Tag Archives: Doris B. Morton

Doris B Morton, Libraries

Whitehall Civic Improvement League

Members of the Civic League continued to support the Whitehall Free Library with projects such as card parties, subscriptions, and volunteer labor while still holding their meetings in its rooms. In October 1911 a report was made to the League that the village trustees were attempting to gain control of land north of the bridge and the League was requested to cooperate in securing the Historical Building where the library would have rooms. Nothing was reported in the minutes until May 19, 1924 when the minutes read that the Civic League held its meeting in the new library for the first time.

This must have meant the library that was located on the second floor of the village building until it was transferred in 1953 to the present Griswold Library given to the village. During this period Miss Bessie Buel and Mrs. Lorraine Dannehy were librarians. Evidently the Whitehall Free Library had become an entity of its own. The Civic League held its meetings here for some years before meeting in other public places and in homes of its members.

At the April 1909 meeting ten members were chosen for the Library Committee. Only members of the Civic League could be trustees but everyone could use the library. These first trustees were the Mesdames, W. G. C. Wood, B. H. Bascom, J. Q. Edwards, O. A. Dennis, C. J. Baldwin, F. L. Andrews, Jack Israel, George Noyes, and the Misses Julia Bascom and Lulu Lotrace. Later when a State Inspector visited the library he was astonished that only one woman had accomplished such an institution and suggested a man should be on the board. Men had been given an honorary membership in the first year.

By June 1909 the shelves had been installed in the library, the catalog completed, books in order, and Esther Adams hired as a librarian. To separate the books on the shelves in divisions it was suggested that covered bricks be used June 7 a date for a Library Day be observed, the third Sunday in June.

In November 1919 Mrs. Brown of the State Library Association came to view the library. By this time there were 504 books and many magazine subscriptions. She suggested a larger supply of children’s books, catering to special interests such as agriculture and ethnic groups of the town, and that the two newspapers and cuttings of the town events would be on file. (lf only this had happened what a resource of material would be on hand.) It seems that games were provided for the library hours and it was now evident that special hours and a separate room be restricted for use when the library was not open.

In October the Whitehall Free Library had a State Charter, a constitution had been drawn up and read, and all reports of the library were given for publication in the two newspapers. On 23 November 1909 it was voted that all Civic League meetings would be held thereafter in the library instead of Williams Street School.

Members met there until they transferred later to the Community Association rooms.

Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – Whitehall Independent – March 11, 1987

Doris B Morton, Libraries

Whitehall in 1887

The railroad Y.M.C.A. was very active one hundred years ago in its building on Canal Street. Its building, north of the present Knights of Columbus building, burned in 1911, and was replaced by the K. of C. home.

In 1887 the members, believing that a good library was one of the requirements of success in any association established a circulating library in its rooms. One of the first methods of obtaining books for its collection was to have an entertainment, admission to which would be a good book. Superintendent C. D. Hammond furnished a large bookcase. The employees of the D & H along the line favored the project. The library soon had 150 volumes. House cleaners had been urged to send their books.

Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – Whitehall Times – April 2, 1987

Bicentennials, Doris B Morton

Museum Opens for 18th Season [1976]

Skenesborough Museum is now officially open for its 18th season [in July 1976]. The theme “Whitehall – Navy, Lake, Canal, and Railroad” suggests the: type of exhibits displayed.

The Navy Room in the new Judge John J. O’Brien Memorial wing contains the Edward G. Farmer model of the 1776 Skenesborough Harbor and the Vergennes Shipyard of the War of 1812. Pictures and artifacts give further details.

The large room in its exhibits places emphasis on canal, lake and railroad history. Other exhibits tell of Whitehall history in fire department and farm and home implements. The names of the other rooms are the War Room, the Doll Room, the Admiral Potter Room, and the Skene’s Room gives a hint of their exhibits.

Rearrangement of the exhibits following the Horizon addition to the museum will continue. The assistance of many volunteers has made the opening possible at this time.

Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – The Whitehall Times – July 1, 1976

Bicentennials, Doris B Morton

Window Displays [1976]

Bicentennial displays of the organizations are beginning to fill the store windows for the Old Home Week observance.

In Sach’s Jewelry store the Rural Charity Club’s aims — Faith, Hope, Charity — are explained delightfully in words and serio-comic models.
In Aiken’s restaurant the Senior Citizens have placed articles that suggest a century ago in the home — women’s dress with apron holding a water pitcher and candle stick, a child’s traveling trunk, Dresden plate sofa and locket, stand with doilies cushion, braided rug, and bouquet of dried flowers.

Broadway Market window contains Mettowee Valley Business and Professional _ Women’s Club objectives for women with streamers that lead from an enlarged picture of its emblem.

In TexGas window are the implements that recall a small home industry of candy making of Mattie and Bella Henry. The peanut roaster, the cart used in drawing the candy bags, the scales, marble and hook that pulled the taffy are displayed.

In Jumbo’s IGA Market is the exhibit of the Elementary School Art Club. It is a mural – with a center eagle spread 1776-1976, with 16 individual posters surrounding it, expressing each child’s bicentennial conception.

Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – The Whitehall Times – July 1, 1976

Bicentennials, Doris B Morton

2nd Bicentennial and Dedication

How can a community have two bicentennials within 17 years? Easy, if that community is Skenesborough. And how can a museum have two dedications within that period? Again, easy if it is Skenesborough Museum.

Skenesborough Museum was created 17 years ago during the town’s bicentennial year, for it was founded in 1959. This celebration coincided with the 350th anniversary of the discovery of Lake Champlain and the Hudson River. This year, 1976, the birthday of the nation, a wing was added to the museum and dedicated to the memory of Judge John J. O’Brien who among other community services helped in alerting the legislature to the fact that Whitehall is the Birthplace of the United States Navy.

Whitehall’s participation in the 1959 event was initiated in three organizations, the Historical Society of Whitehall, the town board, and the chamber of commerce. At-tending the first state meeting in Albany as representatives were the late Supervisor Jerome Campbell, chamber of commerce member the late Alfred Washburn, Marion Guerin and Doris Morton of the Historical society.

From reports of these delegates, whose organizations had been talking for several years about the 200th birthday. The celebration idea caught fire and grew into a great community project. The chamber of commerce appointed Francis Layden chairman of the event; Governor Averill E. Harriman appointed James Roche Washington county chairman. The late Miss Eva Johnson became secretary, and Mrs. Thyrza Kinner, treasurer.

The Canal Terminal building, a reinforced concrete structure built in 1917, had been slated for demolition by the State of New York. Letters from Whitehall’s or-ganizations urging permission to use it as museum were recognized. It was dedicated 28 June 1959, with Miss Catharine Potter, daughter of Rear Admiral William Potter, cutting the ribbon. The following year 1960 through the efforts of the town board and the late Judge O’Brien the town received permission to use the building as long as it was used as a museum.

Following discontinuance of the building in 1932 as a canal building, it had been used as a town shed for many years. Under the leadership of Russell Terry a great corps of men and women dug tar from the floor, cleaned the walls and painted the exterior. A contest was held for a name and 29 names out of the 40 entered produced the name Skenesborough Museum.

The chairman of the Museum committee requested exhibits from organizations to fill the long building. Displays were arranged by the Grange, Sportsman’s club, Whitehall Volunteer Fire Company, the American Legion, the seventh and eighth grade art and industrial classes, the Historical society and the D&H Railway Company. Rearranged and augmented, these are still a part of the museum.

In 1958 the New York State (Legislature enacted a proclamation that Whitehall is the Birthplace of the United States Navy, a copy of which hangs in the museum. For a navy display the late Edward G. Farmer, U.S. Navy Retired, from Orwell, Vt., affectionately known as “Captain”, produced a detailed model of the Skenesborough harbor and shipyard of 1776, with models of the ships built in it. As a “labor of love”, Captain Farmer constructed this model in a period covering Jan. 4 to a June 29, 1959. It is still the main attraction of the museum, now in the Navy room of the Judge John J.O’Brien Memorial Wing.

Over its 17 years of existence Skenesborough Museum has grown slowly but steadily in acquisitions from its friends. Finances, in a low key, have been derived fromthe annual letter to Friends of the Museum and the community calendar. The smalladmission fee maintains the services. Visitors, world wide, increase in numbers eachseason and are enthusiastic in their praise of what they term a “unique” museum.

Over the years “curators” have been loyal in their labor and interest. Longest in terms of years has been Mrs. Catherine Senecal. Floyd a Coleman was a dedicated member for many years, with his knowledge of local history, his interest in detail, and the care of the physical structure. Others for shorter terms have been James Keenan, Claribel Snody, Margery Coppins, Elaine Senecal and Linda Beckwith. The present “curators” are George Greenough and Frank Brown.

The original museum committee of five members has served since 1959: Chairman Doris Morton, Vice Chairman James Roche, Treasurer Thyrza Kinner, Attorney E. Francis Layden and Marion Guerin. Over the years were added Floyd Coleman, George Greenough, Carol Greenough and Frank Brown. With a change structure and method the total membership has been increased to 11 with, Evelyn Benjamin, Robert Kana and Horace Scott, Jr.

Several years ago a suggested plan for an addition was drawn up by George Greenough. This became reality, through the town board and the Judge John J O’Brien Memorial committee. Whitehall has obtained its Horizon part of the National slogan Heritage Festival and Horizon.” The addition parallels the acquisition of the museum 17 years ago. Skenesborough Museum is not just another museum. It is one that is worthy of Whitehall’s history and one that receives the admiration of the visiting public.

Doris B. Morton, Town Historian – The Whitehall Times – July, 1, 1976