
Jefferson County Historical Society
228 Washington St.
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 782-3491
Fax (315) 782-2913
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info"at"jeffersoncountyhistory.org
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Our Mission
The Jefferson County Historical Society preserves a documentary record of our county and its people; to engage audiences in a dialog about our unique history- what it means to us today, and what it should mean for our future.
Museum Hours:
Tuesday through Friday 10am-5pm
Coming Up:
123rd Annual Meeting
Tuesday, May 20- Jefferson County Historical Society
Reception 5:00pm- Unveiling of the restored Olive Paddock portrait
Annual Meeting 5:30pm- Reports, By-Laws changes, and Society Elections
Registration not required for attendance to the annual meeting
Annual Banquet- Black River Valley Club
Seating and Cocktails 6:00pm
Dinner 6:30PM- Choose from Prime Rib, Chicken Portobello, or Baked Haddock Romano
Special Program- Susan Bazely (Cataraqui Archaeological Research Foundation)
"Archaeology: The Foundation for Good Restoration"
$35 per person includes mesclun salad, hard rolls, entree, rice pilaf, dessert and coffee.
Register for the banquet by May 13 by calling 782-3491
History
in the Afternoon
June 28, 2008 2:00pm
Dr. Milton C. Sernett (Syracuse University)
“North Star Rising: New York State's Freedom Trail -- An Illustrated Journey Along the Underground Railroad”
New York State, and especially upstate's old "burned-over" district, was fertile soil for the flowering of abolitionism. This illustrated talk places the story of the Underground Railroad in the context of the religious and reform movements of the pre-Civil War period, including endeavors such as the temperance crusade and the women's rights campaign. Frederick Douglass, Gerrit Smith, Harriet Tubman, Beriah Green and many others come to center stage, as do important events such as the "Jerry Rescue" in Syracuse in 1851. Audiences are encouraged to share their local stories of "Freedom's Trail."
History in the Afternoon is publicly funded by the New York Council for the Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Now in the Main Gallery:
Camp Hughes to Fort Drum: 100 Years on the Pine Plains

Part of a joint exhibit with the Fort Drum Historical Collection, trace the development of the Pine Plains military reservation from the search
for auxiliary training areas in 1906 to the expansion of
modern-day Fort Drum. This part of the exhibit documents the growth of
Fort Drum from the community's perspective. Come learn about the role
local community leaders had in bringing the military to the Pine Plains, about
the long relationship between the military and Jefferson County, and about the
sacrifices some made during key growth periods of the installation. Visit
the Fort Drum Historical Collection for the other half of the exhibit, tracing
the development of Fort Drum as a modern training facility.
This is exhibit kicks off a year-long community celebration of the 100th anniversary of Fort Drum. Numerous community events are being planned for this historic milestone. For more information click here.
Virtual Exhibit:
Images of Clayton and its People, 1864-1871
from the Oren Johnston Studio
Getting to the Museum:
Take I-81 Exit 45, and then Arsenal Street toward downtown Watertown. Turn right at Public Square onto Washington Street. Drive one block south. Museum is on the right. Public parking is accessible from Stone or Clinton Streets.
The Jefferson County Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization chartered by the New York State Department of Education. Your donations are essential to supporting our mission.
All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
We are also part of the Empire Development Zone. Capital Fund donations may qualify for additional tax credits.
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We were last updated on
Monday, May 05, 2008