As momentum builds toward America's 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence, Saratoga 250 is excited to share what's ahead this spring-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!
The topic is Covered Bridges of Washington County. There are currently three such bridges in the county in addition to the one at Shushan: Eagleville, Buskirk, and Rexleigh. All four bridges are on The National Register of Historic Places. The Shushan Bridge, built in 1858, crosses the Batten Kill and now serves as a museum for the Town of Shushan. Recommended readings are: The Covered Bridges of Washington County, New York by Robert G. McIntosh and Covered Bridges of New York State by Rick Berfield. Additional information on their history can be found on the website of the New York State Covered Bridge Society.
Future sessions of the club will feature topics related to the larger Adirondack area as well as works by local authors. Upcoming discussions include: Le Loup's Bloody Trail from Salem to Argyle (1859), flax and linen in Washington County, and Floyd Bennett's flight over the North Pole. For additional information, email conniehfarrington@outlook.com..
This meeting and the program that follows are open to the public; only HPS members in good standing are eligible to vote at the meeting. If you have not already done so, please renew your membership for 2026-27 before the Annual Meeting.
The meeting will be followed at 6:30 p.m. by an historical talk by Fort Edward Historian, Paul McCarty, about the life in Washington County of Solomon Northrup, author of Twelve Years a Slave. We hope you will join us for coffee and snacks in the Fellowship Hall after Paul's talk.
Learn about the Boston Tea Party, Ben Franklin's invention: the glass harmonica, Henry Knox's Trail which came right through Washington County en route to Boston in 1775, as well as stories of some of the important women in the Revolutionary War. Children will learn songs about the Battle of Bennington and Revolutionary Tea, as well as Colonial children's games.
The program will last approximately an hour. A parent must stay with the children. There is no charge for this event. Donations are gladly accepted. All are welcome!
Prepare for our upcoming holidays by singing many of your favorite patriotic songs. There will be an Ice Cream Social at 6:00 p.m. with make your own sundaes in the fellowship hall at the rear of the church. This year's Sing will be a celebration of the 250 years from 1776-2026.
"Yankee Doodle", "The Battle Hymn of the Republic", "Let There Be Peace on Earth", and "You're a Grand Old Flag" will be among the many selections that will be sung. A brief background of each song will be included.
The Union Village Ringers, a 10-member handbell choir from the Greenwich/Easton area will be the guest performers. Their selections will include "Yankee Doodle", 2 selections from "Oklahoma" and "Ashokan Farewell" from Ken Burns' documentary "The Civil War". They will be directed by Debi Craig of Hebron.
This event is free and open to the public. Members of the armed services past and present are invited to attend. There will be a tribute in the middle of the program to those who have or who are serving our country. Please come and bring your family and friends to start off your patriotic holidays enjoying many old favorites. It promises to be a fun and festive evening. There is no cost to attend this event, but free-will donations will be collected to benefit the Everly House in Ballston Spa. Everly House provides housing for unhoused female veterans and their children.
There is extra parking on the grass behind the church if the front lot is full. If needed, there is a ramp on the north side of the building which provides access to the sanctuary. The ice cream social will be in the fellowship hall at the rear of the building.
Please join us for this patriotic tribute in celebration of America's 250th! For more information, please call 518/854-3102.
This program has been added to our original schedule.
Hubbardton, a British tactical victory fought on July 7, 1777, was one of the first engagements in General John Burgoyne's campaign to capture Albany and split New England from the rest of the rebellious colonies. Despite a successful opening to his campaign, Burgoyne ultimately was forced to surrender to an American army after being defeated and surrounded at Saratoga. Burgoyne's surrender is credited with bringing France into the war on America's side. The war would end successfully for the United States with a Franco-American victory at Yorktown four years later. Hubbardton is the only Revolutionary War battle fought in Vermont. The American victory at Bennington in August 1777 was actually fought in New York.
"It's time for folks to start boning up on the 1777 campaign, the turning point of the Revolution, because the 250th anniversary of these events is just around the corner," said Venter. He will use a PowerPoint presentation and leave time for questions and answers at the end of the program.
Venter's book was selected by the editors of the Journal of the American Revolution as one of the "100 Best Books on the American Revolution" and was extensively cited by Pulitzer Prize winning author Rick Atkinson in his new book, The Fate of the Day which in part, dealt with the Saratoga campaign.
Dr. Venter is president of America's History LLC, a history tour and conference company known nationally for its annual "premier" conference on the American Revolution. Bruce is currently vice-president of the Dr. Joseph Warren Foundation and the Marshall House, Inc. He also serves on the board of trustees of the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance where he does weekly podcasts with Alliance president, Joh DiNuzzo, the Fort Plain Museum and Historical Park, and is a Commissioner on the Saratoga County 250th Commission. He is a "Color Bearer" member of the American Battlefield Trust. He recently appeared on C-SPAN where he presented his lecture on Ethan Allen. His history related articles have appeared in American History, Blue & Gray, Civil War, Patriots of the American Revolution, Washington Times, Goochland County Historical Society Magazine, and the Fort George Post. He is a popular speaker at historical conferences.
He holds a B.A. in history from Manhattan College, a master's in public administration, and a doctorate in education. His professional career spanned 36 years in public education. He served as assistant superintendent for finance and operations at school districts in three states.
Dr. Venter is a native of Albany Currently, Bruce and his wife Lynne live in Goochland County, Virginia with their adorable beagle, Molly Brant. They spend summers in Lake George. Copies of his book will be available for purchase after the lecture. There is no charge for the event. Donations are gladly accepted. All are welcome!
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.
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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.
