Heritage Day showcases everything Clarksville, past and present
Residents from all over the Capital District looking to chow down on delicious food, browse unique wares from independent vendors and even learn a thing or two about the past all while supporting a good cause need look no further than the upcoming Clarksville Heritage Day.
The Saturday, Aug. 6, event is held by the Clarksville Historical Society. This will be the sixth annual Heritage Day the CHS has held. It’s a big event for this tight-knit community and is growing every year.
`It’s for every age. We have a car show, there a bouncy bounce for the kids and body painting. We have a lady who makes her own soaps and knitters and quilters,` said Janice Crookes, who is chairperson of Heritage Day for the Historical Society.
The proceeds from most of Heritage Day’s events will go to the Historical Society and its many missions. The group recently acquired the Woodside Schoolhouse off of Route 32 and will be renovating it to turn it into a one-room schoolhouse museum.
`Up until this year, [Heritage Day] was meant for our operations and acquisitions,` said CHS Treasurer Susan Dee. `But now that we have the building, of course, that will be our biggest priority.`
The structure is in rough shape and needs a lot of work before the public can be let in. It’s a project that will likely take many months.
Additionally, the Historical Society holds three presentations every spring and fall with experts on various topics. These sessions are held at the Clarksville Community Church.
`We’ve had archaeological speakers, we’ve had speakers on lighting back from when it was candles to electricity today. We try to do educational programs,` said Crookes.
The organization also releases a newsletter four times a year that’s filled with interesting historical information about Clarksville. A recent hit has been the 1896 diary entries of Hattie O’Brien, a transcript of which the CHS recently acquired. A few entries are printed in every newsletter under the title `Everyday Life in Clarksville, New York.`
`Every newsletter we have a piece of the diary,` said Dee. `It really puts a face to our community over 100 years ago … it connects the present to the past.`
And Heritage Day strives to do the same thing. Keeping with the theme, many of the vendors and events hearken to days gone by. William Valosian will be giving a tinsmithing demonstration, the Mt. Treadler Fiber Arts Guild will have a demonstration on yarn and groups like the Onesquethaw Union Cemetery Association and New Scotland Historical Association will be on hand. There will be plenty of wares for sale from local artisans and farms.
A car show is probably the biggest attraction overall, and will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 35 judged awards will be handed out, and lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. right at the Clarksville Community Church.
For those who want to make a full day of the event, three square meals will be available. In addition to the lunch mentioned above, the Onesquethaw Volunteer Fire Company will be having a buffet-style breakfast at the Clarksville Firehouse from 7:30-10:30 a.m. ` $8 buys all you can eat.
From 4:30-10 p.m., Jake Moon Restaurant and Cafe will host a lobster and clam bake backyard barbeque at its location at 2082 Delaware Turnpike. A take-out only chicken barbecue will also be held by the Onesquethaw Fish and Game Club from 3-6 p.m.
Additionally, the Historical Society will be selling ice cream donated by Stewarts and the Toll Gate, and Meadow Brook Farms will host a bake sale.
There will once again be a 50/50 drawing and raffle with some substantial prizes. First place is $1,000 cash, second is an iPad, third is a stainless steel turkey cooker, fourth a pop-up canopy tent and fifth a $150 Visa gift card. The drawing is at 3:30 p.m. and tickets are $5. There will also be a silent auction kicking off at 2:30 p.m.
Heritage Day will largely take place at the Clarksville Community Church, on the Delaware Turnpike. Parking will also be available at Clarksville Elementary School, with the Town of New Scotland senior bus acting as shuttle to the church. Events will be held rain or shine. Attendees are encouraged to make the Clarksville Historical Society table their first stop to pick up information on all the day’s activities, including the village-wide garage sale.“