The Old Post Road and the Revolution

Bicentennial Lecture Series: “The Old Post Road and the Revolution.” 
Saturday, July 28th, 5 to 7 pm


Barbara Hobens, vice president of the Friends of the Fishkill Supply Depot, will present a lecture on the important military role of the Post Road, the creation of the supply depot and encampment, and the revolutionary history of the North Highlands. 

 Admission is $5 for the general public, free for members and donors. To RSVP, please call 845-265-4010 or email.

Summer Afternoon Lawn Party

Summer Afternoon Lawn Party

Saturday, July 7, 5 to 7 pm

At historic Lower Hayfields,

home of Emily and George Lansbury

267 Avery Road, Garrison, NY

Spirited drinks, savory hors d’oeuvres. Attire: Summer Afternoon white. Lawn-friendly shoes are suggested. RSVP to the museum by Friday, July 2nd. Tickets for this event are $50 each ($60 each at the door). To purchase tickets, call 845-265-4010 or email. 

Summer Afternoon Opening Reception

Summer Afternoon: Fashion and Leisure

in the Hudson Highlands, 1850–1950

June 30 - December 16

O P E N I N G – R E C E P T I O N
Saturday, June 30, 5 to 7 pm

Summer Afternoon—the most beautiful words in the English language, according to Henry James—brings to life the history of the Hudson Highlands as a summer residence for fashionable society. A half-dozen white cotton, lace-trimmed “lingerie dresses,” so-called because they are made of the same materials as undergarments, form the heart of this exhibition. They were worn
to garden parties, luncheons, and teas at the turn of the century. The exhibition contrasts this idealized belle époque with the voluminous attire of the Victorian era as well as the streamlined social wear of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. The thirty garments and undergarments and a half-dozen accessories on display originally were owned by local residents.

A 56-page, color catalogue features photographs of many of the exhibition pieces and two essays exploring summer fashion and its role in society, “Summer Leisure across the Social Spectrum in the Hudson Highlands” by Dr. Trudie Grace, curator of the Putnam History Museum, and “Fashion for Summer, 1850-1950” by Dr. Lourdes Font, associate professor of art history and fashion studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology and guest curator for the exhibition.

This exhibition was made possible in part by major grants from Hanky Panky, a lingerie company that has created a limited-edition collection inspired by this exhibition; the Leonard and Evelyn Lauder Foundation; and Leslie Jacobson. Further significant funding was provided by Betty Green and Lisa and Lloyd Zeiderman. 

This event is free to members and donors.
RSVP by June 27 to info@putnamhistorymuseum.org or call 845-265-4010.

Lecture with PHM curator, Dr. Trudie A. Grace

Saturday, June 2, 5 pm

Bicentennial Lecture Series

America the Beautiful: Women and the Flag

Dr. Trudie A. Grace, PHM curator, will present a lecture on our current exhibition, documenting the important role that images of women and the flag had on popular culture, and the war efforts of the United States from the Civil War through World War II, and even into the twenty-first century.

The Putnam History Museum, currently transitioning from the Putnam County Historical Society, is located at 63 Chestnut Street in Cold Spring. The cost for this program is $5 for the general public, free for members. Space is limited, RSVP to 845-265-4010 or office@pchs-fsm.org.

Lecture with author, Tony Czarnecki

Saturday, May 12, 5 pm
Bicentennial Lecture Series: Mr. Lincoln’s Secret Visit to West Point and the West Point Foundry

The renowned early industrial site the West Point Foundry was pivotal in the 19th century development of commerce and industry in western Putnam County. Tony Czarnecki, author of the article Mr. Lincoln’s Secret Visit to West Point, will present an illustrated lecture focusing on Lincoln’s visit to the foundry. This year is the 150th anniversary of his visit in 1862. Admission is $5 for the general public, free for members and donors.

Annual Meeting & Bicentennial Presentation with Sallie Sypher

Saturday, April 14, 3 pm
PCHS Annual Meeting & Bicentennial Presentation

Join staff, members, and trustees to learn more about PCHS and Putnam County’s Bicentennial. Meet the new PCHS board trustees, and learn more about the society’s exhibitions and programming. A guest lecturer, Deputy County Historian Sallie Sypher, will speak about how Putnam County was created 200 years ago. Admission is free.

Lecture with author, Joe Schiavone

Saturday, March 24, 5 pm
Bicentennial Lecture Series: 25 Years on “The Old Put”

Putnam County is defined by its railroads and waterways. Join us for a presentation on the history railroads in eastern Putnam, particularly the long-defunct Putnam Railroad Line (nicknamed “Old Put”). Between 1894 and 1958, Old Put ran north from New York City to Brewster, serving Westchester and Putnam counties. Joe Schiavone, author of The Old Put, More of the Old Put, and Last of the Old Put, will present rare color footage of this abandoned railroad, which has now been turned into a series of popular railtrails. Admission is $5 for the general public, free for members and donors.

America the Beautiful: Women and the Flag, Opening Reception

America the Beautiful: Women and the Flag
Opening reception, Saturday, March 10, 5 to 7 pm
On view Wednesday–Sunday, 11 to 5, through May

This reprise of our popular exhibition from the private collection of Richard Saunders, dating from the Civil War era through World War II, explores gloriously visual popular imagery, and includes newly acquired artworks. Guests at the opening reception will also have the opportunity to view a new educational installation of 19th-century domestic and farming artifacts on the museum’s lower level.

Lecture with Authors, Thom Johnson and Rob Yasinsac

Saturday, February 11, 5 pm
Bicentennial Lecture Series: The Cornish Estate and the Northgate Ruins

Estate living was a major party of Putnam County’s development in the 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in Philipstown. Join us to learn the history behind the evocative ruins found on the popular hike across 9D from Little Stony Point. View rarely-seen photographs of the original estate in this lecture with Thom Johnson, co-author of Postcards of America: Bannerman’s Island, and Rob Yasinsac, co-author of Hudson Valley Ruins.

Admission is $5 for the general public, free for members and donors.

Lecture with author, Vincent D'Acquino

Saturday, January 14th, 5 pm

Sybil Ludington: A Call to Arms
Lecture with renowned local author, Vincent Dacquino

2012 marks the 200th anniversary of Putnam County's separation from Dutchess County. Our bicentennial lecture series will kick off with a lecture by Vin Dacquino on the life of Sybil Ludington, a heroine from our own backyard, who earned a place in American History on a rainy night in 1777 when she rode 40 miles through enemy infested woods to summon her father's regiment to halt a British raid on Connecticut and New York. Though Paul Revere is the most celebrated revolutionary to sound the call to arms, Sybil Ludinton's ride was bolder and far more dangerous, and she was only sixteen years old. Learn more about this amazing woman who contributed so much to the history of Putnam County.

This event is $5 for the general public, $2 seniors and children, free to members. For more information, please call 845-265-4010 or email.

Annual Thanksgiving Candlelight Service & Dinner

Saturday, November 20

Annual Thanksgiving Candlelight Service, 5 pm

Chapel of Our Lady Restoration, 45 Market Street, Cold Spring

Annual Thanksgiving Dinner, 6:15 pm

Tavern Restaurant, Highlands Country Club, Route 9d, just south of 403

Garrison

Please join us for our Annual Thanksgiving Candlelight Service & Dinner. The Candlelight Service will be held at the Chapel of Our Lady Restoration at 5 pm. This year, the Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamations will be read by Peter Downey, Emerson Pugh, and Gwendolyn Bounds. Music will be provided by Elizabeth Ailes, and Lindy Labriola. The service will be presided over by Pastor Peggy Laemmel of the United Methodist Churches in Cold Spring and Garrison. This non-denominational service is free and open to the public. Following the service at 6:15, this year's Thanksgiving Dinner will be held at the Tavern Restaurant, at the Highlands Country Club, Route 9d, just south of 403 in Garrison. Betty E. Green will be the recipient of the 2011 Elizabeth Todd Healy Volunteer Service Award for her many years of service and contribution to the Philipstown community. Tickets are $75 per person. RSVP to 845-265-4010 or email, kshier@pchs-fsm.org

Stereoviews and Photographs from the Collections of Mark Forlow and Joe Diebboll

Stereoviews and Photographs from the Collections of Mark Forlow and Joe Diebboll

On sale and exhibition:

A handsome exhibition of more than two dozen photographs and stereoviews of local scenes in Cold Spring, Garrison, and surrounding areas. Many are enlarged rare images dating from the mid-19th to the early 20th century. They are drawn from the collections of Mark Forlow, long-time Cold Spring resident, and Joe Diebboll, owner of the Highland Studio, a fine art printmaking business in Cold Spring.

The prints are for sale in the museum store at various sizes, and prices. They make great gifts for the holidays and part of the proceeds benefit the historical society.

"Around Cold Spring", Book Signing and Lecture

Lecture and Book Signing with PCHS Curator, Dr. Trudie A. Grace
Saturday, November 5, 5 pm

Join us for a lecture and book signing with our curator, Dr. Trudie Grace, author of Around Cold Spring, a new book from Arcadia Publishing’s popular “Images of America” series.

Around Cold Spring breaks new ground, featuring over 200 rare, vintage photographs from nineteen public and private collections. Organized by theme, the photographs document Hudson River activities, local businesses, social organizations and celebrations, civic and religious groups, rural landscapes, and local architecture. Each photograph is enriched by detailed, well-researched captions. Around Cold Spring is the only comprehensive history of Philipstown available.

Dr. Grace will discuss the process of compiling and publishing the book, from the inception of the idea, to image research and selection, to the sources for the historical captions. Dr. Grace will also sign copies of Around Cold Spring, which will be on sale with all proceeds benefitting the historical society.

Dr. Grace has been the curator of the Putnam County Historical Society for the past 10 years. She has worked extensively on the history of the village and its environs in the Hudson Highlands during that time. She received her Ph.D. in art history, specializing in the 19^th century and early 20^th century, at the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York in 1984.

This event is free and open to the public. The Putnam County Historical Society & Foundry School Museum is located at 63 Chestnut Street in Cold Spring. RSVP to 845-265-4010 or office@pchs-fsm.org.