It is always a source of satisfaction to have readers of this column offer corrections or give additional material on a subject. Experience teaches that other sources when uncovered may refute what once was believed to be the final word. Good examples are the many “facts” about Philip Skene that were copied for so long and still are.
The cannon on the armory lawn were given to the Howitzer club and are the property of that club, not of the armory. The early 60’s found the wooden frames badly weathered and the club caused concrete forms to be made. The cannon now rest on a firm base. They are symbols of Skenesborough’s heritage.
Watch for the announcement that the old canal has been put on the National Register. In the village the bed has been filled in but the old wall of a section is seen as a wall of Riverside Park. The stone structure, constructed by Melancthon Wheeler in 1819, is still a sturdy formation. Parts of the canal can be seen in the fields south of the village with trees outlining the past on the side.
The Historical Society of Whitehall voted to provide an additional 50 copies of the “Introduction to Historic Resources in Washington County, New York.” The 5000 copies printed by the county are nearly all sold. These left will be the last to be sold by the Historical society. Besides by members of the society, the greater number of the books was sold from Tony’s Newsroom, Gerri’s Newsroom, The Whitehall Times, Marion’s dress shop and Macleod’s.
The National Survey of Washington County is continuing. This consists of a record of structures over 50 years old in each town with some history of it and a brief notation of its architectural features. This includes pictures of the buildings and means many interviews of the owners. Mrs. Sally Brillon of the Washington County Planning Board, who directed the “Introduction”, is carrying out the project with the assistance of town historians and many volunteers. The Historical Society is sponsoring this project in Skenesborough.
Besides the individual structures, maps are being prepared. An example is one of cemeteries, abandoned, destroyed sites, and present. Recently this column had a list of such in Skenesborough. Readers furnished other site locations not in any available lists. There will be a map for churches, schools, quarries, rock formations, etc. Assistance is asked for any information on homes and buildings.
Among the “lost” mansions of Skenesborough is that of Cook’s mansion on the Granville road. All of the other mansions have been pictured but I have been unable to locate a picture of this mansion that was in existence not too long ago
Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – Whitehall Times – October 12 1986