As momentum builds toward America's 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence, Saratoga 250 is excited to share what's ahead and how these programs continue to deepen understanding of Saratoga's central role as America's Turning Point.
The years surrounding the 250th are not simply commemorative; they are about connecting people to history through programs that are meaningful, educational, and rooted in place. While America's founders may have declared its independence this July 250 years ago, it was the struggles across a revolutionary period, including an eight-year American war for Independence, that proved liberty protected by a new form of self-government was possible.
Much of that struggle played out among the people and across the places of our region. This spring, Saratoga 250 will feature public programming and content that brings Saratoga Revolutionary Experiences to life, highlighting the individuals whose resolve forged a nation and the landscapes that shaped it.
Mark your calendars for these upcoming opportunities to make America's 250th a Saratoga Revolutionary Experience!
This is Part I of a two-part series on education in the Munson Hollow Schoolhouse, District #16, Hebron, N.Y. (in use as a school until 1945) The program will feature poems, songs, and lessons students learned via recitation and daily beginnings of the school day in the early 1900s. They will display period artifacts along with the evolution of the Flags flown during our nation's formation.
Dale and Joan Prouty are long-time area educators and museum programmers who have enjoyed interacting with youth of all ages. They are charter members of the Country School Association of American with both serving on the Board of Directors. They have presented at various local and national conferences.
In retirement, their interest in early American educational artifacts grew through visitations to various historic sites giving them the opportunity to note the great variety of school curriculae, student slates, and teaching aids that had been available to teachers and young scholars a century ago.
Download Flyer
Ralph Greene attended the one-room schoolhouse on NYS Route 22. He completed his first three years of schooling in the little schoolhouse and has many fond memories of his time there which he will share during his program. After completing his time at District #16, he went on to attend Granville Central for grades 4 and 5 and then south to Salem Washington Academy for the remainder of his school days. He remembers most of his teachers' names, in particular Miss Mulligan in Salem who was his teacher in the 6th grade (interestingly, she was also his niece's teacher as well as the reading teacher of the author of this article!) He will talk about the subjects they studied, responsibilities the students had to help prepare the school for the day, how far he had to walk to get to school. (He really had to walk over one mile uphill to get home after the school day up a narrow dirt road that was only recently paved in the past 20 years!)
Please join us for this interesting and informative program given by someone who actually lived what he will be sharing with the audience! Ralph says he will be glad to answer questions to the best of his memory after the program!
Ralph Greene at age 90+ believes he is the last surviving student who attended the Hebron District #16 Schoolhouse. After his years at the local schools, Ralph went on and enlisted in the Air Force in 1954 and served in active duty for 3 years. He took President Eisenhower's "Early Out" program and left the service before he completed his 4th year. After leaving the service, he came back to Hebron and worked on the family farm for a time as well as for several other farms nearby. In his younger life, he was a big fan of stock car racing. He was also a member of the Granville Uncas as part of the Tri-County Rifle Team. He moved on to work for the State in the prison system living for a time in Comstock and also on Hadlock Pond in Fort Ann. He earned the nickname of Mr. Do-It-All when he was working because he had so many skills from his years on the different local farms. In retirement, he and his late wife enjoyed traveling by motor coach for over 13 years.Ralph currently spends his summers in Newcomb and winters back home in the Salem/Hebron area.
(please park in the church parking lot across the road or on the grass behind the church). Walk across Route 22 to the schoolhouse. Those with mobility issues may park on the grass to the right of the schoolhouse. Unfortunately, the schoolhouse is not handicap accessible. These programs are free and open to the public. Donations are gladly accepted. Please join us to learn about attending a one-room schoolhouse right in our own backyards.
Future sessions of the club will feature topics related to the larger Adirondack area as well as works by local authors. Upcoming discussions include: papermaking in Washington County; Floyd Bennett's flight over the North Pole; and Harriet Bentley, cartographer and artist.? Contact conniehfarrington@outlook.com for further information.
Dear HPS Members & Friends,
The Hebron Preservation Society is very excited to announce its major fundraising event on Saturday, September 12th. The Barns of Hebron Tour & Dance will be a day like no other and we hope you will be a part of it!
Agriculture has been a major factor in the town's development since its founding in 1786. Two hundred and forty years later, farming remains an economic driver. Although there are fewer working farms today, what has survived are the many historic barns and outbuildings dotted around Hebron.
The day will kick off at 1:00 pm with a self-guided tour of barns in and around Hebron. The tour aims to reconnect our farming history to the present day through the buildings that sheltered animals and a way of life. The tour will also include newer barns to show how barn construction has changed in response to economic and environmental conditions.
At 5:30 pm, ticket holders will begin picking up their pre-ordered barbeque chicken dinners, cooked to perfection by the Hebron Volunteer Fire Company, from the Hebron Highway Department grounds at 660 Chamberlin Mills Road for eat-in or take home.
Then at 7:00 pm the party starts with a dance in the new Hebron Highway Barn. Local band BurnsMoore Bridge will provide the entertainment. It's been many years, decades even, since Hebron had a townwide dance and we're very excited to revive it.
When you buy tickets for one, two or all of the activities, you will be supporting our mission to preserve what the community values and enhance the quality of life in Hebron. Hebron Preservation Society members receive a 15% discount on their total ticket order. Use discount code HPSMember15.
You can order your tickets using the attached order form below, or at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/the-barns-of-hebron-tour-and-dance
We look forward to welcoming you! Hebron Preservation Society
Download Order Form
