Shaker Heritage Society

Shaker Medicinal Herbs Workshop

2011-07-12T12:51:00.003-04:00

Shaker Medicinal Herbs Workshop
Saturday, July 30
1:00-3:00
at the 1848 Shaker Meeting House

Have you ever wondered about the many herbs growing in the Shaker herb garden? This program will give you an opportunity to learn about how they were grown and used. You will also try making an herbal product to take home! Presented by herbalist Barbara Neznek, this program is $30 per person, including materials and handouts.

Please contact the Shaker Heritage Society at 456-7890 x23 or ShakerEducator@gmail.com to sign up for this program. Pre-registration requested by Thursday, July 28.

Save the Date! Summer Craft Fair Weekend - July 9 & 10

2011-06-28T15:23:00.002-04:00

Our Summer Craft Fair Weekend will be on Saturday, July 9, and Sunday, July 10, from 10am - 4pm. Admission is $4 per person or $3 per person with a coupon that can be found on our website (shakerheritage.org). SHS Members and those under 18 admitted free.

Come explore the fantastic work of over 75 local crafters, featuring jewelry, ornaments, toys, apparel, household goods, gourmet foods, and more! All merchandise in the Shaker Gift Shop will be on sale.

This year for the first time, the Fair will feature Abenaki Nation traditional artists. Demonstrations will include: Jacques Watso, traditional Abenaki music and drumming, miniature Birchbark canoes and containers, traditional wood carving and displays of museum quality Birch Bark Baskets, woodcarvings and more. Throughout their history, the Shakers interacted with Native Americans who influenced their basket making and other craft traditions.

Free guided tours of the site are offered on both days at 11:30am and 1:30pm. There will also be FREE pony rides on Sunday ONLY from 1pm - 3pm!

Come enjoy the work of talented local artists, a piece of pie, explore the historic site, and support the Shaker Heritage Society! We make you kindly welcome!

Music in the Meeting House

2011-04-12T10:59:00.004-04:00

Join us this Saturday, April 16 for "Music in the Meeting House" with the Friends Union Band. Enjoy an evening of Celtic, Appalachian and traditional music while supporting the Shaker Heritage Society. Tickets are $10 or $8 for SHS Members, seniors and students, payable at the door. Those under 18 are admitted for free.

For more information about the Friends Union Band, please check out their website at http://friendsunionband.com/

This is a special opportunity to experience the unique acoustics of the Shaker Meeting House.

We Make You Kindly Welcome!

Welcome Spring!

2011-03-30T11:49:00.005-04:00

There are a few tiny hints of Spring peaking through here at the Shaker site, reminding us of the warmth to come. The longer days and seemingly brighter sunshine are encouraging as well. For the Shakers that lived here in the nineteenth century, the end of March was spent in a variety of ways. Its seems that it was a good opportunity to finish major indoor tasks, such as carding (brushing) the wool and hetcheling (combing) the flax (linen).

28 March 1837 - The sisters in general to carding and hetcheling. We have above 300 weight to hetchel. The sisters card today 42 pounds.

30 March 1837 - We finish hetcheling and the sisters have carded 48 pounds.

The month of March was also used by the journal keeper, Phoebe Ann Buckingham, to catch up on her basket making.

28 March 1845 - I finish 4 dozen baskets for sale and 6 for home use.

Spring was also the time when the last fruits and vegetables from the autumn harvest were used up, in preparation for the fresh foods that would eventually be available in the gardens.

Phoebe Ann Buckingham playfully (and poetically) wrote of this in 1840.
31 March 1840 -
There is a little thing which I am going to tell,
Do you know what it is on which I do dwell?
It is not anything new or strange I shall say
It is - I have made the last green apple pies today.

She continued the next day with...
1 April 1840 -
And that is not all that I am going to say
But this is not on the self same day
But that's no matter, for you shall see
Tonight that spoon cakes they shall be.

If you are looking for your own signs of spring, we encourage you to head over to our friends at the Shaker Shed Farm and Market. Today is their first day of the season. They have a great cafe and bakery, home goods and many lovely flowers and plants. The business is located on land that was originally owned by the West Family Shakers. While at the cafe and farm, be sure to look up the hill to see some original Shaker buildings. (However, we ask that you respect the privacy of the landowners by remaining in the public areas around the cafe, as these structures and the land are now privately owned.)

Remember, it will be only a few weeks until the herb garden here at the Shaker Heritage Society begins to look like this... Happy Spring!

Upcoming Events at the Shaker Heritage Society

2011-02-24T10:16:00.003-05:00

We've planned some interesting events to keep you busy while we endure the last few weeks of winter. Please join us and learn about Shaker history through these interactive workshops.

Shaker Cooking Workshops
The Shaker Heritage Society has teamed up with Diane Conroy LaCivita of the Harmony House Bakery in Cohoes to present a series of four hands-on cooking workshops. We will meet in Cohoes on Tuesday evenings in March between 6 and 8pm. These classes are a unique opportunity to learn about and experience history in a truly delicious way. Space is limited, so be sure to sign up soon!

March 1: Shaker Baking

March 8: Shaker Meats

March 15: Shaker Vegetables

March 22: Shaker Desserts

Prices for the series are:

Shaker Heritage Society Members: $40.00 Not-Yet Members: $50.00

All materials and ingredients are included in fee. Pre-Registration is required by February 25.

Please contact us at (518) 456-7890 Ext. 25 or ShakerEducator at gmail.com with questions or to register.

http://www.harmonyhousemarketplace.com/index.html

Shaker Chair Taping Class
Saturday, March 19

10:00 – 1:00

Learn how to weave a chair seat in the Shaker style. At the end of the workshop, you will have a comfortable chair you will be proud to have your guests sit on. Participants provide their own chair, chair tape and stuffing. One inch chair tape is available from the Shaker Heritage Society gift shop. We encourage participants to purchase their tape at least a few days before the class.

The class is limited to 8 participants. Cost is $30.00 per person, $25.00 for SHS Members. Please contact us at (518) 456-7890 Ext. 25 or ShakerEducator at gmail.com with questions or to register. Pre-registration is required by March 15.

Make a Twill Weave Market Basket
Saturday, March 26 10:00 – 3:30

This lovely basket is made of reed and an oak handle and is perfect to take to your favorite farmers’ market or to your own garden to gather vegetables. Height: 5” deep with a 12” tall handle. Base measures 8” X 12” Top measures 17” X 8.” This is a 5 hour class. Participants are encouraged to bring a bag lunch. All tools and materials will be provided. Cost is $60 for SHS members and $65 for not-yet members. Please contact us at (518) 456-7890 Ext. 25 or ShakerEducator at gmail.com with questions or to register.

Leaving the Community

2011-01-26T12:52:00.006-05:00

On this date in 1840, Shaker journal keeper Phoebe Ann Buckingham wrote:

Jesse H. comes home. Something terrible to relate. Little Tomy has sealed his fate and to the world he goes. Elder Brother and Frederick W. went to Albany with him.

This entry discusses a common part of Shaker life: watching individuals leave the community. The phrase "to the world" refers to anything outside the realm of Shaker Society. People left for a variety of reasons. Some left because they were curious about life outside the Shaker community. Others went back to their families and villages. Sometimes, individuals changed their mind about living in a very controlled, religious society. In a few documented cases, couples who had met within the community left to marry and start their own families.

There is little we can do to discover "Little Tomy's" reasons for leaving. While records are available about some of those who lived in the community for many years, the stories of those that stayed for only a few months or years are more difficult to find. Thousands of people tried the Shaker lifestyle throughout the nineteenth century and only small percentage stayed. Yet it is important to remember that they often left with Shaker knowledge, ideas and values. Some remained on good terms with their former Brethren and Sisters, occasionally visiting the communities.

Frequently, the Shakers watched people leave with great sadness. Converts were truly an investment of time, resources, money and effort. Many had been trained in trades such as furniture building or herb processing. When one decided to leave, the Shakers had to accept the loss of not only the individual, but also their talents and their potential.
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Image from etc.usf.edu/clipart

Join us at our Christmas Craft Fair

2010-11-11T11:52:00.003-05:00

Our Christmas Craft Fair recently opened and we have an amazing array of beautiful, locally made items. While we have a number of holiday items, we also have a vast assortment of gifts for all occasions.

Locally made honey and beeswax candles...

Hand-knit wool sweaters...

Handmade jewelry...

A wide selection of handmade baskets...

Paper crane mobiles...

Handmade soaps...

... And thousands of other items, just waiting to be discovered.

Please join us.

We are open Monday - Saturday, from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

We are closed on Sundays and for the Thanksgiving holiday.

October 30 - December 18

We make you kindly welcome!

Check Out Our New Website!

2010-10-27T16:38:00.003-04:00

We are very happy to announce that we have a new website! Rick Conlee of Albany IT has worked on it and we are thrilled with the result. Be sure to go over to www.ShakerHeritage.org to check it out.

The Great Divorce

2010-10-20T10:11:00.003-04:00

After seeing posters and other publicity for our upcoming event, many have curiously asked what a book called The Great Divorce has to do with the celibate Shakers. Yet this new work from author Ilyon Woo explores the story of Eunice Chapman, a woman who fought to regain custody of her children after her husband took them and joined the Shakers at Watervliet.

Ilyon Woo will be at the Shaker Heritage Society on Thursday, October 21st for a signing and reading. Visitors are welcome to arrive at 7:00 pm and explore the exhibit room and pick up a copy of The Great Divorce in the gift shop. The signing and reading begins at 7:30.

This article from the Troy Record explains more about the upcoming event at SHS.

This article from the Times Union offers an interview with author Ilyon Woo.

Hands to Work

2010-10-13T13:55:00.007-04:00

On Tuesday, October 12, seven helpful students from Christian Brothers Academy visited the Shaker Historic Site and worked on a number of projects. Some cleaned out and organized the Shaker Garage (currently used for storage), while others painted picket fences and helped prepare for the upcoming Craft Fair. We were very thankful for their help and also wish to thank the teachers who accompanied the students. It was a truly productive day at the Shaker Site!

While we are not absolutely sure it is the same school, Christian Brothers Academy students may have visited the Shaker Community (and site of their future school facility) over a century ago. According to a journal kept by one of the Shaker Brothers here at Watervliet:

July 9, 1877: Catholic School in Albany - All boys - had picnic in our field by the burying ground. Some 60 children and a dozen or more men.

June 18, 1878: 2 or 3 Christian Brothers with 60-70 of their school children having a picnic in the old field by the pond.

As Christian Brothers Academy was founded in 1859, it is possible these entries do refer to early CBA students visiting the site.

William the Cat

2010-09-29T15:22:00.002-04:00

William, our resident furry paperweight and pest control technician, is resting comfortably after having some feline dental work taken care of yesterday. Thanks to the very kind people at Shaker Veterinary Hospital, William now has much cleaner and healthier teeth.

For those of you unfamiliar with William, he has lived in the Shaker Meeting House for about ten years now. William was adopted from a shelter and does his best to welcome all visitors and keep the SHS staff on their toes. He has certainly made an impression on many of our visitors, as he occasionally receives mail, and now even e-mail! For our college interns (many of whom live on campus and cannot have animals in their rooms), William provides a warm, furry reminder of pets back at home.

We are very grateful to Shaker Veterinary Hospital for partially sponsoring William's procedure and providing excellent care to our four-legged coworker.

Shaker Apple Bread Pudding

2010-09-21T14:42:00.005-04:00

There is certainly a hint of Autumn in the air here at the Shaker site today. For that reason, we thought we might inspire a bit of home cooking by sharing an authentic Shaker recipe for Apple Bread Pudding. This recipe is from Amy Bess Miller and Persis Fuller's The Best of Shaker Cooking. According to the text, this recipe is from Mt. Lebanon Shaker Village.

Ingredients:

8 Slices of toast without crusts, cubed (About 5 cups)

1 & 1/2 cups of hot milk

4 tablespoons of melted butter

5 eggs

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg

1/2 cup of raisins

1 teaspoon of rose water *

4 apples pared, cored and diced (About 4 cups)

1/4 cup of brown sugar

Combine 5 cups of cubed toast with hot milk and 4 tablespoons of butter. Let stand for 30 minutes. Beat eggs until light. Add salt, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, rose water and apples. Add to bread mixture. Turn into buttered 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Sprinkle brown sugar over top. Bake uncovered at 300 degrees F. for 45 minutes. Serve with Apple Cream sauce. Serves 6-8.

*= Rose water was frequently used in Shaker recipes. It can be purchased at our gift shop in Albany, NY, online and in some Middle Eastern grocery stores.

Apples were extensively grown by the Shakers and were used to produce a number of different foods. Apples could be eaten fresh or dried, baked into pies, puddings, or sauces, made into cider, applesauce, or even vinegar. When sugar was scarce, apple cider sweetened dessert recipes.

The Shakers all came together as a community to harvest and process their apples. The brethren and boys picked the apples and ran the paring machines (apple peelers). The sisters and girls cored and trimmed the apples and were responsible for preparing the fruit for consumption or storage.

A portion of the Watervliet Shaker Community's orchard still exists today. We encourage you to visit and stroll among the trees.

Apple Clip Art from the University of Florida's Educational Technology Clearinghouse.

Save the Date! Fall Harvest Craft Fair Weekend - September 11 & 12

2010-08-27T10:31:00.005-04:00

Our Fall Harvest Craft Fair Weekend will be on Saturday, September 11 and Sunday, September 12, from 10 am - 4 pm. Admission is $4.00 per person, $3.00 with a coupon (shown at the bottom of the post). SHS Members and those under 18 admitted free.

Visit many diverse crafters' booths, explore the historic site, enjoy a piece of pie and support the Shaker Heritage Society! We make you kindly welcome!

More information will follow soon!

(To receive $1.00 off the admission fee, print the coupon shown below!)

Under Construction!

2010-08-25T20:33:00.005-04:00

For anyone trying to access our website (www.ShakerHeritage.org), please be advised that it may be periodically unavailable over the next few weeks. The reason? (Drum roll, please!) We are in the process of updating and will soon unveil a new and improved website! In the mean time, information about upcoming events and craft fairs will be available here on the blog. We thank you for your patience!

Ladder image from: http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/

Shaker Heritage Society Children's Programs

2010-07-29T10:19:00.004-04:00

Make a Lavender Sachet
Wednesday, August 4
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Explore the Shaker herb garden and discover the many ways that the Shakers used plants. Craft a fragrant lavender sachet to use at home or give as a gift. Appropriate for ages 8-12. Parents or caregivers are encouraged to attend with the child. Price per child: $5.00.
Pre-registration is required by August 3.

Paint a Shaker Style Box
Thursday, August 5
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Learn how the Shakers worked as a community to build oval boxes and furniture. See an original Shaker box and discover how they were constructed. Participants will have the opportunity to paint a Shaker-style box to take home. Appropriate for ages 8-12. Parents or caregivers are encouraged to attend with the child. Price per child: $5.00.
Pre-registration is required by August 3.

Write with a Quill Pen and
Make a Fabric Covered Journal
Friday, August 6
10:00 am - 11:00 am
View copies of original Shaker journals and learn about how they kept track of the daily activities and events of the community. Make a fabric-covered journal to take home and try your hand at writing with a quill pen. Appropriate for ages 8-12. Parents or caregivers are encouraged to attend with the child. Price per child: $5.00.
Pre-registration is required by August 3.

Please call (518) 456-7890 x23 for more information or to register.

Last of the Mohicans Outdoor Drama

2010-07-26T23:20:00.004-04:00

THURSDAY, JULY 29
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Throughout the summer the cast and crew of the Last of the Mohicans Outdoor Drama have been rehearsing at the Shaker Historic Site. On Thursday, July 29, SHS members and friends have been invited to attend a dress rehearsal at the 1848 Meeting House. Admission is free. RSVP required by 4 pm on July 29.

For more information or to reserve your seat, please call (518) 456-7980 x25

For more information about their performances in Lake George this summer, visit their website.

Albany County Family Day

2010-07-23T16:04:00.004-04:00

Visit the Shaker Site on Saturday, August 7th for a day of fun activities, including

Carnival Games
Face Painting
Petting Zoo
Shaker Craft Demonstrations
Bouncy Bounce
Prizes and Drawings
Site Tours
Food Vendors
Various Music Performers through the day

For more information, call (518) 447-7100 or visit Albany County's website.

The event will run from 10am - 4pm.

The Shaker Heritage Society is located across from Albany International Airport on Meeting House Road off of Heritage Lane.

Shaker Summer Craft Fair

2010-07-03T10:10:00.009-04:00

Saturday, July 10 & Sunday, July 11

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

This stained glass ornament was made by SHS volunteer Rebecca Langer.

Find the perfect item for your home or gift for a friend at our Shaker Summer Craft Fair! Explore the booths of over 75 crafters on the grounds of the Shaker Heritage Society. Jewelry, apparel, household goods, toys and gourmet foods are among the popular items. A Family Activitiy Station will host activities for all ages. FREE Pony rides will be availalable to children on Saturday between 1:00 and 3:00. Site tours will be offered at 11:30 and 1:30 on both days.

Admission is $4.00 per person or $3.00 with this ad.

SHS members and those under 18 are admitted free.

Picking Beans with the Farmerettes

2010-06-04T15:20:00.004-04:00

Most are familiar with the “Rosie the Riveters” of World War II. These strong, industrious women are immortalized through a number of familiar photographs and paintings. Yet few are aware that a generation before, thousands of women helped to keep America fed while the young men went to Europe to fight in World War I. As part of the Women’s Land Army, women from a variety of backgrounds and regions took to the fields to plant and harvest crops. Often called the “farmerettes,” these adventurous women helped out on farms across the country. This fascinating article from Smithsonian Magazine offers more information on this nearly forgotten chapter in American history.

Yet what do these young women have to do with the Shakers? While trying to find information about life at the South Family* of the Watervliet Shaker Community, I re-discovered transcripts of journals from the early twentieth century. Sister Anna Goepper kept these particular journals between 1915 and 1922. In the 1918 journal, a series of entries caught my eye.

May 23 – Have rented West Family* for 5 months at $25 per month for agricultural purposes. Lot of college girls coming. Eldress Anna and Lucy got to see about. One of our renters will have to move to a smaller building to make room for the girls.

May 24 – Mary, Lucy and girls go to West Farm all day, cleaning and straightening up.

June 11 – The farmerettes get $15 a month and board. They prove to be good workers.

July 19 – We strung 4 barrels of beans at home. This is our first day this year in beans for canning. Four Farmerettes from Land Army at West Family helped pick, plus Eldress Anna, Mary and Grace.

July 26 – Our folks and farmerettes picked large field of beans last evening. Everybody busy these days.

Evidently the Shakers enjoyed the help of the Farmerettes. We hope that someone eventually finds information on what the Farmerettes thought of living and working on a Shaker farm.

*- The "South Family" and "West Family" don't refer to biological families, but to parts of the Watervliet Shaker Community that could be considered "mini-communities," each with their own dwelling house, workshops and barns. Most Shaker settlements split up into these families for practical reasons- so that each family could specialize in particular industries or products. Also, one can imagine that it would be easier to cook and do laundry for one quarter of the community, rather than the full population. At the Watervliet Shaker Community, there was the Church Family (named so because they maintained the Meeting House), the West Family, the South Family and the North Family. The Shaker Heritage Society is now located at the Church Family.

Clip Art from http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/index.htm

Just in Time for Mother's Day...

2010-05-04T11:21:00.006-04:00

This article appeared in 1849 and offers one woman's view of the Canterbury Shaker community. Interestingly, she seems to fixate primarily on what was missing.

*******************************
Morning Herald
Thursday Morning, July 12, 1849

A Chapter on Babies

Betsy Blake, a pleasant correspondent of the Home Journal has recently paid a visit to the Shakers, where she was well pleased with everything except the absence of babies.
Hear her eloquence and mourn ye bachelors over the blessings ye are deprived of.

“They don’t use any noise excepting Sunday, and for a little while I liked the plan. But oh, Mr. Morris and Willis, if people could live a great while without some noises, say hand organs and crackers, and be very happy, yet think of a beautiful green hill, covered with white houses and perhaps two hundred people in them, and not the sound of a baby! Not a cry, not a laugh, not a crow, not a first “Ma Ma!” Every house shining and clean inside and out, and not the mark of a little soiled hand on the door, or a sign of a baby shoe and stocking on the varnished floor! Oh I couldn’t have stayed a week with those grown up men and women, without feeling that I’d lost something that through a baby keeps us in sight of heaven. To be sure they have forty children there, but the girls are all kept in one house by themselves and the boys in another. Of course there isn’t a baby among them, and then too I wanted them mixed in among the sisters and brethren like leaven to the whole lump. Oh! How I should like to have seen the leaven working in those nice houses that looked as if they kept for a show. But then I don’t know as it would have made much difference, for the children even seem to make no use of noise excepting when they’re singing and dancing in their religious way. I thought if I ever got back to Boston I wouldn’t be tired of noise very soon, but would insist upon being contented even if the babies should all get crying at once.”

She found so many things of an agreeable nature among the Shakers that for a time, she thought life might be tolerable among them. “But all at once,” she says,

“I looked back with my mind to Boston where I’m living with my dear brother Charles for a little while (Charles isn’t a Shaker so he approves of getting married) and there I saw a little crib with a curly head peeping out and a voice like a soft music box crowing for me. Oh! the poetry couldn’t tempt me any more- the naughty world couldn’t be so very naughty while it had “of such is the kingdom of Heaven” in it!

I wish that mothers who get tired of their babies and make dreadful complaints about their noise and pulling things about, would go to Canterbury for a week- I’m sure they’d be cured of their ingratitude and hurry back to them with just such delight as was felt at sight of two pets of Charley’s by
BETSY BLAKE

********************************

Image courtesy of http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/

Article found using www.fultonhistory.com newspaper archive

A Shaker Saint Patrick's Day?

2010-03-16T10:38:00.007-04:00

In the study of history, change is one of the few things that remains constant. This is particularly true among the Shakers. Something that may have been unheard of in 1823 might be truly commonplace by 1923. Rules evolved and new ideas were introduced. One example of this is the celebration of social holidays. The Shakers celebrated many religious holidays throughout their history, but by the twentieth century, social holidays such as Halloween and Saint Patrick's Day were occasionally observed. This entry from a journal kept by Sister Lucy Bowers at the Watervliet South Family describes an unusual meal.

17 March 1923 - Mary prepares a green supper which we enjoy. Chicken salad, green jello, candy and cake and creamed potatoes, also ice cream with green jello topping. Mary tires herself and is sick all night.

It is possible that the Shaker Sisters got the idea for a green meal from one of the women's publications available in that era. Evidence suggests that the Shakers received Ladies Home Journal and used some of the craft patterns and recipes included in the issues.

Forensic Photography and Paranormal Research Worskshop

2010-02-23T11:57:00.007-05:00

This hands-on workshop will cover the techniques that Ann DeMarco, a local paranormal investigator, uses in her investigations. The basics of near infrared photography and the physics of a haunting will also be explored. You will also learn some of the basic analysis techniques and be provided with tips and suggestions on improving your ability to capture the most sought after evidence in paranormal research, the apparition.

This type of activity is in keeping with Shaker traditions since the Shakers believed that they could communicate with the spirit world. They even attended séances in hopes of receiving spirit communications.

Participants are able to register for one Session A and one Session B. An optional wrap up meeting will follow.

Session A: Instruction on Forensic Photography and Paranormal Research
Friday, March 5, 6-8pm OR Wednesday, March 10, 6-8pm

Session B: Photographic Opportunities in Multiple Shaker Buildings
Saturday, March 20: 6-8pm OR Friday, March 26: 6-8pm

Session C: Review of Findings- Optional - Saturday, March 27, 1-3pm

Cost per person is $45.00 for the series. Pre-registration is required by March 4.

Please call the site at (518) 456-7890, ext. 23 with any questions or to register.

Shaker Craftsmanship Classes

2010-01-20T11:33:00.008-05:00

In partnership with the Northeastern Woodworker's Association, the Shaker Heritage Society is hosting two great classes this spring.

Shaker Oval Box Making
April 27 & 28, 2010
The most recognized artifact of Shaker life is the classic oval box. Its simplicity of form, economy of materials and utility of function immediately says "Shaker" to even the most casual of observers. No craftsman today embodies box making in the Shaker tradition more than John Wilson. John's unique blend as a woodworker, teacher and social anthropologist has led to his being referred to as the “Johnny Appleseed of Shaker Boxes.” He frequently writes for Popular Woodworking and Fine Woodworking magazines and travels the country presenting workshops on Shaker Boxes. His business “The Home Shop” in Charlotte, Michigan offers classes on box making and other traditional woodcrafts and is the primary supplier of materials to box makers worldwide.

This class marks the continuation of a co-operative program between NWA and the Shaker Heritage Society. All sessions will be held in the 1848 Shaker Meeting House. The workshop gives participants hands-on experience in making a nesting set of five oval boxes in cherry. Fee includes all materials, use of tools and an instructional booklet. The class is intended for both new and experienced woodworkers. John will also provide background commentary on Shaker life and craftsmanship.

Making Shaker Boxes at the first Shaker settlement in America...now what could be more inspiring than that? Don't miss this special opportunity to experience this time honored craft first hand and bring the spirit of the Shakers to life in this historic setting.

Build a Spoke Shave
April 28 & 29, 2010

While the Shakers are best known for their furniture production they were also prodigious makers of tools. One of the basic tools in the woodshop was, and continues to be, the spoke shave. As the name implies, spoke shaves are used to make wheel spokes. Yet this versatile tool can also be used to make chair spindles, broom handles or anything else with a cylindrical handle or curved surface.

This class will take participants through all of the steps in making a shave- shaping the wooden parts, cutting out the metal parts, tempering, sharpening, mounting and tuning and finally to making shavings. You will leave with a completed spoke shave that will become an essential tool in your home workshop.
____________________________________________________

Classes are $125 each or $225 for both.
For more information or to register for these classes please send an e-mail to hfinkbei@nycap.rr.com or call 518-371-9145

This is a cooperative program between Northeastern Woodworkers Association and the Shaker Heritage Society.
All sessions will be held at the 1848 Shaker Meeting House in Albany, New York.

www.ShakerHeritage.org
www.Woodworker.org
www.ShakerOvalBox.com

Shaker Poetry for the New Year

2009-12-29T11:28:00.004-05:00

When one thinks of the Shakers, poetry rarely comes to mind. Yet some Shakers did write rhymed verses in the journals they kept for the communities. One of the most prolific was Phoebe Ann Buckingham of the Church Family of the Watervliet Shaker Community.
The journals offer a glimpse into the everyday lives of the Shakers and Sister Ann (she most often went by her middle name), included many wonderful details.

Some of her rhymes were positive and hopeful, even humorous in nature.

January 1, 1867
The New Year comes with quickened pace
and greets us with a smiling face
O may he keep the same in view
As he onward moves his journey through

Showing that we have more in common with our predecessors than we realize, she occasionally bemoans the fact that she is not ready for the New Year.

1 January, 1857
The New Year has commenced without waiting to see if we were prepared.

On other occasions, she reflects on the more negative aspects of the passage of time.

1 January 1856
Behold the New Year now has come
O may it prove a prosperous one.
May everyone that now is here
Remain to greet another year.
How many changes time does bring
Some painful and some happy things.
Within the year that now is past
Many to us have breathed their last.
Some to a happier land have fled,
Others in thorns have made their bed.
Left home and friends and all for what--
The lowest pleasures the earth has got.

It is interesting that in the above passage she mentions the two ways that the Shakers lost followers. Naturally, some were lost through physical death, as suggested in "Many to us have breathed their last, some to a happier land have fled." However, many "absconded," or left the Shaker faith. The last three lines discuss this kind of loss.

Showing dedication to her faith, Sister Ann seems to make a New Year's resolution in this passage from 1837.

1 January 1837
I am determined to be more faithful
In this year which is now begun.
That I may gain a heavenly treasure
Which will fit me for the world to come.

Ann Buckingham continued to live in the Watervliet Shaker community for the rest of her life and was laid to rest in the Shaker Cemetery. She died at the age of 88 in December of 1892, just four days short of the New Year.

Last Chance for the Christmas Craft Fair

2009-12-16T11:05:00.007-05:00

Our Christmas Craft Fair is quickly drawing to a close. The past couple months at SHS have been filled with creativity, fun and camaraderie. If you haven't yet checked out the many items available, this is a perfect time to visit. While the crafters have been successful and sold many items, many have dutifully refilled their booths when necessary with new and wonderful things.

We will be open from 10 - 4, through Saturday, December 19.

If you are still trying to figure out what to get for someone, let us offer a few ideas. All items were made by artisans represented at our Craft Fair.

For the Manly Man...

Bank Made of an Original Post Office Box
Carved Wooden Bowl
Golf Ball Wine Stopper
Flattened Beer Bottle Cheese Board
"Harley Fund" Ceramic Bank
"At the Cabin" Key Holder

For the Fashionable Lady...

Beaded Purple Purse
Lavender Sprigs
Knitted Scarf
Beaded Necklace
Hand Painted Votive Holder
Lilac Room Spray and Lotion
Grapefruit Candle
Tapestry Covered Photo Album

For a hostess...

Ceramic Chip and Dip Bowl
Hand Painted Glasses
Pumpkin Spice Dip Mix

Adirondack Trails with Tales Book Signing

2009-12-01T10:34:00.004-05:00

Do you enjoy exploring the outdoors? Discover the wonderful hiking opportunities in our region! Authors Russell Dunn and Barbara Delaney will be at the Shaker Heritage Society on December 12 from 1:00 - 3:00, signing their newest book Adirondack Trails with Tales. This fascinating book details the stories behind both popular and relatively unknown hiking destinations throughout New York's Adirondack region. Dunn and Delaney have published a number of other books on outdoor topics that will also be available for purchase on December 12. These books offer an excellent balance between practical information about hiking the trails and the fascinating stories about their past.

Gift Idea: Get a signed copy of Adirondack Trails with Tales and combine it in a backpack or basket with a reusable water bottle, some granolla bars, and a small first aid kit. Voila! An instant hiking kit for your favorite outdoor enthusiast.

The Christmas Craft Fair is Now Open!

2009-10-31T15:34:00.013-04:00

Today marked the first day of our annual Christmas Craft Fair. Didn't make it over here today? Don't despair! We will be open Monday - Saturday, from 10 am - 4 pm through December 19. We will be closed on Sundays and on Thanksgiving Day. There is no admission fee to enter the fair, located in the 1848 Shaker Meeting House.

Our Craft Fairs are an opportunity for visitors to discover the unique and beautiful items made by local artisans. Each purchase supports the Shaker Heritage Society as well as the artists and crafters represented in the fair.

We are located on Heritage Lane. For directions, please see this post about how to find us. (Please note: If you are using a GPS device or an online mapping service, please be advised that 875 Watervliet Shaker Road is our mailing address, not our physical location.)

The following photos showcase just a fraction of the items available at our Craft Fair.

Shakers, Spiritualism and Séances: Part II

2009-10-28T11:53:00.005-04:00

Spiritualism was of great interest to the Shakers and many went to presentations about the topic. For those unfamiliar with Spiritualism, it is the belief that the living can communicate with those who have passed on, often using psychically sensitive individuals called mediums.*

In the mid nineteenth century, two Shaker brothers went to observe the Fox Sisters in action. We believe that “Elder Richard” is a reference to Richard Bushnell and the “Brother Frederic” is Frederick Evans, both of the Mount Lebanon Shaker Community. A letter from 1850 offers a very detailed description of their experience.

July 1850
Elder Richard and Brother Frederic attend meeting with us this evening and relate the singular manifestations which they witnessed both in New York and at Stratsburg, Connecticut. While in New York they went to see the family of Fox girls for the purpose of witnessing the “mysterious rappings” as they are universally called. They witnessed the questions that were asked by others and heard the answers that were given. Those that asked the questions were well satisfied that there was something supernatural about it, as the questions which were asked and answered related to matters which were known to none but those that asked the questions themselves. Elder Richard asked questions something after this manner:
Question: Are disembodied spirits capable of corresponding with spirits that are embodied?
Answer: In the affirmative by rapping.
Question: Are any of my relatives present?
Answer: Yes
Question: Who is it?
Answer: Your mother.
Question: What is her name?

These questions were multiplied to quite an extent, entering into the particulars as to where she lived before her departure from this world, the name of the town she lived in etc, etc., all of which were correctly answered. Elder Richard said that they were not obliged to spell the word out by the alphabet but could receive answers equally as well by [writing] the question upon a slate or paper and [answering] the question thus. If my mother is present, what is her name? He remarked that previous to his asking this question he had written down names indiscriminately, some of which were his relatives and some were not. He then took his pencil and began to trace the column downwards and the moment he touched his mother’s name there was a rap. In this manner he received the answers in relation to the name of the town in which she lived etc, etc.

This is truly a singular manifestation; it appeared from the intelligence displayed that something more than blind chance governs it; the hand of the source of intelligence undoubtedly is in it and that it may effectively open the eyes of mankind and convince them of the fact so thoroughly understood by believers- the close proximity of departed spirits- their attendance as guardians, etc is much to be desired. And that it may finally terminate in causing all to be troubled for their sins and bring many into a closer relation to God is my prayer.

This conclusion of this passage is truly fascinating as it details why many of the Shakers were open to psychics and séances. They were not defying their religion or beliefs; rather, they felt they were utilizing Spiritualism to further promote it.

* For more information on the Fox Sisters and Spiritualism, please see Nancy Rubin Stuart’s fascinating book The Reluctant Spiritualist: The Life of Maggie Fox. An article the Fox Sisters from American History Magazine is available at: http://www.historynet.com/the-fox-sisters-spiritualisms-unlikely-founders.htm

Shakers, Spiritualism and Séances: Part I

2009-10-23T15:04:00.004-04:00

Most modern people are surprised to hear that throughout their history, many Shakers thought it possible to communicate with the Spirit World. In their extensive journals, the Shakers frequently mention going to Spiritualist meetings and hosting mediums. Throughout the next few blog posts, we hope to explore these interesting topics.

In the 1850s, a little person who claimed to possess psychic powers visited the Watervliet Shakers at least twice. The Shaker journal keeper unfortunately does not go into detail or name this woman.

“8 March 1856- The little dwarf medium and another young woman here from Waterford.”

“8 January 1858- The dwarf medium and two other women here from Waterford.”

“16 January 1858- Dwarf medium and friends taken to the depot.”

It is interesting to note that in 1858, the medium seemed to stay for eight days. The Shakers often tried to limit the length of stay for most guests from the general public, yet this implies that the Shakers were close friends with or were receiving a service from this woman.

If any of our readers have found other references to the "Little Dwarf Medium," please contact us as we would love the opportunity to do more research on this topic.

After the Concert

2009-09-29T14:58:00.003-04:00

We are still recovering from some very exciting recent events at the Shaker Heritage Society. In the next week, we will be posting some personal stories from the staff and volunteers about our experiences and most memorable moments during the concert. We received some great coverage in the press and wanted to share the links.

Times Union
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=846845

CRUMBS.net (Capital Region Unofficial Musicians and Bands Site)
http://blog.timesunion.com/localmusic/picture-this-natalie-merchant/1929/

The Schenectady Gazette
http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/sep/27/0927_merchant/

How to get to the 1848 Meeting House

2009-09-19T14:12:00.006-04:00

We decided to film a video showing guests how to get from I-87 to the Shaker Heritage Society. Starting in the northbound lane of I-87, between exits two and four (fun fact: there is no exit 3), we began filming, to show visitors some of the intersections and landmarks to watch for. It is a long video (of course we managed to catch almost every red light), so it may take some time to download on some computers and connections.

We have found that different GPS systems and mapping devices offer different directions. Please be cautious using these, as they may take you to an incorrect location. You may want to print the following directions, in case there is any confusion.

From the northbound lane of I-87:

-Take Exit Four. Once on the ramp, try to be in the left lane.

-Turn left. (If you are early and want to explore food options on Wolf Road, turn right.)

-At the next intersection, which is only a couple hundred feet away, turn left. You will travel under the I-87 bridges.

-At the next intersection, keep going straight.

-At the next intersection (where one would normally bear right to go to the airport), keep going straight.

-At the intersection with Heritage Lane, turn left. You will see the Albany County Nursing home on your right and then the large Shaker barn on your left.

- Turn left after the just after the Shaker Barn.

- The Shaker Meeting House is the second building on the right.

- Parking is available on either side of the building (Handicapped accessible parking is on the far side of the building next to the ramp. A doorbell is located next to the ramp door, please ring this if you need assistance.)

A Few Spaces Left for Paranormal Workshop

2009-09-15T11:45:00.001-04:00

This hands-on workshop will discuss the techniques that Ann DeMarco, a local paranormal investigator, uses in her investigations. The basics of near infrared photography and the physics of a haunting will also be explored. You will also learn some of the basic analysis techniques and be provided with tips and suggestions on improving your ability to capture the most sought after evidence in paranormal research, the apparition.

This type of activity is in keeping with Shaker traditions since the Shakers believed that they could communicate with the spirit world. They even held séances in hopes of receiving spirit communications. Look for a future blog post with more information about this fascinating and mysterious aspect of Shaker life.
This program will involve three Saturday sessions.
Saturday, September 19: 2 - 4pm
Saturday, September 26: 6 - 8pm
Saturday, October 3: 2 - 4pm
Cost per person is $45.00 for the series. Registration and payment to SHS is required by September 17th. Please call (518) 456-7890 for more information or to register.

Both Concerts Sold Out

2009-09-15T09:46:00.004-04:00

Please be advised that both Natalie Merchant concerts (Sunday, September 27) are now sold out. Thank you so much for your interest!

Fall Harvest Craft Fair

2009-09-04T15:43:00.002-04:00

Saturday, September 12

Sunday, September 13

10am – 4 pm

Enjoy the outdoors as you explore booths representing over 75 different crafters at our Fall Harvest Craft Fair. Get an early start on your holiday shopping as you discover jewelry, jams, quilts, apparel, pottery, soaps and decorative items for your home. A Family Activity Station will feature activities for all ages throughout the weekend and pony rides will be available on Saturday from 1pm to 3pm. Site tours are scheduled on both days at 11:30m, 12:30 and 1:30.

Admission: $4 per person or $3 with this ad.

Under 18 admitted free.

Concert Tickets Going Quickly

2009-09-01T12:32:00.002-04:00

We wanted to post a quick update about the concert ticket sales. We still have a few tickets left for the 5PM show on Sunday September 27, 2009. However, we are fully sold out of the $50 General Admission tickets. We still have some at the $75 level and the $150 level.
Please call (518) 456-7890 if you have any questions or to purchase tickets.

Forensic Photography and Paranormal Research Workshop

2009-09-01T11:44:00.005-04:00

This hands-on workshop will discuss the techniques that Ann DeMarco, a local paranormal investigator, uses in her investigations. The basics of near infrared photography and the physics of a haunting will also be explored. You will also learn some of the basic analysis techniques and be provided with tips and suggestions on improving your ability to capture the most sought after evidence in paranormal research, the apparition.

This type of activity is in keeping with Shaker traditions since the Shakers believed that they could communicate with the spirit world. They even held séances in hopes of receiving spirit communications. Look for a future blog post with more information about this fascinating and mysterious aspect of Shaker life.

This program will involve three Saturday sessions.

Saturday, September 19: 2 - 4pm

Saturday, September 26: 6 - 8pm

Saturday, October 3: 2 - 4pm

Cost per person is $45.00 for the series. Registration and payment to SHS is required by September 14th. Please call (518) 456-7890 for more information or to register.

Concert Seating Chart

2009-08-29T09:49:00.003-04:00

We have heard that many of you would like to see how the room will be set up for the Natalie Merchant Concert on Sunday, September 27. The image posted above illustrates the different seating sections and the locations of the gift shop and exhibit room. Please note that the only two ways into the actual concert space on the day of the performance will be through the back door (at the top of the image, marked "entrance") and through the east side door where the handicapped entrance is located. Only those needing to use the ramp will be admitted through this door.

The colors of the chart correspond with the colors of the tickets.

Yellow: The first three rows (A - C) at $150 per ticket.

Blue: The fourth through tenth rows (D - J) at $75 per ticket.

Green: The "Rising Seats" benches (General Admission) at $50 per ticket.

Purple: The performance space.

The space is approximately 80' by 50' feet.

Concert Questions

2009-08-26T11:06:00.009-04:00

We have received a number of questions about the concert and we wanted to take this opportunity to answer them. If you think of others, please pose them in the comments section. We are currently unable to publish the comments we have received (due to a computer or program issue), but we wanted to make sure we addressed all of the questions that have been raised.

1) Have you sold all of the tickets?
While we have fully sold out of tickets for the first (1:30 PM) show, ~~we do still have a few tickets for the second (5 PM) show available at all pricing levels- $50, $75, $150. (As of 8/28/09.)~~
As of 9/1/09, we have sold out of the $50 General Admission Tickets for the 5PM show but still have $75 and $150 tickets left.

2) I tried calling for a really long time on Saturday (or Tuesday) and couldn't get through- Why?
We apologize for this inconvenience. We were taking as many calls as we could. The SHS office only has two phone lines and we had two people taking calls on them all day. We also had volunteers downstairs in our gift shop selling tickets all day. As a small historic site, we are very new to the concert business and are learning as we go. Please be patient with us!

Also, if you gave up on Saturday or Tuesday, please do stop by or try giving us a call back. It is much calmer here now and we do still have seats left. (We are open Tuesday - Saturday, 9:30AM - 4:00PM.)

3) Aren't you concerned about using the Meeting House for a fundraiser?
Our first priority is to protect and maintain these very historically significant Shaker buildings and educate the public about their importance. When Natalie Merchant offered to do a concert for us, we saw this as an opportunity to bring in funds that would help us meet these goals and raise public awareness of this site. Already, many people who had never visited the Shaker Heritage Society have stopped by to pick up their tickets and tour the site. This event will also encourage people to see this site not only as a museum, but also as a dynamic community resource, offering a variety of opportunities to learn about and enjoy this unique setting.

In addition, many active churches regularly hold fundraisers in their places of worship. Church Dinners, Craft Fairs and Bingo are all popular options for church fundraising. We believe that this concert, which will include Shaker spiritual music, is a fitting and respectful event for this building.

4) Why are you having this concert on a Sunday?
We only had a very limited number of dates to choose from for this concert and all the other dates were already booked. While we would have preferred to not have this concert on a Sunday, that was not possible without foregoing this amazing opportunity.

5) Why are the tickets so expensive? Or Why are the tickets so inexpensive?
Interestingly enough we have been asked both of these questions. From this experience we have learned that is impossible to please everyone. While we realize that these prices may be too much to spend for some, it is a fundraiser and we do have a responsibility to serve the best interests of this site. As for those who expected us to charge double or triple (or more) our current ticket prices, we wanted to make this concert as accessible as possible to as many people as possible. The fact that we have already sold out one concert and are over half way through the tickets for the second indicates that many people felt that the pricing was fair.

In addition, the venue is relatively small- we are only selling approximately 310 tickets for each performance. Therefore, everyone in attendance has the opportunity to be relatively close to the performance area, unlike in most larger concert halls or arenas. The concert committee spent a great deal of time discussing the pricing structure and, for the most part, response from the community has been favorable.

6) Can the concert be recorded?
No. We are not able to record these performances.

7) What has the process of organizing a concert been like?
While some elements of this have been somewhat overwhelming (designing, printing, cutting and organizing tickets, selling approximately 125 tickets in the first hour, and staring at detailed seating charts), we have been pleasantly surprised by the outpouring of support. Some of the nicest people have contacted us for information and to buy tickets. Individuals from California, Ontario, Florida, Arizona and Indiana are flying in for this event. Wonderful people who live just down the road have stopped by in the gift shop and chatted with our volunteers. It has been truly heartwarming to see how many people care about the history and the future of this site.

Another Concert Added!

2009-08-22T18:12:00.003-04:00

Due to the overwhelming response we have received in response to the Natalie Merchant concert, another show has been added later in the afternoon of Sunday, September 27th!

The second show will begin at 5 PM on Sunday, September 27. Both shows will follow the same format, with the band Shelving Rock opening, followed by Natalie Merchant's performance.

Ticket prices are the same, please see the preceeding blog post for explainations of the pricing structure.

Ticket sales for the 5 PM show will begin Tuesday, August 25 and tickets will be available during our regular business hours until all seats are gone.

We are open Tuesday - Saturday, 9:30 - 4:00 PM.

You are welcome to visit us and purchase your tickets in the gift shop, or if you prefer, we will accept phone orders between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. If you are calling, please be aware that there is a $5.00 phone order processing charge. Please be patient, as we have a limited number of phone lines. If you reach voice mail, leave your name, phone number and the number and type of seats you are interested in. DO NOT leave payment information on voice mail.

All proceeds will benefit the Shaker Heritage Society's educational programming and historic preservation efforts.

Thank you for supporting the Shaker Heritage Society!

Natalie Merchant Concert Update

2009-08-14T15:08:00.006-04:00

For the past few weeks, we have been working on finalizing various details of the concert.

Tickets will go on sale on August 22, 2009, beginning at 9:30AM. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Shaker Heritage Society or over the phone.

If you plan to come to SHS to purchase tickets in person, we ask that you do not arrive before 9:00 AM. We will open our doors at 9:30 AM.

If you are purchasing your tickets in person, beware that our mailing address does not match our physical address. For GPS devices and online mapping sites, our location is Heritage Lane, Albany NY 12205. We are on the grounds of the former Ann Lee Nursing Home. The Shaker Meeting House is the large white sided building. Please use the North entrance (the center door of the three doors).

If you are calling to purchase tickets over the phone on the morning of August 22, please be patient and call back if the line is busy. We can be reached at (518) 456-7890.

Tickets prices are as follows:
$50.00 – Seating in the Rising Seats (General Admission)
$75.00 – Floor Seating, rows 4-10 (Reserved Seating)
$150.00 – Front Section, rows 1-3 (Reserved Seating)
Phone orders will incur a $5.00 service charge.

As an additional fundraiser for the Society, we will be offering a special tour of the site with Natalie Merchant and SHS Staff prior to the concert. Hear Natalie explain her own personal connection with this unique historic site. Only 25 spaces are available for this amazing opportunity. Tickets for the tour are $200 per person. (Tour ticket price does not include concert admission.)

The concert will begin at 1:30pm with an opening set by Shelving Rock. Please visit www.shelvingrock.us for more information about these talented musicians.

If you will be visiting the area and would like information about where to stay, dine, or visit, please explore the Albany County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau website: www.Albany.org.

Save the Date!

2009-08-07T15:10:00.004-04:00

Natalie Merchant to Perform Live at the 1848 Shaker Meeting House

September 27, 2009
1:30 PM

Taking advantage of the unique acoustics of the historic 1848 Shaker Meeting House, Natalie Merchant will sing both new and familiar tunes. All proceeds from the concert will benefit the education and historic preservation activities of the Shaker Heritage Society. Natalie Merchant first visited the Watervliet Shaker historic site in 1999: "I've long had a strong interest in experimental communal societies in America , the Shakers being the most fascinating to me. Knowing that Mother Ann Lee's first settlement was in Colonie, I visited the historic site. I sang in the Meeting House and was astounded by the acoustics. Since then it has been a dream of mine to perform a concert in the sacred space. I discovered that the Shaker Heritage Society was in need of funds for renovation and events that raise the profile of the historic site and their work to preserve it. September 27th will be an opportunity for us to achieve all our ends."

The 1848 Meeting House was constructed for public performances of Shaker worship which included singing and dancing. This architectural and historical gem retains most of its original interior features including built in bleacher style seating for "spectators" who observed the worship service. The worship services were one way that the celibate religious community obtained new converts. Shakers wrote thousands of spiritual songs, leaving a significant legacy that influenced many artists including Aaron Copeland and John Williams who wrote the Shaker inspired Air and Simple Gifts for President Obama's inaguration ceremony.

Over her 28 year career Natalie Merchant has earned a place among America ’s most respected recording artists with a reputation for being a songwriter of quality and a captivating performer. She began her musical career as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the pop music band 10,000 Maniacs and released two platinum and four gold records with the group between 1981 and 1993 (The Wishing Chair, In My Tribe, Blind Man's Zoo, Hope Chest, Our Time in Eden & MTV Unplugged). In 1994 Merchant began her solo career with a self-produced debut album, Tigerlily (1995). In the years following, she released Ophelia (1998), Natalie Merchant Live (1999) and Motherland (2001). In 2003 after 18 years she left Elektra Records and independently released an album of traditional and contemporary folk music, The House Carpenter’s Daughter on her own label, Myth America Records. In 2005 she was persuaded to curate a collection of her own work for a double album she titled Retrospective and another for her former band, Campfire Songs.

In 2007 Merchant was appointed by the governor of New York to serve a five-year term as a member of the prestigious New York State Council on the Arts. For the past five years Merchant has been researching, writing and recording a collection of songs adapted from the works of various classic and contemporary poets. She is currently in the studio preparing this project, her first studio album in eight years due for release in the Fall of 2009.

Tickets go on sale on August 22 and can be purchased in person at the Shaker Heritage Society Tuesday-Saturday from 9:30am-4pm or by telephone at 518-456-7890. The Shaker Heritage Society and 1848 Meeting House is located directly across the street from the main entrance to Albany International Airport off of Heritage Lane. For more information call 518-456-7890 or visit http://www.shakerheritage.org/.

Watch for future posts with more information about this wonderful event.

Twelve Free or Inexpensive Things to Do at the Shaker Heritage Society

2009-07-16T15:08:00.013-04:00

Bring your lunch (or pick up a sandwich at the Shaker Shed Cafe nearby) and sit on the bench in the Herb Garden while you eat and read about how the Shakers used the plants they grew.

Go on a nature walk around Ann Lee Pond or jog around the site.

Shop for birthday or holiday gifts in the Shaker Gift Shop or at one of our Craft Fairs.

Bring a sketchbook or camera and capture the landscape and historic architecture.

Pick up a self guided tour brochure and imagine what it would have been like to visit here in 1848.

Bring binoculars and watch the mockingbirds, deer, rabbits, kestrels and other wildlife.

See if you can get the turkeys to gobble or the rooster to crow.

Bring a couple friends and play Frisbee on the lawns.

Say hello to William the Museum Cat.

Try weaving fabric on a loom.

Visit the oxen, Freight and Liner, and Kerry the steer.

Bring a book and a blanket and relax under a tree as you catch up on your reading.

What is the Shaker Heritage Society?

2009-07-14T10:44:00.005-04:00

Shaker Heritage Society is an education and historic preservation organization incorporated by the New York State Department of Education. The Society’s mission is to the preserve the Watervliet Shaker National Historic District, site of America’s first Shaker settlement, and to provide educational programming to encourage interest in Shaker history and its influence on American culture.

The Watervliet site is significant for numerous reasons. The garden seed industry, flat broom and vacuum sealed tin cans were innovations that have been attributed to the Watervliet Shakers. Shakers developed innovative planned communities that emphasized gender and racial equality. Watervliet served as a model for many 19th century religious and social experiments. Historical incidents at Watervliet led to many changes in New York State laws governing divorce, child custody and property ownership and recent research has proven that the community was engaged in sheltering fugitive slaves.

Shaker Heritage Society offers a wide variety of educational programs including the award winning Learning Fair for fourth grade students, which meets numerous New York State Learning Standards and emphasizes Shaker traditions of respect, responsibility, tolerance and cooperation. The Society also offers a variety of outreach programs lectures, craft workshops, and guided tours that can be modified to meet the needs and interests of diverse audiences of all ages and backgrounds. The Society’s annual craft fairs in July, September and Christmas have become a community tradition that supports local craft artisans while also providing opportunities to learn more about Shaker history and the Watervliet site.

2009-07-03T10:59:00.009-04:00

Shaker Summer Craft Fair
July 11 & 12 10:00 - 4:00

Please join us on July 11 & 12 for our annual Shaker Summer Craft Fair. The Shaker Heritage Society will host over 80 local artisans displaying their quality wares. Demonstrations of Shaker chair seat weaving, broom making, blacksmithing and glass bead making will be offered throughout the weekend. Live music by local musicians will provide a perfect soundtrack to your weekend. Items are available at all price points and there is truly something for everyone. Just a few of the items represented include jewelry, woodworking, quilts, purses, paintings, baskets, pottery, apparel, needlework, herbal items, photography, candles, soaps, jam and candy. We will also be having a sale in our Gift Shop in the Meeting House.

Hands-on activities will be offered for kids at the Family Activity Station and Pony Rides will be available on Saturday from 1 - 3pm.

Don't miss this opportunity for a perfect weekend outing- by yourself, with your friends or your family.

Admission is $4.00 per person (Only $3.00 if you print this blog post!) and FREE for SHS members and those under 18.

We are located near Albany International Airport on the grounds of the former Ann Lee Nursing Home on Heritage Lane.

Welcome!

2009-06-18T13:52:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Shaker Heritage Society Blog! We will use this site to keep our readers up to date about current events here at the site. Various staff members and volunteers of the Shaker Heritage Society will be contributing to this blog, so you will have the opportunity to learn about the site from many different perspectives. Information will be posted about upcoming events, new findings about Shaker history and the latest news on the Master Plan. Please feel free to contact us through the comments section with any suggestions or questions.

-Anne Clothier
Education Coordinator
Shaker Heritage Society