Historic Warwick Blog: May 2012

Monday, May 21, 2012

Lecture Series (Thurs., May 24, 7-8:30PM, A.W. Buckbee Center)/ David Johnson: "What Are We Missing At Our Archaeological Sites?"

David Johnson, President of the Incorporated Chapter of the New York State Archaeological Society will speak at the A.W. Buckbee Center, Thursday, May 24, 7-8:30. The lecture, “What Are We Missing Are Our Archaeological Sites?”, invokes existing indigenous cultures and the material culture connected with it as a critical lens to understand more thoroughly the remains of Native American culture in our own backyard.

After decades of anthropological and archaeological study, Dr. Johnson has come to believe that there has been a great injustice served to a rich cultures like Algonquin-speaking Lenape because the considerable and ephemeral material culture of those cultures has been less accessible and often lost to time. We have only and traditionally focused on the projectile points, pottery shards and shell beads which remain to draw our conclusions about what was.

In contrast, the present-day evidence of arguably similar indigenous cultures offers us a more complete inventory of the material culture which existed at places like Mistucky. It provides evidence of its undeniable complexity. Designs for utility were often adopted and repeated for hundreds and sometimes thousands of years, and may be continued to this day by those who necessitate their function.

Human beings stick with what works, and things like the design of the atlatl, an arrow delivery device, were repeated for countless generations. A point in fact that illustrates the misconception that bows and arrows were a greater part of the timeline of human habitation here in Orange County than more accurately the last chapter in a 14,000 plus year presence.

Dr. Johnson will present considerable material culture, including African Masai spears and other weaponry from South American indigenous cultures, to illustrate these arguments. This lecture is engaging and a recommended must. Members: free, Non-members:$5. Refreshments served.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Sunday, May 20th, 4-7PM, Fundraiser:18th Century Tavern Music, Faire and Cheer!

The Warwick Historical Society’s latest fundraiser: 18th Century Tavern Music, Faire and Cheer is on Sunday, May 20th, 4-7PM at the A.W. Buckbee Center (the former Albert Wisner Public Library), 2 Colonial Ave., Warwick, NY.

It includes 18th century tavern music sung and performed on the harpsichord and violin by costumed musicians, including Eric Lichack of the “Ministers of Apollo”, a New Jersey re-enactors group. Music selections will include popular tunes of the time, including a bawdy ditty or two. Costumed performers will share a bit of theatre with impromptu vignettes while serving food and refreshments.

There will be a selection of authentic period savouries and sweets as well as refreshments. Cost: $25. We would prefer if you make reservations with us at 845-986-3236 or email us at: whs@warwick.net For more information, visit: historicwarwickny.blogspot.com or our Facebook. Scroll down through the right column and see many photos connected with this event!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Lecture Series/Andy Angstrom: Finding the World in Your Backyard

Thursday, May 3, 7-8:30PM, A.W. Buckbee Center, 2 Colonial Avenue, Warwick, NY Andy Angstrom, co-founder and long-time director of the Ashokan Outdoor Education Program has been busy in retirement.

Discovering debris on his property froman another age he excavated and catalogued the remains of a circa 1908-09 after-hours bar that had served workers during the construction of the Ashokan Water Reservoir. His presentation includes a large collection of reconstructed objects from the site and the archival materials he also discovered in his attempt to piece together a story of the leisure time of early 20th century laborers on the monumental construction project contemporaneous with the building of the Panama Canal.

Its fascinating! and a treat to the history lovers among us.

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

At our Summer History Camp this year kids will dig up crystals that fluoresce under a special black light. The crystals were actually discovered in the area as early as the 1820s and collectors from all over the United States and Europe came to the specifically places like Amity in the Town of Warwick to find these rare specimens for their museums, universities and their private collections. One of the largest off site exhibitions of these crystals is found in the Ecoles des Mines in Paris; there are over 150 samples of minerals specifically from Amity, NY in that collection which were discovered in large in the 1830s. What is interesting to imagine is that geologist and mineralogists from the greatest institutions of higher learning were traveling by horseback and carriage to the wilds of Warwick in the 1820s and 1830s to find rocks for their cabinets of curiosities.

Wawayanda Furnace ( 19th century ) the furnace that many of us remember seeing on our trips to the New Jersey State Park actually was integral to iron ore production supplied by Warwick mines. On a recent sojourn into the woods we visited some local iron ore mines that would have supplied the mid-nineteenth century Wawayanda Furnace. Of course, these operations were supplanted by the end of the nineteenth century when places with better quality ore that were closer to cheaper forms of transportation, like water and rail shut them down.

Ken Hamilton, "Woodlands Interpreter", will present the early 18th century life of Algonquin-speaking people, like the Minsi people of the Lenape tribe, of what was later named by Benjamin Aske as "Warwick." Here we see a trade camp with historially accurate artifact reproductions produced by Mr. Hamilton by hand; he an accomplished leatherworker, blacksmith and silversmith. As an "historical artifact artist", Mr. Hamilton produces props used in many living history scenarios and museums throughout the country. He will share some of his knowledge with campers at the Summer History Camp 2012. See further details.