This spring EHS hopes to finish the Sand Hill One-room Schoolhouse and have a dedication and open house. Children from the Edinburg Common School visit the Sand Hill School while they are learning about Edinburg history, and it is open during the EHS Festivals.

The Edinburg Historical Society has lost a member, a very talented and knowledgeable machinist John Ordyk. John owned the Copeland Carriage Factory Shop at one time. He did the research and helped us retrieve a lathe that was donated to the American Precision Museum in Windsor, VT many years ago by a former owner. Andrea and George Blackwood picked up and returned the lathe to the Copeland Carriage Factory Shop.

Priscilla Edwards stated the purpose of the building is to get some of the original machinery used in the factory, put artwork in the side room and a breast wheel to show how waterpower works. It was also suggested that André Garand, Master Carpenter who restores old buildings, could teach classes on restoring old buildings.

Until the funds are found, EHS has replacing rotting beams, and railings, added brackets to hold the beams in place, patched the roof, and fixed a stone wall to prevent the flowing water of Beecher Creek from washing out the foundation of the Factory. A fundraiser will be needed to fully restore the carriage house and put in an exhibit of the tools and machinery.

The EHS has lost a long-time member, Cheryl McCleery.  Cheryl and her husband, George received the 2012 Volunteer of the Year Award in recognition of their attendance, devotion, help and assistance. Cheryl was a huge contributor to EHS’s bake sale. She will be missed and we are all truly grateful for all she has done.

EHS volunteers worked at the Sand Hill one-room schoolhouse cleaning the desks and chairs and taking things to the transfer station. EHS members were George and Andrea Blackwood, Dennis and Annette Duffy, Priscilla Edwards, Richie Ege, Pam Hanke, Valerie Kay, Claudette Koza, Karen Lee and Mike Pick.

The Edinburg Historical Society is grateful to the residents and visitors who attended the Edinburg Fall Festival on September 18th. There was a great attendance and the chili, soups, bake goods and salad sales sold out. The raffle for Andrew Janik’s oil painting “The Old Homestead” was won by Susan Pettica.

Our thanks to the Sacandaga Seniors who gave a generous donation to the EHS.

The Edinburg Fall Festival will be held on September 18 from 10 am to 3 pm at the Rural Museum on North Shore Road. Crafters will be set up outside the Museum. A “white elephant” table will be set up.

A variety of soups, chili, baked beans, pasta, macaroni, and potato salads will also be sold in take home containers. The bake sale will feature cookies, pies, candy, and homemade bread.

Regretfully there will be no demonstrations and the exhibits have not been set up due to the Covid Virus.

The raffle drawing for the original oil painting “The Old Homestead” by Andrew Janik will be held at the close of the festival. Andy is known locally for his artistic paintings and in 2019 won the Best in Oil” prize at the “Going for the Win” at the Hagaman Art Show held in Hagaman, NY. Raffle tickets are $1 per chance or $5 for 6 chances.

Enjoy the free horse and carriage rides by J & D Percherons. The beautiful draft horses are known as gentle giants and their willingness to work. Visit the Copeland Covered Bridge that is just down the road or walk across the Batchellerville Bridge and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

September 11^th at 9 am volunteers will meet to do some work at the Sand Hill one-room schoolhouse on Tange Road.

Tuesday, September 21^st members are invited to attend a meeting at the Rural Museum at 7 pm.

EHS is having a Baked Goods, Salad and Craft Sale on Saturday, July 10^th from 9 am to noon at the Rural Museum on North Shore Road next to the Edinburg Volunteer Fire Department. Proceeds from the sale will help EHS maintain the Copeland site, the Rural and Nellie Tyrrell Museums. Some of our longtime vendors/crafters will be set up. Maple syrup from Edward’s Maple Sugar Farm will be sold. If anyone would like to donate a salad or baked goods it would be appreciated. Contact Claudette at 518 863-4844 if you have questions.

With the help of donations and the Dr Robert S and Dorothy Q Harden Trust the Sand
Hill One-Room Schoolhouse on Tange Road now has a new roof, and the schoolhouse
has been painted in and out. EHS volunteers helped with the cleaning and will soon be
able to replace the school desks, chairs, bookcase, and teacher’s desk in the
schoolroom. André Garand and Betsy Bartlett have cleaned and refinished the floor. The
backroom addition added years ago by the Grange, has been gutted, insulated, has new
wiring, bathroom, and kitchen. It will be used for EHS Board Meetings and hopefully
computer classes or other educational endeavors. The Edinburg Common School
children visit the school when they are learning about Edinburg history. EHS was Willed
the property by Roy Pearsall knowing EHS would maintain the historic Sand Hill One-
Room Schoolhouse for future generations.