Putnam History Museum

Now playing... our most recent digital program about New Research and Listening to Native America in 2021 with Harv Hilovitz. Please visit https://www.beaconhistorical.org//new-research-and-listeni

If you’ve ever wondered how a West Point Foundry Parrott Gun is made, be sure to attend our upcoming History Hike of Scenic Hudson's WPF Preserve. PHM board chair Mark Forlow will discuss the Parrott Gun’s production process and lead hikers through the Foundry’s remaining structures. Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/phm-history-hikes-west-point-f

In the 17th and 18th centuries, some American Quakers were slaveowners. Peter Bunten sheds light on this lesser known fact in an excerpt from our conversation with the Mid-Hudson Anti-Slavery History Project. Check back every Thursday for a new clip. The full interview is available on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npVnsmP0uqU

The West Point Foundry used its profits from the Civil War to construct a new administration building in 1865. This ornate structure was a testament to the Foundry’s success. Today, it is the only building remaining on the Foundry grounds. Learn more about the history of this famed industrial site during our History Hike of Scenic Hudson's WPF preserve on June 19th at 11 am. Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/phm-history-hikes-west-point-f

Thank you for the feature, Putnam Historian!!

Storm King, the best known and one of the most picturesque of the River Hills William Thompson Howell, 1906 Nature lovers like William Thompson Howell have hiked Storm King Mountain for over a century. We can still appreciate the mountain’s beauty today because of a 17 year battle to keep a Con Edison power plant off Storm King. Our Sunset History Hike of Little Stony Point is this Friday, June 11th at 6:30PM. We’ll discuss environmentalism on the Hudson and take in sunset views of Storm King Mountain Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/phm-history-hikes-little-stony

Sleigh racing on the Hudson River, with Garrison Hotel in the background, c. 1893. Stay safe in today's storm! From the PHM Glass Plate Negative Collection.

Remembering movies of yesteryear...Chaplin’s best friend A Dog’s Life was the first silent film released by Charlie Chaplin’s own movie studio in 1918, distribu...ted by First National Pictures under a contract for $1 million. It was directed, produced, and written by Chaplin who also starred in it alongside his furry friend Scraps". This ad is from The Putnam County Courier for show times at Carmel Movies in 1919. Note the mention of prices including a War Tax, in which movies helped pay for the US costs related to World War I. See more

The Walter Brewster House was constructed around 1820 by Walter Brewster. Walter and his brother James purchased the 134-acre farmland that became the village of Brewster in 1848. The Brewster brothers built passenger and freight railroad stations, and at least 50 homes and businesses. The railroad stations included stops on the New York and Harlem Railroad line in Brewster and were also connected to Danbury train lines. Sadly, little of the original town is left as it was de...stroyed by fires in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. John Hail Borden later purchased the home, while managing the nearby Borden Milk Factory. The home later served as home to the Knights of Columbus and as a schoolhouse and apartments. The house then became the property Landmarks Preservation Society of the Southeast in the 1970s. Since acquiring the property, the Preservation Society has restored the house to its original glory, paying special attention to keeping the house as historically accurate as possible. The restored building is now a cultural center and is open for public tours. For more information: http://www.landmarksse.com/landmark-properties.html http://www.preserveputnam.org/content/walter-brewster-house Photo through Creative Commons, WikiCommons: Daniel Case. #phmfromhome #museumsfromhome #museumstogo #phmtogo #brewsterny #putnamcounty

Prepping the gallery for a new exhibition! . . . #museums #behindthescenes #localhistory #putnamcounty #hudsonvalley

Patterson is named after Judge Matthew Paterson, a native of Scotland who came to the American colonies in 1752. He was one of the earliest settlers in the area and it is said that he influenced many fellow Scotts to settle in the same area. Paterson served as an officer in the French and Indian War, and later became a tenant farmer in Fredericksburg, which was later renamed to Patterson. Paterson purchased the land where he built his home in 1781, and before the purchase, i...t is believed he was a tenant farmer on the land beginning in 1770. Paterson became a prominent individual, local businessman, and was a member of the Dutchess County Assembly from 1782-1789. Paterson went on to become a Justice of the Peace, as well as an active member of the local Presbyterian Church. When it was decided to rename the town in Paterson’s honor, an extra t was added to ease the mail sorting confusion between Paterson, NY and Paterson, NJ. The Paterson family remained in the home until the early 20th century, when they sold it to the Seeger Family. The Seegers had a son in 1919, Pete. Pete loved music and learned to play the guitar, bajo, and ukulele. He developed a love for folk music and released his first album in 1953. He went on to become a very influential political activist and of the most famous folk singers of his era. Dismayed by the Hudson River’s abhorrent ecological health, Seeger commissioned the Clearwater, a replica of an eighteenth century Dutch trading sloop, to raise environmental awareness. The Clearwater became a floating classroom, and has since educated half a million people across all ages and backgrounds on the Hudson River’s history and native ecology. For more information: https://www.historicpatterson.org/Exhibits/ExhNames.php https://www.historicpatterson.org/Exhi/ExhIntroduction.php #museumsfromhome #localhistory #phmfromhome #phmtogo #museumstogo

Have you registered for our upcoming virtual lecture? PHM will host author Anton Chaitkin for a Zoom lecture at 7:00 pm on Thursday, December 17th. Mr. Chaitkin will situate the West Point Foundry within the context of early industrializers in the United States. The event is free to PHM members and $10.00 for the general public. Tag a friend in the comments below to let the know! Visit Eventbrite to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zoom-lecture-anton-chaitkin-on

Warm up with today’s Morning History Minute about 19th century tea and coffee! #putnamhistorymuseum #phmmorninghistoryminute #19thcentury #hudsonvalley #coffee #tea #fireplace #localhistory

Join us in welcoming author Anton Chaitkin for a Zoom lecture on early American industrialists on Thursday, December 17th at 7:00 pm. Mr. Chaitkin will discuss how early industrial sites like the West Point Foundry served as vehicles for positive societal change, a subject addressed in his new book Who We Are: America’s Fight for Universal Progress, from Franklin to KennedyVolume 1: 1750s to 1850s. The event is free to PHM members and $10.00 for the general public. We hope to (virtually) see you there! Visit Eventbrite to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zoom-lecture-anton-chaitkin-on

If you missed out on last week's history hikes, there is still time to join our hike of the Revolutionary War Redoubts this Saturday, October 31st at 12:30. Enjoy scenic views of West Point while PHM Trustee Craig Watters explains the role of the redoubts in defending the Hudson. To register: http://www.putnamhistorymuseum.org//phm-history-hikes-nor/... This program is made possible in part by funding from a National Endowment for the Humanities CARES Act grant.

SAVE THE DATE! Putnam History Museum will host a Zoom lecture by author Anton Chaitkin at 7:00 pm on Thursday, December 17th. Mr. Chaitkin will discuss the purpose of the West Point Foundry within the overall strategy of early industrializers in the United States. The event is free to PHM members and $10.00 for the general public. All are welcome to attend. Visit Eventbrite to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zoom-lecture-anton-chaitkin-on

During today’s #phmmorninghistoryminute Project Manager Nicholas Capicotto teaches us about Cold Spring’s Antonia Caetana de Paiva Pereira Maury. Learn more by stopping by our HerStory outdoor exhibition, featuring biographies of 35 women from Putnam County. . . . #womenshistory #putnamcounty #putnamhistorymuseum #coldspring #hudsonvalley #themoreyouknow #upstateny #localhistory

Looking for a safe and fun activity this weekend? Visit the Putnam History Museum to check out our outdoor exhibitions Hudson Rising (on display via the New-York Historical Society) and HerStory: Women of Putnam County.

Only 4 spots left for tomorrow’s History Hike @ Little Stony Point! Rain or shine. Register today http://www.putnamhistorymuseum.org//phm-history-hikes-lit/

Some of the earliest victories for environmental conservation took place in the Hudson Valley. Adirondack Park, formed by NY lawmakers in 1892, helped keep millions of acres of public land forever wild. Photograph: Seneca Ray Stoddard, Bog River Falls, Adirondacks, ca. 1880. New York State Museum Learn more about conservation on the Hudson by visiting the New-York Historical Society traveling panel exhibition Hudson Rising, on display now outside Putnam History Museum.

Have you registered for one of this week's History Hikes yet? Join us at Little Stony Point this Friday, 11am, and learn about the role of Storm King Mountain in the Environmental movement while taking in these beautiful views! Working on Friday? Then sign up for our guided hike of the West Point Foundry Preserve on Saturday, October 24th at 10am. Follow the link below to register for both! http://www.putnamhistorymuseum.org/home/eventsmc/ This event series is made possible with generous funding from a National Endowment for the Humanities CARES Act Grant.

Another Circus Story: The Side Saddle Empress and the great grave of Lily Deacon Forepaugh Lily Deacon Forepaugh (1856-1946) was a local legend to several g...enerations during more than half a century that she lived in the Town of Southeast. Born in London to Jane (Mozely) Jee and John Deacon, a musician from York. Lily grew up to become a leading equestrienne of her time and she was a champion hurdle rider with a mastery of Haute Ecole riding skills that won her acclaim wherever she performed. Lily had already given command performances before royalty before arriving in the U.S. in 1882 at age 24 to join the Adam Forepaugh Circus. During her first season, she married Adam Forepaugh, Jr., the animal trainer and star of his father’s show. By 1885, Forepaugh was billing her as The Side Saddle Empress for her amazing riding abilities. Lily toured with the Forepaugh Circus during the height of its rivalry with P.T. Barnum’s circus and competing with Barnum’s ever popular extravaganzas was no easy task. Eventually the Forepaugh Circus was sold to Barnum and his partners. Adam and Lily were estranged (but did not divorce) and following her retirement from circus life in 1891, Lily took up residence near her family who resided in Southeast for the remainder of her life. Lily was a niece of Amy Mozley (Seth B. Howes’ wife) and a half-sister of Jennie Maude Jee (equestrienne who married Seth’s nephew Egbert Howes), and Brewster was home to more of her Jee sisters and brothers. She purchased a house on Peaceable Hill, where she created a refuge for domestic and wild animals. She formed the Society for Kindness for Dumb Animals and encouraged children to be kind to all animals. The children knew that Mrs. Forepaugh would give a penny to them if they could report that he or she had done a good deed for an animal. In 1912, she presented the Village of Brewster with a cast iron watering trough for horses and birds, topped by a streetlamp, located near the former Town Hall and Brewster train station. Her passion for animals continued as World War I raged on, Lily promoted fundraising for the Blue Cross Society in Europe. The Blue Cross helped supply aid for horse hospitals and supplies for war dogs and other wounded and suffering animals on frontlines. During her last years, Lily Deacon Forepaugh was cared for by her niece, Mrs. Fred Ives, in the Egbert Howes family home on North Main Street. Lily Deacon Forepaugh’s beautiful headstone can be found near her family and fellow circus connections, including Seth B. Howes’ mausoleum, at the Milltown Rural Cemetery in Brewster, NY. Thanks to Amy Campanaro of Southeast Museum for recommending Lily as a "Great Grave of Putnam County. " Content for this post is based on the Southeast Yearbook 1788-1988 published by the Town of Southeast. Special thanks for the headstone images in this post go to Brewster’s own Mary Simonelli, member Enoch Crosby Chapter, DAR, who dedicates her time and talents to not only recording local graves in Putnam County, but carefully and lovingly cleans them as well. Additional thanks to William Ridge, family genealogist of the Forepaugh family, for use of the early equestrienne image of Lily. Tilly Foster Southeast Museum

Join us on Saturday, Oct. 31st at 12:30 pm for an outdoor, socially distant history hike of the Revolutionary War North and South Redoubts! PHM trustee Craig Watters will lead hikers to both sites, discussing the history of chaining the Hudson during the Revolutionary War and how the redoubts helped defend the chain and West Point. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/phm-history-hikes-revolutionar... This program is made possible in part by funding from a National Endowment for the Humanities CARES Act grant.

Did you know a resident of Cold Spring was the first person to cross the Brooklyn Bridge when it opened on May 24th, 1883? Emily Warren Roebling received the honor in appreciation of her work as an engineer, secretary, and messenger for the construction project in place of her bedridden husband. Ms. Roebling’s biography is one of more than 35 featured in our new outdoor exhibition HerStory: Women of Putnam County. Stop by the PHM today to learn more!

A great, and mysterious, grave of Putnam County Here’s a great grave history mystery: in the Adams Corners Cemetery, the inscription on Phebe Lehman Barger’s he...adstone refers to her as Princess in the Putnam Valley historical community her grave is referred to as that of the German princess, could there be forgotten royalty buried in Putnam Valley? Andrew (or Andries/Andros) Barger and his wife Phebe were early settlers in the Philipse Patent, and according to records, they were born before 1700, died date unknown. Their son John is buried next to them with a Son’s of the American Revolution grave marker. Today the princess grave is nearly illegible but the mystery still remains, was she truly a princess? Perhaps the truth is buried with them. All Barger ancestors and super sleuth genealogists are invited to help solve the princess mystery! (Please leave your comments with this post.) Luckily for us, Ron Peterson saw to it years ago that this unusual grave was photographed as part of his study of nearly all the burial grounds in Putnam Valley. Peterson has photographed all of the old gravestones that he could find and deciphered all that were legible. He mapped the cemeteries so that gravestones can easily be located, and he correlated each grave with Barbara Buys’ Old Gravestones of Putnam County, New York. In the Historian’s Collection, HC410, E. Ronald Peterson Research Papers: Putnam Valley Families and Cemeteries is Ron Peterson’s gift to Putnam County History. His papers were donated to the Putnam County Historian’s Office in 2013, are an invaluable collection for anyone researching Putnam Valley families. Putnam Valley Historical Society Putnam County Tourism

School may look different this year, but PHM is here to help! Our new Educational Resource Portal includes lesson plans, educational activities and videos, and virtual exhibitions. Whether you are a teacher, parent, student, or history lover, there is something for everyone to enjoy! Do you know someone who could use these FREE resources? Tag them in the comments below http://www.putnamhistorymuseum.org/home/education/... The PHM’s Education Portal is funded in part by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities CARES Act Program, Teaching the Hudson Valley, and Humanities NY.

Looking for an exciting way to explore local history and the natural beauty of Cold Spring at the same time? Join us on Saturday, October 24th for an outdoor, socially distant history hike of the West Point Foundry Preserve! PHM Board Chair Mark Forlow will lead participants through the Preserve and discuss the history of the WPF. Click the link below to register https://www.eventbrite.com/e/phm-history-hikes-west-point-f

Have you noticed something new at PHM? We are currently featuring TWO outdoor exhibitions on the museum grounds: Hudson Rising (a traveling panel exhibition from New-York Historical Society) and HerStory: Women of Putnam County. Plan your visit today!

Looking for an exciting way to spend your lunch break? Need to get out of the house while working from home? Then join us at 11am on October 23rd for an outdoor, socially distant history hike through the Little Stony Point section of the Hudson Highlands State Park! PHM staff will lead you through a trail with scenic views of the Hudson River while discussing Storm King Mountain's role in the Environmental Movement. Follow the link below to register!... https://www.eventbrite.com/e/phm-history-hikes-little-stony This program is made possible in part with a National Endowment for the Humanities CARES Act Grant.