Fort Plain Museum & Historical Park

Contact:
Richard Brown, Fort Plain Museum Board of Trustees Chairman
Cell: 518-505-6803
Office: rbrown@leepub.com • 518-673-3237 ext. 258

Program on Impact of Revolutionary War on Iroquois Indians to be Presented

The Fort Plain Museum will be hosting a lecture at 2pm, Saturday, July 12 entitled "The American Revolution: Iroquois Indian Perspectives," presented by Professor Laurence M. Hauptman.  This program, which is free and open to the public, is made possible through the support of the New York Council for the Humanities' Speakers in the Humanities program. 

In his book, Gary B. Nash, Professor of History and Director of the National Center for History in the Schools at UCLS, has written that "the public remembers the Revolution mostly in its enshrined, mythic form. This is peculiar in a democratic society because the sacralized story of the founding fathers, the men of marble, mostly concerns the upper-most slice of American revolutionary society. That is what has lodged in our minds, and this is the fable that millions of people in other countries know about the American Revolution."

Taking his cue from Professor Nash, Professor Hauptman focuses on the war from the perspective of Native Americans. The Iroquois Indians refer to the American Revolution as the "whirlwind" in their oral tradition. The Six Nations: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora, were dramatically affected by the war and its consequences. These native peoples found themselves pulled by both the Patriot and British sides. This presentation presents the war from diverse Iroquois perspectives and makes use of the rich oral traditions and archival research gathered by the lecturer over the past thirty-five years.

Professor Hauptman is a SUNY Distinguished Professor of History at SUNY New Paltz, where he has taught for the past 37 years. He is the author, co-author, editor or co-editor of 15 books that focus on the history of Native Americans. He has testified as an expert witness before committees of both houses of Congress and in the federal courts and has served as a historical consultant for the Wisconsin Oneidas, the Cayugas, the Mashantucket Pequots, the Senecas, and the Seneca-Cayugas. Dr. Hauptman has been honored for his research by both the Iroquois nations and by the New York State Board of Regents.

The Fort Plain Museum is on the west edge of the village of Fort Plain at 389 Canal Street, which is Route 5S. The Museum is open daily from 10am-4pm and is funded by donation, receiving no regular state or federal funding.  Anyone with interest in donating time, services or funding, may contact the Museum at 518-993-2527 or visit www.fortplainmuseum.com.  Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent those of the New York Council for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, or the Fort Plain Museum.

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Contact:
Richard Brown, Fort Plain Museum Board of Trustees Chairman
Cell: 518-505-6803
Office: rbrown@leepub.com • 518-673-3237 ext. 258

Tickets on Sale for Reception and Dinner with George Washington

As part of the 5th annual Holding Down the Fort event on August 2 & 3, 2008, the Fort Plain Museum will be holding an opening reception on the evening of Friday, August 1, and a Colonial dinner on the evening of Saturday, August 2.  This year being themed ‘General Washington Inspects the Troops’, the museum is recognizing the 225th anniversary of George Washington’s visit to Fort Plain and the Mohawk Valley in July and August of 1783.  The Museum has secured the services of Dean Malissa of Philadelphia, the nation’s leading portrayer of General George Washington, and the only person permitted to portray our Founding Father at his home in Mount Vernon, whom will be here on his first trip to the Mohawk Valley.

The fund raising opening reception on Friday evening will be at the Isaac Paris House, behind 105 Mohawk Street in Fort Plain, a 1786 trading post, which now serves as the meeting facility of the Fort Plain Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  On Saturday evening, a fund raising dinner will be held at the Van Alstyne Homestead at 40 Moyer Street in Canajoharie, another historic site dating back to the Colonial era.  Both functions will be catered by Chef Melissa Davidson of Melissa’s restaurant in Canajoharie, and will feature menus of Colonial fare.

“Friday will be a social mixer with finger foods in the company of George Washington and other reenactors, while Saturday will be a full sit-down dinner with limited seating.” stated Museum Chairman Richard Brown.  “We are offering reduced prices on advance tickets for both, and additional discount for anyone who attends in Colonial attire.”  Ticket prices for the Friday reception are $12 advance and $15 at the door, with full Colonial attire netting a reduced price of $10 advance, $12 at the door.  Similarly, the Saturday dinner will run $40 advance and $45 at the door, with full Colonial attire reducing costs to $35 advance, $40 at the door.  Seating is limited at the dinner, so tickets will likely not be available at the door if sold out in advance.

Mr. Malissa will also be on hand during both days of the event at the Museum, arriving on horseback in the company of a cavalry unit created by Washington during the Revolutionary War, the Second Continental Dragoons of Connecticut, whom will be here on active duty by order of Governor M. Jodi Rell of Connecticut.  He will present programs on Washington’s life and lead a children’s muster.  His trip here will begin only a day after the actual 225th anniversary of General Washington’s visit to Fort Plain in 1783, and is being sponsored by the William Gundry Broughton Private Charitable Foundation of Glenville.

Additionally, the Museum is beginning the second phase of Colonial rank sponsorships by selling ads into a promotional booklet to be released several weeks in advance of the event.  In the first phase of corporate sponsorships, listed by Colonial militia ranks, the Broughton Foundation purchased the ‘General’, which gives exclusive sponsorship of George Washington’s visit.  ‘Colonel’ level sponsors are NBT Bank and Lee Publications.  At ‘Major’ is the Arkell Hall Foundation, and Stewart’s Shops is a ‘Captain’ sponsor.  Each will get ads in the booklet as part of their sponsorship, and other ranks will be ‘Sergeant’ for a full page purchase; ‘Corporal’ for a half-page; ‘Musician’ for a quarter-page; and ‘Private’ for an eighth-page ad.

The event is also being sponsored by the Burning of the Valleys Military Association (BVMA), which is composed of units that reenact the Revolutionary War in the Mohawk, Schoharie and Upper Hudson Valleys.  The BVMA has named the Fort Plain Museum’s Holding Down the Fort event as one of their primary member events this year, which will draw many Colonial reenactors for programs, events, and battle demonstrations.

For information on ad booklet sales, contact Richard Brown at 518-505-6803, or by email at rbrown@leepub.com.  Tickets for the reception and dinner are on sale by event planning committee members, headed by Mr. Brown; by the event’s corporate sponsor NBT Bank at their Fort Plain branch; or in Canajoharie at Melissa’s restaurant.  Sales are limited, so plan on getting tickets soon.

This event is made possible in part with public funds from the Decentralization Program of the New York State Council on the Arts, administered through the TriCounty Arts Council.  For more information on the Fort Plain museum, visit their web site at www.fortplainmuseum.com.  The Fort Plain Museum is on the west edge of the village of Fort Plain at 389 Canal Street, which is Route 5S. In 2008 it will be open May 31 through August 31, from 10 am to 4pm, Friday through Sunday, or by appointment.  There is a strong desire to expand the hours of operation as part of the growth of the museum, which is funded by donation, receiving no regular state or federal funding, and fully operated by volunteers.  If you are interested in information, or in donating time, services or funds, you may leave a message at the museum at 518-993-2527.

Contact:
Richard Brown • rbrown@leepub.com • 518-505-6803 • 518-673-3237 ext. 258

Fort Plain Museum Garnering Sponsorships for Premier Living History Event

This Summer, the Fort Plain Museum will be holding its 5th annual Holding Down the Fort event, this year being themed ‘General Washington Inspects the Troops’, on August 2 & 3, 2008, with an opening reception on the evening of Friday, August 1. The museum is recognizing the 225th anniversary of George Washington’s visit to Fort Plain and the Mohawk Valley in July and August of 1783.  The Museum has secured the services of Dean Malissa of Philadelphia, the nation’s leading portrayer of our Founding Father, and the only person permitted to portray Washington at his home in Mount Vernon.  Mr. Malissa has performed throughout the U.S. for audiences from school children to world leaders, and this is his first trip to the Mohawk Valley.

“Our event planning committee is four months into ten months of planning what will be a premier Colonial living history reenactment this year.” stated Museum Chairman Richard Brown.  “We are very excited to have Dean Malissa coming, and are presently working on forming an entourage on horseback to accompany his arrival at the fort site.”  The Museum is negotiating with the Second Continental Dragoons of Connecticut to take the lead in being an entourage.  They are a cavalry regiment originally created by Washington during the Revolutionary War.  They saw this nation’s first action by a cavalry unit at the Battle of the Flockey in Schoharie, and in 1783, accompanied Washington on his Mohawk Valley visit.  Brown continues, “Though we certainly can’t build the entourage of about 150 persons that were here 225 years ago, the thought of building a small example of that using the regiment that was actually involved only adds to the authenticity of the experience.”

Brown and Museum Vice Chairman Norm Bollen recently attended the annual delegates meeting of the Burning of the Valleys Military Association (BVMA), which is composed of units which reenact the Revolutionary War in the Mohawk, Schoharie and Upper Hudson Valleys.  The BVMA attends and supports several events each year, but typically sponsors only one or two.  This year, they have chosen to sponsor the Battle of Cobleskill, and the Fort Plain Museum’s Holding Down the Fort event.  “We are enthusiastic about the sponsorship of the BVMA, as this will draw the most reenactors seen in Fort Plain since the Grand Encampment of 1992,” Brown said.

The Museum is in the beginning stage of a sponsorship campaign to offset costs of this year’s event, and to raise funds for the continued revitalization of the Museum’s site and grounds.  “Grant funding is becoming harder to secure, and this event keeps growing, so we are changing the event to be primarily corporate sponsored,” said Sally Adams of At Your Request, whom is on board with the Museum to assist in event planning and fund raising.  “We have developed levels of sponsorship based on militia ranks, and are contacting area businesses for their support.  The top level is the ‘General’ of which there will only be one. An exclusive sponsor of George Washington’s visit to the Mohawk Valley.”

Though the event is officially open Saturday and Sunday, Mr. Malissa will be the guest of honor at a fund raising opening reception on Friday evening at the Isaac Paris House in Fort Plain, a 1786 trading post, which now serves as the meeting facility of the Fort Plain Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  On Saturday evening, a fund raising dinner will be held at the Van Alstyne Homestead in Canajoharie, another historic site dating back to the Colonial era.  The planning committee is working with Chef Melissa Davidson of Melissa’s restaurant in Canajoharie to develop a catered menu of Colonial fare.

“NBT Bank has taken the lead on sponsoring our event at the Colonel level, and we’re confident others will join in as well.  NBT has always been an active supporter for us, and we’re happy to continue that relationship for the sake of the benefit to the community that the programs we are developing will bring,” said Brown.  “My employer, Lee Publications, has also been very supportive of the Fort Plain Museum.” 

Anyone interested in sponsoring may contact Richard Brown at 518-505-6803, or by email at rbrown@leepub.com.  More details on the event will be released as plans are finalized, and tickets for the reception and dinner are expected to be ready for sale this Spring.  The Fort Plain Museum is on the west edge of the village of Fort Plain at 389 Canal Street, which is Route 5S. In 2008 it will be open May 30 through August 31, from 10 am to 4pm, Friday through Sunday, or by appointment.  There is a strong desire to expand the hours of operation as part of the growth of the museum, which is funded by donation, receiving no regular state or federal funding, and fully operated by volunteers.  If you are interested in information, or in donating time, services or funds, you may leave a message at the museum at 518-993-2527.

For more information on the Fort Plain museum, visit their web site at www.fortplainmuseum.com.  For information on Dean Malissa, visit www.gwashington.com, and information on the BVMA can be found at www.bvma.org.

If you’re looking for a unique way to begin your holiday experience this year come celebrate with Heritage Holidays in the Mohawk Valley at six historic sites across the Valley. The festivities begin on Friday evening, November 30, at Johnson Hall State Historic Site; continue during the weekend of December 1 and 2 at Fort Plain Museum, Old Fort Johnson, Fort Klock Historic Restoration and the Rice Homestead; and end on Saturday, December 15 at the Walter Elwood Museum. There will be music, refreshments and decorations at each house or museum.

This first-time joint holiday event is designed like many 18^th and 19^th century holiday festivals, which centered around feasting and visiting good friends and neighbors. At each site you’ll be able to pick up a “Heritage Holidays passport” which lists the days and times for all of the participating sites. In addition, your passport will be marked at each site you visit, and after you’ve visited any three sites your name will be entered into a drawing to win a Heritage Holiday Gift Basket containing items from all of the participating sites. The drawing for the basket will be held on December 15.

We hope that you’ll enjoy this opportunity to visit these wonderful historic sites anytime during the weekend and on December 15^th and explore the holidays in 18^th and 19^th century style. Admission is free, however, donations will be accepted at all sites.

A list of participating sites with the dates, hours and contact information is as follows:

Johnson Hall State Historic Site

Hall Avenue, Johnstown, NY

Friday, November 30, 6-8pm

Sunday, December 2, 10am-4pm

518-762-8712

The Rice Homestead Open House

Mayfield, NY

Saturday and Sunday, December 1 & 2, 11am-4pm

518-661-5576

Fort Plain Museum

389 Canal St.

Fort Plain, NY

Saturday and Sunday, December 1 & 2, 10am-4pm

518-993-2527 voicemail

Old Fort Johnson

Corner of Rts 5 and 67

Fort Johnson, NY

Saturday, December 1, 4:30-7:30pm

Sunday, December 2, 11am-3pm

518-843-0300

Fort Klock Historic Restoration

St. Johnsville, NY 13452

Sunday, December 2, 12:00-4:30pm

518-568-7779

Walter Elwood Museum

300 Guy Park Avenue

Amsterdam, NY

Saturday, December 15, call for hours

518-843-5151

Erie Canal History and Music Program to be Presented by Fort Plain Museum

The Fort Plain Museum will be holding an event beginning at 1:30pm Saturday, July 21 on the Erie Canal.  There are two very special features for the day. 

Ron Burch, Fort Plain Museum trustee and curator of art and architecture at the New York State Museum, will discuss the Erie Canal in Montgomery County as seen through the eyes of artist J. Erwin Porter. Porter traveled the route of the canal about 1960 recording historic sites and structures, some of which, like the Fort Plain aqueduct and Cohen’s stone store in Sprakers, have since disappeared. Porter’s medium was pastel chalk, which he used extensively in his career as a commercial artist in Rochester. The Porter collection is now part of the art collection of the New York State Museum.  Burch’s presentation will precede a program on Erie Canal music and lore by balladeer Dave Ruch, which begins at 2 p.m. 

Dave Ruch, is a special musician who sings and plays music for all ages on an intriguing assortment of instruments including mandolin, guitar, washtub bass(!), 5-string banjo and jaw harp.  His concerts are characterized by a warm rapport with the audience, excellent musicianship, enlightening historical tidbits and just the right amount of humor. For this special multi-generational concert, expect classic sing-along songs and folklore from the days of the Erie Canal along with recitations, musical instruments from canal days, children’s songs and more.  A professional musician and educator based in Buffalo NY.  Dave gives over 325 concerts & workshops each year for schools, libraries, folk festivals, historical societies, museums and community events.

This program, which is free and open to the public, is made possible through the support of the New York Council for the Humanities’ Speakers in the Humanities program.  For more information, contact the Fort Plain Museum 518-993-2527 or visit www.fortplainmuseum.com.   Also, watch for upcoming event highlights on the “Holding Down the Fort, The Year of the Blockhouse” being held on the weekend of August 4 and 5.