The Gouverneur Museum
BEGINNINGS: Historical Association Receives Key to Manse, 1974
Tribune Press Vol. 88, No. 11 - Gouverneur, NY — Wednesday, Nov. 13, 1974
(photo caption) The Presbyterian Manse, at the far right of this panoramic view of Main Street.has not changed in appearance since this photo was taken in the early 1900s. The former manse was built in 1904 through a gift from members of a prominent village family, Mrs. Myra Dean and Miss Jennie and Miss Cora Dean.
(article) With the acceptance of keys to the Presbyterian Manse, Thursday, Nov. 7, the Historical Association of Gouverneur moved one step closer to its goal of a “museum by 76”. The purchase of the 11-room marble trimmed brick Structure culminates a fundraising effort of over a year.
The key to the structure, which was built in 1904, was presented by Rev. George Cox, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, to Harold A. Storie, town historian. Also present were Eugenia Huntress, president of Gouverneur Historical Association; Nelson Winters, association director and village historian; Miss Margaret Nulty, secretary - treasurer, Mrs. Helen Walrath, museum fund treasurer and Charles Graves, president of Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association, financial consultant.​
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The association was organized in 1960, and efforts were made in ensuing years to obtain a suitable building for a museum. In early 1973, a fund drive to raise $50,000 he was started, and to date nearly $25,000 has been collected through individual and corporate gifts, memorial gifts, a craft fair for two successive years, tag days and membership drives.
Approximately the same amount will be needed for necessary renovations and maintenance. A sum of $8,000 has been borrowed to -eefh- plete payment to the Presbyterian Church and leave a working balance for immediate needs.
The work of moving miscellaneous artifacts into the museum has begun, and it is expected that work of cataloging, evaluating, and placement of articles will not be finished until late next summer, although the formal dedication will not take place until 1976 as part of the local celebration of the Bicentennial.
Articles which have been donated for the museum have been recorded and stored by-Harold Storie, who has had to build an addition to his garage to handle them. Some pictures, maps, etc. are in custody of the village.
Mrs. Huntress - said Thursday that the former manse is in good condition, Mrs. Huntress - said Thursday that the former manse is in good condition, recently papered, and would s be most suitable for a museum. The building wasr e-wired last year by-BOCES students of Southwest Tech. There are five spacious rooms and bath on the second floor and six, including the ample hallway, downstairs.
An immediate problem of heating was solved by the donation of a fuel tank by the McAllaster Oil Co. and installation —with the aid ovillage crews. As a manse, fuel from a tank at the Presbyterian Church was used.
Mrs. Huntress has emphasized the need in Gouverneur for a permanent location lo display family mementos and preserve another way of life. “It will give the vouth a sense of history, and stronger ties to Gouverneur,” she has said. It has been deplored as well that there has been no proper place to exhibit rare and unusual geology of this area. It is planned to devote one room to minerals.
Mrs. Huntress, in explaining the need to continue the fund drive noted that an excellent beginning has been made, but more money is needed. Many have shown interest in the museum and indicated they would donate when it became a reality, she said, and the time has come.
Purchase of the former church parsonage for $26,000 received approval of the Presbyterian Session, congregation, the Presbytery of Northern New York and the Superior Court.
DEDICATION: Bicentennial Week Begins June 27 with
dedication of Museum and Bandstand
Tribune Press, Vol. 89, No. 42 - Gouverneur, NY — Wednesday, June 16, 1976
Plans for the dedication of the Gouverneur Historical Association Museum, first major event lh the special Village Bicentennial Week, have been completed by the committee headed by Nelson B. Winters. The program to begin at 2 p.m. June 27, will be held outdoors on the lawn of the museum and will represent the culmination of the historical group’s dream of a “Museum by 76.”
Featured speaker will be John B. Johnson, Sr., editor and publisher of the Watertown Daily Times, and Rev. George R. Cox, pastor of First Presbyterian Church will act as master of ceremonies.
Rep. Robert C. McEwen, 31st Congressional District, will present an American flag flown over the national Capitol on Nov. 4, anniversary of the acquisition of the former Presbyterian manse as a museum building. Edward H Cole, acting for State Sen H. Douglas Barclay, will present a state flag flown over the state capitol on Jan. 31. birthday of Gouverneur Morris.
Mrs. Emily Seaker, regent of Gouverneur Morris Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, will dedicate the museum’s new flagpole, a gift from the D. A. R. chapter of Gouverneur Iron Works, and Scouts Dennis Mong and Tauno Schwelnus. Troop 22. will raise the flags.
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Harold A. Storie. town historian and first president jf the Gouverneur Historical Association, will speak briefly on the establishment of the museum, and Mrs. Eugenia Huntress, president of the association will make closing remarks.
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Entertainment will be provided by the Adirondack Harmony Co., a barbershop quartet, members of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America. The quartet is made up of Bill Rowe, Massena; Al Meyer, Gouverneur; Lance Laraway, Canton, and Wes Wight, Massena.
Following the ceremonies, refreshments will be provided by the Gouverneur Shakespeare Club and Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce, with an assistant from the cooking class at Southwest Tech at Fowler.
Seating for the public on the museum lawn will be provided by Sprague Funeral Home and Burr-Green Funeral Home. In case of rain, the program will be held in the First Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Winters said special thanks go to Ferguson Printing Co. for donating the dedication programs, and to MRS printing, inc. for donating the printing of letters of invitation which have gone to village, town, and county officials.
Paul J. Smith, West Barney St., will be an official guest at the dedication, representing all the first families of Gouverneur listed on the Memorial Arch in the park.
Members of the dedication committee include Mr. Winters, chairman; Harold Storie, Sally Thompson, Peter McCarthy, and Jeanne Tyler. Dedication of the park bandstand at 3:30 p.m. will follow the museum program.
Tours of the museum will be available during the afternoon.