lOO 



THE MUSEUM. 



Many were the vacant places around 

 their firesides, yet Liberty was the 

 purchase price. 



In 1785, the block-houses and pick- 

 ets around the fort was razed, seats 

 were again placed in the building and 

 the structure once more became a 

 place of worship; it was used as such 

 until the year 1844, when a new 

 church was built further up in the vd- 

 lage. From 1844 to 1857 the church 

 was little noticed by the residents, as 

 it was a too familiar object to be at- 

 tractive, and to the stranger, its sim- 

 plicity and dimentions as a fort were 

 in ridicule. 



In April, 1857, the building was 

 deeded to the State of New York for 

 the sum of $800. Its preservation as 

 a Revolutionary Fort being the strong- 

 est argument that could be brought to 

 bear to secure the appropriation to 

 purchase it. The State remodeled it 

 in a measure for an arsenal, but not 

 having use for it, in 1873 through the 

 efforts of Assemblyman Peter Couch- 

 man of Schoharie, it was donated by 

 the State to the County. Although it 

 was to revert back to the State if the 

 County failed to keep it in repair. The 

 Board of Supervisors each jear donate 

 small sums for that purpose. 



Upon the organization of the Scho 

 harie County Historical society in 

 1879, the county gave them the use of 

 the building as headquarters and a 

 museum. 



A most fitting thing to do and a very 

 appropriate place for Historical Rooms, 

 by reason of its being connected with 

 so much Schoharie Revolutionary his- 

 tory. So today within the walls of 

 this old structure which has withstood 

 successfully through all its perils — a, id 

 the march of progress, may be seen 

 the relics of other days. 



Here on Ihe lower tloor are many 

 old, quaint and rude agriculture uten- 

 sils, and tools of the mechanic, furni- 

 ture, spinning wheels and many other 

 household goods and common articles 

 once owned and used by those who 

 were early connected with the building 



of the church and the early history of 

 the county. 



Upon the second floor are found 

 many old public documents, maps, let- 

 ters of many of the most noted men of 

 the early da) s, ancient Revolutionary 

 flint lock guns and pistols, carved 

 powder horns and other accoutrements, 

 old books, Dutch Bibles, early news- 

 papers and public notices, collections 

 of Indian relics (mostly local), geolog- 

 ical specimens, and many other things 

 too numerous to mention. The whole 

 collection is not surpassed in variety, 

 curio and value by those of many 

 older societies 



Many of the articles, to be sure, 

 are only loaned by the members of the 

 society and individuals, although the 

 greater part have been donated to the 

 society. The largest collections loan- 

 ed, are those ot two Schoharie's noted 

 antiquarians. Dr. C. H. Kingsley and 

 Henry Cady — the latter secretary and 

 curator of the museum. Both collec- 

 tions are local and contain many fine 

 specimens of aboriginal stone art. The 

 collection as a whole is quite complete, 

 interesting and well worth seeing by 

 the tourist as he passes through the 

 beautiful valley. 



So today the "Old Fort" is an ob- 

 ject ol great interest, as the visitors' 

 legister reveals. Looking over its 

 pages we find thousands visit it an- 

 nually, and still they come from all 

 distances, all with equal interest and 

 veneration. Once so full of heart 

 rending scenes, heroic deeds and val- 

 orous exploits, it is today venerated 

 and highly valued by each and every 

 one of Schoharie's patriotic residents. 



It is patriotic to preserve and gather 

 here the articles of the early residents 

 and builders of the county. Thus pre- 

 serving to memory the price of true 

 devotion of what we are indebted to 

 now enjoy — Liberty. 



Robert M. Hartley, 



.Amsterdam, N. Y. 



