Grant Cottage programs set this month
WILTON, N.Y. » The following events, including a new children’s educational program, are planned at Grant State Historic Site in June.
• Sunday, June 11 (1 p.m.): “She Called Him Raymond: A True Story of Love, Loss, Faith and Healing.”
A letter penned in 1944 uncovers the powerful and heartfelt story of Helen Gregg, one of eight children of Irish immigrant parents, raised in the miseries of Hell’s Kitchen during the Great Depression, and Clarence Raymond Stephenson, a young aspiring B-17 pilot from the small, struggling city of Ironton, Ohio.
Fate brings them together in New York’s Central Park during the summer of 1942. Their captivating and poignant story will be explored by author Ray O’Conor in a program at the Grant Cottage Visitor Center. A secret about the dashing young WWII aviator and the promise that Helen made to Raymond that she had to keep, no matter how long or how hard it might be to fulfill, will be revealed, a news release said.
• Saturday, June 17 (1 p.m.): “The Saratoga, Mount McGregor and Lake George Railroad: A Brief History,” a New York state Path Through History Weekend Event.
Eleven miles in length and 17 years in time, this was the distance from downtown Saratoga Springs to Mount McGregor and the life-span of this narrow-gauge railroad. It may not have compared to the mighty Delaware and Hudson Canal Company’s Railroad, but it made up for it in famous guests, presidential history and colorful characters who created a resort that was the talk of the country.
What did Mark Twain, Benjamin Harrison and Oscar Wilde have in common? They all rode the Saratoga, Mount McGregor and Lake George Railroad, the release said.
Schenectady native Gino Di-Carlo has been a fan of railroads since he was born. He is the creator of Gino’s Rail-Museum and Rail-Blog websites and the author of Trolleys of the Capital District and the soon-to- be-released, “The Brief History of the Saratoga, Mount McGregor and Lake George Railroad.” He will share photos and stories of the narrow-gauge railroad that brought the rich and famous, including General Grant, to the mountain-top above Saratoga Springs.
• Sunday, June 18 (1 p.m.): “Secret Agents in Hoop Skirts: Women Spies of the Civil War,” a New York State Path Through History Weekend Event.
Hundreds of women served as spies during the Civil War, just as they had in earlier conflicts like the American Revolution. Women served on both sides of the war. Especially early in the war, they went unnoticed as men did not think women would be involved in such a dangerous position, a news release said. Program presenter Dave Hubbard, Grant Cottage site manager, will discuss female spies who served during the Civil War – three for the Union and two for the Confederacy.
• Wednesday, June 21 (10 a.m.): Knee High History for ages 3-9. The Civil War years were more than soldiers at war. In song and story, program facilitators Diana O’Brien and Tom Smith will explain that there were heroes on the battlefields, cities, towns and villages who built upon the legacy left by the nation’s founders and who envisioned a country of freedom and opportunity for all. Designed specifically for young learners, this program is free and lasts approximately 45 minutes.
• Sunday, June 25 (1 p.m.): “And They Fought Too: Women Soldiers of the Civil War.”
Many women decided being a
nurse, cook, or laundress was not what they wanted to do during the Civil War — they wanted more, the release said. Several disguised themselves as men and joined in the battles of the war. Four female soldiers will be detailed by Grant Cottage Site Manager Dave Hubbard, thanks to their memoirs, letters and military records.
Grant Cottage is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cottage tours are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $5 for students ages 6-18. The suggested donation for programs is $5 per person.