Prosperity in the Valley: The Palatine Experience

History will come alive on June 18 in celebration of the newly constructed fireplace in the 18th century Palatine Hartmansdorf House on the grounds of the Old Stone Fort Museum. Experience a day in the life of the earliest European settlers to live in the Schoharie Valley and learn how food was gathered, stored, prepared, and cooked through living history demonstrations and activities throughout the day!

The site will open to the public at 10 a.m. with the first program kicking off at 10:30 a.m. Join living historians in the lovingly-restored Hartmansdorf House and see the new fireplace in action as you learn about colonial foodstuffs, open-hearth cooking, and daily life for a Palatine settler.

At 11:30 a.m., see how the outdoor Beehive Oven is prepared and heated before learning the process of prepping dough and baking hot, crusty loaves!

At 12:30 p.m. join 1st Ulster County Militia member Hank Yost as he generously presents a reproduction he created of a powder horn owned by the original Hartmansdorf House owner Philip Bartholomew.

At 1:30 p.m. learn about the types of game the Palatines hunted and the firelocks and accessories used in the process!

Finally, at 2:30 p.m. meet at the Dutch Barn to learn about the traditional features of the historic structure, as well as the crops and livestock a typical Palatine farmer would keep.

A huge thank you to the 2nd Albany County Militia for coordinating this immersive, fun, and educational event for the entire family!

Admission is by donation. For more information call the museum at (518) 295-7192.