Dear Members and Friends of the Society,

As the Columbia County Historical Society approaches

its centennial in 2016 this annual report takes on added

significance. What follows is offered both to review the

ways in which the Society enriches the lives of those it

serves and to summarize its operating health. Mindful

that without the latter the Society cannot accomplish

what its mission requires, all involved in its activities are

especially grateful for your support — your time, your

talent and the sharing of your personal resources.

2013 was Diane Shewchuk’s first full year as Execu-

tive Director. I believe that the Society has been rewarded

by her expertise, experience and energy. We are enjoying

an improved alignment of our activities and operations.

While carefully controlling current expenses, we have

nonetheless actually expanded programming.

However as in the past the Society lacks available re-

serve funds. Nonetheless an important effort is now un-

derway to address deferred maintenance needs, many of

which involve the Society’s Museum property, our most

utilized location.

In order to do this we are benefitting greatly from a

$214,000 bequest from the late Jane Bennett Smart. A na-

tive of Columbia County, Ms. Smart is remembered as a

quiet supporter of CCHS. A provision made in her estate

plan for the benefit of the Society has been a very generous

surprise. In fact hers is by far the largest such gift in our

history. Hopefully other supporters of CCHS will share

her thoughtfulness and follow her remarkable example.

For all who help to make success happen for us,

thank you once again. And for those whose involvement

is yet to be, I invite you to share in our efforts in what-

ever way you find possible. I assure you that your com-

mitment is needed and will be gratefully received. Like

many others, you will find much personal enrichment

in what the Society has to offer. !

David H. Smith, President, Board of Trustees

Among this year’s acquisitions were matchbooks made

by the Universal Match Company and a sword owned

by Hudson architect Henry Moul when he was a mem-

ber of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Photo-

graphs of objects from the steamboat Oregon were used

to illustrate the book, Hudson River Steamboat Catas-

trophes by J. Thomas Allison. An exhibition of Mer-

chant Ivory film posters was on view in the Vanderpoel

House of History. The exhibition Civil War Panorama,

Columbia County 1860–1865 closed and objects were

returned to 22 lenders. !

Columbia County Historical Society

Photo by M

ichael Fredericks

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.

1President’s Letter 1Collections and Exhibitions

2013 Annual Report

Trustees of the SocietyDavid H. Smith President

James Guidera Vice-President

Robert Peduzzi Vice-President

Bing Garrido Treasurer

Woodruff (Ted) L. Tuttle Assistant Treasurer

Bonnie Yochelson, Ph.D. Secretary

Alexandra Anderson

John Carroll • Bonnie Eyre

Charles Hewett

Alvin Knoll • John Knott

Henry H. Livingston, III

Libby McKee • Mary Sansaricq

Anne Schomaker

Birgitta Sherman • Nora Tuttle

StaffDiane Shewchuk

Executive Director & Curator

Ashley Hopkins-Benton Educator

Sarah Nolan Receptionist

Jim Benton Weekend Manager

Dawn Brownson Accountant

12/2013

1PropertiesWith private donations and grants from the Berkshire

Taconic Community Foundation’s Fund for Colum-

bia County, the Van Alen House and Ichabod Crane

Schoolhouse received much needed improvements.

New stairs were made for the schoolhouse and a new

ramp was built for the Van Alen house. The nine win-

dows at the schoolhouse were also replaced. The Kin-

derhook Dutch Farming Heritage Trail continues to be

a popular destination.

1Research LibraryGenealogists, historians and authors from fourteen

states, Canada and Germany visited us and made

use of our maps, photographs, family files, ceme-

tery and church records and manuscript collections.

Those not visiting in person submitted research re-

quests via mail and email from thirteen states and

Australia.

1 Special EventsDuring the Fife and Drum Muster, CCHS held an open

house at the Vanderpoel House of History and hosted

historic magic shows on the lawn. A Jane Austen in-

spired tea party was jointly sponsored by Clermont

State Historic Site. In December, CCHS mounted the

28th annual Gallery of Wreaths and co-sponsored

a special event with the Chatham Film Club: The

Wheatfield. This Civil War themed theatre piece and

short film with special guests, actor Stephen Lang and

Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer drew a large regional

audience to the Crandall Theatre in Chatham.

1Adult ProgramsCCHS staff gave presentations at the Greenport His-

torical Society, the New York State Museum and Riders

Mills Schoolhouse. Lectures on Mordecai Myers, one

room schoolhouses and industry on Livingston Manor

were held by our volunteer group and open to the pub-

lic. Two Distinguished Authors Series lectures featuring

David Nasaw and Margaret Roach were well attended.

A lecture and book signing by architect Dennis Wedlick

was standing room only at the Vanderpoel House of

History. CCHS members toured a special exhibit at

the Albany Institute of History and Art and visited the

church of St. John the Evangelist in Stockport.

1School and Children’s Programs878 students from elementary and middle schools in

Columbia County and surrounding counties visited

the Van Alen House and Ichabod Crane Schoolhouse.

School groups also visited the museum to see the Civ-

il War exhibition. In February and April, CCHS edu-

cators offered school break programs for children in-

cluding making time capsules based on their family’s

history and classes on candle making, basket making

or braiding rugs.

1 Teaching the Hudson ValleyAs part of the 2013, Teaching the Hudson Valley Sum-

mer Institute, CCHS educators created the program

“Whaling in Hudson in Documents and Places” for

a group of teachers. Using the Institute’s theme of

Place-Based Learning and Common Core, teachers

visited with Hudson’s mayor and city historian where

they saw the original 18th century Proprietor’s Min-

utes book. They explored the theme of whaling while

visiting the DAR’s Jenkins House and finished the day

with an architectural walking tour. The teachers were

thrilled to see original documents and came away with

an understanding of how to use resources in their own

hometowns to create vibrant lesson plans.

2013 CCHS Programs and Events

$10,000 and above

Columbia County

Mr. and Mrs. Henry H. Livingston, III

New York State Council on the Arts

Estate of Jane Bennet Smart

Mr. and Mrs. Wynant Vanderpoel (Vanderpoel House of History Endowment)

$3,000 to $9,999

Alexandra Anderson

Mr. and Mrs. David Forer

James Guidera and Ed Parran

Charles Hewett and Charles Olbricht

J.M. Kaplan Fund

John S. Knott

Despina Leandrou and Michael Laudati

Robert Peduzzi and Diane Smook

Mr. and Mrs. Philip Sherman

Bonnie Yochelson and Paul Shechtman

$1,500 to $2,999

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Evelyn Bordewick Charitable Foundation

John B. Carroll

Sheldon Evans and Martha McMaster

Bonnie Eyre

Mr. and Mrs. C. Michael Garrido

Ellsworth Kelly and Jack Shear

Donna and Alvin Knoll

Libby and Jack McKee

New York Council for the Humanities

Barbara and Michael Polemis

Mr. and Mrs. David Smith

Will Swift and Kevin Jacobs

Mr. and Mrs. David E. Tripp

Mr. and Mrs. F. James Tuttle

$1,000 to $1,499

Charles and Kristin Flood

Amanda Foreman and Jonathan Barton

James Joseph and Scott Frankel

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kindler

Kristina and Stephen Lang

Heidi Fiske Mandel

Mr. and Mrs. Russell Pomeranz

Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Raziano

Richard Ryan

Ann Schomaker

Thomas Schumacher and Matthew White

Eliot Spitzer

Frances and Paul Veillette

$500 to $999

Sanford Allen and Madhur Jaffrey

Jeffrey W. Baker

Valerie A. Balint and Brock Ganeles

Mr. and Mrs. R.O. Blechman

Robert Bluman and David Deutsch

Katherine S. Borgen

James S. Brodsky and Philip McCarthy

Mr. and Mrs. James Buckley

Sharon and Donald Campbell

Jeff Daly and Gary Delemeester

Mark F. Darrel

Joan K. Davidson

Rosine Lambiotte Donhauser

Mr. and Mrs. John R. Dunne

Alice and Richard Gochman

Fayal Greene and David Sharpe

John M. Gross

Jean D. Hamilton and Richard McCarthy

Gillie Holme and Camille Massey

Hunter Motor Coach

Timothy Husband and Nicholas Haylett

Michael Insel and Rachel Lee

Kate Johns and Jason Shaw

Joan Kelly

Kinderhook Wine and Spirits

Mitchell Klein and Joe Grabarz

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Knauss

Nancy J. Kyle and Jack Fraser

Peggy Lampman

Jeanne and Michael Leonard

Lisa Fox Martin

Dick May

Carlin and Peter Masterson

Peter Minichiello

Deborah and Stuart Minton

Ann and David Pearce

Audrey and Stuart Peckner

David Petersen

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Phelan

Mr. and Mrs. James Ruth

Jack Shainman and Carlos Vega

Wendy Power Spielmann and Gary Spielmann

Stewart’s Shops

Kay and Maynard Toll

Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff Tuttle

Esther L. Tuttle

Thomas Tuttle and Mila Atmosudirojo

Peter Watson and Stephanie Aeder

Roby and Rob Whitlock

Loyita and Robert Woods

Robert and Quintina Worsfeld

$100 to $499

Suzanne and James Aisenberg

Jessie Aitcheson and Tom Baumgartner

Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Albern

J. Thomas Allison

Patricia and Robert Altman

Elisabeth and Ted Angell

Jeff Bailey and John Lillis

Arthur Baker and Jacqueline Wilder

Peppe Baldo

Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. W. Barroll

Daniel Bauman

Lauren Belfer

R.H. Benziger

Beth and John Bergin

Dana Berntson

Bill Better

Carol Biernacki

JoAnne and Richard Bilotti

Peter Biskind

David Black and Barbara Weisberg

Mr. and Mrs. Roderic H. Blackburn

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Browdy

Mr. and Mrs. Joel Buchman

Jacqueline and Peter Bujanow

Steven Cappel

Alice and David Caputo

Karen and Roy Carney

Suzanne and Robert Carroll

Katherine T. Carter

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony B. Cashen

Sue and Bruce Charbonneau

Ann Clapper

Robyn and Wayne Coe

Dianne and David Cox

Patrick Del Grande

Dell’s Pumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning

Michael D. Devine and Thomas Burak

Meg Dooley

Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Dorsey

Susan Jane Droege

Mr. and Mrs. James Dunham

David F. Eberhart

Jane Ehrlich

Empire State Appraisal Consultants

Mary Faherty-Sansaricq

Benjamin Feldman and Frances Stern

Rupert Fennell

Laurie and James Gambee

Carol Gans

Vieve Gay

Adelia and Charles Geiger

Susan Gladstone

Andrew Goetz and Matthew Malin

Myles Gordon

Joseph Gosler and Sheila Wolper

Cristabel Gough

Steve Grayson

F. Greenburger Charitable Fund

Rebecca Greer

Heinz Grossjohann and Vesna Marincek

Hall Construction and Landscaping, Inc.

John V. Hannam

Mr. and Mrs. James B. Harrington

Willis Hartshorn and Patty Martin

Frances Ingraham Heins

Barry Herbold and Jackie Carter

Lauree and Gregory Hickok

Angeline Higgins

Susan and Pavel Hillel

Dassie and Arthur Hoffman

Jim Hoon

Rosario and James Infante

Barbara S. Johnson

Joan Kaden

Anastasia Kalona

Katherine and Keith Kanaga

Vivian and Adam Kardaras

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Kelly

Sue Kelly and Carol Sloan

Marybeth and Gerard Ketz

John Kingsley and Pamela Cohen

Kleeber Agency, Inc.

Joan Kuster

Sally and Fred Laing

Lane Press of Albany

Rebecca and Richard Langer

Marilyn and Bob Laurie

Marge Laurie

Margaret LaVigne

Terence Law

Daryl Lee

Maryanne and John Lee

Leah and Ronald Lenney

Jay Lesenger

Sally and Stuart Lesser

James T. Lewis

Columbia-Greene Community College

Robert Emmet Long

Marlene and Spiro Malas

Frank J. Mammone

James Mandaville

Susannah Marks

Martin Van Buren N.H.S.

Mary Anne Van Denburgh

Harvey McCagg

JoAnn and John McCreight

Patricia McDonald

Sara and Barry McWilliams

Olga and Tom Moreland

Anne M. Mulderry

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Murdock

Sandy and Michael Myers

Henry Ng

Charles and Phyllis Nichols

Mr. and Mrs. Tom Nickerson

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Ofield

Wataru and Bonnie H. Ohashi

Old Ghent Realty

Linda and Robert O’Mara

David W. Palmquist

Theresa and Todd Parsons

Kelli Peduzzi

Karen and Larry Peltz

Julia Philip

Alice Platt

George J. Prokopiak

Michael Rebic and Jeffrey Harris

Barry Reiferson

Merrill and Martha Ring

William A. Roos, IV and Scott Olsen

Seth Rosenberg

S. Sanderlin

Joseph Schmidt

Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Schnackenberg

Thomas Schoenherr and Donald Bertucci

Patti and Michael Schrom

Pat Schuler

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Scott

Herbert D. Simons

Nancy Somers

James and Noell Sottile

Marian M. Stanton

Jan and Lowell Steinbrenner

Maria and David Stevens

Neil Stevenson and Ken Castronuovo

Caroline Stewart

Kathleen Sweeney and Manfred Kuechler

Thomas Swope

Lofgren Agency, Inc.

Donald Trump

Valatie Free Library

Valley Energy

Hazel Van Aernam

Lynn Van Buren

Everett H. Van Hosen

Ron Van Voorhies

Mary Anne Vandenburgh

Captain Eric Vanderpoel, II

George H. Vollmuth and Janet Langlois

Mary Jo and Gary Von Bieberstein

David William Voorhees

Ronald F. Wagner and Timothy Van Dam

Louise S. Wallace

Alan Wazenberg

Estare and David Weiser

Clark and Diane Whelton

Carl G. Whitbeck, Jr.

Jeanette and Ken Wilber

Barbara and Robert Willner

Gro and Jeffrey Wood

Jack Young

Lloyd Zimet

Mary Ann Zimmerman

Friends

Mary Ackley

Joseph Ahern and Leland Midgette

Leon A. Allen, Jr.

Olaf and Johanne Andersen

Esther Anderson

Catherine Angell

Marilyn and David Armstrong

Ginny Arveson

John Ashbery and David Kermani

Doris Ashley

Austertliz Historical Society

Karen and Neal Baillargeon

Barbara Barney

Paul Barrett

Bruce Bashford

Kathy and Andrew Berkman

Sally and Paul Berry

Robert Bisson

Diane C. Bliss

Walter E. Boright

Elyse Bouchard

Ms. Cathy Boyd

Melanie and Howard Brandston

Nancy and Albert Brousseau

Arlene M. Brower

Robin A. Bruce

Susan L. Campbell

Eileen Carle-Staub

Cornelia and Douglas Cartwright

Katherine Philip Chansky

Roselle and Alan Chartock

Mirial Clapp

George E. Clark

Mr. and Mrs. J. Thomas Clark

Mr. and Mrs. Alan Cook

Jerry Cosgrove and Judy Anderson

Ann and Donald Crews

June Crossman-Battisti

Deborah and Mark D’arcy

Margaret Davidson and John Stein

Martin Davidson

Jane E. Deane

Everett Decker

Sue and Warren Delp

Garth Dingman

Andrew Dolkart and Paris Baldacci

Joseph D’Onofrio

Mark and Holly Dreher

Donald Dubac

Laura Emerson Dunn

James and Roberta Dunn

Lori and Grady Durham

Mr. and Mrs. Donald W. Eberle

Norma Edsall and Alice Corbin

Barbara Egan

Mary W. Eichel

Elizabeth Eisenhauer

Noel Fair

Mr. and Mrs. John Faso

Michael Ferrara

James Van Hoesen Finkle

Mrs. Hamilton Fish

Karen Fisher

Joe Charles Friedman

Max Friedman and Thomas Romich

Priscilla Frisbee

Joan D. Garnar

Elizabeth M. Garrity

Dominick Gasparro

Pat Gaudio

Robert Gelles

Judy and Matthew Gluckson

Stanley Gotlin and Barry Waldorf

Gilbert Gott

Elaine Greenberg

Kim Grethen

Sara and Thomas Griffen

Helen and Don Guarino

Alice L. Gygax

Richard Hahn

Maret Halinen

Mary S. Hallenbeck

Maynard Ham

Richard Hand

Jeannine H. Harris

Elizabeth Y. Harrison

Kathleen Hatheway

Rosalie Hemingway

Robert Herron

Jane Herzhauser

Theodore J. Hilscher

Dorothy Holsapple

Karen Hummel

Valerie and David Itkin

Roberta J. Jacobson

Roberta Scofield Jeracka

Ernest Victor Johnson

Kathleen and Greg Johnson

Merrill and Erika Johnson

Alice and Robert Jones

Stanley Joseph

Anna and Larry Kadish

Judith and Steven Katten

Nancy and Gordon Kaye

Julie and Chris Keating

Cecily Cone Kelly

Mary and Christian Kersten

Kinderhook Memorial Library

Dennis and Daryl King

Norma M. Kirker

Margaret and Karlis Kirsis

Barbara Klap

Laurence A. Klein

Robert Kleinberg

Donna and Jeff Knight

Juanita and George Knott

John F. Kotwas

James Kraft

Francesca Kress

Rita Laffety

Ellen and Kord Lagemann

John and Alison Lankenau

Jeane and Robert LaPorta

Sallie and Clayton LaValle

Elizabeth and Geoffrey Leckie

Gary Leggett

Gary Leveille

Tom Leverich

John N. Lieber

Sarah Light

Roderick W. Link

Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Lipson

Elizabeth and Richard Livingston

James D. Livingston

Nola Lowther

Michelle Lyons

Mr. and Mrs. Jim Mackin

Janet Malouin

Virginia Martin

Maureen McGoldrick

Peter McGrath

Susan McIver

William A. Meier

April and Jon Meredith

Florence and Victor Meyers

Peter C. Miles

John Millard and John Cooley

Jane Miller

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Mintcheff

Susan Molus and Irwin Cohen

Rosemary Monahan

Martha T. Mooney

Maureen Mooney

Mary Mullane

Shirley Mullins

Barbara and Jerome Mushkat

Richard Nabozny

Suzanne and William Neiman

Patti and Robert Norris

Diane Dunbar Northrop

Lynne O’Connell

Park Row Gallery

Richard Patton

Mary Louise Perkins

Dale Peterson

Bertha Petith

Richard N. Philip

John Pickett

Norman Ames Posner, MD

Joel Potts

Hal Powers

Maxine Rapport

Peter Reed

Steven Rider

Shirley Ripullone

Ruth Winne Roberts

Patti and Jay Rohrlich

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Roina

Thomas Romich

Wendy Ellison Rosenkilde

David Ross

Gretchen and Lewis Rubenstein

Marjorie Russell

William L. Sagendorf

Paula and Rajesh Sarathy

Nancy Sartin

Felix A. Scardapane, Jr.

Ann Scharoun

James Scherer

Barbara and David Schimansky

Elizabeth Scholtz

Frederick A. O. Schwartz Jr. and Ricky Perera

Carol Seem

Barbara and Frank Shannon

William Shannon

JoAnn and James Sheehey

Alvin W. Sheffer

Merry Sheils

Shirley Sheriff

Norma Shirley

Evelyn and Raymond Shortsleeve

Matthew Sikora

Barbara and Edwin Simonsen

Iris Smith

Robert Smith

Margaret Sommer

Justine Souquet

Martha Spanniger

Kristen Spensieri

Irene Stone

Lise Suino

Edward Sullivan and Clayton Kirking

Ellen and David Sullivan

Linda and Fred J. Sutherland

Carole Teator

Tana Thompson Strome

Ailce Timothy

Erika B. Tipple

Ron Toelke and Barbara Kempler-Toelke

Mr. and Mrs. Courtland W. Troutman

Georgette Turner

Margaret Utech

Ann Van Dyck Nauman

Frances Downing Vaughan

Nancy Veeder

Stephanie Vogel

Dorothy Von Bieberstein

Marion and Roland Vosburgh

Thomas Vought

Claire Wheeler

Judith Ackley Whitbeck

Amy White

Jack Wildey

Nancy and William Wixom

Jane and Scott Wood

Jay Wright

Audrey Wyman

S. Donald Zaentz

Mary Lou Zimmerman

Advertisers CCH&H 2013

ADK Woodburning by Glen Bower

Arthur Lee of Red Rock Real Estate

B&G Wine of Hillsdale

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus

Budd Built Iron Works

Ca’Mea Ristorante Italiano

Columbia County Realty

Columbia Memorial Hospital

Cozzolino Real Estate

Crawford & Associates

Cross Eyed Owl Gifts

Dell’s Plumbing & Heating

Empire State Appraisal Consultants

Fresh Face Cleaning Co.

Gabel Real Estate

Gilcrest Properties

Gina’s K-9 Bed & Breakfast

Harvey Ward: The Last Shovel Maker

Herrington’s Lumber

Hudson Home

John V. Hannam / Van Schaack House

Kate Johns, AIA

Kinderhook Bank

Kleeber Insurance Services

Kozel’s Casual Dining

Local 111 Restaurant

Lofgren Agency

Metzwood Insurance

New York Designer Fabric Outlet/Quadrille

Old Ghent Realty

Peggy Lampman Real Estate

Peter Jung Fine Art

R.H. Blackburn & Associates

Savage Metal Restoration

Shallo, Galluscio, Bianchi & Fucito Accountants

Swiss Hutte

The Mt. Washington House

Wagner Van Dam Design & Decoration

William J. Better — Attorney

Will’s Heating & Cooling

Zephyr Preservation Studio

2013 CCHS Supporters

Financial Position

The physical assets of the Columbia County Historical Society include its col-

lections and four historic properties: Luykas Van Alen House, Ichabod Crane

Schoolhouse, Vanderpoel House of History and the Columbia County Mu-

seum. The Society’s current assets at 12/31/13 included restricted and unre-

stricted cash funds of $321,000 plus pledges and other third-party receivables

of $73,000. Most of these funds are designated as restricted grants plus $80,000

in endowment for the Vanderpoel House. The Society has no debt; accounts

payable totaled $32,000 at 12/31/13.

The Vanderpoel Capital Campaign is a fund-raising effort launched by the

Society in 2006 for the specific purpose of restoring and renovating its iconic

Vanderpoel House of History property in Kinderhook. This multi-year project

has raised over $670,000, with nearly all funds having been spent on the renova-

tion and the house endowment, including $23,000 during calendar year 2013.

The financial overview below captures recurring revenues and expenses exclud-

ing the Vanderpoel Capital project. !

Revenue & Support Fundraising, Individual Contributions 151,098 Membership 32,750 Admissions, Shop, Sales, Publications 25,268 Foundations & Government Grants 31,567 Columbia County 17,000 Other Income 34,760

Total Revenue & Support 292,443

ExpensesCollections 6,659 Development 21,734 Education & Exhibits 57,759 Properties 45,698 Administration 119,561

Total Expenses 251,411Net Income 41,032

Columbia County Historical Society • Financial Overview for twelve months ending 12/31/13

■ Collections 3% ■ Development 9%

■ Education/Exhibits 23% ■ Properties 18%

■ Administration 47%

■ Fundraising, contributions 52%

■ Membership 11% ■ Admissions, etc. 8%

■ Foundations & Grants 11%

■ Columbia County 6% ■ Bequests 12%

ExpensesRevenue & Support

Columbia County History & Heritage magazineThe Columbia County History & Heritage Magazine (published twice a

year), a free benefit of Society membership, presents the history and culture

of our county through stories of those who have lived and worked here. In

2013, 15 authors contributed 24 articles on topics ranging from World War

II farmerettes and the Clermont Farm Labor Center to the mushroom in-

dustry in the county to Hudson-made stoneware.