The Peru Gazette

April 9 – 2:30 pm, Meadowbrook Healthcare, 154 Prospect Avenue, Plattsburgh. Portraits from the turn of the 19^th century and the stories they might tell. The Clinton County Historical Association has 17,000 portraits in their collection taken between 1890 and 1920, and some of the most unusual and interesting will be shared along with the known or occasionally speculated background behind the photo.

April 13 – 10 am to 3 pm, CCHA, 98 Ohio Avenue, Plattsburgh. Something for everyone at the Clinton County Historical Association Museum to celebrate Slow Art Day. Two local artists, Tim Palkovic and Naomi Bradshaw will be painting at the museum. Come and watch them work.  Two children’s watercolor workshops will be held, one at 11 am and one at 1 pm.  Please call 518-561-0340 to reserve a seat. Beginning at 10 am, docents will give tours of the various paintings and artifacts on exhibit from the Museum’s collection.

April 19 – 12:30 pm, Plattsburgh Senior Center, 5139 North Catherine Street, Plattsburgh. A Photo Peek at Old Plattsburgh. Using photos from the CCHA collection, see ‘then and now’  photo comparisons of landmarks in downtown Plattsburgh.  Come and see what you might recognize and share stories of these special spots.

April 23 – 2:30 pm, Meadowbrook Healthcare, 154 Prospect Avenue, Plattsburgh. The Golden Age of the Cigar Trade in Downtown Plattsburgh.  For over 75 years thousands of cigars were produced in downtown Plattsburgh. Hear the story of our own flourishing cigar industry and the families that managed it using photos and artifacts from the CCHA Collection.

April 23, 6:45 pm, Lake Forest Retirement Community, 8 Lake Forest Drive, Plattsburgh. The Legacy of the location with the most beautiful view – photos and stories of the history of Bluff Point and the Hotel Champlain where Clinton Community College stands today.  Built by the D&H Railroad and frequented by Presidents, the hotel was one of the most prestigious vacation sites in America. See its history and beauty in photos from the Clinton County Historical Association’s own collection and ‘A Chronicle of Bluff Point’ by Richard Frost.

April 25, 6:30 pm, Plattsburgh Memorial Chapel, Old Base. History, Discovery, and Preservation of the Spitfire: A Status Report with Art Cohn, Principal Investigator of the Spitfire Discovery Team and co-founder of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. As the Nation approaches the 250th Anniversary of the struggle that created it, much activity has begun to recognize this significant milestone in American history. Since the gunboat Spitfire‘s discovery in 1997 by a team led by Art Cohn, the intact gunboat has rested in  the deep waters of Lake Champlain and been the subject of intense study, analysis and regular inspections. The goal from the moment of the Spitfire’s discovery has been to identify the most thoughtful and appropriate management plan for its long-term preservation and public value. In this presentation, Art will reflect on the Spitfire’s history, discovery and the effort being made to preserve and share it with this and future generations. 

Please contact Helen Nerska, director@clintoncountyhistorical.org for more information.