Clarksville residents and those from the surrounding area will once again come together to celebrate their history at the seventh annual Clarksville Heritage Day and Car Show on Saturday, Aug. 4.
Although the day includes food, crafts, a community garage sale and children’s activities, the event is sponsored by the Clarksville Historical Society and most of the day’s happenings will focus on Clarksville’s past. Old-time artisans will give presentations throughout the day and a heritage booklet is available as a souvenir.
Janice Crooks, chairperson of the event, said younger children haven’t been exposed to older crafts and Heritage Day is a very educational experience as they view the demonstrations given by woodcrafters, blacksmiths and tinsmiths.
“They don’t know how a horseshoe was made or put on, or how a nail was welded,” she said.
Like last year, the Mt. Treadler Fiber Arts Guild will have a presentation on yarn and groups like the Onesquethaw Union Cemetery Association and New Scotland Historical Association will be on hand. David and Jean Jacques of Middlegrove will give woodturning demonstrations, while Joe Merli of Duanesburg will showcase his work as a blacksmith.
“It’s showing history is a way that is very personal,” said William Valosian, a tinsmith from Ballston Lake who will also be a Heritage Day presenter. “A website, show on the History Channel or a textbook can’t talk back to you.”
Valosian got involved with his hobby 11 years ago after another tinsmith gave a demonstration at the Saratoga National Historical Park, where he works. Now, Valosian himself does the demonstrations and also travels to share his knowledge.
Event goers will be able to see wares that would have been created out of tin in the 18th century for civilian and military life. Valosian will have tools on hand to show the techniques used to make smaller items like candleholders and cups. Other larger items will be on display pre-made, like bowls, document holders, canteens and teakettles.
“In our age of a disposable, consumer mindset, it’s important to have a better sense of where we came from and how we got where we are now,” he said. “It’s easy to go to the store and buy a bowl made out some inexpensive material, but these took longer to manufacture and lasted longer.”
The event is the Clarksville Historical Society’s main yearly fundraiser. Once again, all of the profits go toward the rehabilitation of the Woodside Schoolhouse off of Route 32 that the group purchased last year. It is being renovated in hopes of turning it into a one-room schoolhouse museum.
“It’s an ongoing project,” said Crooks, explaining how the building needs new siding, windows and roof repairs.
The funds also go to pay for the various presenters and experts who speak for the group throughout the year, usually at the Clarksville Community Church.
The Clarksville Heritage Day and Car Show events begin in the morning and three full meals can be purchased, along with ice cream and baked goods. There will also be 50/50 and raffle drawings for prizes throughout the day, and of course, a classic car show.
“I feel that … it is the one day of the year that the community gets together as a whole,” said Crooks. “It’s a good day to spend together as a family.”
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 community garage sale.