Founded 1916
2024 Annual Report
President’s Letter
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I’d say that two adages guided Columbia County Historical Society of New York (CCHSNY) in the last year,
The only constant in life is change.
– Heraclitus
When you are finished changing, you are finished.
– Benjamin Franklin
With these good words in mind, CCHSNY embarked on a thorough self-evaluation in 2024 as to what we are, what we should be, and how best to get there. This involved multiple interviews and workshops over nearly ten months with you, our members, the public, Trustees and Advisory Board Members. It involved a lot of introspection and critical assessment. The happy result is a comprehensive strategic plan approved by the Trustees only this last October. It is a plan with detailed deliverables focused on making the CCHSNY experience relevant, accessible, and appealing to all of the people who live in Columbia County and the Hudson Valley. Watch us change and watch us grow. I am very excited for the future of CCHSNY.
The year also brought generosity and innovation. We met and beat a $250,000 matching gift challenge with $272,330 of donations, giving us a total of $522,330 dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the Vanderpoel House and property, received a generous bequest to carry out renovations to the Van Allen House, and opened our new museum store, The Mercantile at the Vanderpoel House. It’s been a smash hit. I encourage you all to check it out.
Finally, we need your help. We need your goodwill, your time, and yes, your financial support. If you’d like to volunteer, become a Trustee, or make a gift of money, please do it now. Give generously. It will be well spent.
Stay well,
John Delikanakis
President, CCHS
Donate Now
Annual Appeal
Trustees
John Delikanakis, President
Ally Anderson, Vice-President
Eric Blair-Joannou, Treasurer
Sharon Rae, Secretary
John Carroll
Melissa Davis
Alvin Knoll, Honorary Trustee
Stephanie Lally
Henry H. Livingston III
Mary Rynerson
Diane Smook
Annabel Taylor
Nora Tuttle
Alex Van Alen
Advisors
Nicholas Haylett
Ted Hilscher
Timothy Husbank
Peter Jung
John Knott
Robert Peduzzi
David Pickett
Brenda Shufelt
Lisa Fludd Smith
Staff
Lisa Weilbacker, Executive Director
Kristy King, Director of Administration
Greg Pettyjohn, Director of Finance
Jim Benton, Senior Historian
Katherine Hilliard, Senior Docent Administrator
Part-time Staff
Sarah Alterio
Jessica Gavitt
Connelly McHugh
Nicholas Nasser
New Trustees
Diane Smook is an award-wining photographer based in Kinderhook. She graduated from Tufts University and worked for many years in New York City as a producer in film and video for RCA VideoDiscs and various independent production companies. She served as a trustee of the Art Creation Foundation for Children based in Jacmel, Haiti. Her publications include the books Shaping a President: Sculpting for the Roosevelt Memorial and Love and War: The World War II Letters of Arthur Smook.
Annabel Taylor is the #1 top-performing realtor in the Hudson Valley (in both luxury and overall) with an average price point of over $1 million, and former Chair of the Board of Directors at Historic Hudson. Ms. Taylor was with Houlihan Lawrence for three years before joining Sotheby’s International Realty in 2020, where she is an associate broker.
Stephanie Lally, broker and principal of Historic Kinderhook Properties, is also a dedicated community volunteer and private investor. Ms. Lally has invaluable experience both here and in Boston as property manager and hearing officer for the New York State Office of Court Administration, administrator of a leading CPA firm, and Columbia County Youth Bureau. Ms. Lally is active with The Garden Club of Kinderhook, Friends of the Kinderhook Memorial Library, The Second Show in Hudson, and Mills Park in Kinderhook.
Sherri Marton lives with her family in historic houses in New York City and Hillsdale. She is a real estate lawyer who owns and manages properties in both locations. She has previously served on the board of Smack Mellon, a non-profit arts organization located in DUMBO and Generation Citizen, a national nonprofit dedicated to civic education. Sherri is excited to join the CCHS board and spend more time in beautiful Columbia County.
Diane Smook is an award-wining photographer based in Kinderhook. She graduated from Tufts University and worked for many years in New York City as a producer in film and video for RCA VideoDiscs and various independent production companies. She served as a trustee of the Art Creation Foundation for Children based in Jacmel, Haiti. Her publications include the books Shaping a President: Sculpting for the Roosevelt Memorial and Love and War: The World War II Letters of Arthur Smook.
Annabel Taylor is the #1 top-performing realtor in the Hudson Valley (in both luxury and overall) with an average price point of over $1 million, and former Chair of the Board of Directors at Historic Hudson. Ms. Taylor was with Houlihan Lawrence for three years before joining Sotheby’s International Realty in 2020, where she is an associate broker.
Stephanie Lally, broker and principal of Historic Kinderhook Properties, is also a dedicated community volunteer and private investor. Ms. Lally has invaluable experience both here and in Boston as property manager and hearing officer for the New York State Office of Court Administration, administrator of a leading CPA firm, and Columbia County Youth Bureau. Ms. Lally is active with The Garden Club of Kinderhook, Friends of the Kinderhook Memorial Library, The Second Show in Hudson, and Mills Park in Kinderhook.
Sherri Marton lives with her family in historic houses in New York City and Hillsdale. She is a real estate lawyer who owns and manages properties in both locations. She has previously served on the board of Smack Mellon, a non-profit arts organization located in DUMBO and Generation Citizen, a national nonprofit dedicated to civic education. Sherri is excited to join the CCHS board and spend more time in beautiful Columbia County.
Grants & Funds
Rick Ryan Matching Grant
In December 2022, the Columbia County Historical Society received a generous bequest of $250,000 from Rick Ryan, a longtime CCHS Trustee and dedicated committee leader who died November 8, 2022. In the bequest, Rick designated the funds for ongoing preservation of the James Vanderpoel House — a structure for which Rick, a celebrated interior designer, had a special fondness.
Rick Ryan Donors
$50,000
Jack Shear
$25,000
John B. Carroll
Susan & Henry H. Livingston III
Nora & James Tuttle
Mila & Thomas Tuttle
Alexandra Anderson
$10,000 to $15,000
Sam Pratt
Eric Blair-Joannou
Sigrid Gray
Kristina & Stephen Lang
Sandra & Robert Ryan
$5,000
Paul Cassidy & Vernon Evenson
Robert G. Fuller
Kristin Gamble
Nancy Kyle & Jack Fraser
Susan & David Tripp
$1,000 to $2,500
Timothy Husband & Nicholas Haylett
John S. Knott & John Fondas
Alden Y. Warner III
Anne Carroll
Vesna Marincek
Will Swift & Kevin Jacobs
Under $1,000
Rima Bostick
Pamela Cohen & John Kingsley
John Delikanakis & German Delgado
Heidi S. Fiske Mandel
Stephanie M. Lally
Christine S. Pomeranz
Susan Sharp & Henry Neal Connolly
Sheldon Evans & Martha McMaster
Bing & Michael Garrido
Patrick Harbron &
Laurie & Brian Kelly
Anne M. Schomaker
Fern & Andrew Pellettieri
Melissa & Sam Davis
Sharon Rae
Laurie & James Gambee
Elizabeth Anne Hutchinson
Charles H. Lesser
Michael O’Hara
Diane & Clark Whelton
Paula Pugliese
Martin J. Davidson
NY Forward Award $100,000
CCHS’ NY Forward project was selected from among 17 proposals as part of the $2.4 million NY Forward Strategic Investment Plan awarded to the Village of Kinderhook. CCHS’ project includes the creation of a series of footpaths along the Vanderpoel House, connecting the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail to Broad Street.
$100,000 Van Alen & Ichabod Crane Schoolhouse Revitalization Grant
At this year’s First Columbians, Jim and Nora Tuttle presented to Lisa Weilbacker and CCHS a $100,000 donation designated for the replacement of the Ichabod Schoolhouse roof and restoration of the stoops at the Van Alen House.
At this year’s First Columbians, Jim and Nora Tuttle presented to Lisa Weilbacker and CCHS a $100,000 donation designated for the replacement of the Ichabod Schoolhouse roof and restoration of the stoops at the Van Alen House.
The timing and generosity of the gift are a testament to the Tuttle family, whose support of our operations, programs and events has always been consistent and substantial. We are grateful to the Tuttle Family for funding the restoration of two of our most cherished historic properties. Thank you Nora and Jim!
Thank you to our 2024 donors!
So far this year, 50% of our funding came from individual donors. Without donor support, we would not be able to fulfill our mission and serve our local community. We are grateful for everyone’s continued support!
See the list of 2024 donors
$10,000 to $25,000
Susan and Henry Livingston
Nora and James Tuttle
Alexandra Anderson
John B. Carroll
Eugene M. Lang Foundation
Thomas and Sharmila Tuttle
John Delikanakis and German Delgado Sigrid Gray
Sandra and Robert Ryan
$1,000 to $9,999
Kristin Gamble
Paul Cassidy and Vernon Evenson Martha F. Clark
Stephen and Kristina Lang
Susan and David Tripp
Eric Blair-Joannou
John S. Knott and John Fondas
Louise Kelly
Todd Ottman and Kathleen Pakenham Dianne E. Young
James Guidera and Ed Parran
Peter and Hela Kindler
Thomas Moreland
Robert Peduzzi and Diane Smook
Sam Pratt
Benjamin Chu and Donna Cho
Carl and Pamela Castagna
Mary Ose
Mary M. Rynerson
Constance and Eric Silverman Katherine Borgen
Alden Y. Warner III
Barry M. Herbold and Chrissy Wills Anne Carroll
David Thomas
Deborah Shakotko
Abigail Hartmann Associates
David Emil and Jennifer Crichton Sheldon Evans and Martha McMaster Heidi S. Fiske Mandel
Kinderhook Runners Inc.
Stephanie M. Lally
Stuart and Sally Lesser
Vesna Marincek
New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
Sandro Cagnin & Wheelock Whitney Susan Sharp and Henry Neal Conolly
Will Swift and Kevin Jacobs
$500 to $999
Janet Romano and Ted Jadick
Timothy Husband and Nicholas Haylett
Donald and Sharon Campbell
John and Ila Gross
William Roos and Scott Olsen
Alan Wanzenberg
Elizabeth and Richard Livingston
John and Mary Faso
Melissa and Sam Davis
Tony Jones and Pooky Amsterdam
Eric and Marnie Vanderpoel
Deborah and Ralph Gardner
Martha Beard
Alix and David Becker
Rima Bostick
Pamela Cohen and John Kingsley Community Bank
Craig Fitt and Bruce Shostak
Robert G. Fuller
Jean Hamilton and Richard McCarthy Alvin Knoll and Donna Cohen
Donald J. Marshall
Mike & Jill Castellano
James and Mary Ann Pianelli
Christine S. Pomeranz
Beth Rundquist
Glenn and Cheryl Schnackenberg
David and Vicki Smith
The Alden Y. Warner, III Charitable Fund David and Beth Van Alstyne-Ellis
$1 to $499
David Berliner and Betsy Jacobs Christian and Christine Neumann Michael Schrom and Patti Matheney Matthew Snyder Bill and Nancy Teitler
Douglas Welch and Chesley McLaren Robert and Roby Whitlock
Edwin and Barbara Simonsen
Julie Iovine
Aimee Strunk Real Estate, Inc. Marilyn Bethany and Edward Tivnan James and Lucinda Buckley
David Marden and Victoria Bell
Nina Dolan
Gillie Holmes and Camille Massey Stuart and Audrey Peckner
Colin and Katrina Stair
Mary Strunk
Maynard and Kay Toll
Brian and Laurie Kelly
Joanne and Thomas Murphy David Stickles
Donald Marcus and Lisa Milligan Mendy and Cal Waits
Andrew and Fern Pellettieri
Bobby Beard and Bibhu Mohapatra Richard and JoAnne Bilotti
Robert and Maryanne Broderick Randall Correll
Robert and Rae Gilson
Stanley Gotlin and Barry Waldorf Bob Green and Nina Loewenstein James and Kemp Hannon
Nancy Kyle and Jack Fraser Deborah Lans
Viki Sand and Roberta Bernstein Anne M. Schomaker
Betsy Scott
TRYON Family Foundation, LLC Matthew and Anne Wood
Taryn Marie Zarrillo
Nicole Vanderpool
Lauree and Gregory Hickok
Van Calhoun and Sue Senecah Karen and Roy Carney
Suzanne and Robert Carroll
Denise Dunne
Jason Jacobs and Darren Waterston Julia Jayne Joseph
Leah and James Lieber
John C. McCreight Jr.
Sharon Rae
Nancy H. Somers
Spitzer Enterprises
Erika and Nicolas Tipple
Alex Van Allen
Seth and Gail Agata
Cynthia R. Richards
Sue Kelly and Carol Sloan
Susan Goodfellow
Mary Ann Albano
Christopher Atkins and Lauren Letellier
Trudi Tucker
Laura and Jamie Hankin
Janet Wynn
Andrea Rutherford
Joseph Ahern and Leland Midgette Robert and Margot Allen
Teresa and Kurt Barensfeld
Beth Bergin
Sue and Joe Browdy
John Bruning and Michael Rogers
Susan Charbonneau
Donald Coons
Martin J. Davidson
Donald and Ann Eberle
Elaine and John Eichelberger
Terence Farrell
Linda and Richard Frick
Max Friedman and Thomas Romich Laurie and James Gambee
Susan Gladstone
J. Pierre and Lizbeth Gontier
Rosalie W. Hemingway
Jane Lindell Hughes M.D.
Elizabeth Anne Hutchinson
Deborah Ians
Peter Jung
Joan C. Kelly
Kasey and Patrick Kenny
Bonnie Kurtz
LaBella Of Valatie, Inc.
Sally J. Laing
Peggy Lampman and Ian Nitschke Richard and Rebecca Langer
Charles H. Lesser
James Mandaville
Francis and Deborah Nolan
Rebecca O’Donnell
Michael O’Hara
Rosemary and David Palmquist
Colleen Pasquale
Peter Reed
Jacob Samascott and Jennifer MacDonald Ann M. Scharoun
Herbert D. Simons
James and Noell Sottile
Sheridan Vincent
Gary and MaryJo Von Bieberstein
David William Voorhees
Lawrence Waite and James Fleming
Carl and Sandra Whitbeck
Cody Williams
Bonnie Yochelson and Paul Shechtman Jane G. Miller
Mary Keegan
Seymour Preston Jr. Kieran Broderick
Abbey and Larry Cash Ofield Family Trust Rosemary Peduzzi
Nancy Hagin
Bill Jeffway
Pam Malcolm
Nancy Bidlespacher
Gregg J. Berninger
Debra Bruno
Jordan Copeland
Claire Hamilton Elizabeth Lenahan Carolynn Presser Elizabeth Strauss Benjamin Swett
Dale and Louise Peterson Kjirsten Gustavson
Mary McTamaney
Gracie Mills
Siera Beal
James Costello
Wendy Dwyer
Matthew Hartzog
Tanya Jackson
Anna Kovel
Gretchen Lieb
Paul Meyers
Lavada Nahon
Stephen Shellooe Doreen Springsteen
Elisa Vega
Paul F. Twardy
Donna Ann Welton
Christine Dreyfus
Erin Johnston
Kenneth Roberson
Tamara Rusoff-Hoen
Kelsey Tomkins
Delmer and Patricia Tracy
Douglas Hayes
Arthur Petruccelli
Katherine Philip Chansky
Joan Kuster and Mark Weintraub Lorissa Lill
Samuel Reilly
Judith Warren
Kevin Arnold
Maria Ausherman and Steven Taylor Juanita Cohen
Robert Colannino and Mark Davis Audrey Evans
Myles Gordon and Marjorie Waters Rita and Wolf Jakubowski
Valerie and Fred Knecht
Alexander Lunney
Susan Pulver
Diana Rudd
Garry and Jenny Smith
Marla Hoskins
Thomas and Nancy Clark
Robert Michel and Jean Warshaw Mary Louise Perkins
Susan and Richard Van Egghen Rebecca Coxon
Paula Pugliese
Paul and Kristin Trautman
Nancy Winch
Mary Bergtold
Carol H. Calvin
Charles Bardes
William Bell
Katy Birckmayer
Elliott Bristol
Tiffany Buono
Michael Ferrara
Sue Gancaz
Cindy Knights
Tony Muoser
Robert and Patti Norris
Robert Proffitt
Lisa Puvogel
Brian Rowe
Jennie Russo
Elizabeth Sheffer-Winig
Phyllis C. Stehm
Thomas J. Van Alstyne
Kari Van Buren
Julie VanWormer
Courtney Vernon
Vivek Sharma and Andrew Stone Alexa Wilson
Elizabeth Sheehan
Kate Johns and Jason Shaw
Lucinda Hastings
Karen and Neal Baillargeon Stephen Bergman and Janet Surrey Renate Brown
Margaret M. Cashen
Don Davis
Sue Delp and Alfred Weisbart Jim DiGioia
David L. DuBois
Louise Dunn
Martha Bliss Ehlers
William Gerlach
Patrick Harbron and Dana Spot Margie Laurie
Rhiannon Leo-Jameson
John N. Lieber
Harvey J. McCagg
George J. Prokopiak
Patricia A. Schuler
Carla Singer
Georgianna Stout and David Weeks Marvis A. Warren
Virginia Martin
Janet Skidmore
Jeff Brown
Gloria Jean Cestero-Hurd
Thomas W. Costello
Barbara A. Egan
Julia Forrest
Helen and Henry Freedman
Jerry Freedner
David Gallager
Kate Gartner
Bonnie Hahn
Elizabeth Harrison
Marilyn Holst
Elaine and Christopher Kline Carolyn Lassiter
Carol Leber
Gary Leveille
Heather Lewis
Mary Lyman
Catherine Mikic
Phyllis Nichols
James and Nancy Scherer
Wendy and Gary Spielmann
Susan Tarpley
John Bladel
Serra Butash
Gary and Marla Gidlow
Richard and Alice Gochman
Susan and Pavel Hillel
Amy Barr
Albert Bellenchia and Jennifer Wall
Mercantile at the Vanderpoel House
Inspired by the CCHS staff and the history of Columbia County and the Vanderpoel House, the Mercantile at the Vanderpoel House is the brainchild of trustee Melissa Davis. With limited resources and a lot of talent and hard work, Melissa revitalized the museum shop last winter. Today it’s a unique, must-visit Kinderhook destination that has hosted 5 standing-room only events, witnessed significant sales, and most importantly, brought the community into the historic home.
Pop in for a browse and stay tuned for upcoming events!
Events
Community Programs & Events
From small town halls to the bustling streets of New York City, women united in an unprecedented campaign for change. Activists such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, both with strong ties to New York, laid the foundation for the movement, drafting the Declaration of Sentiments at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. Their voices echoed across the nation, demanding equality in every facet of life.
Long-time resident Connie Frisbee discussed the history of wedding dresses and how changes in style and manner unveiled changes in society and history across time.
Pieter Estersohn discussed his new book, Back to the Land: A New Way of Life in the Country, to a sold-out audience at the Vanderpoel House. In his talk, Estershon explored the revitalization of rural life in New York’s Hudson Valley, showcasing the stories of individuals who left urban environments to embrace sustainable and community-driven lifestyles in the countryside, revitalize historic farms through organic farming, brewing, foraging, and artisanal crafts.
Ghent Town Historian Gregg Berninger discussed life in pr-1800 Columbia County, before Ghent was Ghent. In this will answer three big questions: What became of the mastodons and the Mohicans? How did European settlement evolve in Columbia County?How common was slavery in 18th-century pre-Ghent Columbia County?
New American Music
Musicians Carl Gutowski and Yalin Chi. Gutowski and Chi played select pieces composed by living American composers Debra Kaye, Richard Wilson, Tyson Gholston Davis, Mina Pariseau,and Jonathan Russell. This was a unique opportunity to hear new American Music and give your ear over to melodic horizons not yet experienced!
Don’t forget to check on future CCHS events at our Events page!
Jim's Corner
For most of my time here, I have viewed my work in the Library to be an assistant to people looking for family, for people looking for information on their homes, and for any other research questions that come in. Using the genealogical records, city, town and county town histories, and atlases, plus various online sources, I try to answer peoples questions, no matter how diverse.
Lately though, I find that I have been asked to focus more on the story part of history. Researchers seem to want to know more about why and what their ancestors did, rather than just who they are. A large part of the job recently has been to provide context in addition to dates and places, and sometimes that search for context evolves into telling a story.
The CCHS Library received two donations this year that go far in providing that kind of context. The first, a
collection of letters and newspaper articles on the aftermath of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, was
donated by Mrs. Barbara Bunger. The letters detail the story of three ladies from Hudson who were survivors of
that tragedy. The letters actually shine some new light on the manning of the lifeboats and the incredible fortitude
of the women from our county. The donee, Mrs. Bunger, is a direct descendant of two of the valiant ladies.
The second donation was given by Dr. John Brooke, the Bancroft Prize-winning author of the seminal work
Columbia Rising. The book uses the history of Columbia County’s political and social evolution during the early
19th century as a lens to view the same evolution in the entire country. Dr. Brooke kindly donated all his
research from the book to the library, and has promised to help catalogue the material in the summer of 2025.
Adding collections of important documents such as those listed above, the CCHS Library will continue to provide
information, answers and the occasional story to all who ask.
Best,
Jim
Exhibition: Dirt Road Life
Featuring an extensive display of vintage photographs from the collections of CCHS and Red Rock Historical Society and the artistic photographs of local high school students, this exhibit documents and contrasts 19th century and contemporary life along the 59-mile network of dirt roads that criss-cross the Chathams in Columbia County.
Lighthouse Tour
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Greg's Corner
Columbia County Historical Society a 501(c)(3) cultural education organization founded in 1916 and chartered by the Board of Regents of NYS Department of Education to collect, preserve, interpret and present the history, heritage and culture of Columbia County, New York. In addition to a research library and museum with permanent collections of more than 15,000 objects, CCHS owns and maintains the 1737 Luykas Van Alen House, c.1820 James Vanderpoel ‘House of History’ and c.1850 Ichabod Crane Schoolhouse.