St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture’s 2024 Year in Review

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St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture’s 2024 Year in Review

This year, we would like to highlight the programs, outreach events, fundraisers, and construction projects that have happened over the past year.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our generous donors and sponsors who have made these programs possible. As a non-profit organization, donations truly drive our organization, and we couldn’t accomplish all we do without you.

To navigate our Year in Review, please use the Table of Contents below.

Each heading is hyperlinked, so clicking on a heading will take you directly to that section. To return to the Table of Contents, simply click the “Back to the top” link at the end of each section. You can also simply scroll through the page at your leisure to read our entire 2024 Year in Review.

Table of Contents:

  1. SLCCHC 77th Annual Meeting
  2. Patricia Harrington Carson Brown Bag Lunch Series
  3. Historic Garden Project
  4. Programs & Outreach Events
  5. Fundraisers
  6. Construction & Renovation Projects
  7. Historic Restoration Projects
  8. Donations & Sponsorships
  9. 2024 Rushton Society Inductees
  10. 2024 Volunteer Recognition
  11. 2024 Internship Experiences
  12. Plans for 2025

SLCCHC 77th Annual Meeting 

The St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture’s 77th Annual Meeting was held on Saturday, November 9, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Silas Wright Historic House & Museum, 3 East Main St., Canton, NY.
 
William Flynn, the Board President, opened the meeting by introducing the current Trustees and staff. He also recapped various construction projects and fundraising initiatives that occurred this past year, including the gift shop renovation, window replacements in the historic house, the Silas Wright House Memorial Walkway, and the Historic Garden Project. Following the President’s remarks, business was conducted, including the approval of minutes, the Executive Director’s Annual Report, the election of Trustees, and donor recognition.
 
During the Executive Director’s Annual Report, Carlene Bermann discussed the new rebranding initiative to become the SLC Center for History & Culture; upcoming projects with the new branding, including a barn quilt series of products as well as a line of products that represent towns throughout the county; continued efforts to expand engagement, programming, and marketing efforts; and grants awarded this year to help with renovation costs and collection development.
 
The meeting concluded with volunteer recognition, during which Executive Director Carlene Bermann expressed gratitude for all of our volunteers on behalf of the SLCCHC Board and staff. She also presented gifts to volunteers as a token of appreciation for their countless hours of service over the past year. Additionally, Carlene recognized and presented gifts to our interns this year from SUNY Canton, SUNY Potsdam, and St. Lawrence University.
 
After the business meeting was adjourned, attendees were invited to mingle and tour the museum and historic house at their leisure to see our new exhibits and renovations.
 
We hope that everyone present enjoyed themselves. We appreciate that you all took time out of your day to attend in person or online.
 
Please visit our YouTube channel to watch the recorded meeting. 
 

Patricia Harrington Carson Brown Bag Lunch Series

This brown bag lunch series is dedicated to the memory of Patricia, who founded it during her 24 years as an SLCCHC Trustee.

We had so many wonderful presentations during the 2024 season, most of which have been uploaded to our YouTube channel for viewing:

We look forward to seeing everyone again in February for the beginning of our 2025 Brown Bag season.

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Historic Garden Project

The Historic Garden Project officially launched in 2024.  This project was established to revitalize the historic gardens on the property and recreate the structure in the traditional Victorian style. To help fund this initiative, the Historic Garden Project Sponsorship was created, raising $6,795.00 in 2024.

Historic Garden Project Sponsorship Levels:

  • Daisy ~ Donations up to $100.00
  • Tulip ~ Donations of $101.00 to $250.00
  • Peony ~ Donations of $251.00 to $500.00
  • Hydrangea ~ Donations of $501.00 to $1,000.00
  • Rose ~ Donations over $1,000.00

Each sponsorship level funds different aspects of the garden project, including purchasing soil and mulch, garden tools, plants, shrubs, and garden borders. Funds are also used for large installation projects, like brick pathways, garden features, interpretive panels, identification signs, and seating. In the near future, we hope to be able to fund educational programs within the historic gardens through the generous donations of our sponsors.

2024 Historic Garden Project Sponsors:

Daisy Level Sponsors:

  • Lyn & Bill Swafford
  • Laura Foster
  • John Austin
  • Mary Gilbert
  • Patricia & William Collins
  • David Trithart & Rose Rivezzi
  • Robin Duncan
  • Patrick & Nancy Casey
  • Thomas Romoda
  • Shirley Norton
  • Louise Bixby
  • Pat Dominie
  • Dr. Patricia Mahoney

Tulip Level Sponsors:

Peony Level Sponsors:

Hydrangea Level Sponsors:

  • Gary Parker
  • The Dominie Family

Rose Level Sponsors:

In addition to sponsoring the historic garden project directly, the community may contribute specifically to installing the brick pathways by purchasing a Silas Wright House Memorial Walkway Brick Engraving. The installation of the memorial walkway is planned for summer/fall 2025, after which the engravings will be viewable along it. Brick engravings may be purchased in person at the Museum Gift Shop or online.

Thank you to everyone who has donated to this project in 2024. We appreciate your commitment to our organization and your support in revitalizing the historic gardens on the property.

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Programs & Outreach Events

Part of the St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture’s mission is to serve as a dynamic center that promotes community engagement, inclusivity, and continued growth. We have developed new programming and attended several outreach events to accomplish this.

2024 Programs

  • Civil War Round Table (SLCCHC)
  • Morley Garden Tour with Pat Dominie
  • Hiking the Trail to Yesterday Colton History Hike with Bill Hill
  • Pyrites History Paddling Tour with Nature Up North
  • Día de los Muertos Celebration (Canton Fall Family Weekend at SLCCHC)
  • Russell Garden Tour with Anne Csete
  • Reader’s Theatre Program with Grass River Players (SLCCHC)
  • Hiking the Trail to Yesterday Streeter Lake History Hike with Bill Hill
  • Phantoms in the Park (SLCCHC)
  • Sensational Swags Workshop with Vicky Oakes (SLCCHC)
  • Holiday Open House (SLCCHC)

2024 Outreach Events

  • Gateways to Careers (SUNY Canton)
  • Kids Expo (SUNY Canton)
  • Dairy Fest (Canton)
  • Potsdam Pride Festival
  • Juneteenth Festival (Potsdam)
  • Canton Farmers Market
  • Civil War Weekend (Madrid)
  • Fort Fest (Ogdensburg)
  • North Country Arts Festival (Potsdam)
  • Gouverneur Farmers Market

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Fundraisers

Adirondack Chair & Fire Pit Raffle

SLCCHC raffled off three sets of Adirondack chairs and fire pits this past summer. From this fundraiser, we raised $1,040.00 to support general operations.

Canton Garage Sale Weekend

SLCCHC participated in “Canton Garage Sale Weekend” this year and raised $542.47 to support general operations.

Garden Tours

New this year was a series of Garden Tours held across St. Lawrence County to support the Historic Garden Project. This latest initiative raised $273.00, which funded the purchase of perennial bulbs that will first bloom this coming spring.

Through these tours, participants could view sustainable North Country gardens and leave with a wealth of knowledge about designing their own gardens. They were taught how to mix herbaceous perennials with woody shrubs, combine native and non-native plants into their garden schemes, and convert farmland into acres of gardens and natural habitats for local wildlife.

This series will continue in the summer of 2025, so be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know!

Brick Engravings for the Silas Wright Memorial Walkway

The Silas Wright Memorial Walkway will be installed in the summer/fall of 2025. It will extend the main brick pathway in the historic gardens at the front of the property and eventually lead to a sensory garden on the side of the historic house.

To make this portion of the walkway meaningful, we have offered the community the opportunity to purchase brick engravings to commemorate special milestones and remember loved ones. Each message will be engraved directly onto the newly installed brick pathway, using black lithichrome lettering to ensure visibility and readability.

To date, we have raised $1,350.00.

Silent Auction

SLCCHC’s Annual Silent Auction had 57 listings, with a wide selection of items donated by 47 businesses, organizations, and individuals across St. Lawrence County. From this fundraiser, we raised $2,235.60 to support general operations.

Holiday Art Raffle

At the Holiday Open House, SLCCHC raffled off a 16″ x 24″ Giclee print titled “Something in Red” by local artist John Morrow. From this fundraiser, we raised $375.28 to support general operations.

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Construction & Renovation Projects

New Pathway to the Silas Wright House & Museum

This past summer, Willow Tree Florist & Landscaping laid a new brick pathway in the historic gardens. This is the first of two main pathways being installed in the gardens; the second is the memorial walkway, which is slated for installation in the summer/fall of 2025.

Freshly Polished Floors in the Museum Lobby

Matt Delosh of 4th Coast Masonry thoroughly cleaned the stone floors in the museum lobby this summer. Many of the cracks and broken stones were fixed, and then a protective coating was painted on to help protect the stonework. 

Mold Remediation

In June, the basement of the Red Barn Addition experienced unexpected flooding. Unfortunately, the sump pump installed also failed, ruining much of what was in the basement due to water damage and the mold that followed. KMH Remediation & Cleaning Services quickly responded to this emergency and assisted us with the situation. Once Grant’s Plumbing and Heating replaced the sump pump, KHM could start mold testing and remediation. The remediation was completed within a couple of weeks. Although this was not something we would want to happen, this emergency flooding did give us a chance to give the basement some much-needed attention and deep cleaning. It allowed us to clean and organize what was there and start consolidating.

Historic Garden Project

Many work parties led by volunteer Molly Mott and Building & Grounds Keeper Sara Lynch were held for the Historic Garden Project in the summer and fall of 2024, including during “Make a Difference Day” with SLU Serves volunteers. Over the last several months, volunteers worked on thoroughly weeding and edging the rose beds, removing overgrown weeds and invasive plants, planting new bulbs that will bloom in the spring, and covering the flower beds with mulch and compost for the winter.

Tree Removal & Trimming

Joshua Mikolay of Mikco Tree removed a deteriorating maple tree from the front yard and trimmed another tree encroaching on the house. We greatly appreciate their quick and thorough work, which only took them a day to complete. The stump removal will be completed in the spring, at which point we can continue making progress on our Historic Garden Project renovations.

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Historic Restoration Projects

Silas Wright House Fence Repairs

Brandon Legault of Ground Solutions repaired the deteriorating fence at the front of the property this summer. However, due to the extensive rot found during the repairs, the fence must be fully replaced soon. Brandon and his team’s work should get us through the interim while we prepare funding for this expensive restoration project.

Silas Wright House Window Restoration

Over the last several months, Richard Wentzel has restored all of the windows in the Silas Wright House. He and his team took incredible care in removing all of the windows and casings from the historic house’s first and second floors. Each window was carefully removed from the house, restored in a workshop, repainted, and reinstalled. We are grateful this project was completed before the winter months. The restoration will significantly help keep the elements out, including the cold winter winds.

The Adirondack Rural Revitalization Program (ARRP) funded this restoration project, which is a grant program supported by Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH). The Adirondack Rural Revitalization Program is supported in part by a Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant from the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

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Donations & Sponsorships

In 2024, the St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture had many donation and sponsorship opportunities for the public to designate funds towards:

  • Historic Garden Project
  • Archives & Collections
  • Education & Programs
  • The Quarterly Journal Publication
  • Exhibits
  • Group Tours
  • General Operations

Additionally, donors could designate funds in memory of or in honor of individuals.

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2024 Rushton Society Inductees

The St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture would like to recognize the 2024 Rushton Society.
 
This year’s inductees are as follows:
 
Thank you for your generous contributions to the St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture this past year. Thanks to donors like you, we can provide the community with free or low-cost programming and tours each year.
 
We hope you will consider donating again in 2025!
 

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2024 Volunteer Recognition

The St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture would like to recognize our volunteers for 2024:

  • Mary Gilbert 
  • Lynne Matott
  • Pat Dominie
  • Kai Vebber
  • Alexis Michael
  • Marcia Thompson-Amyott
  • Cheryl Shenkle-O’Neill
  • Molly Mott
  • Tim Parker
  • Vicky Oakes
  • Courtney LaPointe
  • Gabriel Roberts
  • Zoya Kocho-Williams (Student Volunteer)
  • Ryan Nolan
  • Dallas Robinson
  • Derrick Conway
  • Katie Berry
  • Beth Patrick

We would also like to thank our special project and event volunteers throughout the year.

Thank you all for the countless hours you have put into our organization over the last year. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish nearly as much as we do. Your dedication and support are greatly appreciated, and we look forward to working with you all in 2025.

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2024 Internship Experiences

Student Internships with the Northwest Tech Center (St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES)

This year, we offered a media internship to a local high school student through the Northwest Tech Center in Ogdensburg. Hayden Mandigo worked with us for several weeks to develop a promotional video for the St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture. Hayden put a lot of work into this project, and we are excited to be able to share its completion in 2025 as the project continues with new student interns from the Northwest Tech Center.

Community-Based Learning at St. Lawrence University

This year, the Community-Based Learning program at St. Lawrence University placed four students with the St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture: two students for the Spring 2024 semester, Iris Miller-White and Kinsley Holl, and two students for the Fall 2024 semester, Meara McClusky and Charlotte Hobbs. 

Spring 2024 Semester

Iris Miller-White, a senior at St. Lawrence University, majored in history and minored in education. Iris was onboarded as our first education intern, and her primary responsibilities included creating lesson plans, developing a contact list for local schools and homeschool groups, providing outreach, and helping to facilitate the first outreach efforts into local schools. Since graduating, Iris has been working as a teaching intern in Sun Valley, Idaho. She has taught 11th-grade history as well as 4th grade. “My work with the St. Lawrence County Center for History and Culture has helped to inform my experiences as an educator because I see the value in connecting students to their local and larger picture histories. We are constantly being impacted by the history around us, which is an idea I work to bring into the classroom,” said Iris about how her internship has influenced her teaching career.

Kinsley Holl, also a senior, studied anthropology and biology while at St. Lawrence University. Kinsley was instrumental in the early stages of developing the Historic Garden Project. She conducted a great deal of research into Victorian gardens, their layouts, and what flowers were typically utilized. From that research, she developed a blueprint for the garden and created promotional materials for sponsorship opportunities. Since graduating, Kinsley has taken a position with AmeriCorps as a Youth Programs and Conservation Coordinator with Catamount Trails Association.

Fall 2024 Semester

Meara McClusky, a junior at St. Lawrence University, is double majoring in history and anthropology and minoring in African studies. Charlotte Hobbs, also a junior at St. Lawrence University, is majoring in anthropology and double minoring in art and religious studies.

While here, both interns were able to research specific objects in the collection and develop Object of the Week posts for social media. Meara researched an orrery, a mechanical solar system model based on the heliocentric (sun-centered) view. Charlotte researched a shadowbox of flowers made of seeds, representing Victorian seed work. They also gained experience with developing promotional materials, learning what goes into curating an exhibit, and learning how to use museum software such as Past Perfect. In particular, Meara developed a new brochure to pair with the current handout about the barn quilt mural that was completed in 2019.

We were very happy to have both Meara and Charlotte working with us for a couple of hours each week this semester as part of their coursework, and we wish them both success in their future careers. 

SUNY Canton Presidential Internships

In 2024, SLCCHC connected with SUNY Canton’s Presidential Internship program and signed on to become one of their local off-campus agencies for student internships. 

This year, we were lucky to have Presidential Intern Alondra Maldonado-Espinosa for both the summer and fall semesters of 2024. 

Alondra Maldonado-Espinosa is majoring in legal studies and minoring in history. During her two semesters with us, Alondra gained experience with operating small museums, curating exhibits, creating educational programs, developing promotional materials for fundraisers and outreach events, and working with collections databases like Past Perfect.

In addition to many other wonderful activities that Alondra developed during her time here, one program to note is the October Día de los Muertos program, which is a holiday celebrated in Mexico, where she is originally from. Alondra developed the entire educational program from start to finish and then ran it on October 5 as part of STLC’s Fall Family Weekend.

We are grateful to have had this opportunity to work with Alondra and provide an immersive experience for the community. We wish her much success in her future career.

SUNY Potsdam Credit-Based Internship

This year, the St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture was a placement for a credit-bearing internship through SUNY Potsdam. Emily Langer, our intern for Fall 2024, was able to receive 6 credits toward her degree program through this immersive internship experience.

Emily is a Senior at SUNY Potsdam, majoring in history and minoring in museum studies. During her fall internship at SLCCHC, she gained experience in the multiple aspects and logistics of running a small museum, including archive management, outreach, and curating exhibitions. 

During her time here, Emily developed several engagement activities for the museum, including the Holiday Traditions interactive exhibit. She also worked extensively with our collections storage to help organize and document objects in our collections in Past Perfect.

We are excited to share that Emily will return again in 2025 for another credit-based internship experience in the spring semester.

Interested in Becoming an Intern?

Each year, we look for student interns to assist with research, collections cataloging, exhibits, programs, marketing, social media, and more. If interested, please complete the internship form below and send it to carlene@slcha.org.

To learn more about internship opportunities, call (315) 386-8133 or email carlene@slcha.org. Course credit may be available.

View and download the internship form here.

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Plans for 2025

Reflecting on the past year, the St. Lawrence County Center for History & Culture is even more excited to head into 2025. Whether we are continuing initiatives or developing something new, our year is already looking incredibly full, and we can’t wait to share the details with you very soon.

Here is a sneak peek at what SLCCHC has in store for 2025:

Continuing in 2025

  • Patricia Harrington Carson Brown Bag Lunch Series (Starting February 25)
  • Historic Garden Project Sponsorships
  • Brick Engravings for the Silas Wright Memorial Walkway
  • 3rd Annual Online Silent Auction (Fall)
  • St. Lawrence County Garden Tours (Summer/Fall)
  • St. Lawrence County Adventure Tours, including History Hikes and Kayaking Tours (Summer/Fall)
  • Holiday Open House (December 5)
  • Restoration and Renovation Projects
  • Internship Opportunities
  • Special Workshops and Programs

Upcoming in 2025

  • Canton Winterfest (February 7-15)
  • SUNY Canton Kid’s Expo (March 8)
  • SUNY Canton Gateways to Careers Event (March 12)
  • SUNY Potsdam Career & Networking Fair (March 19)
  • Installation of the Silas Wright Memorial Walkway (Summer/Fall)
  • Canton Farmers Market (Summer/Fall)
  • Phantoms in the Park (October)

For more details as they are announced, check our social media pages, biweekly newsletter, and website.

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