Though a more modern goal of the Altamont Fair in recent years has been to showcase the latest and greatest entertainment acts, the abundant history of Albany, Greene and Schenectady counties found in the fair?s museums remain a staple of its nostalgic appeal.
Just ask Herald Hahn, chairman of buildings and grounds, and Altamont Fair board member since 1974.
Hahn is the unofficial expert of the fair’s nine museums, which showcase everything from antique cars and farm equipment to classic circus paraphernalia.
When asked if he had a favorite museum, Hahn replied, All of them are great.
One of the museums is the Bozenkill School, which was built in 1850 as part of the Knox School District. Originally a tiny red schoolhouse that was used until the 1950s, the Altamont Fair purchased it in 1966 and transferred it to their grounds. Now visitors can enter the school and get a feel for early student life by sitting on the tiny cherry wood and iron desks, browsing the tiny corner library, and viewing old photographs of the original students and teachers that inhabited the school.
Then there is the Village Carriage Museum, which depicts, in several tiny rooms within one space, how the village of Altamont may have looked in 1890. The displays, which include a barber shop, a union office, a saddle and harness shop, a hotel, a saloon, and tin and hardware store, all contain some original antique objects. Inside the Village Carriage Museum, visitors will also find several original horse-drawn carriages and buggies, including some of the actual carriages used in the film `Ironweed,` which was filmed in Albany in the mid 1980s.
The Farmhouse Museum depicts how a 19th century farmhouse would look, complete with an antique rope bed, the piece of furniture responsible for the famous saying `sleep tight.`
The Auto Museum is a favorite of car lovers and history buffs because it contains the only five classic VIM trucks left in existence. VIM trucks were the only panel delivery trucks used in the early 20th century. There are also several models of antique vehicles in the museum from the 1920s through ’50s, and they were all brought there by the Mohawk Antique Auto Club in Colonie.
Those interested in the history of local fire departments might want to check out the Fire Museum, where they can get a glimpse of the American La France Fire Hydrant, a classic fire-dousing vehicle from 1905 that was made in Seneca Falls. There is also a search light built by GE from World War II with a generator that still operates, and several exhibits with firehouse objects and equipment put together by the various communities throughout Albany County.
Oak and Acorn Ancient Metal Crafts from Valley Farms still reconstructs early Iron Age items such as firedogs, knives, cooking tripods, and chain mail armor in the Blacksmith Shop. Fairgoers can stop by the shop anytime and watch them make those historical items.
The Antique Farm Museum contains hundreds of engines, plows and tractors from 20 to 125 years ago, all donated by local families who have owned, or still own, farms.
The circus museum, which contains several models of old circuses and reconstructed circus equipment used by the Barnum and Bailey Circus and the famous Danbury Fair.
Also at the fair is a fine arts museum.
William Shultz, who’s been a volunteer at the fair for five years, said he still hasn’t been through every museum.
`Every year, I see something new I didn’t notice before,` he said.
The Altamont Fair opened Tuesday, Aug. 14 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 19. For information, visit www.altamontfair.com or call 861-6671.“