Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Town historian previews Quaker Meeting House tour, local exhibits and education events
Summary
La Grange’s town historian outlined a Dutchess County Quaker Meeting House driving tour, new exhibits at the Little Red Schoolhouse and related grant‑funded programs, and encouraged residents to visit a July 5 Freedom Park event tied to the history effort.
Georgia, the town historian for La Grange, briefed the La Grange Town Board on June 17 about a series of heritage events and grants that commemorate historic Quaker meeting houses once located in the town.
Georgia said the town is participating in a Dutchess County‑wide Quaker Meeting House Tour, a self‑guided driving tour running June through November that includes historic sites such as the Little Red Schoolhouse in La Grange and other meeting houses in the county. She described two historic meeting houses tied to La Grange’s early settlement: West Branch (on Mountain Road) and a meeting house historically associated with Arthursburg/Beekman. Some meeting houses are gone, she said, but the historical society has recreated at least one structure in 3D using photographs from the 1980s.
The historian said the county and town have funded programming, banners and advertising for the tour and that an open house at the Little Red Schoolhouse drew more than 50 visitors. Georgia said the project’s aims are to celebrate the community and share local archival research; she referenced meeting minutes from the early 1800s documenting the West Branch preparative meeting.
Georgia also announced related upcoming events, including activities at Freedom Park on July 5 and future programming for children that will include a historical role‑play by a character called Sergeant Church. The board thanked Georgia and encouraged public attendance at the events.
The town did not vote on any historic‑preservation ordinance at the meeting; the presentation was informational and aimed at promoting the tour and related exhibits.
