annual report - columbia county historical society
TRANSCRIPT
Dear Members and Friends of the Society,
This annual report on 2014 finds the Historical Society
two years away from our 100th anniversary, continuing
our mission to preserve and interpret the history and
culture of Columbia County. We accomplish this in so
many ways: producing educational programs for adults,
hosting school-trips for children, maintaining our four
historic properties for public tours, supporting histori-
cal and geneology research in our library, exhibiting our
extensive collection in the museum, and publishing our
magazine Columbia County History & Heritage.
The society moved forward dynamically on all these
fronts in 2014. Our adult programing featured a se-
ries of lectures on Dutch culture and a panel discussion
with veterans of the Nelson Rockefeller administration.
Touring all of the fourth graders in the County school
system through our historic Luykas Van Alen House
is an annual project supported this year by a generous
grant from the Hudson River Bank & Trust. A new ex-
hibit for the museum “Stuffed and Stitched” featured
the highlights from our collection of quilts and textiles.
Catching up on deferred maintenance to the ex-
terior of our Columbia County Museum building has
benefited greatly from a $214,000 bequest from the late
Jane Bennett Smart received in 2013. The provision Ms.
Smart made in her estate planning for the Historical
Society is a most generous surprise that we are carefully
measuring-out.
As a private not-for-profit, CCHS depends on indi-
vidual donations more than any other revenue source.
We are most grateful for the financial support from all
of the donors listed in this year’s annual report, as well
as for the help and assistance provided by our members,
volunteers and our small hard-working staff. !
Jim Guidera, President, Board of Trustees
Columbia County Historical Society
PO Box 311, 5 Albany Ave
Kinderhook, NY 12106
(518) 758-9265 • cchsny.org
The Columbia County Historical Society is a
private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to
the preservation and interpretation of the history
and culture of Columbia County, New York.
1 President’s Letter1 The Luykas Van Alen House, 1964–2014
2014 Annual Report
Trustees of the SocietyJames Guidera, President
Robert Peduzzi, Vice President
Alexandra Anderson, Secretary
Susan Sharp, Treasurer
Bing Garrido, Assistant Treasurer
Roderic Blackburn • John Carroll
Bonnie Eyre • Nicholas Haylett
Charles Hewett • Hela Kindler
Alvin Knoll • John Knott
Henry H. Livingston, III
Libby McKee • James Ruth
Mary Sansaricq • Anne Schomaker
Birgitta Sherman • David H. Smith
Nora Tuttle
StaffDiane Shewchuk,
Executive Director and Curator
Caroline Correia, Education and Operations Manager
Dawn Brownson, Accountant
Sarah Nolan, Mueseum Assistant
Jim Benton, Weekend Manager
As of December 31, 2014
In 1964, the Columbia County Historical Society ac-
quired a simple brick building a few miles from the cen-
ter of Kinderhook village. The small house was built by
Luykas Van Alen in 1737 and is exemplary of a style of
vernacular architecture specific to the Hudson Valley.
For this reason, it was granted National Historic Land-
mark status on Christmas Eve, 1967. There are only 261
National Historic Landmarks in New York State, and
the Van Alen House is one of ten designations connect-
ed to Dutch New York culture and heritage.
CCHS has been honored to take care of the Luykas
Van Alen House for the past half century of its long
life. Appropriately 2014 has been a year to celebrate
this important property, and to reflect on our respon-
sibilities to ensure its future well into a fourth century.
Long may it stimulate the imaginations of both the
young and the old!
1 Archeological“Walk, Talk, and Explore,” the final event celebrating
fifty years of CCHS ownership of the landmark Van
Alen House included a special tour of the property with
archeologist and principal investigator Matthew Kirk of
Hartgen Archeological Associates. Visitors toured for-
mer archeological sites on the property, followed by a
presentation and hands-on opportunity to inspect arti-
facts from digs conducted in 1998 and 2003.
1 From Garden to TableIn collaboration with the New York Council for the
Humanities and made possible through its Speakers in
the Humanities program, and with the support of the
National Endowment for the Humanities, this reveal-
ing lecture by Peter G. Rose was followed by a Tradi-
tional Dutch Dinner in the Vanderpoel House using
recipes from historically based cookbooks. The lecture
explored in detail a particular 17th-century Dutch gar-
dening- and cookbook, and helped those who attended
to understand the kitchen gardens of early Dutch set-
tlers of the Hudson Valley, as well as the colonial diet
and nutrition.
1 Nelson Rockefeller — Columbia County Memories
For a large and enthusiastic audience, in November
CCHS presented a panel of four of former Governor
Rockefeller’s closest associates, as well as Charles
Holcomb, author of the memoir Oreos and Dubonnet.
As Columbia County was first among the state’s
counties to endorse Rockefeller’s candidacy, this very
personal look-back was especially appropriate.
1 Pop-Up MuseumDuring the summer over 450 community members
visited CCHS Pop-Up Museums where they were
able to share objects and stories relating to their lo-
cal histories. Temporary exhibits traveled to all six
Columbia County Farmers Markets: Kinderhook,
Hudson, Copake-Hillsdale, Chatham, New Lebanon,
and Philmont. Each Pop-Up Museum focused on a
theme relating to the local history of the hamlet, vil-
lage, town, or city being visited. For example, in Cha-
tham the exhibit focused on Travel and Adventure
in honor of its iconic
Union Station, and in
New Lebanon visitors
explored the theme of
Health and Wellness,
including the area’s
past pharmaceutical
industry. Pop-Up Mu-
seums represent yet
another way CCHS is
present throughout
the county.
1 School GroupsIn the spring and fall hundreds of Columbia County’s
fourth graders visited the Luykas Van Alen House and
participated in new hands-on (and bilingual) activities
based on Dutch architecture and landscape. Students
learned to identify vletchegen on a Dutch home and the
purpose of murrankers.
1 Dutch Fact and FictionThe New York Council for the Humanities helped to
sponsor two guest lecturers for the Dutch Fact and
Fiction Summer Lecture Series. Jaap Jacobs, a scholar
from Holland, spoke in July on the Hudson River and
New Netherland colony. In August, popular biogra-
pher Brian Jay Jones discussed the life of Washington
Irving, author of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
2014 CCHS Programs and Events
$10,000 and above
Columbia County
Ellsworth Kelly Foundation
Susan and Henry H. Livingston, III
$3,000 to $9,999
Alexandra Anderson
John Carroll
Eugene M. Lang Foundation
Sheldon Evans and Martha McMaster
Mimi and David Forer
Jim Guidera and Ed Parran
Charles Hewett and Charles Olbricht
J.M. Kaplan Fund, Inc.
Hela and Peter Kindler
John S. Knott
Heidi Fiske Mandel
Robert Peduzzi and Diane Smook
Heather and James Ruth
Phil and Birgitta Sherman
Nora and Jim Tuttle
Bonnie Yochelson and Paul Shechtman
$1,500 to $2,999
Capital Group Companies Charitable Fund
Evelyn Bordewick Charitable Foundation
Bonnie Eyre
Bing and Michael Garrido
Donna and Alvin Knoll
Despina Leandrou and Michael Laudati
Libby and Jack McKee
New York Council for the Humanities
Barbara and Michael Polemis
Preservation League of New York State
Jack Shainman and Carlos Vega
Jack Shear and Ellsworth Kelly
Vicki and David Smith
Will Swift and Kevin Jacobs
$1,000 to $1,499
J. Thomas Allison
Charles Flood and Kristin Gamble
Amanda Foreman and Jonathan Barton
Ila and John Gross
Nicholas Haylett and Timothy Husband
Michael Insel and
Rachel Lee
Jim Joseph and Scott Frankel
Joan Kelly
Peter and Louise Kelly
Nancy Kyle and Jack Fraser
Ben Chu and Donna Moylan
Rick Ryan
Susan Sharp
Veillette-Nifosi Foundation Inc.
$500 to $999
Valerie Balint and Brock Ganeles
Katherine Borgen
James Brodsky and Philip McCarthy
Donald and Sharon Campbell
Pamela Cohen and John Kingsley
Credit Agricole Credit and Investment Bank
Joan K. Davidson
Denise and John Dunne
Max Friedman and Thomas Romich
Alice and Rich Gochman
Fayal Greene and David Sharpe
Thomas and Sara Griffen
Jean Hamilton and Richard McCarthy
Kate Johns and Jason Shaw
Joanne and Charles Knauss
Kristina and Stephen Lang
Maureen McNeil
Deborah and Stuart Minton
Ann and David Pearce
Stuart and Audrey Peckner
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Phelan
Julia Philip
Russ and Tini Pomeranz
Anne Schomaker
Betsy and Alfred Scott
Bruce Shostak and Craig Fitt
Iris Smith
Kathleen Sweeney and Manfred Kuechler
Susan and David Tripp
Dawn and Ted Tuttle
Esther Tuttle
Thomas Tuttle and Mila Atmosudirojo
Ronald Wagner and Timothy Van Dam
Carl G. Whitbeck, Jr.
Robert and Loyita Woods
$100 to $499
Suzanne and James Aisenberg
Jessie Aitcheson and Tom Baumgartner
Bob and Lee Albern
Robert and Patricia Altman
Esther Anderson
Ted and Elisabeth Angell
Jeff Bailey and John Lillis
Karen and Neal Baillargeon
Arthur Baker and Jaqueline Wilder
Paul Barrett
Richard and Paige Barroll
Daniel Bauman
Robert Beard and Bidhu Mohapatra
John and Beth Bergin
Andrew Berkman
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Larry and Carol Biernacki
Richard and JoAnne Bilotti
DeGuerre & Rod Blackburn
Robert Bluman and David Deutsch
Rima Bostick
Joel Buchman
James and Cindy Buckley
Marilyn and Calvin Burch
Lisa Burke
Susan Campbell
Steven Cappel and Katherine Fritts
David and Alice Caputo
Karen and Roy Carney
Suzanne and Robert Carroll
Cornelia and Douglas Cartwright
Susan and Bruce Charbonneau
Virginia and Richard Cheney
Peter Cipkowski
Ann Clapper
Tom and Nancy Clark
Julia Crowley
Jeff Daly and Gary Delemeester
Deborah and Mark D’arcy
Barbara de Mare
James Dixon and Charles Jenkins
Andrew Dolkart and Paris Baldacci
Bonnie and Jim Dunham
David and Frances Eberhart
Donald and Ann W. Eberle
Empire State Appraisal Consultants
Mary Frances and John Faso
Rupert and Charlotte Fennell
Jeffrey and Christine Fisher
Amy Fowler
Priscilla Frisbee
Laurie and James Gambee
Vieve Gay
Charles and Adelia Geiger
Susan Gladstone
Andrew Goetz and Matthew Malin
Joseph Gosler and Sheila Wolper
Bob and Nina Green
Francis Greenburger and Isabelle Autones
Rebecca Greer
Heinz Grossjohann and Vesna Marincek
Hall Construction and Landscaping, Inc.
John Hallam
Conrad Hanson
Tyler and Ripley Hathaway
Eliot D. Hawkins
Frances Ingraham Heins
Ed Herrington, Inc
Robert Herron
Susan and Pavel Hillel
Dassie and Arthur Hoffman
Hudson River Bank & Trust Company Foundation
IBM Corporation Matching Grants Program
Keith and Katherine Kanaga
Cathy Kaplan and Renwick Martin
Joan Keenan
Albert and Diane Keil
Brendan Kelly
Brian and Laurie Kelly
Jacqueline Kelly
Sue Kelly and Carol Sloan
Diane Kern
Nathan Kernan and Thomas Whitridge
Gerard and Marybeth Ketz
Bryce Kirk
Kleeber Agency, Inc.
Robert Kleinberg
Mr. Kirk Kneller
Albert and Carol Knoll
Katherine Kolbert and Richard Rubinstein
Joan Kuster and Mark Weintraub
Sally Laing
Peggy Lampman and Ian Nitschke
Lane Press of Albany
Rebecca and Richard Langer
Alison and John Lankenau
Marge Laurie
Sallie and Clayton LaValle
Terence Law and Llewelleyn Young
Daryl Lee and Chris Warnasch
John and Maryanne Lee
Leah Lenney
Michael and Jeanne Leonard
Jay Lesenger
Asbjorn Lunde
George Lytle and Kathleen Dooley
Frank Mammone
James Mandaville
Susannah Marks
Patricia Martin and Willis Hartshorn
Carlin and Peter Masterson
Harvey and Sheila McCagg
John and JoAnn McCreight
Susan McIver
Tom and Olga Moreland
Anne Mulderry
Thomas and Marlene Murdock
Museum Association of New York
Michael and Sandy Myers
Phyllis Nichols
Susan and Tom Nickerson
Robert and Patti Norris
Jack and Helen Ofield
Linda and Robert O’Mara
David and Rosemary Palmquist
Todd and Theresa Parsons
Linda Pelaccio
Larry and Karen Peltz
Harry and Jill Petchesky
David Petersen
Emily and Tom Philip
John Van Ness Philip
Alice Platt
Norman Ames Posner
William Roos and Scott Olsen
Marjorie Russell
Jeffrey Ryan and Carl Morelli
Viki Sand and Roberta Bernstein
S. Sanderlin
Joseph and Angela Schmidt
Joseph Schmidt
Glenn and Cheryl Schnackenberg
Patti and Michael Schrom
Pat Schuler
Frederick Schwarz, Jr. and Ricky Perera
Carolyn and Gregory Seaman
Todd and Denise Sheldon
Herbert Simons
Noell and James Sottile
Marie Spano
Peter Spears and Brian Swardstrom
Stair Galleries and Resotration
Peter Stott
Lise Suino
Edward Sullivan and Clayton Kirking
Thomas Swope
Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Toll
Evelyn Trebilcock
Valatie Free Library
Lynn Van Buren
Eric Vanderpoel
Mary Anne and Paul VanDenburgh
Everett and Alice Van Hoesen
Illiana Van Meeteren
Paula Van Meter
George Vollmuth and Janet Langlois
David William Voorhees
Roland and Marion Vosburgh
Edward and Vivian Wachsberger
Louise Wallace
Peter Watson and Stephanie Aeder
Judith Whitbeck
Rob and Roby Whitlock
Jeanette and Ken Wilber
Samuel and Susan Williams
Gro and Jeffrey Wood
Robert and Quintina Worsfold
Friends
Joseph Ahern and Leland Midgette
J. Winthrop Aldrich
Leon Allen
Olaf and Johanne Andersen
Judith Anderson and Jerry Cosgrove
Robert Anderson
Catherine Angell
David and Marilyn Armstrong
Doris Ashley
Maria Ausherman and Steven Taylor
Bruce Bashford and Joan Esposito
Reneta Benenati
Jamie Bennett
Robin Benziger
Stephen Bergman and Janet Surrey
Paul and Sally Berry
Robert Bisson
Diane Bliss
Elyse Bouchard
Melanie and Howard Brandston
Larry Brody
Nancy and Albert Brousseau
Sue and Joe Browdy
Arlene Brower
Robin Bruce
Peter and Jacqueline Bujanow
Eileen Carle-Staub
Margaret and James Cashen
Richard Charnoff
Alan and Roselle Chartock
Mirial Clapp
George Clark
Christina Colclough
Jean Cook
Dianne and David B. Cox
Ann and Donald Crews
Mary-Margaret Cronin & Leonard Lukin
Margaret Davidson and John Stein
Jane Deane
Patrick and Yvonne DelGrande
Warren and Sue Delp
Jim DiGioia
Pat and Dick Dorsey
Mark and Holly Dreher
Susan Droege
Donald Dubac
Roberta Dunn
Norma Edsall and Alice Corbin
Barbara Egan
Mary and Wayne Eichel
Noel Fair
James Van Hoesen Finkle
Glenn Fisher
Joe Charles Friedman
Enid Futterman
Joan Garnar
Pat Gaudio
Paulina Gobrecht
Marc and Merle Gold
Gilbert Gott
Helen and Don Guarino
Kjirsten Gustavson
Alice Gygax
Nancy Hagin
Mary Hallenbeck
Karen Halverson
Maynard Ham
Richard Ellis Hand
John V. Hannam
Susan Hannell
Jeannine Harris
Elizabeth Harrison
John and Kathleen Hatheway
Marguerite Heald
Rosalie Hemingway
Barry Herbold and Jackie Carter
Roger and Jane Herzhauser
Stephen Hickey and Louis Filhour
Lauree and Greg Hickok
Jim Hoon
Hudson Area Association Library
David and Valerie Itkin
Roberta Jacobson
Roberta Jeracka and Peter Sinclair
Jamie Johnson
Kate and Greg Johnson
Merrill Johnson
Jeanne Branch Johnston
Anna and Larry Kadish
Mary Louise Kalin and Louis Asekoff
Judith and Steven Katten
Chris and Julie Keating
Christian and Mary Lou Kersten
Kinderhook Memorial Library
Dennis and Daryl King
Norma Kirker
Karlis and Margot Kirsis
Laurence Klein
Jeff and Donna Knight
John Kotwas
James Kraft
Mary Delaney Krugman
Christine Kulisek
Ellen and Kord Lagemann
Nancy Lang
Robert and Jeane LaPorta
Elizabeth and Geoffrey Leckie
Patricia Lee
Evangeline LeFever
Gary Leggett
Deirdre Leland and Frank Rhyner
Kristina Lesem
Gary Leveille
Mark and Ellen Levy
John Lieber
Sally Light
Leonard and Linda Lipson
Elizabeth and Richard Livingston
James Livingston
Nola Lowther
Michelle Lyons
Janet and Jim Mackin
Jonathan and Madelaine
Janet Malouin
Joseph Matta and Danny Schieffler
George and Barbara Mayer
John and Jan McEneny
Peter McGrath
William Meier
Jon and April Meredith
Victor and Florence Meyers
Peter Miles
Alexander and Deborah Mintcheff
Rosemary Monahan
Martha Mooney
Jennifer Moore
Mary Mullane
Richard Nabozny
Jay Neuschatz
Nicole Newman
William and Suzanne Nieman
North Chatham Free Library
Lynne O’Connell
Wataru and Bonnie Ohashi
Richard Patton
Mary Louise Perkins
Bertha Petith
Richard Philip
Ruth Piwonka
Hal Powers
Sarah Price and Susan Knauss
George Prokopiak
Paula Pugliese
William Race
Peter Reed
Cynthia Richards
Steven Rider
Ruth Roberts
Anthony Roina
Wendy Rosenkilde
David Ross
Lewis and Gretchen Rubenstein
Shehbaz and Lois Safrani
William Sagendorf
Paula and Rajesh Sarathy
Jonni Sayres
Felix Scardapane, Jr.
Ann Scharoun
James Scherer
Cherie Miller Schwartz
Seymour Schwartz and Mary Pomerance
George and Ann Selden
Richard and Ann Seltzer
Frank and Barbara Shannon
James and JoAnn Sheehey
Norma Shirley
Raymond and Evelyn Shortsleeve
Edwin and Barbara Simonsen
Robert Smith
Nancy Somers
Margaret Sommer
Justine Souquet and Vito Lucente
Gwen Spicer
Wendy Power Spielmann and Gary Spielmann
Jan and Lowell Steinbrenner
Irene Stone
David and Ellen Sullivan
Carole Teator
Tana Thompson
Walter Thompson
Erika and Nicolas Tipple
Courtland Troutman
Edwin Truman
Georgette Turner
Paul Twardy
Margret Utech
Hazel Van Aernam
Ron Van Voorhies
Frances Downing Vaughan
Mary Lou Veal
Dorothy Von Bieberstein
Thomas Walden
Amy White
Jack Wildey
Craig Williams and Helen McLallen
Ian and Sharon Wing
Scott and Jane Wood
Jay Wright
Donald and Dorothy Zaentz
Kristi Zatyko
Mary Lou Zimmermann
Advertisers in CCH&H 2014
Acroterion
The Anderson Agency
R.H. Blackburn & Assoc. Real Estate
Ca’Mea Ristorante Italiano
Columbia Memorial Hospital
Dell’s Plumbing & Heating
Empire State Appraisal Consultants
Face Stockholm
Fairview Wine and Spirits
Ghent Playhouse
Gilcrest Realty
Gina’s K-9 Bed & Breakfast
John Hannam/Van Schaack House
Kinderhook Bank
Kinderhook Wine & Spirits
Kleeber Insurance Services
Kozel’s Causal Dining
Lifetree Pilates
Lofgren Agency
MetzWood Insurance
New York Designer Outlet
Old Ghent Realty, Inc.
Sean P. Lally, Attorney at Law
David P. Pesano — Tech Partners
Valley Energy
2014 CCHS Supporters
Financial Position
The physical assets of the Columbia County Historical Society include its
collections and four historic properties: Luykas Van Alen House, Ichabod
Crane Schoolhouse, Vanderpoel House of History and the Columbia County
Museum. The Society’s financial assets at 12/31/2014 totaled $443,000. The
balance included more than $319,000 of restricted and unrestricted cash
funds plus $19,000 of pledges related to the Vanderpoel Capital Campaign and
receivables and prepaid amounts totaling $7,000. The $319,000 cash balance
included $185,000 of unrestricted funds received from the estate of Jane Bennett
Smart and $80,000 for the Vanderpoel Endowment. The Society has no debt. At
year end, payables including accrued payroll liabilities totaled $12,000. !
Revenue & Support Fundraising, Individual Contributions 157,946Membership 26,120 Admissions, Shop, Sales, Publications 34,663 Foundations & Government Grants 16,326 Columbia County 16,150Other Income 41,206
Total Revenue & Support 292,411
ExpensesCollections 16,568 Development 42,245 Education & Exhibits 62,677Properties 60,717Management and Operations 85,677
Total Expenses 267,884Net Income 24,527
Columbia County Historical Society • Financial Overview for twelve months ending 12/31/14
■ Collections 6% ■ Development 16%
■ Education/Exhibits 23% ■ Properties 23%
■ Management and Operations 32%
■ Fundraising, contributions 54%
■ Membership 9% ■ Admissions, etc. 12%
■ Foundations & Grants 6%
■ Columbia County 5% ■ Bequests 14%
ExpensesRevenue & Support
Columbia County History & Heritage magazineColumbia County History & Heritage magazine (published twice a year), a
free benefit of CCHS membership, presents the history and culture of our
county through stories of those who have lived and worked here. In 2014,
16 authors contributed 24 articles on topics ranging from Dutch architecture
in New Netherland and the archeology of the CCHS Van Alen property
to Nelson Rockefeller’s visits to the county and a profile of Chancellor
Robert R. Livingston.