Full Moon WalkSchenectady, N.Y. - Schenectady Historical is pleased to announce its full slate of winter 2023 programming. From family-friendly hikes and workshops to conversations with international scholars, we're excited to help our community discover local history. For everything going on through April, visit schenectadyhistorical.org/events

Full Moon Wolf Walk
Friday, January 6 at 5pm @ Mabee Farm
On winter nights in our cold clime, a full moon illuminates vast expanses of deep snow on the flats. January brings the full Wolf Moon, named for wolf packs circling icy villages, their howls piercing the silence of the 18th century, adding a sense of eerie desolation to this frontier.

Celebrate the Wolf Moon with a short illuminated walk in the woods of the Woestyne. Afterwards, we’ll make a fire in the Inn’s historic fireplace, and docents will share colorful stories and tall tales from our local area. Warm drinks will be served to fight off the night’s chill. 

Free for members, otherwise $10, register at schenectadyhistorical.org/event/wolfmoon

A Frontier Place: The Transformation of Colonial Albany, 1756-1763 with Dr. Elizabeth George
Thursday, January 12 at 7pm @ online

Join us for a virtual presentation by Dr. Elizabeth George, discussing her recent publication, “A Frontier Place: The Transformation of Colonial Albany, 1756-1763.” Colonial Albany’s location meant that residents experienced war and the military as a matter of daily life, taking an economic and psychological toll on the residents. Albany residents’ interactions with the British army ultimately transformed Albany’s insular backcountry culture and society. As the Albany region became less isolated and more connected to wider colonial and imperial communities, it resulted in a blurring of cultures that was a hallmark of the ever-westward New York borderland.

Dr. Elizabeth George is Associate Professor of History at Taylor University. Her research and teaching interests include women and American history, public history, and the intersection of games and learning.

This is a virtual program, presented on Zoom. A link will be sent to SCHS members before the presentation.  

Free for members, otherwise $8, tickets at schenectadyhistorical.org/event/george

Uncharted Waters: Diving into the Holdings of the NYS Archives with Jane Wilcox
Saturday, January 14 at 2pm @ 32 Washington Ave

The New York State Archives (NYSA) at the Cultural Education Center in Albany holds a diverse collection of state governmental records. Come learn about both familiar and obscure resources that will help you advance your New York research. A demonstration for using the Finding Aids on the NYSA website will be featured to assist researchers in locating records at NYSA that could be pertinent to your family history

Jane Wilcox is a professional genealogist and host of “The Forget Me Not Hour: Your Ancestors Want Their Stories to Be Told.” She specializes in colonial and early statehood New York and the Puritans/Congregationalists in the New England colonies.

Free for members, otherwise $8 the day of the program

Archives Open House
Wednesday, January 18 at 6:30pm @ 32 Washington Ave

Our collections storage expansion is complete! The installation of moveable, compact shelving has increased our archives capacity by 65%. Even better, our historic portrait collection finally has the museum-quality home it deserves. Join us for a showcase of our new archival storage system as we toast the improvement with champagne!

Free for all, RSVP required at schenectadyhistorical.org/event/archives

Myth or Truth with Julie Johnson
Saturday, January 21 at 2pm @ Mabee Farm

Julie Johnson will discuss common myths heard in museums and historic sites. This presentation will help you learn which famous stories are fact and which ones are fiction. Refreshments will be served.

Julie Johnson is a member of the Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in Hudson, New York. She serves as a Correspondent Docent for the DAR Museum in Washington DC. Her areas of interest include women’s studies and the American Revolution. 

Free for members, otherwise $8 the day of the program

Industrial Policy in Eastern New York with Carlos Balsas
Thursday, January 26 at 7pm @ online

Join us for a virtual presentation by Carlos Balsas, discussing his recent publication, “Industrial Policy in Eastern New York.” Balsas will discuss urban industrial transformations occurring in NYS, and if recent major projects on former industrial sites in Upstate New York succeeded at creating long-term, well-paying and high-skilled jobs for their host cities and towns. It is argued that although it is difficult to convert former 20th century industrial sites to 21st century requirements, state and localities should not abandon existing industrially zoned land in favor of out-of-town greenfield industrial developments.

This is a virtual program, presented on Zoom. A link will be sent to SCHS members before the presentation.  

Free for members, otherwise $8, tickets at schenectadyhistorical.org/event/balsas

Colonial Ice Cream Parlor
Saturday, January 28 at 10am @ Mabee Farm

Ice cream in January? In a time before refrigeration, life at the Mabee Farm was tough, and didn’t offer many sweet treats. Winter was the perfect season to make ice cream! In this family-friendly class, we’ll teach you how you can make a frozen custard the old fashioned way. And of course you’ll get a taste!

Free for family-level+ members, otherwise $10, RSVP and tickets at schenectadyhistorical.org/event/icecream

Full Moon Snow Walk
Friday, February 3 at 5pm @ Mabee Farm

The Full Snow Moon of February marks the midpoint between winter solstice and spring equinox. It’s a moment when the light begins to shift towards spring, even as we are deep in bitter winter’s deep snows and scarce game.

Celebrate the Snow Moon with a short illuminated walk in the woods of the Woestyne. Afterwards, we’ll make a fire in the Inn’s historic fireplace, and docents will share colorful stories and tall tales from our local area. Warm drinks will be served to fight off the night’s chill.

Free for members, otherwise $10, register at schenectadyhistorical.org/event/snowwalk.

Schenectady Aflame: The Great Fires of the 19th Century
Saturday, February 3 at 2pm @ 32 Washington Ave

During the 19th century, four major fires burned significant portions of Schenectady, changing the face of the City forever. Join City Historian Chris Leonard as he explores the causes of the 1803, 1819, and 1861 fires and the physical changes they wrought on the city. Leonard will also cover the largely forgotten rash of arson that took place from 1883-1886. Additionally, the talk will commemorate the 333rd anniversary of the burning of Schenectady in 1690, which occurs later in the week.

Chris Leonard has served as the City Historian of Schenectady since 2018. He is also an SCHS Trustee, the Historian of the GE Plot, and a trustee of Historic Vale Cemetery.

Free for members, otherwise $8 the day of the program

Spring Wreath Workshop
Saturday, February 11 at 10:30am @ Mabee Farm

Welcome the first signs of spring with a beautiful, custom deco mesh wreath! Tavia Hoover, proprietor of Tavia’s Wreath Boutique, will lead us in creating a wreath perfect for celebrating the arrival of spring’s earliest flowers! The class will teach from start to finish how to create a deco mesh wreath, including completing the wreath frame, cutting and attaching mesh, and installing your custom signs and embellishments, including your bow. Price includes materials fee.

$45, register at schenectadyhistorical.org/event/springwreath

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