New Festival Showcasing Local History Offers Free Admission to All
[East Meredith, NY June 2, 2014] On Saturday, June 14 from 10 am – 5 pm, Hanford Mills Museum will host a Community Celebration. This new festival, held as part of the statewide Path Through History program, features displays by the Delaware County Historical Association, the Meredith Historical Society, and the Greater Oneonta Historical Association. Museum staff will be operating the water-powered sawmill, gristmill and woodworking shop. The Fieldstone Pickers will perform and Tickled Pink BBQ will be onsite, offering lunch and snack items.
Members of the Woolgatherers at the Mill, an informal group that meets at the Mill twice a month, will be weaving, spinning and talking about fiber arts. The Farmers’ Museum will be running traditional children’s games. Local vendors will be selling crafts and agricultural products. Seth Finch will be demonstrating work horse harnessing, and also offering horse-drawn wagon rides. Visitors also can tour the John Hanford Farmhouse, and see cooking demonstrations on the Royal Bride wood-fired cook stove.
“The story of Hanford Mills is tied to the story of East Meredith, so this festival is a chance to celebrate this shared history,” explains Liz Callahan, the Museum’s executive director. “In addition, this event is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the resources and organizations throughout our region.”
Visitors also can view the new exhibit, Rural Genius: Innovation, Invention, and Ingenuity in the Mill’s Community, which tells the story of three local inventors.
The event is free and open to all, thanks in part to a donation by Community Bank.“Community Bank is pleased to support Hanford Mills Museum and its new Community Celebration. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the region’s history and resources,” says Mr. Joseph Sutaris, Senior Vice President and Regional Banking Executive.
About Hanford Mills Museum
Hanford Mills Museum is located at 51 County Hwy. 12, at the intersection of Delaware County Routes 10 and 12, in East Meredith, NY, 10 miles from Oneonta and 15 miles from Delhi. Children 12 and under are admitted free, as are Museum members.
As one of only a handful of operating water-powered mills, Hanford Mills Museum has earned a place on both the National and New York State Registers of Historic Places. The mission of Hanford Mills Museum is to inspire audiences of all ages to explore connections among energy, technology, natural resources and entrepreneurship in rural communities with a focus on sustainable choices.
For more information, visit www.hanfordmills.org or call 607.278.5744.
