Programs

Programs are held at Our Lady of Fatima Church Hall (Alexandar Road, Delanson) at 7:00PM unless otherwise noted.

Monday, March 19, 2018 --- The Dash Between

by: Rick Coyler

Rick Coyler, of Schoharie, will talk about his book, “The Dash Between”.

When Mr. Colyer taught literature, he often told personal stories that had some bearing on what his students were studying. His students loved these stories as he often heard, "Mr. Colyer, tell us another story!" So when he retired, he decided to record these stories so his progeny would know more about him than what was on a tombstone - name, birthdate, death date, and the dash between. This book is his dash between. 1942 - ? Richard Colyer had three goals as a teacher: to entertain, to educate, and to inspire. He figured that if he entertained his students, he would get their attention; and if he got their attention, he could educate them; and if he educated them, perhaps he could inspire them as well. Those same three goals are attempted in this story-telling autobiography - to entertain, educate, and inspire the reader. Much 20th century history is revealed in this book and Mr. Colyer has provided some commentary on the significance of some of these events as he has interpreted them. It is his hope that as people read this, they will be inspired to write their own "dash between."

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Monday, April 16, 2018 --- Palatine Migration ~ Part II

by: Don Martin
Don Martin has lived in Duanesburg for 45 years after his marriage to Shirley Fidler. Many of his ancestors were the first settlers in the Schoharie Valley, including many Palatine Germans. Don has worked six years and many hours at the Old Stone Fort research library helping visitors form all parts of the USA and Canada find their Palatine German roots.

Society member Don Martin has presented to the historical society before, about his travels in India, the Anti-Rent Wars, and most recently in 2016 about the Palatine German settlers in Schoharie. This years presentation is a continuation following that program, where we learned about the almost unbearable hardships that the Palatine Germans had to endure, from their war torn homeland on the border with France, to England, and finally on to New York in 1710, as well as where they went after arriving in New York. You may be surprised to learn that if some of your ancestors have been in this area for 200 years or more you probably have many Palatine German ancestors.

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Monday, May 21, 2018 --- World War II Family Diaries

by: Lois Gruner
Lois Gruner is an active member of the National Society - Daughters of the American Revolution, which keeps her busy since retirement - along with genealogical research and quilting. She enjoys learning about local history, and is especially delighted that she has an ancestor or two ore three in every township and community in the Capital District. Lois is a former historian of the town of Charleston, in Montgomery county, and a former Chair of the Charleston Historical Society. She is also a mother and has 4 grandchildren.

Lois will speak about her stepfather's Army service during World War II in the European front, focusing on the diaries of his wife during the decade of the 1940s in Charleston.

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Monday, June 18, 2018 --- A Century of Family Businesses in the Town of Duanesburg

by: Steve Schrade
Steve Schrade is a lifelong resident of the Town of Duanesburg, with the exception of three years in Dolgeville, NY. Steve can trace his family roots in the Town back to the early 19th century. Steve is a graduate of Duanesburg Central School and Union College where he earned a BA in American History. He is retired from a 35 year career in public education and a 22 year career in the Naval Reserve. Steve and his wife, Sherry, reside in the hamlet of Eaton's Corners in the former 19th century inn, Tulloch's Tavern, which has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.


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Monday, July 16, 2018 --- Annual Picnic @ Shafer Park

by: Duanesburg Historical Society

In July the Duanesburg Historical Society has its annual picnic, where we welcome Society Members, Guests, & Friends (Everyone!). As usual the picnic will be at Shafer Park, on Monday July 16th, 5:30 to at 7:00 p.m. (Rain location: Bishop Scully Hall in Delanson)

The DHS will be providing sliced sub sandwiches. Please bring your own flatware, drink & utensils as well as a side dish or dessert to share.

Please call Pat Van Buren at 895-2632 to let her know you will be attending so that we'll know how many guests to plan for.

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Monday, August 20, 2018 --- Open House at the new DHS Research & Archive Center, on Quaker Lane, in Quaker Street

by: Duanesburg Historical Society

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Monday, September 17, 2018 --- History of the Grove Cemetery, Delanson, NY

by: Lenny VanBuren & Bruce Barton

Lenny Van Buren is a 5th generation Duanesburg resident, and retired from the White-Van Buren Funeral Home in 2005. He has served as Superintendent of the Grove Cemetery in Quaker Street for 25 years and now volunteers there. Len will relate the history of the cemetery and the history of some of those buried there.

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Monday, October 15, 2018 --- A Duanesburg Boyhood in the 1940’s

by: Carole deForest
Carole deForest was born and raised in Princetown, and though her husband worked and raised their family in Guilderland, Duanesburg has been at the heart of both their family histories since Civil War times. Carole's curiosity and strong interests in history, genealogy, and storytelling have kept her "poking around, in search of a clearer picture of yesteryear". She loves swapping stories with others who love Duanesburg, its land, its people and its rich long heritage as much as she does. "There seems to be no end to the stories."

What was daily farm life like for a family living in Duanesburg in the 1940s? Just as the 4 deForest brothers were beginning to leave their childhood behind, David, the eldest, decided to publish a weekly family newspaper which he called, "The Family Reporter." A number of issues from the 3 or 4 years of his enterprise have survived. Among them, and best of all, is the complete record of 1947, providing us now, with a warm-hearted look back at those simpler times as recorded by an inside reporter.

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Monday, November 19, 2018 --- My Grandfather - Raymond Daniel Suits

by: Robert "Bob" Stark

Bob Stark grew up in Schoharie during the 1950's and 60's. His grandparents Raymond and Catherine Suits in Duanesburg did not have a phone, so every Sunday afternoon, Bob and his brothers joined their mother Reba visiting her parents. During summer vacations, Bob and his brothers rotated week-long visits with Ray and Kate. Like his grandmother and mother before him, Bob graduated from a teacher training and licensing program at the State College at Oneonta. He began his teaching at the Schalmont Middle School in September, 1968, the same month that Catherine died. Before he got married in 1969, Bob moved in with Raymond to help with cooking and paperwork for a year. "My grandparents were a major part of my life," Bob says. Bob moved to Cobleskill where he taught elementary school for 32 years ending in 2001.

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Monday, December 17, 2018 --- Music & Memories: Accordion Band & Sharing Early Christmas Memories.



“For it is good to be Children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its’ mighty founder was a child Himself.”

A Christmas Carol ~ Charles Dickens

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