Friends of Johnson Hall

"All by myself, don't wanna be all by myself..." The proverbial end of summer has come and gone but Johnson Hall is still open for the season. Call us at 518-76...2-8712 to schedule a tour. P.S. -Apologies for the inevitable earworm that may have produced. We promise to provide enough interesting facts to completely drive it out should you come take a tour.

The Master Plan will guide development and interpretation at the Site for the next 10 - 15 years. Read the Draft Plan at: https://parks.ny.gov/inside-our-agency/master-plans.aspx

Johnson Hall Opens July 22 Johnson Hall State Historic Site will open for the 2020 season on Wednesday, July 22. In response to the covid-19 pandemic, the following health and safety guidelines will be in effect for the season: Guided tours will be given on Wednesdays through Sundays.... Tours are by advance reservation by phone only. Visitors can call (518) 762-8712 from 9am to 4pm on Wednesday through Sunday to schedule. Tours will be limited to 5 people. Masks must be worn by all visitors inside the buildings, and social distancing observed. Access into the buildings will be controlled by staff. Visitors should arrive no sooner than 10 minutes prior to their tour to enter the stonehouse to pay their admission. The museum shop will be available to visitors following their tour. Interpretive signs throughout the grounds of Johnson Hall detail the historic structures and features that were once part of the estate. Social distancing should be practiced by visitors on the grounds. Johnson Hall was the 1763 English Georgian estate of Sir William Johnson and Molly Brant. Johnson was the largest single landowner and most influential individual in the colonial Mohawk Valley. His success in dealing with the Six Nations had a lasting impact on their relationship with the English, and largely influenced England’s victory in the Anglo-French struggle for control of colonial North America. Today, the main house and flanking stonehouses, originally surrounded by a 700-acre farm, interpret Sir William and Molly Brant’s family life through guided tours of the period room settings, educational programs and special events. Johnson Hall State Historic Site is located at 139 Hall Avenue in historic Johnstown, just off West State Street (State Highway 29 West). For more information, write [email protected] or visit www.facebook.com/johnsonhallstatehistoricsite. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 180 state parks and 35 historic sites, which are visited by 60 million people annually. For more information, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow on Twitter. XXXX

Please join us for this important meeting. You can support our wonderful site, right from the comfort of your own home. Register using the link provided below. We look forward to seeing you there!

Sir William Johnson addresses us about how to stay safe during this Covid19 Pandemic.

Our Sir William chimes in about the Corona Virus Pandemic...

Perhaps this is how Sir William Johnson would have weathered a pandemic!

THIS DAY IN HISTORY June 4th 1738 marks the birth of King George III, the reigning monarch at the time of the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). To the g...eneral public, King George III is known for two things: losing the American colonies, and going mad. But that is only part of the story about this man. King George III was the eldest son of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and he became heir to the throne on the death of his father in 1751. At the age of 22, he succeeded his grandfather, George II in 1760 and ruled for 60 years. George II was the third Hanoverian monarch and the first one born in England and to use English as his first Language. He never did visit Hanover, Germany. When he came to power, he inherited an ongoing war with France, The Seven Years War, until France was defeated. During his reign Great Britain became the most powerful nation in the world but as it was expanding and gaining power, it also lost the American colonies in 1783. Wars with France continued until Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo in 1815. George always felt the loss of the American colonies on a personal and political level as the war was relatively unpopular with the British public. However, he regained a measure of popularity during the Napoleonic Wars. Was he the evil king, suppressing the American colonist? Not really. He was considered a moderate European monarch for the times he lived in. George was perhaps the most progressive of the Hanoverian monarchs. He was a family man and devoted to his wife, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. They had 15 children, 13 of whom reached adulthood. He was considered a man of high personal morals and a conscientious ruler who took his job seriously. George read all Cabinet papers and often annoyed his ministers by taking a strong interest in British governance and policy. He was also a well read, cultured monarch who held a collection of books and maps estimated at over 65,000. This collection eventually became the core of the British Museum/National Library. In 1768, George founded and funded the Royal Academy of Arts, where he studied science. He built his own astronomy observatory. To round out his interests, he was an avid farmer on his estates in Richmond and Windsor, being known as ‘Farmer George’. As King George III aged his physical and mentally illnesses increased. Some historians believe that he suffered from bi-polar disorder, early dementia, and deafness. He eventually became completely blind. By 1811, King George III was in no condition to rule Great Britain and its Empire, so his son the Prince of Wales became Regent for the remainder of King George II’s life. His life ended at Windsor Castle on January 29th 1820. END Stephen McDonald St. Lawrence Branch United Empire Loyalists Assoc of Canada Please consider joining our Branch and supporting our projects to preserve and promote Loyalist

Notice what card she is playing and featuring? Garricks playing card game "Piquet" Ca 1755. Mrs Garrick is wearing Spitalfields, London Silk. Mr Garrick was an ...actor, and it isnt often that one gets to see the card players hand in an 18th century painting! Notice, no numbers on the cards. I took these pictures at the Victoria and Albert Museum and we walked through Spitalfields. It was "Hospital Fields" earlier and they shortened it to "Spitalfields." later. If memory serves me correct, that is also where the Foundling Museum is located. Spitalfields also produced fine velvet as well as silk we were told. We saw several original garments in the Dennis Severs House at Spitalfields dating from the 1730s and 50s but no photography allowed, so it is only in my mind the gentleman's pink coat ca 1740 hanging on the back of the chair, only viewed under candlelight! Included is a picture of me at the Dennis Sever’s house in Spitalfields, London. Thanks to Lauren Muney for the suggestion of going! We can now say we were in 18th century Spitalfields where Mrs Garricks silk was from! We also sell decks of cards like these and a book on 18th century card games at our online store here https://pumpkintown-104474.square.site/

Another wonderful article by Alex Burns, this time on the terminology surrounding cocked hats (as opposed to slouch hats, and the term tricorne).

This album was recorded live at Johnson Hall.

We have postponed this workshop until June 27th. 4 slots are available. All inquiries must be sent to [email protected] Looking forward to brighter days ahead. Be well.

Easter Greetings!