Potsdam Public Museum

Museum Open for Second Saturday

mvandeusen@vi.potsdam.ny.us (Mimi Van Deusen) — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 17:31:47 GMT

OPEN for 'Second Saturday' January 14 2023

We are now open the Second Saturday of the month and can help with genealogy, house histories, or any research project. Stop by or email us at museum@vi.potsdam.ny.us

HAPPY 2023!

Museum Open This Saturday

mvandeusen@vi.potsdam.ny.us (Mimi Van Deusen) — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 17:29:25 GMT

Open 2nd Saturday December 10th Genealogy Opportunity!

We are open this Saturday December 10th from 10 am to 4 pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to do some family research or research of other sorts or to just take a look at our Raquette River Exhibit. We hope to see you on Saturday!

Paul Meyers Concert

mvandeusen@vi.potsdam.ny.us (Mimi Van Deusen) — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 17:25:47 GMT

PAUL MEYERS IN CONCERT

Sunday December 4th at 3 PM

Paul will be playing a program of old standards ( Harold Arlen, Ray Noble ) more recent ones ( John Lennon, Joni Mitchell ), a few original tunes and a great Brazilian samba by Ivan Lins - and one Holiday special surprise....

Location: The Potsdam Public Museum (free parking next to the fire station)

2 Park Street Civic Center, Potsdam, NY

Suggested donation of $20 to benefit the museum and the artist 50/50!! Give what you can and thank you in advance!

Racquette River Exhibit

mvandeusen@vi.potsdam.ny.us (Mimi Van Deusen) — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 16:23:21 GMT

Come on in!

The Racquette River:

Past Present and Future!

New exhibit now open

Tuesday - Friday 10-4PM

Bayside Cemetery Tour

mvandeusen@vi.potsdam.ny.us (Mimi Van Deusen) — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 16:19:09 GMT

Guided Tour of the Bayside Cemetery-Sunday Oct 2 at 2 PM

Sunday Oct 2 at 2PM

Bayside Cemetery Tour

Meet at the Gatehouse

$5 donation for Bayside Tree fund!

Guided tour by historian MimiVanDeusen

Return of a Potsdam Family

mvandeusen@vi.potsdam.ny.us (Mimi Van Deusen) — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 15:54:18 GMT

Rachael Greenblatt, grand-daughter of Louis Greenblatt visits museum!

Pictured here is Rachael Greenblatt, Brandeis University's Judaica Librarian and lecturer. She recently visited the museum and is shown here holding an architectural drawing donated by her grandfather, Louis Greenblatt (1912-1981) a well known businessman in Potsdam who ran Lewis & Co. at 5-7 Market Street, Potsdam. Maxfield's is now the occupant of the Sandstone building at that address . It was built in 1888. The drawing was an original concept for the development of Fall Island in 1962. It was to be a State Program, but fell through because it was judged not eligible.

Museum Staff Visit the ADK Experience at Blue Mountain Lake

mvandeusen@vi.potsdam.ny.us (Mimi Van Deusen) — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 15:18:53 GMT

Seeing how other Museums Do Their Thing

The staff recently visited the Adirondack Experience at Blue Mt. Lake.

Here are some highlights!

Museum staff; (L-R) Hans Kuno, Mary Gilbert, Celina Conlon, and Hunter Crary.

Cover Photo: Celina Conlon in a vintage duster, to protect one from road dust in an open vehicle, with a vintage Ford with a NYS license plate from 1921. Vehicle and clothing are on display at the ADK Experience.

Asbestos Abatement

mvandeusen@vi.potsdam.ny.us (Mimi Van Deusen) — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:12:23 GMT

A much needed update to the Museum Building!

The basement of the museum is now an asbestos abatement area! Kudos to the staff for the monumental task of assembling rolling racks and moving tons of Potsdam artifacts!

For the foreseeable future, access to the basement area, objects from the collection, and teacher kits will be limited.

Bill Lewis Archives

mvandeusen@vi.potsdam.ny.us (Mimi Van Deusen) — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 15:08:46 GMT

In honor of the upcoming Mega Reunion of Sandstoners!

Bill Lewis, Potsdam High School's Boys Track Coach, was honored in May of 2022 by the track dedication at the Potsdam High School. He donated his collection of photos and memorabilia to the museum's archives.

We have scanned many of the photos and hope to have folks stop by to identify individuals for posterity.

***We will be open on Saturday, August 13th, 2022 from 10am-4pm for the MEGA Reunion attendees and other who would like to join***

Help us identify students in photos!

D. P. Church Aerial Photographs

mvandeusen@vi.potsdam.ny.us (Mimi Van Deusen) — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 15:03:55 GMT

Dwight Church (1891-1974), Mr. Church was one of the first mail-order film processors and later specialized in aerial photography, photographing farms and businesses, selling the pictures to the owners. Dwight owned a successful post card business selling them in local towns, and was an active canoe racer, swimmer, gymnast, skater and hiker. On view are towns along of the Raquette River that include; Potsdam Hannawa Falls, Colton, South Colton, Norwood, Norfolk, and Tupper Lake. Courtesy of St. Lawrence University Special Collections and Lamar Bliss.

RACQUETTE RIVER EXHIBIT NOW OPEN!

mvandeusen@vi.potsdam.ny.us (Mimi Van Deusen) — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 15:01:44 GMT

2022 Summer Exhibit: The Raquette River: Past, Present and Future!

It examines the river's history from precolonial times to the present and asks questions about the river's rights, the environment, and the future of hydro power.

Shown here is a mural by local artist Sara Lynch depicting aquatic life and the invasive species of water plant in the Raquette, milfoil.

The exhibit is up through 2022

Frederick Douglass in Potsdam !

mvandeusen@vi.potsdam.ny.us (Mimi Van Deusen) — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 14:59:16 GMT

The Great Orator and Abolitionist At the Potsdam Normal School

In the cold December of 1874, Potsdam briefly hosted one of the premier civil rights activists and orators of the century. Arriving at 2 pm on Monday the 14th, the renowned Frederick Douglass had come to give one of his most famous lectures, the “Self-Made Men,” at the Normal School at 8 o’clock that night.

It wasn’t Douglass’s first time in Potsdam, though. In fact, he had visited fourteen years earlier to give a lecture when the Normal School had been the St Lawrence Academy. On that occasion, also in December, he spent a week in the village and not all his encounters were pleasant.

His return to Potsdam had been promoted since late November. A notice in the previous week’s Courier & Freeman advertised reserved seats at 50 cents each by way of Martin Van Buren Ives at the newspaper’s offices. Popular as the orator was, when the appointed time came the hall was filled with people from Potsdam and beyond despite the reportedly poor weather. Introduced by Principal Malcolm MacVicar, for nearly two hours the audience listened as Douglass gave a delivery described as “strikingly graphic,” “eloquent,” and with “touches of wit and humor.” By the account of those in attendance, his lecture was “…one of the best we ever heard in Potsdam.”

Where Douglass stayed the night and what he did after his lecture is unknown but by 8 am the following morning, the great orator departed.

———————————————-

Douglass, Frederick. The Frederick Douglass Papers: 1853-1865. United Kingdom: Yale University Press, 2018. Gerrit Smith Letter, 18 December 1860

Courier and Freeman., December 17, 1874, Page 3

Jack Hantz - Clarkson Athletics "THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR WALKIN"

Wed, 25 May 2022 14:51:43 GMT

Jack (John) Hantz (1924-1986) was well known for his 32 years at Clarkson University as head coach of Soccer, Lacrosse, and Wrestling teams, all of which he introduced to the university's sports program.

He served as Director of Athletics for a time and as Chairman of the Athletic Department form 1979 until 1985.Jack's wrestling teams were undefeated in the 1961-62 and 1963-64 seasons and he helped found the Northern New York Wrestling Officials Association along with being inducted into the NYS Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 1979.

Clarkson's Lacrosse team earned over 51 victories under his guidance and numerous athletes he mentored sent on to earn All-American or all-star accolades. As coach of the Clarkson soccer teams, he led them to over 55 wins and six championships.

Hantz also served as president of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association in 1978 and was a member of NCAA Men's Lacrosse Committee from 1983-85. John "Jack" Hantz passed away on July 5, 1986 at the age of 62. Prior to his death, Clarkson University dedicated their new Lacrosse field in his honor on May 3, 1986

These are the boots that Jack got in Texas when training for the Navy in WWII.

The Civil War Between the Mountains (Geology of the Civil War)

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 21:50:00 GMT

Civil War Roundtable Event Any interest in the Civil War? Check out this event! There is...

Native American Collection at the Potsdam Museum

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 19:03:00 GMT

Phillip White-Cree, Instructor of History and Coordinator of Indigenous Support and...

100 years ago CLARKSON Hockey Team

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 21:01:00 GMT

100 Years ago the CLARKSON HOCKEY TEAM 1921-1922 Names on...

Caribbean Dolls on display

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 22:41:00 GMT

Caribbean Dolls from the Dee Little Collection donated to the Potsdam Museum in the 1970s....

Doll Collection of Dee Little currently on view!

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 18:45:00 GMT

'Dolls from around the World' are now on display at the museum. The collection includes these Kewpie Dolls, 'Bride and Groom' among the dozens Dee Little collected and donated to the museum. Kewpie dolls made their debut in December 1909 in the magazine, Ladies Home Journal. They were designed by Rose O'Neill. It was reported that at the peak of the Kewpie Craze, thirty German factories were producing Kewpies to meet the demand. Imports ceased during WWI. This bride and groom with the minister were once on display at Haywood's jewelry store at 18 Market Street, Potsdam, NY. Note: authentic Kewpies have star-shaped hands and Blue-tipped wings.

National Native American Heritage Month

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 19:11:00 GMT

It's National Native American Heritage Month and we are commemorating this month by posting Native...

Bayside Cemetery Tour Sunday Oct 17 at 2PM Rain or Shine

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 19:10:00 GMT

Sunday October 17th at 2PM The Interim Museum Director Mimi Van Deusen...

Senator Joseph A. Griffo visits the Potsdam Museum

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 19:45:00 GMT

EVENT: Potsdam in the 1950s - Reflections of a Diaper Hill Kid by Sandra Paige Sorell

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 19:07:00 GMT

There will be a FREE event on Saturday July 24th at 2 pm at the Potsdam Public Museum.

At the event will be personal recollections and photographs by Sandra Paige Sorell, author of Reflections of a Diaper Hill Kid.

What is now the Riverside Apartments across from Clarkson, used to be housing for faculty many of whom were WWII veterans looking to start families. "Babies were virtually spilling out the windows" giving it the name Diaper Hill.

"This book is a collection of essays about growing up in Potsdam in the 1950s in the Clarkson University faculty housing complex nicknamed Diaper Hill."

Sandra majored in Psychology and Literature at Clarkson University, graduating in 1973 with Great Distinction.

Free to the public event held at the Potsdam Public Museum, 2 Park Street

Refreshments will be provided.

Potsdam Public Museum

Museum Open for Second Saturday

OPEN for 'Second Saturday' January 14 2023

Museum Open This Saturday

Open 2nd Saturday December 10th Genealogy Opportunity!

Paul Meyers Concert

Racquette River Exhibit

Come on in!

Bayside Cemetery Tour

Guided Tour of the Bayside Cemetery-Sunday Oct 2 at 2 PM ﻿

Return of a Potsdam Family

Rachael Greenblatt, grand-daughter of Louis Greenblatt visits museum!

Museum Staff Visit the ADK Experience at Blue Mountain Lake

Seeing how other Museums Do Their Thing

Asbestos Abatement

A much needed update to the Museum Building!

Bill Lewis Archives

In honor of the upcoming Mega Reunion of Sandstoners!

D. P. Church Aerial Photographs

RACQUETTE RIVER EXHIBIT NOW OPEN!

Frederick Douglass in Potsdam !

The Great Orator and Abolitionist At the Potsdam Normal School

Jack Hantz - Clarkson Athletics "THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR WALKIN"

The Civil War Between the Mountains (Geology of the Civil War)

Native American Collection at the Potsdam Museum

100 years ago CLARKSON Hockey Team

Caribbean Dolls on display

Doll Collection of Dee Little currently on view!

National Native American Heritage Month

Bayside Cemetery Tour Sunday Oct 17 at 2PM Rain or Shine

Senator Joseph A. Griffo visits the Potsdam Museum

EVENT: Potsdam in the 1950s - Reflections of a Diaper Hill Kid by Sandra Paige Sorell

Guided Tour of the Bayside Cemetery-Sunday Oct 2 at 2 PM