George Blackwood, newly elected President of EHS, announced that for his winter project he hopes to get a list of all Edinburg WWI veterans and erect a sign at the Nellie Tyrrell Museum when the list is assembled. It is difficult as there were never any lists of veterans broken down according to cities and towns. Also some Edinburg residents went to other towns to sign up. If you have any relatives that served in WWI please contact George at 518-863-6772.

Our thanks to past president Maria Spaeth for her leadership and guidance.

Rural Museum – The floor has been painted, the exhibits changed and in the spring some of the open wing part of the building will be enclosed housing the hunting, fishing and trapping exhibit which will also display the newly donated 1916 canoe by Roger Hoff.

Did you notice the new Quilt Square added to the front of the Rural Museum that was painted by Bob Tyrrell? Quilt squares have different meanings – this one is a signal for the slaves to pack provisions needed for travel by wagon or that can be used while traveling. It can also mean to pack provisions necessary for survival as in packing a wagon for a long journey or actually loading the wagon in preparation for escape.

The old pump organ is now up and running thanks to George McCleery who repaired it and also played it at the last two festivals.

Nellie Tyrrell Museum – The veteran’s exhibit has been expanded with uniforms and artifacts. The photo albums on display show Edinburg as it was years ago thanks in part to Postmistress Addie Allen who preserved some of our history in these wonderful photographs.

Carriage Factory – The Carriage Factory will soon be listed on the National Registry. Hopefully EHS can get grants to rehabilitate the place. EHS has been in contact with the American Precision Museum in VT that has some of the equipment that was housed in the factory and hopefully we can get some of the old machinery back.

Edinburg Plateau Sky Top Airport – An exhibit will be added about the airport and the doings that occurred on Sundays. If anyone has any photographs it would be appreciated if we could borrow them to scan into our computers and add them to the display.

Roy Pearsall’s one-room Sand Hill School House and Grange Hall – Roy Pearsall wanted the school house to be given to EHS when he passed away, and when the paper work is finished we hope to make good use it. School children will have the opportunity to use it periodically for classes or outings and picnics. There may be other educational purposes for use of the building.

Copeland Covered Bridge – Some repairs to the bridge were done this year and the weeds on the hill have been removed and the area covered with stone. The shareholder’s sign was badly deteriorated and will be rebuilt with double the space for new names and a roof to protect the sign.

Festivals – EHS will not be having the Historic Edinburg Day in 2018 because of the renovations being done at the Rural and member involvement in doing over the exhibits. However the Edinburg Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, September 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. so mark your calendars.

Website – edinburghistoricalsociety.org – check out our website and see what we have to offer.

Membership – If you have not renewed your membership send your check to Andrea Blackwood, 4 Morris Road, Edinburg, NY 12134 – $5 per person or $10 per family. Call Andrea with any questions 518 863-6772.

The November meeting was cancelled due to a Community Center smoke/electrical problem. In the December Edinburg Newsletter Jean Raymond thanked Wayne Seelow and the highway department employees, the Edinburg Fire Company and surrounding fire departments for their help and assistance in determining the cause of the problem. There were some major electrical problems with the wiring in the Community Center ceiling. The old wiring will be replaced to meet current code by the end of November.

UNIQUE HOLIDAY GIFTS

Great Sacandaga Lake Advisory Council – The first public showing of “Harnessing Nature: Building the Great Sacandaga” was held on November 25 with two sold out showings at the Northville School. The DVD’s are available from EHS on Wednesdays at Edinburg Town Hall on Military Road from 9 a.m. to 12 noon from Edinburg’s Historian, Priscilla Edwards 518 863-2034 ext 22 or call President George Blackwood, 518 863-6772. The DVD sells for $20 and there is a $5 handling fee if it needs to be mailed.

EHS DVD “Saving the Dream” is also an excellent gift. John Bennis’s photos donated by his wife are used documenting Edinburg’s history. Music is by Robin Gaiser and the Mill Run Dulcimer Band and is narrated by Edinburg Town Clerk Denise Ferguson. It sells for $15 and $5 handling fee if it needs to be mailed.

There are long sleeve shirts and sweat shirts available with the Copeland Covered Bridge on the front. Contact Marge Ludwig for sizes and prices 518 863-4905.

(This newsletter was written by our amazing hard-working Secretary, Claudette Koza. We are thankful for everything she does to keep our society organized and informed.)