Washington County Historical Society of New York

Come meet the authors of our newest publication!

Today is the day! We hope you will stop by and enjoy some music with us. Remember to bring a chair or a blanket!

Our new book Historic Washington County A Photographic Portrait by Judith Irwin Flagg and Elizabeth Barber Cockey has arrived! Pre-orders are available for pick up during our open hours and those that are being delivered are being prepped for mailing. Want to purchase a copy?! Call, email, or stop in!

Dr. Sarah Jane Finch, born in Kingsbury on April 22,1838. She attended the Woman's Medical College of Chicago in 1873. She returned to live in Fort Ann and was a well respected physician with a large practice. Her patients were from all over Washington County. Dr. Finch passed away May 6, 1899. (Oh yeah... that women's medical school that Dr. Finch attended...it was founded by Mary H Thompson another Fort Ann native...WOW!)

From the North Country Free Press (p. 8) "The Washington County Historical Society recently announced a new publication that investigates the sto-ried past of Washington County through photographs of what life was like from the 1840s until post World War ll. The title of the book is Historic Washington County: A Photographic Portrait."..... https://nyvtmedia.com//north-country-freepress-oct-23-20/

Looking for ideas for Christmas presents....think of items from our bookstore! We even have coloring books for the young ones (and old)! http://www.wchs-ny.org/buy_books.php

The Whitehall Times April 21, 1983 The Shores of Dear Old Lake Champlain - 1898 Doris B. Morton, Town Historian Recently two pieces of sheet music were given to... the Historical Society by Dolores Fafard. One is instrumental; the other is a song entitled "On the Shores of Dear Old Lake Champlain". It was written by Guy W. Woodward and composed by Howard S. Hall. The printer was H. S. Hall of Sandy Hill and the date with English rights reserved 1903. One wonders if it was produced to be in time for the tercentenary of the discovery of Lake Champlain in 1909. Shades of Edgar Allen Poe's "Annabelle Lee". Here are the words: You can talk about your old Kentuck home so far away, And your pretty little girls of Tennessee. But give me a home on the shore of Lake Champlain For that is the home for me. 'Twas there in my boyhood I'd with my sweetheart be, As we sailed upon the Lake and she sang sweet songs to me. The now so far away, still my thoughts will constant stray, To the shores of dear old Lake Champlain. (Chorus) Lake Champlain, Lake Champlain How I long to see the dear old lake again, And my sweetheart fair with her waving golden hair Long the shore of dear old Lake Champlain Lake Champlain, Lake Champlain How I long to see my sweetheart's face again. But she lies 'neath the sod, near the waving golden rod, On the shores of dear old Lake Champlain. "Tho now I'm old and gray and very far away. I can hear the rippling waters kiss the shore If I could able be just once again to wee T‘would bring me back to days of yore, When the twilight shades would fall I could hear the waters call, My sweetheart to that shady bower Where we spent such happy hours. But her spirit is with God, Though she lies beneath the sod On the shores of dear old Lake Champlain. See more

Due to the COVID-19 virus, The Wing-Northrup House will be closed until future notice. Books are still available online and your orders will be filled and mailed. Research can still be done online and your emails will still be answered by our Librarian. Thank you for your patience during these times. Buy books on-line here: http://www.wchs-ny.org/buy_books.php Contact our librarian via (518) 747-9108

75 years ago today, American Marines stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima at the start of one of WWII's bloodiest and most famous battles. Take a moment to read this, look at the pictures, and remember.

Upcoming - just over the border In Pawlet VT https://www.vermonthumanities.org//vermonts-remarkable-sh/

Discovery at Lake George