Warren County Board of Supervisors recognition of Warrensburg's Bicentennial.
This
was a very busy year, not only was I chairperson of the Warrensburg’s
Bicentennial, I was also on the Warren County Bicentennial Committee. I actually started planning for our
Bicentennial five years ahead.
It has been a pleasure to work on both of these events, but I must admit, I am very happy that they only happen once every hundred years.
The full color Bicentennial Calendar is available the Museum of Local History. There are over 80 photos and each day of the year contains items from over 200 years of Warrensburg's history. The price is $10 or by mail $12.50. If you wish to receive one by mail, please send a check made out to Warrensburgh Historical Society, PO Box 441, Warrensburg, NY 12885.
Warrensburg Bicentennial Events Summary
Prior to 2013
· 2011
· Appointed Chairperson of Warrensburg Bicentennial Celebration
· 2011 Requested that the Town Board appoint a Bicentennial Committee
· 12/2011 Letter sent to Non Profit Organizations asking for interest in participating and article sent to local newspaper asking for information for a Bicentennial Book to be published. Letter to local business asking for sponsors for the calendar and for significant dates of their businesses.
· 2012
· Appointed Chairperson of Warrensburg’s portion of Warren County Bicentennial
· 2012 – Lists of possible events, etc. handed out to many organizations and committee members.
· January 18 – letter to all Non-Profit organizations with tentative calendar of events for 2013
· September 18 – Ordered 15 Bicentennial Banners to be used starting in January of 2013. Dark blue background with Yellow design.
· Wrote to Governor Cuomo asking for recognition of Warrensburg’s 200 Anniversary.
· October 2012 - 2013 Bicentennial Calendar completed and published. Full color, each day of the year has at least 2 events from Warrensburg’s past. Full color pictures of some of the dates on facing page.
2013
· January
· Established Historian’s website to include Bicentennial Events
· At one of our first committee meetings, we adopted the “Heavenly Blue Morning Glory as the official flower for the Bicentennial. Warren County had adopted the Black eyed Suzie, so the theme for Warrensburg’s planting was blue and yellow.
· I met with the Warrensburg High School Seniors. When they were in 6th grade, I started working with them. At that time, they created a time capsule. At this meeting, we opened the capsule (each student had put items in the capsule, along with a letter to themselves). There was much blushing, laughter and fun. I also gave each student a copy of the Warrensburg Bicentennial calendar and a copy of “Reflections and Recollections of the Town With a Past, Warrensburgh, NY, written by the niece of the previous Town Historian, Mabel Tucker.
· The first business to agree to have an event was Lizzie Keays Restaurant. Every Wednesday for the entire year, they served a full meal with dessert for $18.13 (menu in packet)
· January 1 – February 14 -Heaven on Earth offered Manicures for $18.00 and/or Pedicures 13% Discount off original price of $42 in honor of "1813"
· February
· February 1 – March 12 - George Henry's Restaurant is offering two Bicentennial specials each week from February 1 to March 12th, inspired by food from 1813.
· February 12 – All churches in Warrensburg rang their bells at 7 PM in celebration of Warrensburg’s “birthday.” (see news clippings”
· February 13 – Celebration at Town Board meeting. I gave a brief history of Warrensburg, presented the Town Board with Governor Cuomo’s Resolution, and served cake and coffee to all in attendance.
· Created a Warrensburg Valentine (see copy attached)
· February 15 - The Warren County Board of recognized the 200th Anniversary of Warrensburg at their Monthly Meeting.
· February 17 - Museum opened a Bicentennial Exhibit to stay up until October.
· February 23 - The Friends of Richards Library will be sponsored a community event as part of the 2013 Bi-Centennial Celebration. Activities Included: Historical Snowman/Sculpture Contest on Library Yard, Presentation on the History of The Richards Library, A Hi-Lighted Selection of Books Related to The Adirondacks or Written by Local Authors, Snacks and Warm Beverages
· April
· April 15 – Invitations sent to local organizations re: Burial of the Unknown Oddfellows to be held on June 15th. (attached letters and list of organizations invited.
· May
· May 19 Warrensburgh Museum of Local History will held a Reception for the Warrensburg Bicentennial Exhibit.
· June
· June 12 – Attended Special Meeting of the Warren County Board of Supervisors at the Old Courthouse in Lake George. Photo of me with Warrensburg Supervisor Kevin Geraghty, Mayor Robert Blais (my previous boss for 20 years). Program attached.
· I worked with the Warrensburg Central School Yearbook Staff in getting old photos of Warrensburg. The cover of the yearbook (attached) and many photos inside reflected Warrensburg’s past.
· Working with Warrensburg Beautification, we received a donation of 5 pounds of morning glory seeds. I designed a label for a packet of seeds and we were able to distribute over 750 seed packets to Warrensburg residents. (design attached).
· June 15 – Burial of the Unknown Odd Fellows (see attached program and publicity)
· July
· The 4th of July was our Official Bicentennial Celebration, along with celebrating Warren County’s Bicentennial. (attached is a program and publicity from this event) I marched with our Historical Society in the parade with a huge Birthday Cake and a large replica of our Bandstand on a float. We won a 1st prize ribbon!
· July 14 – Garden contest for yellow & blue gardens. Winners announced at a later date.
· July 15 – Dedication - In 1813 the Town of Warrensburg “fell” out of the Town of Thurman and established a separate government. Other towns, including Chestertown (1799), Bolton (1799), Johnsburg (1805)and part of Lake George (1810), also "fell" out of the "old apple tree" that was the Town of Thurman. In honor of this, the John Thurman Historical Society presented the Town of Warrensburg with a flowering crab apple tree.
· July 20 – What style is it? An Adirondack Architectural Heritage workshop (see attached).
· July 21 – Bicentennial House and Garden Tour (see attached).
· August
· August 17 – The Acacia Charities (Masons) held a Lobster and Steak Bake, and I had asked them to set the price at $18.13 and they agreed.
· September
· September 19 – A Bicentennial Program on Stephen Foster preceeded by a premier of “Fanfare for Hackensack Mountain”, written and performed by James Corriveau for Warrensburg’s Bicentennial.
· October
· October 18, 24 & 25 – Thirteenth Annual Warrensburg Cemetery Graveyard Walk. I came up with characters that covered the first 100+ years of Warrensburg’s History. (program attached) On the 24th the performance was for the 5th graders who walked from the elementary school to the cemetery.
· October 26 – Attended Bicentennial Warren County Bicentennial Banquet (invitation attached).
· October 27 – Dinner with the Dead – part of the Graveyard Walk Celebration.
· December
· December 7 & 8 – Christmas in Warrensburg, celebrating the end of the Bicentennial Year. A postcard was created for this event, celebrating Warrensburg’s 200 years and Warrensburg Beautification’s 25th annual Event (attached)
· As of December 31st the book that I have been working on for the Bicentennial, “Warrensburg, New York, 200 years of People, Places and Events” is completed, just final publishing things to be completed. Plans are to have a book signing on February 16th.
It has been a pleasure to work on both of these events, but I must admit, I am very happy that they only happen once every hundred years.
The full color Bicentennial Calendar is available the Museum of Local History. There are over 80 photos and each day of the year contains items from over 200 years of Warrensburg's history. The price is $10 or by mail $12.50. If you wish to receive one by mail, please send a check made out to Warrensburgh Historical Society, PO Box 441, Warrensburg, NY 12885.
Warrensburg Bicentennial Events Summary
Prior to 2013
· 2011
· Appointed Chairperson of Warrensburg Bicentennial Celebration
· 2011 Requested that the Town Board appoint a Bicentennial Committee
· 12/2011 Letter sent to Non Profit Organizations asking for interest in participating and article sent to local newspaper asking for information for a Bicentennial Book to be published. Letter to local business asking for sponsors for the calendar and for significant dates of their businesses.
· 2012
· Appointed Chairperson of Warrensburg’s portion of Warren County Bicentennial
· 2012 – Lists of possible events, etc. handed out to many organizations and committee members.
· January 18 – letter to all Non-Profit organizations with tentative calendar of events for 2013
· September 18 – Ordered 15 Bicentennial Banners to be used starting in January of 2013. Dark blue background with Yellow design.
· Wrote to Governor Cuomo asking for recognition of Warrensburg’s 200 Anniversary.
· October 2012 - 2013 Bicentennial Calendar completed and published. Full color, each day of the year has at least 2 events from Warrensburg’s past. Full color pictures of some of the dates on facing page.
2013
· January
· Established Historian’s website to include Bicentennial Events
· At one of our first committee meetings, we adopted the “Heavenly Blue Morning Glory as the official flower for the Bicentennial. Warren County had adopted the Black eyed Suzie, so the theme for Warrensburg’s planting was blue and yellow.
· I met with the Warrensburg High School Seniors. When they were in 6th grade, I started working with them. At that time, they created a time capsule. At this meeting, we opened the capsule (each student had put items in the capsule, along with a letter to themselves). There was much blushing, laughter and fun. I also gave each student a copy of the Warrensburg Bicentennial calendar and a copy of “Reflections and Recollections of the Town With a Past, Warrensburgh, NY, written by the niece of the previous Town Historian, Mabel Tucker.
· The first business to agree to have an event was Lizzie Keays Restaurant. Every Wednesday for the entire year, they served a full meal with dessert for $18.13 (menu in packet)
· January 1 – February 14 -Heaven on Earth offered Manicures for $18.00 and/or Pedicures 13% Discount off original price of $42 in honor of "1813"
· February
· February 1 – March 12 - George Henry's Restaurant is offering two Bicentennial specials each week from February 1 to March 12th, inspired by food from 1813.
· February 12 – All churches in Warrensburg rang their bells at 7 PM in celebration of Warrensburg’s “birthday.” (see news clippings”
· February 13 – Celebration at Town Board meeting. I gave a brief history of Warrensburg, presented the Town Board with Governor Cuomo’s Resolution, and served cake and coffee to all in attendance.
· Created a Warrensburg Valentine (see copy attached)
· February 15 - The Warren County Board of recognized the 200th Anniversary of Warrensburg at their Monthly Meeting.
· February 17 - Museum opened a Bicentennial Exhibit to stay up until October.
· February 23 - The Friends of Richards Library will be sponsored a community event as part of the 2013 Bi-Centennial Celebration. Activities Included: Historical Snowman/Sculpture Contest on Library Yard, Presentation on the History of The Richards Library, A Hi-Lighted Selection of Books Related to The Adirondacks or Written by Local Authors, Snacks and Warm Beverages
· April
· April 15 – Invitations sent to local organizations re: Burial of the Unknown Oddfellows to be held on June 15th. (attached letters and list of organizations invited.
· May
· May 19 Warrensburgh Museum of Local History will held a Reception for the Warrensburg Bicentennial Exhibit.
· June
· June 12 – Attended Special Meeting of the Warren County Board of Supervisors at the Old Courthouse in Lake George. Photo of me with Warrensburg Supervisor Kevin Geraghty, Mayor Robert Blais (my previous boss for 20 years). Program attached.
· I worked with the Warrensburg Central School Yearbook Staff in getting old photos of Warrensburg. The cover of the yearbook (attached) and many photos inside reflected Warrensburg’s past.
· Working with Warrensburg Beautification, we received a donation of 5 pounds of morning glory seeds. I designed a label for a packet of seeds and we were able to distribute over 750 seed packets to Warrensburg residents. (design attached).
· June 15 – Burial of the Unknown Odd Fellows (see attached program and publicity)
· July
· The 4th of July was our Official Bicentennial Celebration, along with celebrating Warren County’s Bicentennial. (attached is a program and publicity from this event) I marched with our Historical Society in the parade with a huge Birthday Cake and a large replica of our Bandstand on a float. We won a 1st prize ribbon!
· July 14 – Garden contest for yellow & blue gardens. Winners announced at a later date.
· July 15 – Dedication - In 1813 the Town of Warrensburg “fell” out of the Town of Thurman and established a separate government. Other towns, including Chestertown (1799), Bolton (1799), Johnsburg (1805)and part of Lake George (1810), also "fell" out of the "old apple tree" that was the Town of Thurman. In honor of this, the John Thurman Historical Society presented the Town of Warrensburg with a flowering crab apple tree.
· July 20 – What style is it? An Adirondack Architectural Heritage workshop (see attached).
· July 21 – Bicentennial House and Garden Tour (see attached).
· August
· August 17 – The Acacia Charities (Masons) held a Lobster and Steak Bake, and I had asked them to set the price at $18.13 and they agreed.
· September
· September 19 – A Bicentennial Program on Stephen Foster preceeded by a premier of “Fanfare for Hackensack Mountain”, written and performed by James Corriveau for Warrensburg’s Bicentennial.
· October
· October 18, 24 & 25 – Thirteenth Annual Warrensburg Cemetery Graveyard Walk. I came up with characters that covered the first 100+ years of Warrensburg’s History. (program attached) On the 24th the performance was for the 5th graders who walked from the elementary school to the cemetery.
· October 26 – Attended Bicentennial Warren County Bicentennial Banquet (invitation attached).
· October 27 – Dinner with the Dead – part of the Graveyard Walk Celebration.
· December
· December 7 & 8 – Christmas in Warrensburg, celebrating the end of the Bicentennial Year. A postcard was created for this event, celebrating Warrensburg’s 200 years and Warrensburg Beautification’s 25th annual Event (attached)
· As of December 31st the book that I have been working on for the Bicentennial, “Warrensburg, New York, 200 years of People, Places and Events” is completed, just final publishing things to be completed. Plans are to have a book signing on February 16th.
