November 17, 2015 meeting: Pies and Reminiscences

The Edinburg Historical Society will hold its last meeting of the year “Pie and Reminiscences” on Tuesday, November 17 at 7 p.m. at the Edinburg Community Center on Military Road.

Members of the Society are asked to bring an object with them to the meeting that was meaningful to their family, played a special role in their holiday traditions, or even an object that you haven’t a clue what it could be and maybe we can help identify it for you. There will be a variety of pies to choose from while you listen to stories.

All meetings are free and open to the public. The EHS has fun programs about local history, artists, authors and so much more each month and after the meeting you can make new friends or join old friends for coffee and homemade goodies. If you wish to become a member of the society the dues are $5 for the year.

2015 Raffle Winners

We’ve update the 2015 Raffle page with information about our lucky raffle winners and pictures of the raffle items from the Fall Festival.

We are very grateful to our generous donors (Rusty Gleaves, Annie Blackwood, and Norma Porteus) for the three prizes. Your contributions and those of all our raffle ticket purchasers help make possible the preservation of Edinburg’s history as well as public access to the beauty of the Copeland site.

October 20, 2015 meeting: Adirondack home styles

On Tuesday, October 20, 7 p.m. the Edinburg Historical Society will hold its monthly meeting at the Edinburg Community Center on Military Road. The program will feature Steven Engelhart, Executive Director at Adirondack Architectural Heritage. He has fascinating comments on Adirondack structures, bridges, fire towers, great camps and even prisons. His talk and slide presentation will be about architectural home styles you see in the Adirondacks.

Thanks to everyone who attended our September meeting. At that meeting, it was announced that this year’s Nellie Tyrrell Award will go to Linden Frasier and Mary Cahill. Thanks also to the community for their wonderful support of the Edinburg Fall Festival. It was a great success. Thank you to those who donated their time, chili, soup and baked goods.

The new 2015 t-shirts are still available. Contact George Blackwood at 863-6772 for further information. They make great Christmas presents.

September 19, 2015 — Edinburg Fall Festival

On September 19, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Edinburg Historical Society will hold its annual Edinburg Fall Festival at the Nellie Tyrrell and Rural Museum at 11 North Shore Road at the Edinburg Four Corners. Tour the museums and join in the fall family fun. Edinburg is just 55 miles from Albany, 15 miles from Lake George, and 22 miles from Saratoga.

Park and walk across the Batchellerville Bridge, one of the longest steel bridge spans in upstate New York and enjoy the gorgeous view of autumn colors.

Seasonal fall treats of cider, donuts, homemade soups, and chili will be served. Treasures will be sold at the White Elephant Booth, and you can purchase home-made pies, cookies and cakes at the bake sale. There will be demonstrations in the Rural Museum of old time crafts. Buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win a piece of furniture made by Rusty Gleaves of Hope Falls, second drawing will be a framed photograph by Norma Porteus, and the third drawing will be a handmade afghan by Andrea Blackwood.

There will be artists and crafters and a Farmer’s market. Kids get to paint a pumpkin.

Joel and Denise Ferguson will have their Percheron horses providing free horse and wagon rides.

Take a short walk or ride to visit the Copeland Covered Bridge built in 1879 and the Carriage House built before 1828 and used as a water-powered shop for the Copeland brothers who were wheelwrights and makers of cabinets, coffins and furniture.

Contact Maria Spaeth, president for further information at thespaeths@ymail.com or 863-7063.

September 15, 2015 meeting — Nellie Tyrrell Award

On Tuesday, September 15, 7 p.m. the Edinburg Historical Society will hold its monthly meeting at the Edinburg Community Center on Military Road. Children and parents from Mr. Sitt’s former fourth grade class at Edinburg Common School will give a presentation on local history to culminate their studies. A student will be selected to receive the 2015 Nellie Tyrrell Award. This is also a general business meeting where we will be holding elections for some positions.

August 18, 2015 — Fieldtrip to Rusty Gleaves’ studio

From our President, Maria Spaeth:

“One must maintain a little bit of summer, even in the middle of winter.” Thoreau was a wise man. If he only knew what it was like living in the Adirondacks, he would know all too well how folks live by his words. Even those of us who are here for only a short time, soak summer up in hope of making it last through the roughest of winters. One of the best parts of summer is always Historic Edinburgh Day! Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s special day an event to remember! For over twenty years the Edinburg Historical Society has been working with community organizations to create a day to celebrate Edinburg, it’s history, and it’s people. What a spectacular summer event for everyone! Please join us for our Fall Festival on Saturday September 19, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m, where we will be featuring our homemade soups and breads, baked goods, demonstrations, our lovely museums, and so much more!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the July “House Stories” program hosted by the Edinburg Historical Society. House Stories is an annual series where selected Historical Society members speak on the home’s histories and those of the historical spots in the region. All programs hosted by the Historical Society are free and open to the public on the third Tuesday of the month.

In July, Robert Stangle and Norma Porteus were honored at a luncheon and made Lifetime Trustees for their many years of service to the Society, promoting historical research, encouraging knowledge of Edinburg’s history and their leadership qualities.

The August 18, 7 p.m. program will be at Rusty Gleaves’ studio in Hope Falls where he will be giving us all a peak at his wonderful studio and speaking to us about his latest projects. Treats and coffee will follow. Please sign up by contacting Claudette Koza through cckoza@yahoo.com. This meeting is instead of our usual meeting at the Edinburg Community Center.

Rusty is also providing one of his small pieces for the Edinburg Historical Society raffle. There are three prizes this year, a framed photo by Norma Porteus and a hand-made afghan by Andrea Blackwood. The drawing will be held at the end of the Edinburg Fall Festival.

As we look toward the future, EHS would like to remember the very generous folks that purchased shares this year in memory of, in honor of, or as a gift for a loved one. Shares can be purchased for $25 with proceeds directly funding the preservation and restoration of the Copeland Carriage Shop and Copeland Covered Bridge. All requests can be sent to the Edinburg Historical Society, PO Box 801, Northville, NY 12134. Visitors at the Copeland Covered Bridge and Carriage House Site can view shareholder’s names at any time. We are always very thankful for your support.

Continue to enjoy your summer, soak up the Adirondacks, and remember to take a bit of it with you wherever you go this year!

Contact Maria Spaeth, president for further information at thespaeths@ymail.com or 863-7063.

July 18, 2015 — Historical “Edinburgh” Day

Please join us Saturday, July 18th, 2015 from 9am to 3pm (rain or shine) for Historic “Edinburgh” day. Come celebrate the grand reopening of the Nellie Tyrrell Museum after significant renovations by Andre Garand. At the Rural Museum, there will be horse-drawn wagon rides (11am to 1pm) by J&D Percherons, Caricatures by Phil Singer, Live Music (morning only) by Jessica Jensen, a bake sale, the Edinburg Quilters, many local Craft Vendors, and more!

There are also other events happening around Edinburg that day. These include an open house at the Edinburg Fire House all day (with demonstrations at 11pm and 1pm, children welcome), a blood pressure clinic at the Edinburg Ambulance Squad, a White Elephant Sale at the Edinburg Methodist Church, and a historical recreation of an Edinburg one-room schoolhouse (morning only).

If you are wondering about the extra “h” in “Edinburgh” day, it is a reminder about Edinburg’s past when the town’s name was spelled differently.

July 21, 2015 meeting: House Stories

On Tuesday, July 21, 7 p.m. the Edinburg Historical Society will hold its monthly meeting at the Edinburg Community Center on Military Road. This will be a presentation by local community members on the stories of the history of  their own homes. We are especially looking forward to a talk by Claire Lathers on what it takes to get a home onto the National Register of Historic Places.

We’d like to thank retired reading teacher, author and historian, Marty Podskoch for presenting the story of his latest book, Adirondack 102 Club: Your Passport and Guide to the North Country, at our last meeting. The Society has a limited number of copies of his book available for sale for those who would like to take on the educational challenge of visiting all 102 Adirondack towns and villages.

June 16, 2015 meeting: Marty Podskoch will discuss his latest book, Adirondack 102 Club


On Tuesday, June 16, 7 p.m. the Edinburg Historical Society will hold its monthly meeting at the Edinburg Community Center on Military Road. Retired reading teacher, author and historian, Marty Podskoch will discuss his latest book, Adirondack 102 Club: Your Passport and Guide to the North Country.

Marty has published several books and worked with Sam Glanzman, comic book illustrator, publishing a weekly newspaper column Adirondack Stories that appeared in and around the Adirondacks and they published a book with 150 illustrated panels from this newspaper column and continues this successful series today.

The Edinburg Historical Society continues to raise funds for the restoration and maintenance of the Copeland Historic Site. Your donation of $25 will purchase a share certificate for yourself, as a gift, in honor of a loved one or in memory of a loved one. Upon receipt of your donation, a certificate will be sent to the recipient you request and the name will be posted in the Copeland Covered Bridge. Send your request to the Edinburg Historical Society, PO Box 801, Northville, NY 12134, and indicated if the share is for yourself, as a gift to someone, in honor of someone, or in memory of someone.

A share certificate has recently been issued in memory of Brenda Brownell Ward. Two shares have been issued to Dom and Florence Locatelli and Robert and Carole Williams. EHS is thankful for these donations used to restore and maintain the Copeland Site.

All meetings and programs are free and open to the public.

Contact Maria Spaeth, president for further information at thespaeths@ymail.com or 863-7063.

Third meeting for 2015 on Tuesday May 19

(Written by our President, Maria Spaeth)

The Sun. The Greeks called the Sun “Helios,” and the Romans called it “Sol,” and I call it “Bliss!” As the Sun finally becomes visible in the Spring sky, we at the Edinburg Historical Society (EHS), have taken advantage of the Sun’s warmth to start doing some Spring cleaning. The museums are being prepared for another wonderful museum season. We would like to thank Andre Garrand for all his tireless work and the Town of Edinburg for their continued commitment to the preservation of local history.

Come join us for our new program on Tuesday, May 19 at 7 p.m. on “A Greener Edinburg” by John Olmstead Solid Waste Coordinator at the Edinburg Community Center. John will introduce us to the many ways that Edinburg is getting “greener” and saving the town money. John was born and raised in Edinburg and has been working for the Town of Edinburg since 1990. He has served on several board positions for the Edinburg Volunteer Fire Department. A brief business meeting will be held before the program. Programs are free and open to the public with treats to follow. What a great way to get out and enjoy the sun and come great company!

As we look toward the future, EHS would like to remember the very generous folks that purchased shares this year in memory of, in honor of, or as a gift for a loved one. Share certificates for the Copeland Bridge Site have recently been issued in honor of Donald F. Lasher, Helen Gallant and Barbara Henry; and in memory of Barbara Ellen Allen, Ellen Hillstrom Shea, Paul and Maureen Hillstrom, Meghan and Gregory Hillstrom, Elizabeth (Betty) Lasher and Emily Jane Bigelow. Visitors at the Copeland Covered Bridge and Carriage House Site can view shareholder’s names. The Society is very thankful for this support as it helps to restore the Copeland Carriage Shop and helps in the continued maintenance of the Copeland Covered Bridge.

Enjoy the sun this Spring and remember to check our new website regularly for updates. We cannot wait to see you on the third Tuesday of every month. It’s never too late to join and serve your community.

The Edinburg Historical Society continues to raise funds for the restoration and maintenance of the Copeland Historic Site which is comprised of the Copeland Covered Bridge and Carriage Shop. Your donation of $25 will purchase a share certificate for yourself, as a gift, in honor of a loved one or in memory of a loved one. Upon receipt of your donation, a certificate will be sent to the recipient you request and the name will be posted in the Copeland Covered Bridge. Send your request to the Edinburg Historical Society, PO Box 801, Northville, NY 12134.

If you haven’t visited the Copeland Covered Bridge in a while stop by in the spring and see the observation deck on the back of the Copeland Bridge. The observation deck was a Boy Scout Troop 55 project organized and led by Tyler Monacchio for his Eagle Scout badge in 2012.