Schoharie County Historical Society Announces May Opening and Event Lineup

SCHOHARIE — The Schoharie County Historical Society will launch its 2026 season on Friday, May 1, with a diverse schedule of educational presentations, youth workshops, and commemorative ceremonies designed to connect the community with local heritage.

The museum, located at the Old Stone Fort, will be open through Oct. 31. The facility operates Friday through Tuesday, remaining closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Regular hours are set for 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends.

The opening weekend features a "Junior Explorers" workshop on May 1 and May 2 at 10:00 a.m. in the Badgley Annex. Designed for children in grades one through five, the hands-on lesson focuses on crafting toys and games from everyday materials. The cost is $5 per child and free for society members; pre-registration is required.

Revolutionary War history takes center stage on Saturday, May 2, with back-to-back lectures supported by Fenimore Asset Management. At 2:00 p.m., trustee Mark Stolzenburg will present "The Battle of Normanskill and the Flockey," exploring the local civil war and Loyalist uprisings of 1777. At 3:30 p.m., local historian Jeff O’Connor will offer a critical look at the region’s agricultural history in his presentation, “Schoharie County: Breadbasket of the American Revolution?”. Both events suggest a $5 donation for the public.

The society’s focus shifts to the 19th century on Saturday, May 16, at 2:00 p.m. with an author’s talk by officer Stephanie Ruquet. Ruquet will discuss her book, "Fallen Heroes," which documents the lives of over 200 Civil War soldiers from the town of Jefferson who served in the Union forces.

Commemorative activities conclude the month on Saturday, May 30. At 10:00 a.m., the public is invited to the Old Stone Fort Cemetery for "Decoration Day," a community effort to place flowers on the headstones of Civil War veterans. Following the ceremony, at 2:00 p.m., Bill Bellinger will lead a workshop on the maintenance and restoration of local historic markers. Both events are free to attend.

Detailed information on all May programming and registration requirements is available through the society’s headquarters at 148 Fort Road.