October 2023: NEW Shop items, Upcoming events, and more!
Hi!
How are you doing? We are doing super here at the Museum. With so many programs and activities, today is the first chance I’ve had to sit down and email you in a while – I’m sorry!
We still have two great programs left for the 2024 season. Traditional Quilts to Art Quilts: Trunk Show will be held THIS SUNDAY, October 15th at 2 p.m. at the Time and the Valleys Museum on St. Rt. 55 in Grahamsville. Join Katharina Litchman, a quilter with over 25 years of experience, showcasing her quilts (with both traditional and non-traditional designs) and describing her journey from beginning quilter to today.
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Working with Amish-inspired, faun and fauna, architectural and abstract design themes, some of her art quilts are heavily free-motion quilted – painted with thread and embellished with beads and Swarovski crystals.
The cost of the program is free for members and $5 for non-members, which includes museum admission. For more information about this program, please call me at 845 985-7700 or email info@timeandthevalleysmuseum.
About Katharina Litchman: “I have a passion for all things hand-made. I enjoy working in fiber with its tactile quality. Many of my fabrics are hand dyed or painted. My work has been featured in Quilting Arts and Love of Quilting magazines and in The Catskill Mountain Region Guide.” Katharina’s teaching engagements include SUNY Sullivan, local quilting guilds, Frost Valley YMCA and Liberty High School.
We have many new items in our Museum shop, thanks to Judy Chernowski and Andrea Henderson, the shop’s super co-shop managers. One of these is a new book published by the family of Margaret Smith Dolan, who grew up in Eureka, one of the communities taken for the Rondout Reservoir.
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Rest Awhile Here, is a collection of poems written by Margaret throughout her life in the Rondout area.
Margaret is remembered fondly by many museum members as she was a bubbly, full of life person, always ready to tell a story about old times. Margaret’s family has generously donated these books to the Museum to help raise funds for our educational programs. You can purchase a copy for $12.50 on our website at timeandthevalleysmuseum.org. There are MANY great local history books on our website and even more at the Museum’s shop. Go online now or give a call and visit the shop. Local history books make great holiday gifts!
Our major project of expanding the 1930s Lost Catskill Farm is also moving along. Besides the several restored buildings now in place, thanks to Trustee David Forshay of Willowemoc, the root cellar is finished!
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What is a root cellar? A root cellars is an ancient form of long-term food storage in use 40,000 years ago through the 1940s. Root cellars kept food at controlled temperatures and steady humidity so food didn’t freeze during the winter or spoil during the summer.
What foods were stored in a root cellar? Potatoes, turnips, carrots, beets, onions, winter squash and cabbage; preserves/jams, salt meat, salt fish, fruits such as apples and pears; and water, bread, butter, milk, cream, salad greens and fresh meat. Food could be stored for weeks or even months, depending on food type and conditions.
Why is it called a “root cellar”? The name reflects the traditional focus on root crops, such as beets, turnips, carrots and potatoes. The root cellar was usually near the house, but could also be near the barn, under the house or a separate building. Underground storage provided a dark cool environment which slowed or prevented spoilage. A good root cellar would often be 40F cooler than the outside temperature.
Our last program of the year is Neversink and Denning History Afternoon, Sunday, November 5th at 1 p.m. at the Time and the Valleys Museum on St. Rt. 55 in Grahamsville. Photos, records, stories and artifacts from the towns of Neversink and Denning will be available for research and archivists will be on hand to answer questions. Bring photos, stories and records to share. There will be a special historical presentation at 2 p.m.. The program is FREE for all. Hope to see you!
If you are a member of the Museum, watch for our year-end appeal coming in the mail soon. This year, we are asking for help funding the care of our collections. With Ashley Wilson on board we are making great strides organizing and cataloguing our many artifacts, but we need help funding her efforts into the future. Please give if you can!
If you aren’t a member, will you please consider becoming one? We do such great things, and with your help can do so much more. Go to timeandthevalleysmuseum. org/membership to join now.
That’s all for this time. Hope to see you at one of our last two programs!
Donna