Schenectady Heritage Area 2008 Colonial Festival

Joe Doolittle of Story Circle at Proctors
E. James Schermerhorn of the Dutch Settlers Society
Musicians of Rural Felicity
Frank Taormina of the Schenectady County Historical Society
Kyle Jenks of American Heritage Living History Productions
Robert E. Bullock of the New York State Archives Partnership Trust and New York State Quadricentennial Commission
Will share stories, poetry, music and readings about what took place 318 years ago

Publications, maps, illustrations, Minutes of Albany, other items of interest
will be shown by program participants:
Ether History Center and Research Library,
Stockade Association,
Colonial Schenectady Project
Dutch Barn Preservation Society,
Holland Society
New Netherland Institute
New Netherland Museum/HalfMoon,
Onrust
New York Folklore Society,
Schenectady/Nijkerk Council
SCCC Community Archaeology Program
and others

Free-will donation
For information contact:
First Reformed Church of Schenectady
8 North Church Street
Schenectady, NY 12305
518-377-2001
www.frcschdy.org

Schenectady Heritage Area
City Hall, Room 14
Schenectady, NY 12305
518-382-5147 – E-mail: mgebert09@yahoo.com

January 22- April 30.
"Hauling the World", ALCO & Schenectady
American Locomotive Company (ALCO) played a key role in the economic development of Schenectady, the Capital Region, and the Nation as a whole during the 20th Century. Alco grew to be the largest steam locomotive producer in the world, and one of the largest industrial concerns in the nation by the 1920's. The exhibit will focus on the history of this amazing company, the people who worked there, and the locomotives the produced through its successful years in the early 1900's to the rapid decline of the 1950's and 60's.
Funded in part by the New York Council for the Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings or recommendations expressed in this exhibition don not necessarily represent those of the New York Council for the Humanities or National Endowment for the Humanities.
Schenectady County Historical Society, 32 Washington Ave., Schenectady, NY 12305;
(518-374-0263)

January 27
ALCO Roundtable
Join Richard Steinbrenner, author of the American Locomotive Company, " Len Kilian, author of "Trackside with Mr. Alco," Chris MacDermot, a former ALCO employee, and Mathew Zembo, Assistant Professor of History at HVCC and curator of "Hauling the World"; Alco and Schenectady as they discuss the factors that led to the rise and fall of ALCO during the early 20th century as well as answer questions from the audience about the many aspects of this important and amazing company in Schenectady. Schenectady County Historical Society, 32 Washington Ave., Schenectady, NY 12305; (518374-0263) Time: 2:00 pm FREE

February 2
Bread: Staff of Dutch Life in the Old and the New World with Peter Rose
Bread was the mainstay of the Dutch diet in the seventeenth century. The talk explores bread ingredients, their sources and the bread consumption by the poor, working class and affluent citizens. It also covers bakers' guilds as well as pertinent government regulations and their enforcement. Slides of 17th century Dutch art illustrate methods of preparation and the final products. Schenectady County Historical Society, 32 Washington Ave., Schenectady, NY 12305; (518-374-0263) Time: 2:00 pm FREE

February 2
Flint House
Scotia Village Historian Michelle Norris will conduct tours of the Flint House from 1 pm – 4 pm. 421 S. Reynolds St., Scotia, NY
Tours are free; donations welcome.

February 3
The Onrust Project: Building a replica of a 1614 Dutch Yacht, the First Ship Built in New Netherland
Schenectady's first church, the First Reformed Church of Schenectady invites the community to its annual 10:00 am Rededication Sunday Worship Service, with Senior Minister the Rev. Dr. Bill Levering, and its 11:00 am Forum Hour where Schenectady County and City Historian, Don Rittner, will speak on the Onrust Project, building a replica of a 1614 Dutch yacht, the first ship built in New Netherland. First Reformed Church, 8 N. Church St., Schenectady. 518-377-2001

February 8
The Anniversary of the Massacre
If the Stockade Walls Could Talk
318 Years Later
What do we know of 1690 and the Schenectady Massacre? The First Reformed Church of Schenectady, the only church in the stockade in 1690 invites the community to an opening program for the 2008 Schenectady Colonial Festival. Joe Doolittle of Story Sundays, James Schermerhorn of the Dutch Settlers Society, musicians of Rural Felicity and other re-enactors will be part of the evening sharing stories, poetry, readings and music about what took place 318 years ago. Refreshments and exhibits will follow in Assembly Hall. Publications, maps, illustrations and the Minutes of the Albany Common Council in 1690 will be displayed by program participants. First Reformed Church, 8 N. Church St., Schenectady, NY 12305. Time: 7:30 pm; Cost: Free-will offering

February 9
Freedom for All? Slavery in Colonial America with Clifford Oliver Mealey. Presented by the Mabee Farm Historic Site
What is freedom? The absence of chains, bondage, enforced restrictions? The Mabee Farm presents a first person account of Jack, one of the Mabee Farm slaves (ca. 1755), portrayed by Clifford Oliver Mealey. A well known area photographer, Mr. Mealey will also exhibit images of portrayals he has done on blacks in Colonial America. A recipient of the NYS Council on the Arts Grant, he has shown his work at the Fenimore Art Museum, the NYS Museum and is a regular [presenter at the Annual Underground Railroad Conference of the Capital District. Schenectady County Historical Society, 32 Washington Ave., Schenectady, NY 12305; (518-374-0263) Time: 2:00 pm FREE

February 10
Treasure Hunting in your own Backyard: Dutch Influenced Architecture
Discussion with Ned Pratt on how to recognize Dutch-influenced architecture in both city and countryside. We explore architecture basics as well as intriguing details, and learn what these can tell us about the cultural and industrial ways of life of the early immigrants. PowerPoint presentation.
Schenectady County Historical Society, 32 Washington Ave
Schenectady; (518)374-0263; 2 pm FREE

February 13
A Victorian Tea and then be the Guest! With Sue McLane
Learn the history of tea drinking and participate in an interactive hands-on lesson with Sue McLane, The Victorian Lady, on how to give a tea party including: how to make the invitations, create the menus, polite tea manners, table settings and how to make authentic tea foods and the proper way to brew fabulous tea! Schenectady County Historical Society, 32 Washington Ave., Schenectady, NY 12305; Time: 2:00 pm;
Reservations required: 374-0263. Cost: $25.

February 14 & 16
Little Wonders of Science: Goodnight Moon
It's never too early to introduce a child to the wonders of science! Bring children ages 3 – 5 to discover the moon in Goodnight Moon. And, inspire curiosity with storytelling and make-and-take activities. Explore a different topic each month. Schenectady Museum and Suits-Bueche Planetarium, 15 Nott Terrace Hgts, Schenectady NY 12308; Cost: FREE; Registration: 518-382-7890 x 224

February 18 – 22
February Break Week Kids' Activities
Join us during February School Break for special kid's astronomy activities. Enjoy a different activity each day! Schenectady Museum and Suits-Bueche Planetarium, 15 Nott Terrace Hgts, Schenectady NY 12308; Cost: FREE

February 21
An invitation to Learn about Interviewing for Oral History
Ellen McHale, director of the New York Folklore Society, 133 Jay St. in Schenectady, will visit the Grems-Doolittle Library at 2 pm to meet with individuals interested in learning to conduct oral history interviews. This informal workshop is geared towards those new to interviewing and is a good introduction to oral history. Topics include: preparing for the interview, recommended equipment and how to prepare a tape-log. Open to middle or high school students interested in preserving family history.
Schenectady County Historical Society, 32 Washington Ave., Schenectady, NY 12305; (518374-0263) Time: 2:00 pm FREE
*Note: The SCHS is looking for individuals with connections to ALCO to interview.

February 27
Annual Colonial Dinner
SACC-TV presents the Annual Colonial Dinner at the Glen Sanders Mansion in honor of the 10th Anniversary of the Schenectady Today Show. Enjoy an evening that only SACC-TV can provide: Highlights from ten years of Schenectady Today Show broadcasts and Colonial Festival events.
Glen Sanders Mansion, 1 Glen Ave. Scotia Cost: $65; Reservations: 346-3181
http://www.sacctv.org

As a tribute to our forefathers and the spirit and commitment with which they faced the challenges of Colonial life, the Schenectady Heritage Area produces the Annual Colonial Festival.

Detail from John Miller, New York Considered and Improved A.D. 1695 (Cleveland: Burrows Brothers, 1903). Original Manuscript in British Library (MAPS Additional MS. 15,490.p.7.fig.7). Note the two longhouses within the stockade!

Detail of Plan of Schenectady from Mary Ann Rocque, A Set of Plans and Forts in America (London, 1765).