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Tag: Mohawk Country

Events

The Fort Plain Museum’s American Revolution Mohawk Valley Conference

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The Fort Plain Museum’s American Revolution Mohawk Valley Conference (opens in a new tab) is back for 2018 and registrations are now being accepted. Pre-registration is required and please sign-up immediately, last year was a near sell-out. The Conference is held on June 7-10, 2018. Most of the conference will be held at the Fulton-Montgomery Community College (opens in a new tab) .

This year there are 11 Author/Historian Presentation and Panel Discussion. Starting on Thursday, June 7th, Michael E. Newton will present “Alexander Hamilton’s Revolutionary War Service”. On Friday, June 8th, Russell Shorto will present “Revolution Song: America’s Founding Era in Six Remarkable Lives”.

On Saturday/Sunday, June 9th and 10th, there are the following presentations:

  • Edward G. Lengel – George Washington and the Burning of New York City, 1776
  • Eric H. Schnitzer – “Hessians” at the Battle of Bennington, 1777
  • James L. Nelson – Benedict Arnold’s Navy: The Story of the Rag Tag Fleet that Lost the Battle of Valcour Island and Won the American Revolution
  • Don N. Hagist – Redcoats Along the Mohawk: British Soldiers in Western New York, 1777-1783
  • Bruce M. Venter – Benedict Arnold’s Nemesis: Colonel John Brown’s Fateful Journey to the Mohawk Valley
  • Jennifer DeBruin – Traitors, Spies & Heroes: Loyalist Espionage in the American Revolution
  • Glenn F. Williams – Sir William Johnson, the Iroquois Confederacy and Lord Dunmore’s War
  • John Buchanan – Two Warriors: George Washington and Sir William Howe
  • Wayne Lenig – The Tryon County Committee of Safety
  • New this year, a Panel Discussion where presenters and the audience will discuss which side they would choose, Patriot or Loyalist?
Stone Arabia Church
©Mitch Wojnarowicz

On Thursday, June 7th, there is a Bus Tour of the 1778 Battle & Raid Sites. The bus tour will feature the events of 1778; the Battle of Cobleskill, the Cherry Valley Massacre, Springfield, Andrustown, Adam Helmer’s Run, Fort Herkimer and Fort Plain/Rensselaer (opens in a new tab) . There is a lunch stop in Cooperstown.

New this year, is a Genealogy Day, this is held on Friday, June 8th. Guests can visit the Mohawk Country (opens in a new tab) historic sites located throughout Montgomery County. Sites will have presentations and/or historians on hand to discuss the families that fought on both sides during the American Revolution.

On the evening of Saturday, June 9th, “An Evening with Washington and Madison” including an all new Fundraiser Dinner held at the Bridge Walk at the Perthshire (opens in a new tab) . Join George Washington and James Madison, portrayed by Brian Hilton and Kyle Jenks, as they discuss their journeys to upstate New York and other founding moments.

To register or for further information such as pricing, locations and more details, please visit http://www.fortplainmuseum.com/conference (opens in a new tab) or email info@fortplainmuseum.org (opens in a new tab) or call 518-774-5669. This is the museum’s yearly fundraiser with 100% going back into museum exhibits and upkeep, your support is greatly appreciated.

Mohawk Country Itinerary

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America’s First Frontier: Where the Revolutionary War in the Mohawk Valley comes to life!

Follow our Mohawk Valley Path Through History (opens in a new tab) to eight historic sites (opens in a new tab) .

Your journey begins in Canajoharie (Exit 29 off the New York State Thruway) at the Van Alstyne Homestead (opens in a new tab) .  According to family tradition, the original structure was built by Martin Van Alstyne as early as 1729. By 1765 son Goshen Van Alstyne had converted and expanded the house to a colonial tavern. The tavern became a frequent meeting place of the Tryon County Committee of Safety and is the place where Nicholas Herkimer received his commission as General of the Tryon County Militia.

150501_MitchW_0003Continue your travels west on State Highway 5S to Fort Plain.  The Fort Plain Museum & Historical Park (opens in a new tab) is the site of the original Fort Plain also known as Fort Rensselaer.  The construction of Fort Plain began in the late fall of 1778 after the Cherry Valley Massacre convinced locals of the need for a haven in the event of enemy attack. By 1781 the fort had become an important Continental Army Depot for the western Mohawk Frontier and was inspected by General Washington in August of 1783.

Also located in Fort Plain is the Isaac Paris House (opens in a new tab) .  In 1777 Isaac Paris, Sr. was killed at the Battle if Oriskany making Isaac Paris, Jr. sole owner of the Paris holdings.  Paris was an accomplished businessman who served as the business representative for Washington’s major general, the famed Baron de Steuben, a regular guest at the house and nearby Fort Plain.

150501_MitchW_0040From Fort Plain, cross the Mohawk River to Nelliston following Hickory Hill Road to the historic farming community of Stone Arabia. Visit the Stone Arabia Dutch Church (opens in a new tab) burned by the British in October of 1780 during the Battle of Stone Arabia.  It was rebuilt in 1788 and has remained unchanged since.  The cemetery behind the church is the final resting place of Patriot leader Colonel John Brown of the Berkshire Massachusetts Militia killed in the battle on October 19th.   Historic marker signs along Route 10 mark the locations of engagements and forts involved in the battle.

Continue westward, following the old Stone Arabia Road, to the Palatine Church (opens in a new tab) of “Drums Along the Mohawk” fame. The historic church was erected in 1770 and is the oldest church standing in Montgomery County.  It was built by German Palatine settlers who originally migrated to America from the Palatine region of Germany in 1710.

Next is Fort Klock (opens in a new tab) , a fortified homestead built circa 1750 by Johannes Klock, a German Palatine who came to the area with the great Palatine migration.  On October 19, 1780, the Battle of Klock’s Field was fought just west-northwest of the fort.

150501_MitchW_0104Located less than a mile west of Fort Klock is the 1747 Nellis Tavern (opens in a new tab) , an historic inn and tavern.  Built by Christian Nellis, Sr., as a farmhouse, was expanded to its present form about 1800 with the construction of the Mohawk Turnpike.  The original timber-frame clapboard structure survived the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.

St. Johnsville is also the home of the Margaret Reaney Memorial Library (opens in a new tab) which houses a collection of fine art, sculpture, and historically important memorabilia.  Spanning many years, from pre-Revolutionary to present time, the exhibits reflect the rich cultural heritage of the Mohawk Valley.

Tour of Mohawk Country sites or visit for a special event.  Take your time exploring the historic heritage of Montgomery County.  Dine (opens in a new tab) , relax, spend the night (opens in a new tab) !