As you might well have imagined, the Austerlitz Historical Society will be cancelling some of our scheduled summer events due to the pandemic. This is a time when we have been forced to look at things with a new perspective as we make our way through this difficult time. AHS continues to look to the future and prepare for a time when we will once again be able to welcome visitors. We’re currently in the midst of creating exhibits and exploring the possibility of setting up outdoor activities which would easily allow for social distancing.

POSTPONED until 2021:

The Flea Market and Tag Sale 6/13/20

The Blueberry Festival 7/26/20

As we settle in for the remainder of the long winter and welcome spring we are actively exploring new possibilities.
Listed below are some of the projects planned for this year. We will send out further information as details are finalized.

ART GALLERY OPENS IN THE CHURCH
WILD AUSTERLITZ CELEBRATES THE BOUNTY OF OUR AREA
OLD CRIMINALS OF AUSTERLITZ
OUR MOHICAN CONNECTION
AHS COLLECTION EXHIBITS
CONSTRUCTION/PLACEMENT OF THE MENEELY BELL HOUSE
MOVIE NIGHT ON THE GROUNDS OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
FLEA MARKET- JUNE 13TH
THE BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL-JULY-26th
Autumn in Austerlitz presents: WILD AUSTERLITZ -Celebrating the bounty of our area. OCTOBER-3rd.

The Austerlitz Historical Society will host a Flea Market and Tag Sale on the site of Old Austerlitz. Though vendors will take the majority of spaces, we will once again we offer members a table for $15.00 (while supplies last ) to sell household items only. There will be baked goods, coffee and food trucks on the premises.

Whether you have household items to get rid of or are a flea market vendor, call or email us for more information.

On December 7th from 1-3 pm the Austerlitz Historical Society will open it’s doors and celebrate the season . The Morey- Devereaux House will be decorated for the holidays with fires lit and refreshments served. As a thank you to all our members and volunteers, we will have a wreath decorating activity (reservations needed) in the Morey-Devereaux house and the Gift Shop will be open, offering a 10% discount to all members and volunteers. Stop by for a visit, decorate a wreath and stroll through our unique gift shop. Reservations for the wreath decorating activity are needed by 11/25/19.

Austerlitz Historical Society- 518-392-1667 or [email protected].

• 

• 

Saturday September 28th 11-4 pm

Adults-$7.00 Children under 12- Free No pets please

• 

This year’s Autumn in Austerlitz Festival is held on Saturday, September 28th, 11-4 pm. Rain or Shine. Admission is $7 for adults and children under 12 are free. With attendance averaging at well over 750, the event features a wide array of live demonstrations from sheep shearing to butter making, antiques, live music, entertainment for children, unique vendors, silent auction, quilt raffle and a variety of hot and cold foods to satisfy your hunger including our community soup station featuring over 6 home made soups.

During the summer, we start listing our Crafters, Food Vendors and Entertainers who will be participating in the year’s festival. Please check back for updates. If you’d like to see the vendors that have been at past Autumn in Austerlitz Festivals, please visit our archives page by clicking HERE

Autumn in Austerlitz began in 1997 as a home grown festival to raise money for the Austerlitz Historical Society to expand their educational programs.

Vendor space for our 2019 festival is now OPEN. If you are interested in applying to become a vendor please contact us by email at [email protected] or by calling 518-392-0062.

Following is a list of our 2019 participants as of 9/10/19:

Crafters and Vendors:

Liz Hamann-Studio Potter
Bonnie White Folk Art, Canaan, NY
Buddy’s Buck Horn’s Creations,Tivoli NY
BH Upcycled Designs, Bristol, CT
Moonfaerie Designs, Willington,CT
The 19th Century Tinsmith – Ballston Lake, NY
A&R Maben Woodcarvings, Acra,NY
Shaker Reproductions & Wood Turnings – Stephentown, NY
Pamela Dalton,Scherenschnitte, Harlemville,NY
Joy Newton, West Granby,CT
Ton Kenny Wood Bowls, Chatham,NY
Ballston Spa Apiaries, Ballston Lake,NY
Fly Tyer – Bill Newcomb, Hillsdale, NY
Antiques At 7 Oaks- Judy Yaroschuck- Nassau, NY
O’Boys Soap Company, LLC – North Chatham, NY
Carolines Scottish Bakery, North Adams, MA
Pond View Woodworking, Freehold, NY
Little Em’s Diaper Cakes and More, Red Hook , NY
Quilting by Diane Lill and Margie Quinn, Canaan and Austerlitz, NY
Glass by Gail-Gail Chamberlain, Valatie, NY
Root and Tuber Works, Spencertown,NY
Jacqueline Rogers,Children’s Book author and Illustrator
Hudson Valley Fiber Arts, Pine Plains, NY
Sandy’s Crafts and More, Austerlitz,NY
Olde Chatham Kettle Corn, Chatham,NY
Lady and the Thread, Kinderhook, NY
Looming Madness, Mahopac, NY
Country Primitives, E. Chatham, NY
Beaver Mills Antiques, Valatie, NY
Salt and Stone Pottery, Clark Mills, NY
The Austerlitz Volunteer Fire Company’s BBQ

Children’s Area
Bubble blowing
Pumpkin Carving
Magic Show-In the Music Tent
Corn Husk Doll Making
Corn Kernel play area
Wanda Halton’s -Crafting with Natural Materials.

Special Exhibitors/Demonstrations:

NEW – Ed Simonson and Friends-OLD MACHINES
NEW- Antique Tractors
NEW- Windsor Chair Making with John Porritt
Wild Goose Chase NE, New Lebanon, NY
Wanda Halten – Heritage Poultry Breeds, Canaan, NY
Berkshire Hills and Dales Spinning Guild – Lee, MA
Blacksmithing in the Forge
Tin Smith-Walter Fleming-Ballston Lake, NY
Cider Making

Entertainment:
Guitar, Vocals and more from Howard Lieberman
Omer Black- Magician

NEW –
FOR YOUR LISTENING AND DANCING PLEASURE
THE KITCHEN KAYLIE BAND
An eclectic mix of Old English music.
1:30-4:00

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Robert Herron, one of the original founders of the Austerlitz Historical Society. Bob continued to be an active member and strong presence in all aspects of the society. He will be sorely missed.

A Memorial Service will be held on August 17th at 12:30 pm, on the grounds of the Austerlitz Historical Society.

Famed Columbia County Auctioneer, Preservationist and Philanthropist Dies

Robert Herron (August 3, 1927—June 29, 2019)

Known by many as the “Mayor of Austerlitz,” Robert Herron of Austerlitz, NY died on Saturday, June 29^th, 2019 at the age of 91.  A life-long resident of Austerlitz and well-known expert on American antiques, auctioneer and local philanthropist, Robert “Bob” Herron was born on August 3^rd, 1927 to Mary Varney—a descendant of an old New England family which settled in Austerlitz by the end of the eighteenth century—and William C. Herron, whose family moved to Austerlitz in the mid-nineteenth century.

A veteran of the U.S. Navy who later attended the University of Denver, “Bob” Herron began collecting early American furniture as a young boy and later ran a highly-successful auction house. One of the premier auctioneers in New England, in 1997 the New York Times wrote that Herron had found “one of the few major discoveries of the year”—an important collection of early American furniture which brought antique dealers and connoisseurs from across the country to the small hamlet of Austerlitz.

Continuing his family’s long tradition of serving the community and fostering its civic life, Herron and his good friend, Richard Mugler, Jr., were responsible for the preservation of the local schoolhouse, the Austerlitz Church, a number of houses in the hamlet and the establishment of the Austerlitz Historical Society. A generous benefactor, Herron donated both funds and land to the Historical Society, which now boasts a collection of late 18^th and early 19^th century buildings and a local history collection. In 1987, the New York Times—along with a number of other media outlets—reported on the restoration of his early house.

“Bob” also made substantial donations to community organizations, most recently to the Columbia County Land Conservancy and for the building of the hamlet’s new firehouse.

Known for his keen eye, “sharp as a tack” mind, and unfailing wit up to his death, Herron will be missed by his family, friends, neighbors and colleagues and the many volunteers he recruited in his life-long quest to preserve the best of this country’s and Columbia County’s history.

He is preceeded in death by his brother, William Lee Herron (1922-2007), and survived by his nieces Ruth Horak, Janet DeMonaco, Janet’s husband Louis, and his nephew William Jr.’s widow Cheryl.

A memorial service will be held on the grounds of the Austerlitz Historical Society, at a time to be determined this summer. For further information, please check the historical society’s web site www.oldausterlitz.org or call 518-392-0062.

Memorial Donations may be made out to the Austerlitz Historical Society or the Austerlitz Cemetery (please indicate your preference), and sent to :

The Austerlitz Historical Society-PO Box 144- Austerlitz, NY 12017