Putnam County Historical Society
&
Foundry School Museum
(Research facilities are closed on the weekend except by appt.)
The Society & Museum will be closed to visitors starting 12/24 through February
The Society was founded in 1906 and chartered by the Board of Regents in 1908, making it the oldest such organization in Putnam County. Charter members were an illustrious group of Cold Spring residents: A. Augustus Healy, Gouverneur Paulding, William Henry Haldane, Robert Floyd-Jones, and William Wood. They were committed to the task of procuring, preserving, and disseminating to the public whatever related to the historic, cultural and economic development of the county.
HISTORY of the MUSEUM:
The Foundry School Museum building was created by the West Point Foundry in 1830 as a school for foundry apprentices and village children until 1889 when it became a private residence. In 1960, the Putnam County Historical Society purchased the property and established the Foundry Museum.
The museum building sits on a bluff overlooking the former site of the West Point Foundry. The property is approximately 1/2 acre in size and at the south corner, a Paulownia tree is planted. This tree is a "descendant" of one brought to this country by the Irish workers imported to work in the foundry. The donor felt it was appropriate to transplant the tree to this site.
THE LAURA SPENCER PORTER POPE GALLERY is dedicated to Mrs. Pope whose generous bequest the Historical Society acquire the building and establish the museum. The furniture and furnishings in this room come from her home and other homes and estates in Philipstown. Also on display are some fine Hudson River School paintings.
LITTLE GALLERY displays changing exhibits of the Society's collection of Hudson River Valley Collection of paintings, prints and photographs.
THE FOUNDRY SCHOOLROOM is one fourth the size of the original schoolrooms in this building. Children may try the seats and read from the McGuffey readers.
NANETTA HEAD GORDON GALLERY has artifacts and data relating to the West Point Foundry (1818-1911). The iron garden bench was designed by and for Washington Irving, a friend of Gouverneur Kemble, original operator of the Foundry. The Society's historical records and maps are also kept in this room.
DOWNSTAIRS at the museum is home to a 19th century COUNTRY KITCHEN from the Polhemus house in Manitou and the LUDINGTONVILLE GENERAL STORE, in operation from 1805-1952.
MUSEUM STORE & HUDSON RIVER ROOM offers a selection of commemorative plates, books, prints, tote bags, and postcards.
THE STUDIO:This room was formerly a private school on an estate in Garrison and it is now home to the BENJAMIN WEST FRAZIER MEMORIAL REFERENCE LIBRARY and the FRED & MIZZI HAIDA HISTORICAL COLLECTION. With staff assistance, the library is open for research Tuesday and Wednesday, 10-4 and Thursday, 1-4, and also by special appointment. It is closed on weekends unless a designated Research Assistant is present.