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Welcome to the first edition of the RJHS digital newsletter. Our mission is to promote the history and heritage of the towns of Ancram, Copake, Gallatin, Hillsdale, and Taghkanic. We're excited to share our message and expand our membership online. Read about our upcoming events and news below.

Should the Hillsdale Toll House Be Saved?
Saturday, October 31
3 pm at the Roe Jan Library 
 
Many of us were crushed by the loss of the historic structure in the heart of Copake's hamlet last week. Though every structure can't be saved, we believe that our future is richer when we preserve the record of our past - letters, artifacts, photographs, and buildings.

With this in mind, we're pleased to invite you to a discussion about the future of the Hillsdale Toll House. Co-sponsored by Historic Hillsdale and the Roeliff Jansen Community Library, the presentation will provide an overview of the history of the Columbia Turnpike, the story of how the toll house came to Hillsdale, and some insight to buildings that have been restored. The presentation includes remarks by William Krattinger, Project Officer for the NYS Office of Historical Preservation, and Peter Cipkowski, Hillsdale Town Historian and president of the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society.

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Furnace Fest and Geology Talk
Saturday, November 7
Noon at the Copake Iron Works
2 pm at the RJHS Museum

Join Friends of Taconic State Park for a celebration of the iconic Blast Furnace at the historic Copake Iron Works in Taconic State Park (33 Valley View Road, Copake Falls, NY).  The fun begins with burgers and hot dogs at noon with music and a campfire to take the edge off the autumn chill.  Docent-led tours of the newly expanded Iron Works Museum will be begin at noon.

At 2 pm, the Friends and the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society will host an illustrated lecture with Robert and Johanna Titus on the history of the rocks, minerals, and landscapes of the Taconic Range. The Tituses are renowned for their expert knowledge of the region's geology.  They are the authors of "The Hudson Valley in the Ice Age: A Geological History & Tour." Robert Titus is author of "The Catskills in the Ice Age," in which he uncovers 400 million years of geological history hidden in the region's rocks and landscapes. The lecture will be held at the museum, 8 Miles Road, Copake Falls. 

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ARE YOU A MEMBER?
With your support, we're committed to the belief that preserving and presenting the history and cultural traditions of our community has value. Through ongoing field research, a speaker series, and a multimedia archive, we document and conserve our heritage which could easily be lost. Through exhibits, publication and educational projects, we bring recognition to the stories, skills, and traditions of local folks, past and present. As a member-supported, non-profit organization, we rely on your membership to:
 
Society News
SUMMER CAMPS EXHIBIT
As everyone who is reading this knows, we live in an alluring place. It's no wonder that our ponds and hillsides have attracted a long line of summer camps. Our 2015 summer exhibit, "Swimming, Singing, and S'mores: 120 Years of Camps in the Mid-Hudson Valley," attracted hundreds of visitors from far and wide from its opening day on July 3 through Columbus Day weekend.
 
The Board of Directors extends its gratitude to Howard Blue and the exhibit committee, as well as to the many member- and non-member volunteer docents who contributed their time and effort to this summer's exhibit. Though the exhibit is now closed, browse a sampler of the exhibit on our website.

 
BASH BISH EXHIBIT PLANNED
We're delighted to announce that our 2016 summer exhibit will present an all-encompassing overview of the history of Bash Bish. Through paintings, photographs, memorabilia, postcards, legends, and oral histories, we'll explore how the beautiful cascade has inspired artists, lured new residents, and has been an important part of everyday life in this community. 

Though it's months away, now is the time to start planning. If anyone has items they would like to loan or stories they would like to tell, or if you would like to participate in the planning of this important exhibit, please email us at [email protected].


 
We believe that a community's future is richer when it celebrates and preserves its heritage. Please join us in our mission to celebrate and preserve local history. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Your Friends at the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society