The Austerlitz Historical Society is pleased to offer an annual series of free “talks” at Old Austerlitz. Talks include a wide variety of fascinating topics, from local and regional historical topics to art, craft and architecture.
All programming is free of charge, but donations to the Austerlitz Historical Society are gladly accepted.
Schedule of Talks for 2024
Migration from the South and the Great Hudson River Brick Industry
Sunday, June 9th, 2 pm Old Austerlitz Church, Route 22 Austerlitz, NY
KLAUVER RACHEN, THE MIGRATION OF BLACK PEOPLE FROM THE SOUTH AND THE GREAT HUDSON RIVER BRICK INDUSTRY
Historical Society Trustee, Will Foehrenbach, will give a presentation about the brick industry in the Hudson Valley in the years from 1880 to 1920.
Billions of bricks were molded and shipped down the river to New York City, produced largely by Black and Italian laborers in 135 yards from Haverstraw to Albany. This program explores the economic and social impact of this industry on communities in the region, like Austerlitz.
The Oscar Beckwith Saga
Sunday, July 14, 2 pm at the Austerlitz Church, Route 22
On January 10, 1882, in a shanty high in the Austerlitz mountains, Oscar Beckwith killed Simon Vandercook. In the years since, the core of fact regarding Oscar Beckwith and the murder has been encrusted with layers of legends and lore.
Austerlitz Town Historian, Tom Moreland, will attempt to separate fact from fiction concerning the man known to history as the “Austerlitz Cannibal.”
Columbia County During the Civil War
Sunday, August 18 at 2:00 PM The Church at Old Austerlitz, RT 22, Austerlitz, NY
Please join attorney Carl Whitbeck, a lifelong Columbia County resident and trustee of the Jacob Leisler Institute for Early New York History, as he talks about the sacrifices of the young men of our county who volunteered to fight to preserve the country with the local 128th Regiment of the Union Army.
From the Hudson to the Taconics: An Ecological and Cultural Field Guide to the Habitats of Columbia County, New York
Sunday, September 15 at 2:00 PM at the Austerlitz Church, Route 22
Join authors of From the Hudson to the Taconics: An Ecological and Cultural Field Guide to the Habitats of Columbia County, New York for an in-door presentation about their beautiful book. This will be followed by a leisurely stroll through the fields and along the stream behind the Austerlitz Church to experience some of the habitats highlighted in the Field Guide and to see how the book can be used to “see more color in the landscape.”
John Porritt – Walking Toward a Welsh Stick Chair
Sunday, October 13 at 2:00 PM in the Barn at Old Austerlitz, Rt 22
It has been said that a stick chair starts with a walk. The idea being to find a suitable curve to make an arm.
John Porritt’s chairs are inspired by the stick chairs made circa 1700 – 1900 in the Welsh vernacular tradition and by some of the Windsor chairs made in the British Isles by woodworkers who were not professional chairmakers.
Join John as he explains the traditions and methods of making these unique chairs.