Local News from Marbletown, Rochester, & Rosendale
It’s official. After three tedious years of diligent work by dedicated trustees and volunteers of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Historical Society and Museum—the Society has received a substantial grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
The State of New York formally announced recent grants on Dec. 11 and the Museum was on the list. As explained by Society president, Bill Merchant, the acquisition of the Depuy Canal House restaurant property will enable the eventual relocation of the Museum to this historic 1797 building once owned by the D&H Company from the early 1830s through the remainder of the 19th Century.
Said Merchant, “Being directly adjacent to the National Historic Landmark Five Lock Walk will enable the Society to interpret canal life in a building intimately involved in its history, the increase in floor space will provide many exciting opportunities to fulfill our primary mission of preserving and protecting the extant infrastructure of the Delaware and Hudson Canal. We would like to thank all the public minded community members who have united behind us for this great effort. The amount of support we are getting is really gratifying."
At the present time, the Museum is housed in a former Episcopal Church completed in 1885. The Museum’s exhibits portray the D&H Canal’s history and include many original artifacts and tools used in the construction of the canal, along with original paintings by canal-era artists and many more historical objects.
The museum hopes it will be able to be in this historic landmark in time for their 50th anniversary in 2016. Though this remains to be seen, as more fund-raising needs to take place to make this happen.
Said Merchant, “It would be nice to have the museum in its new home by the 50th anniversary, but the actual deal won't be finalized for some time. There is no real hurry as we have our great existing Museum and we want to take our time and do it right.”
According to John Novi, Owner/operator of the Depuy Canal House Restaurant, he had approached the D&H Canal Historical Society board with the idea of the Museum applying for grant money for this project four years ago.
Said Novi, “From the first day I purchased the Canal House in 1964 and opened it on Flag Day, June 14, 1969 – I always knew I was to be its steward protector for at least 50 years. I, also, truly believed that the Depuy House belonged to our local community as a monument to early industrial travel time, attracting regional and statewide canal travel buffs.
During the few years as president I took the steps to get the house and the five-lock park registered on the National Register of Historic Properties and started the process to get the Canal society registered with the State Education.”
Reminiscing of early days, Novi spoke about March 31, 1966 when the newly elected board of trustees of the D&H Historical Society was honored at a town meeting in the High Falls Fire Hall for its formation. There with 65 people in attendance who Novi said, “Paid five-dollars each to join—and I was honored to be elected the first President since it was ‘my baby.’”
Speaking about the official outcome of this long process, Merchant explained: “The grant was a Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) with Governor Andrew Cuomo putting all the monies from various state sources under this one umbrella.”
The actual grant, written by Jennifer Schwartz Berky of Kingston-based Hone Strategic LLC, is from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation.
Said Merchant, “It’s a matching grant for 500,000 dollars—the State never gives 100-percent as they want to see some public participation and interest, although some matching grants can be as much as 90-percent, ours is a 50-50 percent.”
“We will soon start a major capital campaign to raise the money as we’ll need to renovate,” explained Merchant. The structure needs a new roof and possible septic work and Merchant noted, “We’ll also have to comply with the American's with Disabilities Act. But we can now evaluate the building, more carefully, to see what exactly it needs.”
There are many details still left up to planning and discussion and, ultimately, the board’s decision. Such as, will the present Museum be sold or possibly transformed into another purpose?
“That will, of course, be up to our volunteer board of trustees. We rent the apartment above the Museum and we just hosted a wedding at the chapel and would love to see more of that happen. After we move to the Depuy Canal House we could conceivably use the existing museum for receptions. Or possibly lease all of it out. We will have to see what the Board decides,” said Merchant.
As for any plans for fund-raising events, Merchant said that both Novi and Tim Sweeney have generously offered to help on that front.
“We already have our Mother's Day Gala scheduled for Friday, May 8, 2015 at Ivan's and Wine Tasting on The Five Lock Walk scheduled for Sunday of the 2015 Labor Day week end sponsored by Stone Ridge Wine and Spirits and Emmanuel’s.”
On behalf of all those associated with the Museum, Merchant would like to thank John Novi for his vision and stewardship of this historic property, Jennifer Schwartz Berky, who he said, “toiled long and hard,” Mike Warren, Chris Gibson, RVGA, RVBA, HFMA, Shawangunk Scenic Byway, Assembly member Kevin Cahill and County Executive Mike Hein, OSI, Erin O’Neil and Rose Harvey of NYS Parks, Michael DeWan and Schott Appraisal Associates, Neil Larsen of Larsen-Fisher Associates and the fifteen hard-working volunteer trustees of the Society.
This grant is one step closer to the preservation of an historical landmark and Museum expansion project, much planning is on the horizon—so keep tuned for all updates on both the website and Facebook page.
The D&H Canal Museum is located at 23 Mohonk Road, High Falls; The D&H Canal Historical Society is a 503 (3) C organization and gratefully accepts donations. For more information call 845-687-9311 or President Bill Merchant’s cell at 917-821-4134, or go online to www.canalmuseum.org and on Facebook.
