Montgomery Village Museum

The Village Museum will be Re Opening Saturday, September 19th from 1pm to 4pm The Following Health Guidelines will be Required for all Museum Visitors Upon Arrival to the Museum : Please Call 845 457... 7576 Appropriate Face Masks Must Be Worn Maintain a Safe ( 6ft ) Distance from other Visitor Groups During Your Visit, Please follow the One Way Signage. Please Avoid Touching any Exhibit Displays or Cases Please send any questions to [email protected] Thank You as always for your continued support - Brian Fitzpatrick Historian, Village of Montgomery

The Village of Montgomery...Our History from the Beginning The deep-rooted passion for our Village from residents whose roots date back to the early 1880s, combined with the enthusiasm and appreciation expressed by today’s newer residents, enhances the quality of life and community pride that we love and enjoy so much.

Museum Memo from Brian Fitzpatrick, Historian, Village of Montgomery Honoring our Past, Celebrating the Present, Embracing our Future This past winter, I had the pleasure of speaking several times with Dr. Eleanor J. Harvey, Senior Curator Smithsonian American Art Museum. Dr Harvey was the person responsible for coordinating the Mastodon loan from Germany. Our hopes for this summer was to coordinate a Mastodon Exhibit Program, with Dr Harvey, Mary Ellen Matise, Historian for ...the Town of Montgomery and Jane Samuelson with Girl Scout Troop 331 from Montgomery. Mary Ellen is still extremely active in the excavation research of the Mastodon Skeleton Sites and the enhancement of the designated Mastodon National Historic Site in the town. Troop 331 if you recall last year developed a complete village educational program outlining the historic connection of the Mastodon to this area. I have included some of that history also, which is planned as part of our 2020-village museum exhibit, when we re-open. See more

Did you know that a mastodon skeleton was Discovered right here in Montgomery, NY? Thanks Troop 331 for bringing more Mastodon discovery awareness!

Great News for Mastodon Enthusiasts! This 14,000-year-old mastodon skeleton is the centerpiece of Smithsonian American Art Museum’s exhibition "Alexander von Humboldt and the United States: Art, Nature, and Culture." On loan from the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt in Germany, the mastodon, which was excavated in upstate (Newburgh/Montgomery) New York and on view at Charles Willson Peale’s museum in Philadelphia in the early 19th century, is making its first return to the U.S. since 1847.

Like all of you, I look forward to the day when we can all open our doors as a community and once again enjoy and appreciate more than ever our wonderful village. In the meantime, although our museum doors remain closed for now, I will continue to share some of the display materials we created for the museum. Also, if you have the time, please take the survey provided by NY State Association of Public Historians: villageofmontgomery.org/covid-19archives In the not so distant future your responses, photos, and stories from your personal experience will be the ones that matter most when we share the History of the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic with future generations. Be Well, Brian

The Coronavirus Pandemic - Share Your Story for the Future villageofmontgomery.org/covid-19archives Today we are living in one of the most defining moments of our lifetime. The national headlines, cable networks, and social media channels will effectively chronicle the stories and headlines of the day. However 10, 20 or even 50 years from now, the questions from future generations will become more personal. They will wonder and ask: What was it like for you? How did the co...mmunity respond? What impact did it have on the village, businesses, schools, churches, family, friends and daily life? How are you documenting your experience during the COVID-19 pandemic? I know that many village residents are keeping diaries, journals, taking photos etc. Documenting your personal story or even making a few notes each week during this period, can be a wonderful Stay at Home activity. Later these documents can be donated, archived, and shared to tell our village story. Right now, you can also contribute to our history by completing a survey, developed by the Association of Public Historians of New York State. The survey will be used to collect stories from throughout New York State. The form is set up so submissions directly feed into a special Google email folder that was set up for this project. Once the crisis and the collecting period have ended, the APHNYS will share the responses with each local historian. If you would like to participate in the survey, please click on the link: villageofmontgomery.org/covid-19archives. You can respond once or multiple times as you have new information to share. I optimistically look forward to the day when we open our museum doors and begin the healing process of collecting your heartfelt personal stories of sacrifice, commitment, and devotion to community that inspired all of us all through this challenging time. Keep Everyone Healthy. Please Stay at Home. Brian Fitzpatrick, Village Historian [email protected]

A Very Special Thank You to the entire Taste of Montgomery Committee for hosting their 2nd annual Taste of Montgomery Event between the Museums on Clinton StIt was a wonderful afternoon and we were extremely delighted , for all the visitors we had at the both the Village, and the Orange County Firefighters Museum. We look forward to working with you again on next year’s event.

A Very Special thank you to Kathy Larocca, Stephanie Byam , and the entire Friends of the Library committee for hosting their " Night at the Museum Fundraiser" at the Village Museum on Friday October 18th. We just wanted to thank you for your support, enthusiasm and donation to the museum. We look forward to working with your wonderful group again in the future.

"I am sure Marion Wild is very pleased when she looks down from above at our new museum roof... Thank You Mayor Brescia, Buddy Nelson, Mike Ford, the DPW Team, Building Inspector, Bruce J. Yancewicz, Sr. Bill Freeman and the entire AHRB, for all your support for with this beautiful improvement for our village"

It was an honor to welcome our friends from our "Sister City" Montgomery Ohio, to join us this year for General Montgomery Day. Katie Smiddy and Connie Gaylor with Paul Teutel Jr.