of Prohibition in Northern NY by Lawrence Gooley; Bootleg by Karen Blumenthal; and Prohibition by Edward Behr. This subject is a sequel to the November 2024 session on The Temperance Movement in this area. Included will be discussion of arrests and shootings in Fort Ann, Whitehall, and Fort Edward.
Future sessions of the club will include books about the larger Adirondack area as well as works by local authors. Upcoming topics include William Miller and the origin of the Seventh Day Adventists in Hampton; local area Freemasonry during and after the Revolution; and the Battle of Bennington. For additional information, email Connie Harris Farrington at connieandlee@roadrunner.com.

Bootleg book: https://www.amazon.com/Bootleg-Murder-Moonshine-Lawless-Prohibition/dp/1250034272

Prohibiton book: https://www.amazon.com/Prohibition-Thirteen-Years-Changed-America/dp/1611450098

Tavern Talk
2025-03-15 12:00 - 16:00 | Old Courthouse, 122 Main St, Hudson Falls, NY, 12839, United States
Tavern Talk

Step back in time to the late 18th century with an immersive and interactive experience that brings the American Revolution to life. On Saturday, March 15, 2025, the Washington County 250th Committee will host a Tavern Talk fundraiser event filled with captivating stories, period-inspired food, and engaging reenactors. The event will be held at the historic former Washington County Courthouse and Jail, located at 122 Main St., Hudson Falls, NY. Additional event details and ticket information can be found in the following link: Tavern Talk

The festivities begin at 12:00 p.m. with a guided tour of the courthouse and jail, offering fascinating stories, documentation, and insights into the building’s history. At 1:00 p.m., guests will enjoy a hearty, period-themed meal, starting with appetizers, including charcuterie boards filled with a variety of meats, cheeses, bread, and more. Guests will then enjoy a buffet lunch prepared by Fire Rock Catering, featuring hearty dishes inspired by 18th-century fare, including beef stew, haddock, a robust potato and vegetable soup, and freshly baked rolls. Dessert includes two varieties of pies. A cash bar will be available.
Throughout the meal, guests will be visited by reenactors dressed in 18th-century attire, who will sit and share captivating stories of daily life during the American Revolution as well as their political views. These lively interactions offer a unique opportunity to learn about the struggles, triumphs, and customs of the period. As the reenactors move through the room, their engaging narratives will transport guests to another time, making the experience both educational and entertaining. To further enhance the immersive atmosphere, live performances of period music will fill the air, providing a soundtrack that complements the historical theme of the event.
Tickets are $50 per person and must be purchased by Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Proceeds will support future events and activities organized by the Washington County 250th Committee. These initiatives will celebrate and honor Washington County’s pivotal role in the founding of our nation.
For more information, call the Washington County Historical Society at (518) 747-9108.
Additional event details and ticket information can be found in the following link: Tavern Talk
In the meantime, you can meet one of the reenactors in this video. https://www.dropbox.com/t/1DPRAPJlNxxSwXJ7

Through Susan's Eyes: Susan B. Anthony's Childhood in Washington County
2025-03-18 18:30 - 19:30 | Greenwich Free Library, 148 Main Street, Greenwich, NY, United States
Through Susan’s Eyes
The Washington County Historical Society will present “Through Susan’s Eyes: Susan B Anthony’s Childhood in Washington County, NY” at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at the Greenwich Free Library, 148 Main Street, Greenwich, NY.
This lecture is a retrospective on the nineteen years Susan B Anthony’s family lived in the hamlet of Battenville in the Town of Greenwich on the Batten Kill. Many people don’t realize that Susan’s family moved to Battenville in 1826 when Susan was only 6 years old. The area is a virtual history book of the Anthony family, but until recently there was not a historic marker anywhere. Many of the events that formed Susan’s thoughts about women’s suffrage were developed in this little settlement during her childhood and young adulthood. Most people drive through this historic community without knowing its amazing history.
Included will be the influence on Susan’s life by her Quaker heritage from the Anthony family. Daniel Anthony and his family were a part of the Quaker friends in Adams, Massachusetts before their move to Battenville in 1826. Susan’s mother, Lucy Anthony remained a Baptist throughout her life even though she attended the Quaker meetings with her husband and the children.
Photos of the restored outside of the Battenville house will be included in the presentation
Debi Craig and Sandy McReynolds will present a Power Point presentation focusing on the numerous sites in Greenwich, Easton, Jackson, and Cambridge, NY that involved the Anthony family.
Debi Craig is past president of the Washington County Historical Society and still serves as chairperson for the Washington County History Fair and the Programming Committee. She is also president of the NorthStar Historical Project which promotes Underground Railroad history in the Easton/Greenwich area. She is Corresponding Secretary of the Hebron Preservation Debi also serves as Hebron historian. She is Chaplain of the Willard’s Mountain Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Sandy McReynolds is historian of the Gill Room in the Greenwich Free Library. She is also historian for the Town of Greenwich. Sandy is a member of the Easton-Greenwich Historical Association. She is the Past Regent for the Willard’s Mountain Chapter of the DAR. Sandy frequently leads walking tours of the historic district in Greenwich focusing on many different topics of local history.
image.png

How Infectious Diseases Affected General George Washington's Strategy During The American Revolution
2025-03-22 11:00 - 12:00 | Rogers Island Visitor Center, 11 Rogers Island Drive, Fort Edward, NY, 12828, United States
How Infectious Diseases Affected General George Washington’s Strategy During the American Revolution
Dr. Leach, retired Internist and an Infectious Disease consultant, speaks about how infectious diseases affected General George Washington’s strategy during the American Revolution.

When and where…..

Date and time
Saturday, Mar 22, 2025
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Address
Rogers Island Visitors Center, 11 Rogers Island Drive Fort Edward, NY 12828
Cost
FREE ADMISSION
About this event

This talk is in conjunction with the Washington County 250th Committee and is given by Dr. Leach, a retired internist and infectious disease consultant who resides in Queensbury, NY. Dr. Leach was the founder of the Glens Falls Medical Mission and its Project Guatemala.
The location of this event being held at Rogers Island is especially meaningful, as it played a significant role during the American Revolution. One of its notable uses was as a site for a smallpox hospital. In the midst of the war, smallpox outbreaks were a major threat to both the Continental Army and the general population. In this context, Rogers Island became one of the places used to quarantine and treat soldiers who had contracted smallpox. It is believed that the island served as a smallpox hospital for infected soldiers, particularly because of its isolation, which helped limit the spread of the disease.
Come learn more about this fascinating and important endeavor in person.

Skene Manor New Volunteer Orientation
2025-04-06 13:00 - 16:00 | Skene Manor, 8 Potter Terrace, Whitehall, NY, United States

Local History Book Club
2025-04-09 12:30 - 13:30 | Greenwich Free Library, 148 Main Street, Greenwich, NY, United States
April 9, 2025 Meeting of WCHS Local History Book Club
Washington County Historical Society’s Local History Book Club will meet from 12:30 to 1:30 PM on Wednesday, April 9, at the Greenwich Free Library, 148 Main Street, Greenwich. Historical society membership is not required for the book club. Attendees will discuss Chester Arthur’s years in Greenwich and his subsequent career as Governor and President. His Irish-born Baptist minister father moved the family from Vermont to Union Village, now Greenwich, in 1839. The parsonage where the Arthur family lived has been moved and is now located on Gray Avenue. Reading choices include The Unexpected President by Scott S. Greenberger, The Accidental President by John Pafford, and Chester Alan Arthur by Zachary Karabell.
v

Future sessions of the club will include books about the larger Adirondack area as well as works by local authors. Upcoming topics include William Miller and the origin of the Seventh Day Adventists in Hampton; local area Freemasonry during and after the Revolution; and the Battle of Bennington (fought in New York). For additional information, email Connie Harris Farrington at connieandlee@roadrunner.com.

The Bridge at the Heart of Battenville
2025-04-15 18:30 - 19:30 | Greenwich Free Library, 148 Main Street, Greenwich, NY, United States
Friends of the Battenville Bridge to present
“The Bridge at the Heart of Battenville”
The Greenwich-Easton Historical Society announced today that it would host the Friends of the Battenville Bridge for a presentation entitled “The Bridge at the Heart of Battenville”. The presentation will take place on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the Greenwich Free Library. The library is located at 148 Main Street, Greenwich, New York.
Presenters will include historians who will share their expertise, artists who will display and discuss images of artwork inspired by the Bridge, and persons who will speak about their own memories and experiences of the historic hamlet of Battenville and its Bridge.
The historic hamlet of Battenville is located in Greenwich and Jackson, at the intersection of State Route 29 and County Route 61. The Battenville Bridge spans the Battenkill at this point and connects the Towns of Jackson and Greenwich.
The Battenville Bridge is 109 years old, having been constructed in 1916. The New York State Office of Historic Preservation has determined that the Bridge is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The Bridge serves as a “vital link” that has shaped the heart of the Battenville historic community. The community includes the Susan B. Anthony Childhood Home, Stoops Tavern, and the Tom McLean house; all of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hamlet also includes other significant and historic resources including the Haskins-Hobbie house, the John McLean house, and the Battenville Cemetery.
The Friends of the Battenville Bridge, a citizens’ organization that is dedicated to the preservation of the Battenville Bridge for its continued use for vehicular traffic, will present the program. The New York State Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration are currently engaged in a study to recommend the future of the Bridge.
Come and appreciate this wonderful place!
The program will be free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served, and donations will be appreciated.

Benedict Arnold at Saratoga: How a Newly Discovered Letter Changed History
2025-04-17 18:30 - 20:00 | Scotlander Brewing Company, 453 County Rte. 47, Argyle, NY, 12809, United States
As part of the 250th celebration in Washington County, The Washington County Historical Society will host historian Eric Schnitzer give a talk entitled “Benedict Arnold at Saratoga: How a Newly Discovered Letter Changed History”. The program will be Thursday, April 17th at 6:30 p.m. at The Scotlander Brewing Company.
Benedict Arnold’s main action was fighting during the Saratoga Campaign of the Revolutionary War. Arnold stopped British Troops at Fort Schuyler then returned to the main army to help set up defense on the American retreat to Peebles Island. In September 1777, he moved forward with the American Army to Bemis Heights (current Saratoga Battlefield). He conducted the left wing of the American Army at Freeman’s Farm, the first Battle of Saratoga. He conducted the troops at the Second Battle of Saratoga. He was severely wounded during the Second Battle. Schnitzer will to into greater detail on all of Arnold’s movements during 1777.
Eric Schnitzer has worked at Saratoga National Historical Park since 1997, becoming Park Ranger/Historian in 2000. He has dedicated his life’s study to the organization, personnel and material culture of the British, German, and American armed forces of the American War for Independence, particularly as it relates to the Northern Campaign of 1777. He lectures and writes extensively on these subjects and has written articles for journals such as “The Hessians,” ”The Brigade Dispatch”, and “The Fort Ticonderoga Bulletin”. He has also created illustration for books such as Philadelphia 1777; Wives, Slaves, and Servant Girls:Advertisements for Female Runaways in American Newspapers, 1770-1783; British Soldiers, American War: Voices of the American Revolution; and The Revolution’s Last Men: The Soldiers Behind the Photographs.
Eric and his wife, Jenna, live in an 18th-century house in the White Creek Historic District near Bennington Battlefield in Walloomsac, NY, where they spend much of their time sewing reproduction 18th-century garments for living history and museum applications.
Scotlander Brewing Company opened their doors in 2019 when the town of Argyle overturned their dry town law.  It is a small brewery located in an idyllic setting off at 453 County Route 47, nestled in the hills of Washington County.  Along with the brewery there is a Christmas tree farm and they serve as Harvest Hosts.
The owners, Matt and Sarah Puhl, pride themselves on brewing quality beer and are constantly changing up the menu.  There is always something new to try! Whether you come to enjoy live music, food trucks, trivia night for everyone and patrons enjoy the small town atmosphere.
Please come out to enjoy a fascinating evening with Eric Schnitzer and enjoy a pint! Bring a friend! There is no charge for this program. Donations are gladly accepted. We hope you will join us.

Local History Book Club - The Freemasons
2025-04-22 08:00 - 17:00 | NY
May 14, 2025 Meeting of WCHS Local History Book Club
Washington County Historical Society’s Local History Book Club will meet from 12:30 to 1:30 PM on Wednesday, May 14, at the Sandy Hill Arts Center, 214 Main Street, Hudson Falls. This building was previously a Masonic Lodge in the village. Historical society membership is not required for the book club.
Attendees will discuss the Freemason affiliation of important leaders of the Revolution, its impact on our currency, and the formation of the first Masonic lodge in Washington County. Local focus will be on Adiel Sherwood as first Grand Master elected at a meeting in what is now the Old Fort House Museum in Fort Edward. Sherwood had been imprisoned by the British in Canada for more than two years after his capture at Fort Anne in 1780. An account of this early lodge can be found in The Fort Edward Book by Robert Bascom (1903), available online at Internet Archive.
Future sessions of the club will include books about the larger Adirondack area as well as works by local authors. Upcoming topics include William Miller and the origin of the Seventh Day Adventists in Hampton; the path of Washington County’s 123rd Regiment in the Civil War; and the Battle of Bennington (fought in New York). For additional information, email Connie Harris Farrington at connieandlee@roadrunner.com.

POSTPONED Teacher Workshop at Saratoga Battlefield
2025-04-29 08:00 - 15:00 | Saratoga Battlefield, Saratoga National Historical Park, Saratoga, NY, 12866, United States
Workshop at Saratoga National Historical Park
Saratoga National Historical Park (Saratoga NHP) will present a Park Ranger-led,
high quality, one-day teacher workshop at Saratoga Battlefield. The workshop,
building on the upcoming 250 th anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga, will offer
enhanced teacher familiarity with Saratoga NHP’s grade 4, 5, and 7 in-person and
virtual educational programming, materials, and resources, empowering
educators to offer insightful onsite and in-class educational experiences for their
students. The afternoon portion of the workshop features a Ranger-guided tour
of Saratoga Battlefield that will equip participating educators with personal and
professional comfort and confidence, anchored in lived experience, when guiding
students’ exploration of the Battles of Saratoga and the American War for
Independence.
This is the link to the BOCES catalog for the teacher workshop:
https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=18589&I=5051164
Instructor Abigail Turcotte, 6 credits, FREE
Need more information? Send an Email to aturcotte@wswheboces.org

"An Evening with Betsy Munro Fisher: The Tragic Story of a Loyalist Woman in Burgoyne’s Army"
2025-05-08 18:30 - 20:00 | Hebron United Presbyterian Church, 6559 State Rte. 22, East Hebron (Salem), NY, 12865, United States
An Evening with Betsy Munro Fisher: The Tragic Story of a Loyalist Woman in Burgoyne’s Army
Saturday, May 8, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Hebron United Presbyterian Church East
6559 State Rte. 22 in East Hebron
(7 miles north of Salem, 10 miles south of Granville and 6 miles east of West Hebron.)

Betsy Munro Fisher’s story will be told by Anne Clothier, who is considered one of the most knowledgeable historians of the Capital Region on women of the American Revolution and focuses on the women of the Burgoyne Campaign. You may wonder why this story is being told here in Hebron, NY. A patent of land in what is now North Hebron was granted to Betsy’s father, the Rev. Harry Munro who was a chaplain of the 77th Highlander Regiment in the British Army during the French and Indian War. He named the Munro Patent, Munro’s Meadows. It was one of the first settlements in Black Creek (now Hebron). Betsy was born in Philadelphia in 1760. Her mother died when she was an infant. Munro married two more times. For a time, he was employed by the Anglican Church in Albany. In the early 1770s Munro sought to develop his wartime bounty land – 2,000 acres between the Hudson River and Lake Champlain. He built a large log cabin there in the Town of Hebron and held summertime services. His subdivision of the tract into small farms in 1774 found only a few takers. According to an account by Isabel McIntyre in 1771, the road to Munro’s Meadows from Salem was not open all the way to the Meadows, much of the way, there was no road at all. The weather was very hot and flies and mosquitoes were very troublesome (possibly the reason there were few takers!) Later Munro returned to Scotland.
We are here to learn of the difficult and tragic life of his first child Betsy who lived for a time as a child in Munro’s Meadows (Hebron) in the summertime where she was very happy. Later in her life as the audience will see, her father was not kind to her. However, as the audience will learn, this is not the story of Harry.
Anne Clothier is currently the Assistant Historian for Saratoga County, N.Y. She served as Education Director for the Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa for 13 years. She is a longtime reenactor/living historian particularly focusing on women of the colonial period.
Please come out to enjoy a fascinating evening with Anne Clothier. Bring a friend! There is no charge for this program. Donations are gladly accepted. We hope you will join us. For more information, please call (518) 854-3102, say your name when prompted and press # for your call to go through or to leave a message.

June Local History Book Club
2025-06-11 12:30 - 13:30 | William Miller Farm and Chapel, 1614 County Rte 11, Hampton, NY, 12837, United States
June 11, 2025 Meeting of WCHS Local History Book Club
Washington County Historical Society’s Local History Book Club will meet from 12:30 to 1:30 PM on Wednesday, June 11, at the William Miller Farm and Chapel, 1614 County Route 11, Hampton. A guided tour of the site will be available after the session. This was the home of Baptist minister William Miller and the birthplace of the Seventh Day Adventist Movement. The tour includes the first Advent chapel in America, built in 1848 by Miller; Ascension Rock where his followers gathered in October 1844 to await the Second Coming; and the home of church founder William Miller. The chapel and rock are on the National Register of Historic Sites. Additional information is available on the site home page https://www.williammiller1844.com/.
Historical society membership is not required for the book club.
Suggested reading includes William Miller and the Rise of Adventism by George R. Knight (2011), The 7th Day, the Story of Seventh Day Adventism by Booton Herndon (1960), or any other material about the Millerites.

Future sessions of the club will include books about the larger Adirondack area as well as works by local authors. Upcoming topics include; the path of Washington County’s 123rd Regiment in the Civil War; the Battle of Bennington (fought in Waloomsac, New York), and potato harvesting in Washington County. For additional information, email Connie Harris Farrington at connieandlee@roadrunner.com.

Union Cemetery Walking Tour
2025-07-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Union Cemetery, Route 4, Fort Edward, NY, 12828, United States
On July 8, 2025 at 7:00 PM, the Washington County 250th Anniversary Committee and the Old Fort House are co-sponsoring the Union Cemetery Walking Tour in Fort Edward led by F.E. Historical Association Executive Director and Historian Paul McCarty and President Elizabeth O’Leary. This will be an amazing walking tour of the Union Cemetery, covering the founding of the cemetery through the Civil War with special highlights on the early families of Fort Edward and Sandy Hill. The walk is free to the general public but goodwill donations are gladly accepted. Donations go to benefit the Washington County 250th Committee.

July Local History Book Club
2025-07-09 12:30 - 13:30 | Civil War Enlistment Center, 55 Main Street, Hartford, NY, 12838, United States
July 9, 2025 Meeting of WCHS Local History Book Club
Washington County Historical Society’s Local History Book Club will meet from 12:30 to 1:30 PM on Wednesday, July 9, at the Civil War Recruitment Center, 55 Hartford Main Street, Hartford (formerly county route 23.) A tour of the site will be available after the session. The building is the only remaining Civil War recruitment center in New York State. It tells the story of the three-year 3000-mile journey of the 123rd regiment raised in Washington County.
The tour will include the town’s museum in the former Elisha Straight house, reportedly the oldest remaining house in the hamlet of Hartford. Both places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Historical society membership is not required for the book club.
Suggested reading includes Marching to Save a Nation by Jeffrey Jones (2007), Reminiscences of the 123rd Regiment by Henry C. Morhous (1879), or any other material about the Washington County regiment.
Future sessions of the club will include books about the larger Adirondack area as well as works by local authors. Upcoming topics include; the Battle of Bennington (fought in Waloomsac, New York); potato harvesting in Washington County; and Margaret Tilford, accused witch of Salem, NY. For additional information, email Connie Harris Farrington at connieandlee@roadrunner.com.

Tour of Otis Cemetery and the Cemetery of East Westfield
2025-07-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Fort Ann Firehouse, 11289 NY Rte.149, Fort Ann, 12827, United States
Saturday, Jul 12, 2025 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Meet and leave from Fort Ann Firehouse, 11289 NY-149 Fort Ann, NY 12827

FREE ADMISSION
Donations are gladly accepted.

Take a guided tour of the Otis Cemetery and the Cemetery of East Westfield with lunch to follow in Pocket Park. Guests will meet at and leave from the Fort Ann Firehouse.
Otis Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in the Town of Fort Ann and has approximately 184 marked graves ranging from 1797 – 1908. It is the final resting place of Robert Hopkins, a Revolutionary War soldier, who enlisted in 1779 in Captain Adiel Sherwood’s company of New York troops. Hopkins was captured by British forces at Fort Anne and taken to Montreal, where he spent three years as a prisoner of war. After the war he relocated to Fort Anne, where he lived for the rest of his life.
Around the corner is the reclaim cemetery of East Westfield, with veterans of the Revolutionary war and daughter and first wife of Thadeus Dewey buried here.

Lunch is free provided by the Fort Ann Historical Society in the Pocket Park on Route 4 north of the Villiage of Fort Ann.

Questions? E-mail Historian.FortAnn@gmail.com

JOIN US IN CELEBRATION
To mark the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution’s first military engagement, historic sites nationwide are gearing up to share how they played a part in our Great American Tapestry. Throughout the next few years leading up to the event, we’ll highlight how local events, people and inventions helped shape the course of a modern nation.

Trash and Treasure Yard Sale/Appraisal
2025-07-19 10:00 - 15:00 | Wing- Northup House, 167 Boadway, Fort Edward, NY, 12828, United States
The Washington County Historical Society will be holding a yard sale on Saturday July 19th from 10am to 3pm. If you would like to donate items, we accept household and other goods. We will not be accepting clothing or furniture. We will be taking donations from now until July 18th. We are open on Tuesday and Wednesday 9:30 am to 4:30 pm; you can drop off on either day.
We are also making arrangements for an appraiser to be on site as well. We will update who we are able to line up and the price per item for appraisal as we get specific details.

New Allen Massacre Historical Marker
2025-07-26 13:00 - 13:30 | 51 Allen Road, Argyle, NY 12809, 51 Allen Road, Argyle, NY, 12809, United States
A new Allen Massacre sign has arrived! The Town of Argyle Historian, Michele Bromley, confirmed that the unveiling of the new historical marker will take place this Saturday, the 26th, at 1 pm on Allen Road, near where the cabin and cairn once stood. This is approximately halfway down from either end of the street. The marker is on the roadside, so you can pull over and park on the side of Allen Road.
The Willard’s Mountain DAR chapter has been invited in case any of their members wish to attend. The DAR was instrumental in procuring the original sign in 1927. We are all very happy to see the marker being replaced. The story of the Allen Family tragedy is an important part of Argyle’s Revolutionary War history.
The Washington County Historical Society is proud to have assisted in writing and ordering the new sign and will be in attendance.
Thank you, Town of Argyle!

Local History Book Club
2025-08-13 12:30 - 13:30 | Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site, 5231Route 67, Walloomsac, NY, 12090, United States
August 13, 2025 Meeting of WCHS Local History Book Club
Washington County Historical Society’s Local History Book Club will meet from 12:30 to 1:30 PM on Wednesday, August 13, at the Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site, 5231 Route 67, Walloomsac, NY. Two battles took place there on August 16, 1777 between a contingent of Burgoyne’s army under German General Baum and patriot forces under General John Stark. A tour of the site will be available after the session. Historical society membership is not required for the book club.
Suggested reading includes The Revolutionary War in Bennington County by Richard B. Smith; STARK, The Life and Wars of John Stark by Richard and John Polhemus; or any other material about the battles in Walloomsac.
Future sessions of the club will include books about the larger Adirondack area as well as works by local authors. Upcoming topics include; Charles Evans Hughes, NY governor; potato harvesting in Washington County; and Margaret Tilford, accused witch of Salem, NY. For additional information, email Connie Harris Farrington at connieandlee@roadrunner.com.

September Local History Book Club
2025-09-10 12:30 - 13:30 | Wing- Northup House, 167 Boadway, Fort Edward, NY, 12828, United States
September 10, 2025 Meeting of WCHS Local History Book Club

Washington County Historical Society’s Local History Book Club will meet from 12:30 to 1:30 PM on Wednesday, September 10, at the historical society headquarters, 167 Broadway, Fort Edward. In addition to reading about the history of potatoes and local potatoes, attendees are requested to bring a potato to the session with appropriate identification. Attention will be given to E. L. Coy, Hebron farmer whose Beauty of Hebron potato was advertised by Burpee in 1893. Use of the Champlain Canal for shipping potatoes and Goose Island potatoes grown in Argyle will also be discussed.
Suggested reading includes appropriate sections of Hebron, A Century in Review by the Hebron Preservation Society.
Future sessions of the club will feature books about the larger Adirondack area as well as works by local authors. Upcoming topics include; Charles Evans Hughes, NY governor; Phillip Embury’s establishment of the second Methodist Church in America in White Creek; and Margaret Telford, accused witch of Salem, NY. For additional information, email Connie Harris Farrington at connieandlee@roadrunner.com.

October Local History Book Club
2025-09-24 12:30 - 2025-10-08 13:30 | Bancroft Public Library, 181 Main Street, Salem, NY, 12865, United States
October 8, 2025, Meeting of WCHS Local History Book Club
Washington County Historical Society’s Local History Book Club will meet from 12:30 to 1:30 PM on Wednesday,
October 8, at Bancroft Public Library, 181 Main Street, Salem. Discussion topic is Margaret Tilford, Accused Witch of
Salem. The Tilford’s had followed Presbyterian minister Rev. Thomas Clark from Scotland to the Salem area where he
had purchased 12,000 acres for his congregation. The accusation made against Margaret in 1777 was that she prevented
her neighbor’s cows from giving cream that could be churned into butter. She was brought to trial by the local Scotch
Presbyterian church but the trial was interrupted by Burgoyne’s march to Saratoga.
Margaret and her husband are buried in Salem Revolutionary Cemetery. Attendees can prepare by viewing a You Tube
presentation titled Salem Voices from the Grave – Margaret Tilford and by reading about the history of witchcraft in
America. A lengthy article also appears under her name on findagrave.com.
Future sessions of the club will feature books about the larger Adirondack area as well as works by local authors.
Upcoming topics include; Charles Evans Hughes, NY governor; Phillip Embury’s establishment of the second Methodist
Church in America in White Creek; and slavery in Washington County. For additional information, email Connie Harris
Farrington at connieandlee@roadrunner.com.

Henry Knox Library Trail
2025-10-01 08:00 - 2025-12-16 17:00 | Wing- Northup House, 167 Boadway, Fort Edward, NY, 12828, United States
Oct. 1st – Dec. 16th
Henry Knox Library Trail
Follow his legendary trail and relive the bold journey of the Noble Train of Artillery.
Visit nine libraries along the trail, pick up a Knox Trail Map, and have it stamped. Turn in your completed map and receive your award (a patch).
Bolton Free Library, Caldwell-Lake George Library, Crandall Public Library, Hudson Falls Free Library, Fort Edward Free Library, Schuylerville Public Library, Stillwater Public Library, Mechanicville Public Library, Waterford Public Library.

Patriots of Washington County (part 1)
2025-10-09 18:30 - 19:30 | Hebron United Presbyterian Church East, 6559 NYS State Rte. 22, Salem, NY, 12865, United States
Come and learn about the lives of some famous patriots from Washington County. There are many Revolutionary War soldiers buried in our cemeteries around the county. This talk will include not only where they are from and their service record, but also snippets that have been learned about their lives. Some are funny, some are strange, and you can be sure that all are interesting! Part 1 includes five short biographies of Lemuel Haynes, Israel Harris, Joseph Mccracken, Tobias Van Veghten, and Samuel Standish.

250th Anniversary of the Revolution Committee Meeting
2025-11-06 17:30 - 18:30 | Rogers Island Visitor Center, 11 Rogers Island Drive, Fort Edward, NY, 12828, United States
250th Anniversary of the Revolution Committee Meeting – All members of the General Public are welcome to attend.

In the Middle of History: Military Service of Salem's Citizens (1756-1865) The French and Indian War to the U.S. Civil War, the First 100 Years
2025-11-06 18:30 - 20:00 | Historic Salem Courthouse, 58 East Broadway, Salem, NY, 12865, United States
Alec McMorris will present “In the Middle of History: Military Service of Salem’s Citizens (1756-1865) The French and Indian War to the U.S. Civil War, the First 100 Years
November 6, 2025 6:30 p.m. Historic Salem Courthouse, East Broadway, Salem, NY. The talk is sponsored by the Salem Town Historian’s Office.
Salem has a long and distinguished history of service to our country. From the first settlers, one of whom was a Rogers’ Ranger, the Salem Militia fighting off the Massachusetts Milita, to our two Medal of Honor recipients. During the talk, Alec will share some facts and stories about the military exploits of Salem residents, during the first 100 years of Salem. A follow-up talk will cover the last 160 years.
Alec McMorris was born and raised in Salem. He was a 1996 graduate of Salem Washington Academy. Alec earned a Bachelor of Arts in History at the Virginia Military Institute in 2000. He retired in 2020 after serving 20 years Active Duty in the United State Army. Alec worked for 3 years as a contractor for the U.S. Department of State and moved back to Washington County in 2023. He was previously a member of the World War II Airborne Demonstration Team and the Songs of the American Revolution. Alec is a current member of the American Legion, Francis J. Clark Post 812, The 82nd Airborne Division Association and is currently serving as a Trustee on the Board of the Washington County Historical Society.
He loves studying history, particularly the areas of local history, U.S. Colonial history, U.S. and European Military History as well as Irish and Scottish history.
Alec currently lives in the Town of White creek with his wife Crystal McMorris.
The program is free and open to the public. Donations are gladly accepted.

Sneak Peek & Panel Discussion: "The American Revolution"
2025-11-09 16:00 - 20:00 | The Strand Theater, 210 Main St., Hudson Falls, NY, 12839, United States
Sneak Peek & Panel Discussion: “The American Revolution”
Sunday, November 9 at 4 p.m.
The Strand Theatre, 210 Main Street, Hudson Falls, NY

Hudson Falls, NY — The community is invited to an exclusive sneak peek of “The American Revolution,” a new documentary by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt. A special preview clip will be shown on Sunday, November 9, at 4 p.m. at The Strand Theatre, 210 Main Street, Hudson Falls.

This event offers a captivating glimpse into the military history of the American Revolution, exploring key moments that shaped the nation’s founding. Following the screening, a panel discussion will feature a diverse group of historians, community leaders, and local experts who will share their insights on the military, cultural, and social significance of the Revolutionary era.

Admission is free, with donations gratefully accepted to benefit both the Washington County Historical Society and The Strand Theatre. Although seating is on a general admission basis, pre-registration is appreciated. To register, please visit Https://tinyurl.com/3kk8yhnb or call 518-746-2287.
This event is presented in partnership with the Washington County 250th Commemoration Committee, Washington County Historical Society, The Strand Theatre, WMHT, and PBS.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be one of the first to experience history on the big screen and join the conversation about America’s fight for independence. The full documentary premieres November 16, 2025, on PBS.

Event schedule:
Doors open: 3:30 p.m.
Welcoming remarks: 4:00 p.m.
Screening begins: 4:25 p.m.
Panel discussion: 5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.

The theatre’s café will be open for purchase of refreshments.

Corporate funding for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine, with the Crimson Lion Foundation, and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Major funding was also provided by David M. Rubenstein; The Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Family Foundation; Lilly Endowment Inc.; and the following Better Angels Society members: Eric and Wendy Schmidt; Stephen A. Schwarzman; and Kenneth C. Griffin with Griffin Catalyst. Additional support for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by: The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling; Park Foundation; and the following Better Angels Society members: Gilchrist and Amy Berg; Perry and Donna Golkin; The Michelson Foundation; Jacqueline B. Mars; Kissick Family Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; John H. N. Fisher and Jennifer Caldwell; John and Catherine Debs; The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Philip I. Kent; Gail Elden; Deborah and Jon Dawson; David and Susan Kreisman; The McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Becky and Jim Morgan; Carol and Ned Spieker; Mark A. Tracy; and Paul and Shelley Whyte. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was made possible, in part, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

# # #

Amy Hoffer
Tourism & Economic Development Specialist
Washington County Planning
518-746-2287

See Taste Explore Stay
Facebook | Events | YouTube

November Local History Book Club
2025-11-12 12:30 - 13:30 | Jermain United Methodist Church, 6 Niles Road, Eagle Bridge, NY, 12057, United States
November 12, 2025 Meeting of WCHS Local History Book Club
Washington County Historical Society’s Local History Book Club will meet from 12:30 to 1:30 PM on Wednesday, November 12, at Jermain United Methodist Church, 6 Niles Road, Eagle Bridge. This is a hamlet in the town of White Creek.
Discussion focus is Philip Embury (1728-1773) who established the second Methodist Church in America in Ash Grove, in Washington County. Born in County Limerick, Ireland, he came to America in 1760 and began preaching Methodism to a small group in NY city. Together they built a church that became John Street Methodist Church, the first Methodist Church in this country. In 1770 a group from the church moved to Camden Valley, Salem, where they began building homes. They established a church in what is now the town of White Creek. Embury died from exhaustion while haying in a field. More information about the life of this preacher can be found online, including his entry on findagrave.com.
His remains were twice moved and are now in Woodlands Cemetery in Cambridge.
Future sessions of the club will feature books about the larger Adirondack area as well as works by local authors. Upcoming topics include; Charles Evans Hughes, NY governor; flax and linen production; and slavery in Washington County. For additional information, email Connie Harris Farrington at connieandlee@roadrunner.com

Henry Knox's Heavy Metal Tour: Knox Noble Train of Artillery through Warren, Washington, and Saratoga Counties
2025-11-13 18:30 - 20:00 | Hebron United Presbyterian Church East, 6559 NYS State Rte. 22, Salem, NY, 12865, United States
“Henry Knox’s Heavy Metal Tour: Knox Noble Artillery Train travels through Warren, Washington, and Saratoga Counties
The Washington County Historical Society and the Hebron Preservation Society are pleased to present “Henry Knox’s Heavy Metal Tour: Knox Nobile Artillery Train travels through Warren, Washington and Saratoga Counties”, a talk by Patrick Niles on Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. The program will take place at the former East Hebron Presbyterian Church at 6559 State Route 22 in East Hebron (Salem). The church is 7 miles north of Salem and 10 miles south of Granville. The talk will focus on the movement of Knox Artillery Train through the North Country in 1775 and how that event changed national and world history. It will include local and national figures: Benedict Arnold, Philip Schuyler, George Washington, William Duer, John Becker, William Knox, and Henry Knox. The presentation will concentrate on the route of Knox and the artillery train through Warren County (a frozen Lake George), Washington County (first Hudson River crossing, blizzard which found Knox on foot for over six miles), Saratoga (two river crossings, one of which saw an 18-pound cannon go through the ice on the Mohawk River). At the end of the program, there will be an explanation of the 2025 Knox Noble Artillery Train Reenactment in December 2025.
Pat is currently President of the Washington County Historical Society. He is co-chair of the Washington County 250th Committee. Pat is a licensed guide at the Saratoga National Historic Park. He is a member of the Capital Region Knox Trail Reenactment Committee and currently is a Trustee of the Lake George Battlefield Alliance. He has been a volunteer at the Bennington Battlefield and Rogers Island and has participated in archeological digs there. Pat is a founder of the Revolutionary Round Table. He has researched the Great Burning, Carleton’s raid on northern New York, Charlotte County militia (Washington County, NY), and its role in the Revolution, as well as the Battles of Lake George, Military Road, Baum’s March, and the Battles of Saratoga and Bennington.
The program is free and open to the public. Donations are gladly accepted. For more information, please call 518/854-3102. Come celebrate history in your own backyard. We hope you will join us for this interesting and informative program.
