Walter R. Wheeler, Senior Architectural Historian at Hartgen Archeological Associates, will present a talk on the early European-American building traditions of our region and how they evolved in response to availability of natural resources, changing technologies and cultural influences. This survey is informed by 40 years of field work and the recent completion of the Thematic Study of Dutch Heritage Resources in the Greater Hudson Valley, which was compiled and edited by Mr. Wheeler and published in 2022.

Philip Schuyler had an illustrious military career and helped shape the newly independent United States. As a slave owner, this 18th century hero has become a controversial figure in the 21st century. For the last 20 years, the Schuyler Mansion has broadened the interpretation of who Philip was as well as the history of his wife and family, and the other enslaved and free people in the Schuyler household. Heidi Hill, Site Manager at Crailo and Schuyler Mansion State Historic Sites, will provide a 360-degree view of Schuyler, his family, and household.

During the first few decades of the 20th century New York State was one of the leaders in motorcycle development and production. Long after the industry declined in New York, the 21st century has seen a revival in the form of custom choppers and e-motorcycles. Based on their extensive research Geoffrey Stein, Curator Emeritus and Brad Utter, Senior Historian and Curator at the New York State Museum will discuss the history of the motorcycle industry in New York State and highlight some of their favorite stories, including Voorheesville’s Terence “T” Musto owner of Fabbro Industries, who has multiple new patents for his inventions relating to bicycle and motorcycle frames.

This summer Albany County swore in a Commission to plan for the 250 Anniversary of the birth of the USA. The Commission will spend the next few years planning the local celebration. It has a lot to work with given the county’s rich Revolutionary War history and numerous historic sites including a number in New Scotland. A Commission member will discuss its early planning, how the 250th Anniversary celebration may be different than the 1976 Bicentennial, how citizens and local historical association can get involved, as well as other relevant topics.

The Lost Radio Rounders present a rousing musical program from the days before radio, television and social media, when political campaigns were advertised with “songsters,” booklets that contained new, politically-charged lyrics to popular songs of the day that promoted a candidate’s virtues and vilified the opposition. An acoustic trio, the Lost Radio Rounders share vocal duties with Tom Lindsay on guitar, bass and piano; Michael Eck on mandolin, guitar and ukulele, and Paul Jossman on banjo and guitar.

If the sandy paths of the Pine Bush could talk the stories they might tell! Erin Kinal, the Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s Education Director, will lead us on a journey back in time and explore the human history of the Albany Pine Bush from earliest times through to more recent history.

Learn about and participate in America’s oldest hymn tradition hosted by the Albany Sacred Harp. Started in colonial New England and surviving in the rural South, Sacred Harp singing is known for its driving rhythms, full loud voices, and archaic melodies and harmonies. At this participatory workshop, you will learn to read and sing from shape note notation, an ingenious 200-year-old variation on traditional music notation that enables participants to sight sing in harmony even if they cannot read music.

The American defeat of British forces at Bennington in 1777 paved the way for victory in the Battles of Saratoga and ultimately in the Revolutionary War. However, few people realize that this crucial battle was fought in New York’s present day Capital Region. David Pitlyk, Historic Site interpreter, will relate the story of the Battle of Bennington, drawing from contemporary source material and archaeological findings and touch on how the battle has been commemorated and interpreted over time, both in New York and Vermont.

Event free and open to the public. The New Scotland Museum will be open 30 minutes before start of program.

Kathryn Sheehan, Rensselaer County & Troy City Historian, will present an illustrated lecture on how Troy’s 19th century architecture became an integral backdrop to the Julian Fellows HBO series, The Gilded Age. 

Kathryn worked with the location scouts and production designer at sites throughout the city and provided information on how Troy appeared during the Gilded Age, and who the city’s major “old money” and “new money” families were. 

Kathryn will also share some of the behind-the-scenes stories that happened during the filming for season one. 

The History and Art of New York’s Erie Canal

Brad Utter, Senior Historian and Curator at the New York State Museum and co-author of Enterprising Waters: The History and Art of New York’s Erie Canal, will discuss the artifacts, documents, images, and artworks that illustrate the history of the Erie Canal from its inception until today.

Focusing on the Capital Region, he will touch on themes of politics, engineering, commerce, and life on the canal  illustrated by full color images of artifacts, documents, and images featured in the book and the exhibit on which it was based.

Dr. Charles Gehring, Dutch language scholar, Director of the New Netherland Research Center, and a proud New Scotland resident, will discuss the origin and meaning of Dutch family and place names prominent in the regions that were part of New Netherland.

The Battle of Oriskany

The Revolutionary War in the Mohawk Valley was largely a civil war between neighbors, siblings, and fathers and sons.

Historian Terry McMaster will discuss the Battle of Oriskany—one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolutionary War—along with the major players whose actions tore the Mohawk Valley apart, including the Herkimers, Johnsons, Brants, Butlers, the Palatine German, Dutch and Scots-Irish settlers, as well as the Mohawk, Oneida, Seneca and other Native participants. 

Click HERE for more on the Battle of Oriskany.

The New Scotland Historical Association will soon dedicate two new historical markers. Please join us for the ceremony!

The first will be on the site of the home and laboratory of Robert E. Horton at 10 a.m. on Krumkill Road (between Hilton Road and Normanskill Road)

The dedication for the Cooper Farm will begin at 10:45 a.m. and is on Picard Road at Heldeberg workshop (353 Picard Road in Voorheesville).