First Annual Conference: American Revolution in the Mohawk Valley

The Fort Plain Museum, in the heart of upstate New York, is proud to announce its “First Annual Conference on the American Revolution in the Mohawk Valley.” The Mohawk played a key role in the struggle for American independence. Discover the area’s rich history and attend an exciting new conference that will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 1-3, 2015. Conference attendees will arrive at the Fort Plain Museum Friday evening for a cocktail reception and presentation on the history of Fort Plain/Fort Rensselaer. Saturday will include a full day of talks by six great authors with a box lunch provided. On Sunday a bus tour will be offered, starting at the Fort Plain Museum and exploring eleven historic colonial sites with a guided tour by Fort Plain Museum Chairman Norm Bollen.

$40 conference package includes:

• Friday evening reception
• Saturday’s presentations including lunch and refreshment breaks
• For $20 extra, a Sunday bus tour of 11 historic Mohawk Valley sites is available

Please register by postal mail or by email (fo*************@ya***.com).

See attached registration form for details.

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Friday, May 1, 2015 starting at 6 pm

Fort Plain Museum – 389 Canal Street, Fort Plain, NY 13339

• Meet & Greet Cocktail Reception featuring: “Discovering Fort Plain” a presentation by Museum Chairman Norm Bollen.

Saturday, May 2, 2015 starting at 9 am

Arkell Museum’s Conference Center – 2 Erie Boulevard, Canajoharie, NY 13317

Authors/Historians presenting include:

• Todd Braisted: “A hellish plan to go over to the enemy” The Revolutionary War Adventures of Lieutenant Edward McMichael (A member of the 3^rd NJ Regiment deserts and joins forces with the British while stationed at Fort Stanwix.)
• Don Hagist: “The Revolution’s Last Men: The Soldiers behind the Photographs” (Includes Samuel Downing who served at Fort Plain in 1782 while with the 2^nd New Hampshire Regiment; the Fort Plain Museum currently has an original photo of Samuel Downing on exhibit.)
• Jack Kelly: “Band of Giants, the Amateur Soldiers Who Won America’s Independence”
• James Kirby Martin: ”Forgotten Allies, the Oneida Indians and the American Revolution”
• Bruce Venter: “Col. John Brown and the Battle of Diamond Island on Lake George” (Colonel John Brown was killed at the Battle of Stone Arabia on October 19, 1780 which was located on the opposite of the river from Fort Plain.)
• Glenn Williams: “The Year of the Hangman, George Washington’s Campaign Against the Iroquois” (A portion of the Continental Army left from Fort Plain on their way southwest into Indian Country.)

Sunday, May 3, 2015 starting at 9 am

Fort Plain Museum – 389 Canal Street, Fort Plain, NY 13339

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• $20 (NOT included in conference fee) Guided Bus Tour of “Mohawk Country” includes the following historic sites: Nellis Tavern, Fort Klock, Van Alstyne Homestead, Isaac Paris House, Palatine Church, Stone Arabia Church (John Brown’s Grave), Fort Plain Museum, and lesser known privately owned historic sites.

Conference Hotel: We reserved several rooms for May 1 through May 3, 2015 at a rate of $79.00 plus tax per night which includes two queen sized beds at the Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham located at 136 North Comrie Avenue’ Johnstown, NY 12095. Your special group rate will include: Clean, Comfortable Accommodations – FREE Complimentary Continental Breakfast – FREE Wireless and Hard Wired Internet Access – 24 Hour Business Center – FREE Local and Long Distance Telephone Calls and more! Guests must call 518-762-5425 with individual credit cards and information and state that this is for the conference at the “Fort Plain Museum.”

The middle Mohawk Valley is also home to many fine B&B’s. A complete list can be found on our Facebook page.

For more information about our 1st Annual Conference on the American Revolution in the Mohawk Valley, please call 518-774-5669 or send us an e-mail at fo*************@ya***.com

This event is sponsored by the Montgomery County NY Department of Economic Development, Planning & Tourism, Westholme Publishing and Journal of the American Revolution.